LTB414/17 TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING A PROOF OF CONCEPT TRIAL FOR MERGING TRACKED 48 WITH 2C STANDARD PARCELS IN CONTAINERS WHEN PROCESSED BY THE PARCEL SORTING MACHINE

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LTB414/17 TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING A PROOF OF CONCEPT TRIAL FOR MERGING TRACKED 48 WITH 2C STANDARD PARCELS IN CONTAINERS WHEN PROCESSED BY THE PARCEL SORTING MACHINE (PSM) AT SWINDON MAIL CENTRE

For the Immediate Attention of All:



Postal Branches

Divisional Representatives

Area Processing Representatives

TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING A PROOF OF CONCEPT TRIAL FOR MERGING TRACKED 48 WITH 2C STANDARD PARCELS IN CONTAINERS WHEN PROCESSED BY THE PARCEL SORTING MACHINE (PSM) AT SWINDON MAIL CENTRE

Dear Colleagues

Branches and representatives will be aware that a key component of the joint vision and agenda going forward is the Parcels Automation Strategy and that trial activity has been taking place at Swindon Mail Centre in relation to the Parcel Sorting Machine.

Currently the Tracked 48 and standard 2c parcel streams are processed separately on the PSM and despatched in dedicated Yorks. The business has however recently approached the department with a request to undertake a proof of concept trial to merge Tracked 48 and standard 2c parcels that are processed via the PSM, which would enable mixed Yorks where the fill is less than 75%.

The proposed proof of concept trial process will be:



2C standard parcels will be run through the PSM, and once that run has been completed only the Yorks that are over 75% full will be despatched, the rest will remain on the machine.

Tracked 48 parcels will then be sorted on top of the 2C Parcels in the York and will be despatched as a mixed York.

This will result in both products being located in the same York containers when despatched from the PSM to all Inward Mail Centres who receive merged traffic.

The mixed York’s will be labelled with a discreet Tracked York card to indicate that they are Tracked parcels and will be despatched with the rest of the automated Tracked and the manual Tracked parcels.

On receipt in the Inward Mail Centre they will be sent to the manual Tracked area and all Tracked parcels will be scanned in line with current processes.

Any 2C parcels will be sent to the manual area for sorting.
The trial will allow for an assessment of whether the revised process would address issues in relation of time lost due to machine clear down/set up when changing product streams and if there would be any benefit in relation to additional capacity on RM Network vehicles.

Discussions have therefore taken place with the business and a Terms of Reference has been concluded and endorsed by the Postal Executive, a copy of which is attached for your information.

The trial activity will not entail any change to the existing Workplan, or despatch/arrival times. Equally, it is not envisaged there will be any impact on existing road services for the duration of the trial. Any issues identified however in relation to the provision of Network services will be dealt with in line with existing agreements.

Colleagues will note that the TOR for the activity ensures that all appropriate representatives, i.e. IR, Engineering and H&S will be fully involved and that our members’ duties and earnings will be protected throughout the trial.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 732.01



Yours sincerely



Davie Robertson

Assistant Secretary

[Destiny]

We already get them 50/50 split with 1st & 2nd. Have done for some time

Secret trial already in motion or .......

[SpacePhoenix]

Bad idea, too much risk of Tracked ending up going to manual sorting and not getting scanned at inward MCs