Parcelforce Road Traffic Accident Procedure (RTA)

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Letter to Branches




No. 334/14
Ref: 102.08
Date: 20th May 2014


To All: Postal Branches with Parcelforce Members
Regional Organisers
Parcelforce Representatives


Dear Colleague

Parcelforce Road Traffic Accident Procedure (RTA)

Following the adoption of the revised Royal Mail Road Traffic Accident (RTA) Agreement in 2012, discussions continued with Parcelforce within the Table of Success Forum to provide an agreed procedure for our Parcelforce members.

In reality Parcelforce had unilaterally de-recognised the previous agreement, the 1991 Royal Mail Parcelforce Recording of Vehicle Accident Damage and Driver Discipline Procedure. As such the business has been operating without an agreed Road Traffic Accident Procedure for some years. Against this backdrop discussions initially centred as much on the requirement for a new agreement as the actual procedures to be adopted.

Discussions progressed through the TOS, Transport strand and an agreement was concluded by the end of February. However given the experience in other business units it was agreed that prior to the official launch there would need to be joint training at all levels. Against that backdrop please find attached for your information a copy of the National Parcelforce RTA Agreement and associated annexes that have been agreed with the business. The content of the agreement is broadly based on the Royal Mail procedure, though there are significant variations in recognition of the differing operational models in Parcelforce. The details are self–explanatory but we have summarised the salient points below:

A commitment that a mechanistic use of the conduct code is not appropriate as a means of managing road traffic accidents

Removal from driving duties must only be undertaken on the basis that it is preventative in relation to issues of capability

Clear guidance on the use of precautionary removal from driving following an accident

The ability for the driver to request temporary reassignment following an accident

The introduction of a review/appeal against blameworthy decisions

The right to Union representation at all formal stages of the process including Fact Finding

The obligation on the business to provide and agree a tailored training/support programme with the driver following an accident

The achievement of an agreed mechanism for a return to driving duties following redeployment where driving performance has been restored, even where the redeployment was to another part of Royal Mail Group.

It has been agreed that the new procedure will go live from the start of June 2014. Prior to this it is our intention to ensure that all representatives and managers have received familiarisation/training on the new agreement through a series of Joint launch events. The first of these events, for Regional Organisers and Area General Managers took place on the 24th April 2014 and subsequent events for local Reps and managers have and are being cascaded out throughout May.

Branches and representatives are requested to ensure that the content of this LTB and the attached National Agreement are given the widest publicity and brought to the immediate attention of all CWU members employed by Parcelforce on driving duties. Further information on the deployment and activity associated with this will be circulated in due course.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to: Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 102.08.

Yours sincerely


Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary