£1000 bonus for Dundee East posties but backlog remains

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee ... mains.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some Dundee East posties will receive as much as £1000 extra for implementing the new working system at the beleaguered depot — but union leaders have insisted they were entitled to the money as the failures that have delayed deliveries have not been their members' fault.

The massive backlog began with the introduction of the Way Forward system two months ago and has been aggravated by the severe weather.

At its height the mountain of undelivered post at the West Pitkerro Industrial Estate depot reached six figures and extra staff were drafted in.

Royal Mail is aiming to clear the backlog by this weekend.

The Courier reported on Thursday that, despite the problems, bonus payments of £800 were being paid to under-pressure posties in Dundee East to make the service better.

The Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce chief executive said that would raise eyebrows in other industries that were trying to change to stay profitable but not paying staff bonuses.

The bonus money is being paid in stages as the Way Forward scheme is implemented.

It is formally called the Revision Process — Business Transformation 2010 and Beyond and was agreed between Royal Mail and the union last March.

Communication Workers' Union area representative Willie Lawson said some posties in Dundee East would receive as much as £1000.

The amount depends on the size of the delivery office, with staff working in smaller offices receiving smaller sums.

He continued, "The staff in Dundee East have done what they are supposed to do so far and are entitled to receive the money that they have earned.

"Things have failed in Dundee East because the route planning hasn't been done properly and the equipment hasn't been ready and that has been Royal Mail's fault."

CWU Scottish secretary John Brown said Royal Mail was to blame for the system not working not the workers, so they should not lose out.

Mr Brown said, "The bonus was part of the agreement signed with Royal Mail.

'We have earned it'
"We have earned it and participated in the revision programme.

"Why should our workers refuse to accept pay and the amount of money that was offered when they are on the high moral ground?

"The agreement included the payment of bonuses so it is not our problem if the company have got the wrong computer programme to cope with the traffic of mail and the delivery system."

Mr Brown said the system, which is meant to bundle the mail into routes and free up the postmen to spend more time on their rounds, could not cope.

"We warned Royal Mail as they were doing the revision: that won't work, but Royal Mail processed it regardless," he said.

"All this was done to save money but, it's like Royal Mail say, they have to deliver 100% of the mail with only 90% of the old budget."

He added, "Our members have earned any bonus money. It is not their fault that Royal Mail have introduced these revisions in such a cack-handed way."

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said, "The modernisation programme has been undertaken on the basis of a national agreement reached last year between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union, endorsed by postmen and women in a national ballot."

She added, "A full investigation has taken place in Dundee East delivery office.

'Hostile'

"Following the most hostile start to winter weather in the UK in living memory, we are currently focused on delivering the mail to our customers."

The difficulties were discussed in the Commons on Thursday.

At business, innovation and skills questions, Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie demanded assurances that the Way Forward system would not be rolled out until the problems in Dundee were resolved.

Minister Vince Cable fielded the question to Postal Affairs Minister Ed Davey, who said Royal Mail accepted there were problems with establishing the system in Dundee East.

"I'm sure we'll learn from those. Following a review, a recovery plan was put in place but I am afraid the severe weather hindered that plan," Mr Davey answered.

"They've apologised for disruption to services and taken a range of measures as a matter of urgency to ensure households and businesses in Dundee East receive all of their mail.

"Seventy extra staff and managers have been drafted in to help with the recovery following a major push last weekend."

He hoped Mr Hosie would be able to report back that his constituency and businesses were seeing an improvement.

Mr Hosie said later, "Royal Mail staff have been working incredibly hard to clear the backlog but mail is still stuck in the sorting office.

"Lessons must be learned from Dundee before UK Government ministers even considered putting this system in place elsewhere."

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I wonder who is briefing them from RM

[POSTMAN]

Is this a story a day then?There was one yesterday,better get in early tomorrow teebs,we need to keep up.

[janitor]

And why do they keep refering to it as the way forward, that was years ago.

[oypostie]

Ah, the good old smear tactics. Things must be getting uncomfortable for Royal Mail

[youwot!!!!!]

this particular bird has well and truly come home to roost.