AMAZON DIRECT INJECTION / MANAGERIAL EXECUTIVE ACTION

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 531/14
Ref: 223.02
Date: 21st August 2014

To All: Postal Branch Secretaries
Postal Divisional Representatives
Parcelforce Regional Organisers
Regional Distribution Centre Representatives
Network Representatives
Area Distribution Representatives
Area Processing Representatives


Dear Colleagues

RE: AMAZON DIRECT INJECTION / MANAGERIAL EXECUTIVE ACTION

This LTB calls on all RDC, Network & Mail Centre Representatives at all levels to be prepared for managerial executive action NEXT WEEK. All proposals relating to the realignment of existing resources in Mail Centres, new direct road services in Network & Area Distribution or resource reduction in RDC’s, as associated with this initiative should be met with the insistence of no unilateral action and the full utilisation of the new Industrial Stability process.

It is with deep regret that we have to produce this LTB but it is very important that we bring to your attention potential management executive action on an operational change that we believe is in breach of both the BT Agreement and the Agenda for Growth, Stability and Long Term Success Agreement.

Unfortunately this relates to a proposed operational change that was developed and decided upon without any CWU involvement, despite the structures and commitments in the Agenda for Growth, Stability and Long Term Success Agreement, to involve the CWU and afford us the ability to influence, prior to major decisions being taken.

Talks have been taking place but no agreement has been reached and that is mainly due to the fact that the managerial decision was taken prior to any engagement with the CWU along with the assumption that the CWU would not have a view.

It is a new dynamic of the privatised environment that the CWU cannot always give publicity to developing initiatives until there are firm proposals, especially if there are wider commercial implications. So as with all of our actions of late, we have tried to honour our commitments and hence no publicity on this matter had been circulated prior to this LTB.

The proposal we believe introduces a form of ‘Down Stream Access’ (DSA) for our Royal Mail Letters parcel operations, undermines our up stream efficiency & ambition by bypassing RDC’s, arguable outsources elements of our end to end processing network and certainly represents a threat to job security in RDC’s and places jobs etc. in other functions across the RM Network at considerable risk should the proposal become wide spread.



As one develops those statements above it is evident in our opinion that deploying this change would breach many of the commitments made in the above mentioned agreements and present the first major test of the protections we secured.

This issue was discussed at the CWU PEC meeting held on the 19th August 2014 and policy set in respect of the concerns expressed above and a further meeting took place with management on the 20th August 2014.

At that meeting management astonishingly informed the CWU of their intention to introduce this change, initially under the banner of a trial, even though they accept that things will never be the same once the business makes this move, by EXECUTIVE ACTION NEXT WEEK.

From a national perspective we will continue to make ourselves available for negations and also further consider our response if indeed any executive action takes place, including the potential of a legal remedy or industrial action ballots.

In closing it must be recognised that we consider this a very serious challenge to our agreements both in spirit and in intent, and thank you in anticipation for your support and vigilance in this regard. As soon as we have any further information we will of course share it with you, and equally we would appreciate you keeping us fully briefed on any develops locally.

Please also ensure that the members who may be affected are fully briefed on this emerging situation.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number 223.02.

Yours sincerely,



Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary

[Rory]

I can't figure out what this means. Privatisation has enabled a new form of DSA to be introduced that undermines the recent agreement. What could that mean?

[Ahebban]

What it clearly shows is that RM are going to push ahead with its agenda and not shy away from Executive Action as its first use. It will also test CWU mettle on how it intends challenging this EA - whether by invoking national agreements, the new industrial relations framework or direct industrial action.

[spen]

And what's it got to do with amazon? cant make much sense of it

[britwrit]

Just a complete guess. Amazon presorts their parcels by post code, then drops the bags off at the nearest DO or whatever.

[spen]

I didn't think we did amazon anymore,, havnt in my postcode for a while now

[celerycelery]

Anyone able to explain this in terms we could possibly understand

[AnotherLimey]

I didn't think we did amazon anymore,, havnt in my postcode for a while now

No Amazon? f**k me it's 70% of my packet/parcel workload, do you deliver in the world of Oz?

[whatamess!!]

What I understand is that amazon will directly drop parcels to DO's for delivery, by passing RDC's and Mail centre's. In effect this is out sourcing work to Amazon, contrary to what the latest agreement says. Walkout's next week? Deliveries will be asked to not touch work presented by Amazon. The beginning of the start of what some predicted would happen, just a little sooner than anyone expected! Will RM back down? This is a direct challenge to the CWU! More than ever, an attack on one function is an attack on all of us! Lets stick together!!!!

[tansorboy]

Our lot took Amazon out for lunch and agreed to all their demands, but forgot to tell the union....

[Danelectro]

Anyone able to explain this in terms we could possibly understand

They want a downstream,downstream access.

[A2B]

Noticed in my office this week that a lot of Amazon work has returned, still not up to previous levels but a big increase on the norm

[Jamesethefirst]

Well, it just goes to show what a load of old b******** this splendid new agreement is. Glad I voted no, not that it makes a deal of difference,but hey, every little helps.

[spen]

I didn't think we did amazon anymore,, havnt in my postcode for a while now

No Amazon? f**k me it's 70% of my packet/parcel workload, do you deliver in the world of Oz?

Amazon do there own deliveries in my postcode

[barbario]

Well, it just goes to show what a load of old b******** this splendid new agreement is. Glad I voted no, not that it makes a deal of difference,but hey, every little helps.

TBH, i don't think any of us believed Royal Mail would stick to the new agreements.