Postal worker speaks on USO reform pilots: “A tripartite attack on jobs by Royal Mail, Ofcom and the CWU”

[stage3]

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/ ... -m07.html

Our correspondent

The World Socialist Web Site spoke with Ian, a postal worker from the north-west of England who is a member of the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC). Ian spoke about the “USO reform” announced by regulator Ofcom and being implemented by Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) through a pilot scheme from February-May.

The Universal Service Obligation (USO) is the statutory requirement that Royal Mail deliver letters to every address in the UK, six days a week, at a uniform price.

Ian explains why a fightback must be organised against the CWU’s collusion with the dismantling of the USO, ushering in mass job destruction and further entrenchment of gig economy conditions, described euphemistically as the “Optimised Delivery Model (ODM)”.

The PWRFC is calling for workplace meetings to block Royal Mail’s USO reform pilot scheme agreed by CWU officials. The pilots are a dress rehearsal for a £300 million cost-cutting drive demanded by new owners EP Group led by billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

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WSWS: Documents circulated by the CWU on the “Optimised Delivery Model” at 37 pilot offices include a table titled, “Example route coverage under our proposal”. Royal Mail currently has a structured duty pattern where delivery workers are assigned to a walk. How does the ODM change these working practices?


The table of the change to working practices agreed between Royal Mail and the CWU for the USO reform pilots at 37 delivery offices across the UK [Photo: Royal Mail Community/Reddit]
Ian: It will displace postal workers from their usual duties. The CWU now calls walks “combined and core”. The reduction in workers covering these duties means walks will be lost. ODM will also result in a reorganisation of postal workers’ duties through a ‘repick’. All duties are to be reassigned on a seniority basis to workers. Any workers who are surplus will be deployed wherever is required.

WSWS: The ODM table divides routes into “core” and “combined”, with three delivery workers having to perform the work of four. It shows “Evie” having to do two routes of first class and parcels. How will this impact on workloads?

Ian: The timing of this huge change is happening during a traditional lull in the work. The CWU already claims the workload has been achieved in the first trial office. Many postal workers are already undertaking this type of work but the combined routes are tough to achieve. Many achieve targets by “carving the job up”: no breaks, no van checks, doorstepping, driving illegally. Workers who do the job properly cannot complete.

The CWU has revealed that the only way the core routes have completed is by having help indoors. They will also be carving the job up. Working illegally is fully condoned and rewarded by allowing workers to go home early. Delivery workers on the latest contracts are being denied their legal right to a break during their working time.

WSWS: How misleading is it that the Optimised Delivery Model refers to “alternate day delivery” of second class and non-priority letters?

Ian: The core routes are not an alternative day model, and Martin Walsh [CWU Deputy General Secretary] has admitted that. Some mail will be delayed by two days, with the weekend creating the biggest delay. This will result in mail that the customer considers important being delayed in getting to them. Workloads for core duties will be excessive on a Monday and Tuesday.

For example, the table shows that on Saturday four routes of just first-class letters and parcels will be completed by two delivery workers in vans. But what is the impact on workloads?

Workloads for both the core and combined routes will be difficult to achieve in the time workers are given every day. The biggest impact is on workers who will be surplus to requirements as a result of the ODM. There are not enough duties on a Saturday for everyone.

WSWS: With three delivery workers covering four routes, and then two performing four routes on Saturday, what type of job losses do you think are being prepared behind closed doors between Royal Mail and the CWU?

Ian: For a start, ODM reduces jobs by 25 percent. The potential job losses are huge, in the thousands.

We also face the very real attack of a two-tier workforce. ODM is happening whilst postal workers are on two very different contracts. The CWU only seeks an “equalisation” of contracts, which under the ODM means levelling in a downward direction. Job losses and worse terms and conditions.

WSWS: How is the CWU using the promise of additional Saturdays off to push through this overturn of structured duty patterns? Walsh is talking about improving “work-life balance”.

Ian: It’s smoke and mirrors. The rotation options are fatiguing and regressive. Workers face rota patterns that break up quality time off. It appears that part-time workers will face serious disruption to their working lives. One rota pattern requires part-time workers to work split weeks. It is certainly no victory.

WSWS: How do you respond to the claims by CWU officials that fatigue will be managed and “reasonable workloads” established?

Ian: The CWU has failed to ensure safe and healthy work full stop. Lip service is paid to basic health, safety and welfare laws. A simple example is the lack of control of manual handling. Workers suffer numerous injuries from the work that could be easily controlled but are badly managed. The work will be no safer under ODM.


WSWS: [CWU leader] Dave Ward speaks about Royal Mail being part of the “social fabric”, a connection between the postie and the public they directly serve. Does this model sever that connection and push postal workers further down the road of an Amazon-style parcel service?

Ian: ODM is focused on profit. There is no time for the basic interaction between the worker and the customer. Workers are monitored to the second via their handheld PDA devices, so spending time with customers beyond the basic interaction is impossible. The disconnect will only increase with workers who have no familiarity with the routes they are assigned to.

WSWS: What do you think about Ofcom’s support for Royal Mail’s Optimised Delivery Model and the CWU’s embrace of “USO reform”?

Ian: It’s a tripartite attack on workers’ jobs. They are facilitating and empowering each other. Ofcom are the instigators in the drive for profit from letters, IDS [Royal Mail parent group] are the instigators in the drive for profit from parcels, and the CWU fuels the drive for all of the parties involved. Ultimately Ofcom should be stripped of their role in the race for profits. It’s not the role of a regulator to create profit by scrapping jobs.

WSWS: Do you see any other way of opposing this without a rank-and-file organisation against the CWU bureaucracy, and how do you see that developing?

Ian: Workers should be alerted to the amount of money that the postal industry creates. It’s billions of pounds. Postal workers receive a tiny amount of that money for their labour, and they should be demanding more.

Alongside reclaiming our real share of the billions taken by the major shareholders, we should be fighting for more jobs to create a safe and healthy work environment. Our work is not an “unfair financial burden” on the company, as claimed by Ofcom. It is a proud and honest occupation that should be generously remunerated.

Postal workers face an immediate future that will result in the destruction of their jobs, and worse terms and conditions.

Workers are not alone in their opposition to the ODM plan. They should organise themselves both inside and outside the CWU. Workplaces can hold their own committees where they should demand their CWU representatives oppose the tri-partite attack on postal workers.

Workers should join the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee. No one is alone in opposing this hated new way of working. We can and will stop it.

[scotchy1962]

Tell us all then, how many people are actually joining your swelling movement and can we expect to see you on the streets with these protests on what is happening inside Royal Mail.
I am genuinely interested to see if anybody is buying into this bullshit.

[tramssirhc]

Great to see the WSWS/SEP and R&FPWC continuing to expose the CWU for what it is. This article is spot on. It is a three way attack on decent hard working people who deserve a lot better than to be told their work is a drain on the profits of the industry.

[tramssirhc]

Tell us all then, how many people are actually joining your swelling movement and can we expect to see you on the streets with these protests on what is happening inside Royal Mail.
I am genuinely interested to see if anybody is buying into this bullshit.

So you agree with what the article says but you don't agree with the messenger? Put aside your sectionalism and fight back.

[world class male]

Tell us all then, how many people are actually joining your swelling movement and can we expect to see you on the streets with these protests on what is happening inside Royal Mail.
I am genuinely interested to see if anybody is buying into this bullshit.

So you agree with what the article says but you don't agree with the messenger? Put aside your sectionalism and fight back.

what if you agree with it but realise the job is well and truly gone that neither the cwu or the other thing can/will do anything about it?
quite a few of us at ours are winding down yet can still run rings around the "new breed" of postie RM now want
i can't myself seeing it out until retiremant age but reckon i'd leave still to be a decent postie compared to quite a few whenever it happens,
not their fault, but quality of service is now a thing of the past,
anyone new who look half decent quickly move on to pastures new, then the not so good are now the future

sad times ahead

[Hyrrokkin]

Tell us all then, how many people are actually joining your swelling movement and can we expect to see you on the streets with these protests on what is happening inside Royal Mail.
I am genuinely interested to see if anybody is buying into this bullshit.

As opposed to all the CWU bullshit !

[tramssirhc]

Tell us all then, how many people are actually joining your swelling movement and can we expect to see you on the streets with these protests on what is happening inside Royal Mail.
I am genuinely interested to see if anybody is buying into this bullshit.

So you agree with what the article says but you don't agree with the messenger? Put aside your sectionalism and fight back.

what if you agree with it but realise the job is well and truly gone that neither the cwu or the other thing can/will do anything about it?
quite a few of us at ours are winding down yet can still run rings around the "new breed" of postie RM now want
i can't myself seeing it out until retiremant age but reckon i'd leave still to be a decent postie compared to quite a few whenever it happens,
not their fault, but quality of service is now a thing of the past,
anyone new who look half decent quickly move on to pastures new, then the not so good are now the future

sad times ahead

The saddest part is seeing workers enter the industry and last days because the CWU has resolutely failed to defend us.

[moon71]

Another good read and well presented article.

Fictional Ian gives a good insight into what's coming.

Still waiting to see what the PWRFC suggest as the fightback.

I see the advertising, yet to see some content.

[tramssirhc]

Another good read and well presented article.

Fictional Ian gives a good insight into what's coming.

Still waiting to see what the PWRFC suggest as the fightback.

I see the advertising, yet to see some content.

Looking at the article it appears they're calling on workers to set up their own committees and to force the CWU to start fighting back. Workers hold the keys to everything. Without us industries are nothing. These million pounds bosses couldn't do our jobs. The hundred of thousands of pounds trade union leaders couldn't do our jobs. We could do theirs no problem. It's about time we got the millions and they got the pounds.

[moon71]

So we have a meeting, share our grievances, moan allot and share tissues for our tears.

Then what?

[scotchy1962]

Tell us all then, how many people are actually joining your swelling movement and can we expect to see you on the streets with these protests on what is happening inside Royal Mail.
I am genuinely interested to see if anybody is buying into this bullshit.

So you agree with what the article says but you don't agree with the messenger? Put aside your sectionalism and fight back.

Yet again nothing but a bit of name calling, any chance of saying what you are offering us apart from some words.
Even i could do a better job.
Criticising the union is easy, we do it all the time, but then again we pay into it and are entitled to voice our displeasure.
All you do is try to incite, constant sniping at anything you dislike or think you dislike, without any alternative. You believe the workers will rise up and revolt, but those days are gone and 1970's sitcoms is what you lot look like, Wolfie would be proud of you but then again that is fiction, back in the real world we need some meat on the bone, not just the bone.
Put together something of note and then get back to us.

[Sean06]

Another good read and well presented article.

Fictional Ian gives a good insight into what's coming.

Still waiting to see what the PWRFC suggest as the fightback.

I see the advertising, yet to see some content.

Looking at the article it appears they're calling on workers to set up their own committees and to force the CWU to start fighting back. Workers hold the keys to everything. Without us industries are nothing. These million pounds bosses couldn't do our jobs. The hundred of thousands of pounds trade union leaders couldn't do our jobs. We could do theirs no problem. It's about time we got the millions and they got the pounds.

Every article they write calls on workers to set up committes still dont know of any all bluster.

[TopperGas]

Another good read and well presented article.

Fictional Ian gives a good insight into what's coming.

Still waiting to see what the PWRFC suggest as the fightback.

I see the advertising, yet to see some content.

Looking at the article it appears they're calling on workers to set up their own committees and to force the CWU to start fighting back. Workers hold the keys to everything. Without us industries are nothing. These million pounds bosses couldn't do our jobs. The hundred of thousands of pounds trade union leaders couldn't do our jobs. We could do theirs no problem. It's about time we got the millions and they got the pounds.

Every article they write calls on workers to set up committes still dont know of any all bluster.

It's hard enough setting up tea rounds in most DO's setting up committees to fight the CWU is just total and utter nonsense.

[tramssirhc]

So we have a meeting, share our grievances, moan allot and share tissues for our tears.

Then what?

Until you have that meeting and share those tissues you'll never know. The reps are there to 'represent'. They do what you tell them, not what the union tells them. The CWU won't like it and some sellout official will tell you it's not possible. Just ignore them and keep going.

[tramssirhc]

Tell us all then, how many people are actually joining your swelling movement and can we expect to see you on the streets with these protests on what is happening inside Royal Mail.
I am genuinely interested to see if anybody is buying into this bullshit.

So you agree with what the article says but you don't agree with the messenger? Put aside your sectionalism and fight back.

Yet again nothing but a bit of name calling, any chance of saying what you are offering us apart from some words.
Even i could do a better job.
Criticising the union is easy, we do it all the time, but then again we pay into it and are entitled to voice our displeasure.
All you do is try to incite, constant sniping at anything you dislike or think you dislike, without any alternative. You believe the workers will rise up and revolt, but those days are gone and 1970's sitcoms is what you lot look like, Wolfie would be proud of you but then again that is fiction, back in the real world we need some meat on the bone, not just the bone.
Put together something of note and then get back to us.

You are the meat on the bone. You are the one that can make the difference. It's not somebody else's job to smash the CWU. From what I can see and you acknowledged the PWR&FC is putting stuff together. They've certainly put out more information that workers can relate to than the CWU.