National Generic Trial & Deployment Frameworks

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No. 537/2010
Ref. L2.27
Date: 15th June 2010

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS & POSTAL DIVISIONAL REPS
For immediate circulation to all appropriate Area/Unit Representatives

Dear Colleague

National Generic Trial & Deployment Frameworks – Business Transformation Agreement 2010 and Beyond

Branches will recall that contained within the Pay and Modernisation Agreement the following paragraph was agreed in respect of New Technology and Automation.

New technology – As the new £1.2 billion investment equipment is rolled out; Royal Mail is committed to providing a comprehensive training programme to ensure a safe and effective operation and improve the working environment which will provide opportunities for new ways of working. In conjunction with this, CWU and employees will be fully involved in trial activities. There will need to be a generic deployment framework agreed by Royal Mail and CWU by the end of January 2008 to deal with the trialling and implementation of all new technology and automation.

Branches and Representatives will be aware that there are two Framework Agreements covering trials and any subsequent deployment were included in the Business Transformation Agreement 2010 and Beyond and are contained in Annex A and B (copy attached).

The Agreement is made up of two sections however the overriding principle is that trials regarding New Technology and Automation must not be agreed Locally. The National Union will advise Branches when a trial on New Technology/Automation has been endorsed.

I have summarised below some of the key points from the Frameworks which I trust will aid colleagues in understanding the objective of the Agreements and the role Representatives will need to play to ensure these important elements of the Business Transformation Agreement 2010 and Beyond are adhered to by both the Union and the business:

General

There are two separate Frameworks – one for Trials and one for Deployment which ensures the Union at all levels are involved throughout any trial e.g. from concept to agreed deployment.

The business consistently argued that they only wanted one Framework which would in our view have seen issues quickly moving from trial status to deployment without the necessary advanced notification, consultation and negotiation etc.

Trial Framework

Early consultation to ensure meaningful input into any trial being considered.
National discussions on all of the key aspects of any trial, location, impact, period, H&S, training and success measures.
CWU Involvement throughout with the appropriate facility time.
A minimum of one month’s notice to Local Representatives of any trial due to take place.
No permanent changes to duties or the operation until the conclusion of the trial.
A commitment to minimise any adverse effect on earnings.
All data and stats jointly shared.
Joint evaluation of trial outcome.

Deployment Framework

Effective consultation at both National and Local Level on the changes and Programme of Deployment.
A commitment that any deployment not only improves the efficiency but also the service to the customer, working arrangements and identifies the benefits to both the business and employees.
Takes into account employees concerns including earnings etc.
Ensures robust training programme and safe systems of work are in place.
Deals with any transitional arrangements.
Detailed guidelines on the deployment communicated from National Level to all Units affected.
National consultation/negotiations on any impact to existing National Agreements/terms and conditions or where there are significant job losses expected.
All duty changes dealt with in line with the IR Framework.
The proposed Local Deployment Plan subject to Local discussions.
CWU involved throughout with the appropriate additional facility time.
Protection of National and Local Agreements unless amendments have been jointly agreed at National Level.
All documentation jointly shared and evaluated at the conclusion of the Deployment Programme.

In conclusion I believe that the two Frameworks that make up the Generic Agreement have provided the Union, its Representatives and members with the necessary protections concerning trials and the deployment of New Technology and Automation throughout Royal Mail.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed as appropriate to Phil Browne, Acting Assistant Secretary, Indoor Department quoting reference number L2.27

Yours sincerely

Phil Browne
Acting Assistant Secretary


Annex A
National Generic Trial Framework

This Generic Trial Framework has been agreed between Royal Mail and the CWU in line with the terms of the Pay and Modernisation Agreement 2007. It details the process to deal with trialling all new technology and automation.
1
1 Aims/objectives

1.1 Consultation will take place at national level to discuss and consider the aims/objectives of carrying out a trial.

1.2 This consultation will take place early enough to allow meaningful input/involvement in shaping the most appropriate trial that will meet the stated objectives.

2 Trial

2.1 When a trial is required, national level discussions will confirm the following:
1
the location/s for the trial
an assessment of any operational impact
an assessment of any employee impact e.g. earnings, attendances
the period of the trial
an assessment of any health and safety issues
the training requirements
the success criteria measures
the date for the formal joint evaluation
the CWU involvement and the appropriate facility time

2.2 This consultation will again take place in a timely manner and as early as possible to ensure the details of the trial/s can be jointly communicated to the managers, representatives and employees/members affected well in advance (a minimum of one month’s notice).

3 Local impact

3.1 Prior to the start of any trial the necessary risk assessments will be carried out and safe systems of work will be agreed and put in place.
3.2 Operational changes for the period of the trial will be discussed and any duty/attendance alterations agreed on a temporary basis via the IR Framework at local level.

3.3 Permanent changes to the attendance patterns/operation can only be formally proposed once the trial evaluation has been concluded and confirmed it has been successful against the objectives.

The joint aim will be to minimise any adverse effect on the earnings opportunities for the employees involved in the trial.

4 Joint involvement/information share

4.1 All relevant data, information and statistics will be shared with the CWU throughout the period of the trial and evaluation.

4.2 The CWU will be fully involved in the monitoring of the trial/s at all levels as appropriate.

5 Deployment

Where trials have proved successful and a decision is taken to deploy the changes/equipment in the trial office/s and/or additional workplaces this will be carried out in line with the National Generic Deployment Framework.


Annex B
National Generic Deployment Framework

This Generic Deployment Framework has been agreed between Royal Mail and the CWU in line with the terms of the Pay and Modernisation Agreement 2007 for the deployment of all new technology and automation. It is recognised that this fresh approach to deploying change involving new technology and automation will only be successful by both parties working together in line with this agreement.

1 Requirements

The requirement of this Framework when deploying all new technology and automation will be:
1
effective consultation between management, representatives and employees/members on the changes to be deployed
to achieve an improvement in the efficiency of the operation, the service to the customer, the working environment/arrangements (reduced fatigue etc) or/and business/employee benefits
to take into account and deal with, wherever possible, employees’ concerns in respect of any impact e.g. earnings, attendance patterns
to ensure all new working arrangements/equipment have been risked assessed and agreed safe systems of work are in place
to put in place, where appropriate, a robust training programme
to identify any requirement for transitional arrangements
to ensure the deployment programme scheduled is achievable and has no adverse effect on quality of service and/or health and safety and/or security standards

2 Joint consultation

2.1 To ensure effective consultation, detailed discussions will take place at national level on the proposed deployment prior to the timetable being set. Information will be provided on all of the key objectives including the targeted improvement/benefit or level of savings so that it can be confirmed that the deployment will meet these and the agreed requirements contained in Para 1.

2.2 Where deployment is proposed for a limited number of workplaces or is to be phased, there should be a concise rationale/criteria for the planned programme e.g. the decision on the siting of the kit is based on traffic capacity, building constraints, geographical necessity etc.

3 Deployment programme

Guidelines that expand on the details of the deployment will be shared jointly and will be circulated from national level to all of the affected units included in the programme.

4 Operational arrangements

Where the changes being deployed will impact on existing agreements, significant job numbers or terms and conditions, it is accepted that sufficient time must be allowed within the programme for the necessary national consultation and negotiations to be concluded.

5 Duties

The introduction of any revised duty/attendance arrangements will be negotiated at local level in line with the IR Framework.

6 Local involvement

The proposed local deployment plan will be subject to local discussion prior to implementation to take into account any possible concerns, risks or difficulties. To ensure any unforeseen employee concerns are also resolved as quickly as possible, local parties will meet regularly to monitor and review deployment arrangements. CWU representatives shall be given appropriate additional release to facilitate this and enable them to consult with members on the proposed change.

7 Communications
Communications will be discussed at both national and local level to prevent any unnecessary difficulties arising from lack of information on the proposed changes to be implemented.

8 Interpretation/clarification

Current national/local agreements will remain applicable unless specific amendments that supersede these have been jointly agreed at national level. Where there are points of clarification or interpretation required regarding deployment these should also be dealt with speedily at National Level.

9 Information share/review

All relevant documentation/statistics, including the improvements/benefit or/and level of savings achieved, will be shared jointly and reviewed/evaluated nationally at the conclusion of the deployment programme.

10LTB537.doc

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No. 537/2010
Ref. L2.27
Date: 15th June 2010

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS & POSTAL DIVISIONAL REPS
For immediate circulation to all appropriate Area/Unit Representatives

what a load of old tosh!!!

[stokes11eg]

Goobldygook!