Royal Mail Modernisation Plan/Mail Centre Rationalisation

[lovejoy]

Royal Mail Modernisation Plan/Mail Centre Rationalisation

Further to the previous report on the situation regarding the above provided in January at the National Briefing following the resolution of the dispute last year, I have outlined below the up to date situation on negotiations.

Meetings have taken place with Steve Cameron, T/Head of Process and Gillian Alford, Director Industrial Relations in order to secure an Agreement in line with last years Annual Conference Policy of a revised National Framework, the principle aspects of which I have summarised below:

• Royal Mail’s future Mail Centre Strategy clarified at National Level.
• A timetable for any future rationalisation with joint involvement throughout.
• A standardised approach/process for reviews with a clear rationale for any proposed changes e.g. based on maintaining a robust overall network, automation, service to the customer, Q of S and the impact on the employees.
• The CWU having the opportunity to put forward alternative options before decisions are made.
• An improvement in terms and conditions from any savings.
• Clarity on how the employee impact/people issues are to be dealt with.

To date similar to the parallel discussions taking place in Delivery and Network, although draft documents have been exchanged, despite previous commitments, little progress has been made. The main reasons for this being the business’ current position on sharing future savings/paying for change, their view that Mail Centre Rationalisation will be driven by the Regions rather than from National Level and their reluctance to include how we will manage the people’s impact within the Framework.

In view of the situation in all 3 functions, a meeting is now being arranged by Dave Ward, DGS(P) with Dale Haddon, HR Director as previously agreed to discuss how we can resolve the impasse on the various issues of contention.

Yours sincerely


Martin Collins
Assistant Secretary