Joint Statement Regarding Parcel Processing Strategy Update

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches





No. 451/15
Ref: 732.01/732.02
Date: 9th July 2015


For the attention of:

All: Postal Branches
Area Processing Representatives
Area Distribution Representatives
Divisional Representatives


Dear Colleagues

Joint Statement Between Royal Mail Processing and the Communication Workers Union Regarding Parcel Processing Strategy Update

Further to LTB 640/14 please find attached for the information of Branches and representatives the latest update in regard to Parcel Processing Strategy.

After using a number of locations to build up information as we develop this strategy it has now been decided to move this final stage to develop deployment agreements into one site, Swindon Mail Centre where the first machine will be sited.

The department are aware that in regard to the Manual/Finger Scanning element of the Joint Statement that some local briefings have been taking place in preparation for the introduction of this equipment. However, Branches and representatives should note that this element is still in the trial phase and as such this equipment should not be introduced prior to notification from the department that a deployment agreement has been finalised.

Attached at Annex B to this document for the information of Branches and representatives is the provisional deployment schedule for the Parcel Sorting Machines (PSM) which has been provided by the business. Please note however this has not yet been finalised but has been produced as a potential ‘heads up’.

Branches and representatives are requested to ensure that the attached Joint Statement is brought to the attention of members.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 732.01/732.02

Yours sincerely


Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary

JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL PROCESSING AND THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION REGARDING PARCEL PROCESSING STRATEGY UPDATE


Introduction

Further to our Joint Statement circulated at the end of 2014, we are providing an update to colleagues on activity that has taken place to date in relation to the Parcel Processing Strategy and the plans to progress this initiative going forward.


Manual/Finger Scanning

We have now completed the proof of concept activity which was undertaken at three Mail Centres, South Midlands, Home Counties North and Dorset. The outputs for these sites has proved invaluable in informing the project Joint Working Group and will now assist in shaping a full operational deployment of manual/finger scanning. Further trialling will begin ahead of the full rollout at Swindon Mail Centre, which will also be the first location to have one of the new Parcel Sorting Machines installed, bringing the next development stage of all aspects of this project under one roof. The trial will help shape the necessary Safe Systems of Work that will be required to cover this function in a Royal Mail operational environment. It will also enable activity to take place to increase the amount of barcoded traffic being posted by targeting customers in the Swindon Mail Centre catchment area.

The outputs from the Swindon Mail Centre trial will also inform the discussion on the use of the data captured by the scanning process, which will include areas such as revenue capture, customer experience, workload/operational planning, and establish recognised throughput rates via the use of agreed Industrial Engineering studies. The outputs from the trial will also help shape the training and coaching package that will be in place to support the function, as well as the makeup of duty/working arrangements in the Parcel area. All of the above will be subject to further negotiations at the end of the trial and will be covered by agreement(s) to support the use of finger scanners in both automated and non automated locations.


Parcel Automation

The first of the planned up to 21 Parcel Automation Machines will be installed in autumn 2015 at Swindon Mail Centre and it will then be subject to a full operational trial under the terms of the National Generic Trial Agreement. The aim of this trial will be to test the operation and function of the machine to establish the necessary operational/working arrangements to support the operation. These will include minimum staffing levels, duty/working arrangements, Safe Systems of Work, Standard Operating Procedures, Assessment of Engineering, asset care schedules including any routine maintenance activity for and training and coaching packages.

All of the above will be undertaken in line with the spirit and intent of the terms of reference already established for this project, with the full involvement of the CWU at all levels and will be co-ordinated across the Operational, Health & Safety and Engineering within the respective Royal Mail and CWU departments.

The overall aim of this next phase of the Parcel Processing Strategy will be to produce an complete set of deployment guidelines similar to those issued in 2010 to support the deployment of iLSM’s and CSS machines.

The Joint Working Group will report back on progress to the National Processing Group, and seek final national sign off on any recommendations on the major issues emanating from the trial activity.

Any questions of interpretation, implementation or application of this agreement shall be referred to signatories of the agreement at the respective headquarters for resolution.








Andrew Forbes Terry Pullinger
Head of Processing Design Assistant Secretary
Royal Mail CWU


Date: 8th July 2015

[11aaa222]

"The first of the planned up to 21 Parcel Automation Machines will be installed in autumn 2015 at Swindon Mail Centre"

Which other mail centres are on the list to get one of these 21 parcel sorting machines?

anyone that can shed light on potentially which other sites are on the list????

also still no update from the cwu on the new mtsf agreement...... ??? again can anyone shed any light?

[SpacePhoenix]

"The first of the planned up to 21 Parcel Automation Machines will be installed in autumn 2015 at Swindon Mail Centre"

Which other mail centres are on the list to get one of these 21 parcel sorting machines?

anyone that can shed light on potentially which other sites are on the list????

also still no update from the cwu on the new mtsf agreement...... ??? again can anyone shed any light?

If I remember correctly from a quick glance at the list its basically the 21 biggest MCs

[Tman]

The list (Annex B) of sites was on the original CWU LTB.
Give it 5-6 years and those 21 odd MC's will be the only MC's.

[Gold Fox]

Very good news for Swindon Mail Centre .... future job security... so no chance for closing down this mail centre ..

[11aaa222]

The list (Annex B) of sites was on the original CWU LTB.
Give it 5-6 years and those 21 odd MC's will be the only MC's.

Can you pleasethe list , annex b up on the site please....

[DX]

Another clue if your MC is getting one is if theirs any space been created or construction work been done. I've heard that if it is a success then some MC will get another one installed if space permits.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The list (Annex B) of sites was on the original CWU LTB.
Give it 5-6 years and those 21 odd MC's will be the only MC's.

Can you pleasethe list , annex b up on the site please....

If you do a site search for LTB 640/14 it should come up - the search function is available on every page - top right.

[SpacePhoenix]

Anyone know what the size of the machine is?

[11aaa222]

The list (Annex B) of sites was on the original CWU LTB.
Give it 5-6 years and those 21 odd MC's will be the only MC's.

Can you pleasethe list , annex b up on the site please....

If you do a site search for LTB 640/14 it should come up - the search function is available on every page - top right.

this has nothing to do with the parcel proceesing machines.... the LTB 640/14 is to do with industrial engineers.

I once again ask does anyone know anything about these 20/21 'busiest' mail centres that are getting these new machines?


also the new mtsf agreement any updates?

I am hoping my mc does not get one of these machines as i am looking foward to the mail centre closing and mail migrating elsewhere and taking the vr which is why i impetrivly need any updates on the new vr payments status I am hoping to get the full 104 weeks payoff as per previous terms ... hope they have not been changed......

[dodger162]

The MC rationalisation programme is complete. Only Portsmouth and Ipswich remain in this.

[swindonandy]

Very good news for Swindon Mail Centre .... future job security... so no chance for closing down this mail centre ..

The MC yes. But then it's never been at risk, the only people saying it is have just been trying to wind up. Jobs will go; when you need a dozen people to feed/clear down the machine what happens to the other 30 people who used to sort parcels?

As for the 21 sites, that's clear enough; if your MC sorts 3+ postcodes you'll have one. If you only have 2 postcodes then it'll depend on space and predicted traffic growth. If you only have 1 then not a hope in hell (apart from BT)

[Tman]

The MC rationalisation programme is complete. Only Portsmouth and Ipswich remain in this.

Should read-
"the current MC rationalisation programme is nearly complete, but the next phase of expected MC reviews will be announced within the next two years, and is expected to consist largely of those MCs still running (the obsolete and maintenance-heavy) IMPs and/or with no space available for parcel/packet sorter machinery.

[hubbahubba]

The MC rationalisation programme is complete. Only Portsmouth and Ipswich remain in this.

Should read-
"the current MC rationalisation programme is nearly complete, but the next phase of expected MC reviews will be announced within the next two years, and is expected to consist largely of those MCs still running (the obsolete and maintenance-heavy) IMPs and/or with no space available for parcel/packet sorter machinery.

So what alternative to IMP is there for a seg for collection mail?