Enquiry Offices

[TrueBlueTerrier]

maangers brief callers offices wave 1.pdf

No. 279/10
Ref. 530
Date: 31 March 2010


To: Branches with POSTAL Members


Dear Colleagues,

Enquiry Offices

Branches will recall that Annual Conference 2008 carried a proposition calling for a campaign to reverse the reduction in Enquiry Office opening hours. Since then we have continued to pursue this policy with little success.

However, at the beginning of this year, Royal Mail contacted CWU HQ to indicate that they had reconsidered their position, mindful of the mounting level of customer complaints they had been receiving. A meeting was arranged in February at which they indicated that they were looking to extend enquiry office opening hours to 20:00 on Wednesdays and 14.00 on Saturdays in around 50% of all offices. They stated that during April they would begin to identify the offices where they wished to deploy the change in opening times and that they hoped to deploy by June. Whilst welcoming the move, the Union requested the opportunity to have input in the final choice of offices and to be fully involved in any developments, including having advanced notice of any communications. This was agreed and we were promised a further meeting in the near future to discuss further details.

That meeting has yet to take place but last week we received an e-mail detailing the first batch of offices, some 160 in total, where the business were looking to extend opening hours. The list of offices is attached for your information. Along with this was a letter explaining that the list was subject to discussions with local managers but no mention of CWU input. We also received a copy of the manager’s brief from our Divisional Reps in Anglia (not Royal mail) which is also attached. This contains a helpful list of questions and answers but crucially has no mention of consulting with he CWU at any stage or level. It also contains a section on resourcing which states that it is up to the DOM to decide the most appropriate approach for their office. Again, there is no reference to the CWU or to existing National Agreements, particularly the Way Forward.

To be clear, the CWU has no interest in either blocking or delaying this project. On the contrary, we would wish to see it extended. What we are insisting on though is meaningful involvement and to that end we have requested an urgent meeting with Royal Mail to deal with our concerns.

In the meantime we would appreciate comments on the list provided with any alternative suggestions sent to headquarters without delay. Divisional and Area Reps should approach their respective managers and inform them that until we have had our opportunity to input, the list cannot be regarded as final and that no action at local level should take place until then. If however proposals are received at local level on staffing changes that arise as a consequence of the change to opening hours they will be subject to the terms of the Industrial Relations Framework and the disagreement procedure. We will of course update Branches on any developments as soon as possible.

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 530

List of Callers offices.xls

maangers brief callers offices wave 1.pdf