Enquiry Offices – Wave 2

[Geezer]

Letter to Branches




No. 497/10 Ref 530 Date: 3rd June 2010

To All Branches with Postal Members


Dear Colleagues,

Enquiry Offices – Wave 2

Attached is a list of offices that will form wave 2 out of 3 of the Enquiry Office project. Initially this was to be carried out in just two waves following completion of safety and security questionnaires with a proposed May 1st deployment date for wave 1. Wave 2 would have seen a further rollout to remaining Enquiry Offices on 24th
July 2010. Waves 1 and 2 offices were selected by the following criteria –

 In or near top 25 cities in the UK in terms of population and P739 coverage
 Callers Office attached to a Mail Centre or Collection Hub
 Existing safety, security and equipment in place
 Minimal change to current opening hours

Following the initial selection process and completion of safety and security questionnaires it has become clear that determining which offices will form part of the extended opening hours project has not been as straightforward as first hoped.

In order to meet the original scope of the project a number of additional factors have now been identified regarding selection criteria, such as regional coverage and socio-demographics so that callers’ offices can meet the basic opening criteria and be enabled with minimum risk and maximum impact. The selection criteria and deployment approach has therefore been revised to ensure a more robust framework for the project. This has meant that some of the original offices in the wave 2 list have been taken out and new ones added. In addition, a number of offices have yet to return all the information required.

As a result, and so as not to delay matters, it has now been decided to split the offices still to be deployed into two separate waves, wave 2 and 3.

238 offices have now been identified as forming wave 2 and these are due to go live on Saturday 26th June 2010. These have been selected on the basis that they do not need any further work done on security. This is around four weeks earlier than previously forecast and means that the public will get the improved service earlier and staff will get the extra hours.

The remaining offices will default into a new wave, wave 3 with a deployment date around the middle of August. This wave contains those offices that require some additional work in terms of physical security and safety risk rating and assessment. In this regard the role of the CWU H&S Rep will be essential in resolving any outstanding issues and ensuring a joined up approach.

The wave 3 list will be circulated shortly. If any Branch considers that changes/additions are needed, it should be raised with the Outdoor Department. This will then be considered at national level by RM Project Manager Ricky Scoular and CWU Postal Executive member Pete Keenlyside.

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 530
Email address: hnutley@cwu.org

Yours sincerely



Bob Gibson
Assistant Secretary