MDEC deal or no deal?

[Robert Tressell]

I am new to this site so please forgive me for repeating this post, which I made elsewhere on the forums.

As an MDEC worker I must say this new deal we are to vote on only confirms my worst fears about our union.
For years they have failed to have MDEC pay brought up to the level of other RM workers.
Whenever I mentioned it I was told that work was going on behind the scenes to sort it out.
Now, we have this 80 page document to consider. ONly when I requested to see it my union rep looked at me as though I'd asked if I could sleep with his wife. He then promised to bring it to me, but I knew it wouldn't appear.

Thankfully I have contacts in other places who kindly gave me a copy.

I think I know why he didn't want me to see it before he had a chance to break the bad news to myself and my colleagues. This was done in a joint meeting with the union rep and management hand in hand this week.
We were told that at least one of the three MDEC centres is to close. Either Plymouth, Stoke or Stockport will cease to function with staff offered 'alternative positions' elsewhere in RM.
Now I know that this 'rationalisation' is a constant theme in RM, and I realise that MDEC workers are just as much in the firing line as everyone else. But to be actively encouraged to wish the worst for our colleagues in the other MDECs rather than ourselves is so close to treachery that it makes me ashamed.

And so long as the CWU locally acts behind the scenes like a little closed shop, with only those who are in positions of power or influence allowed to see the whole picture I have no confidence in any of them.

So deal or no deal? I haven't made up my mind.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

for ease here is the MDEC Section Copied and pasted from the proposed agreeemnt

Manual Data Entry Centres (MDECs) Rationalisation

Agreement

1. Introduction
With the technical advances that have been made in the Address Interpretation (AI) Programme, a review will be undertaken under the banner of Tech Refresh. The review will also consider the associated technology due to be deployed within the mail centre network, the fall in mail volumes and the future requirements of the current MDEC network at Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke.

2. Aims and objectives
 to ensure the MDEC network and infrastructure is robust
 quality of service is maintained or improved
 to ensure there is a meaningful consultation process at all levels that provides the opportunity to input and influence any proposed changes so views of representatives can be gained in order to inform outcomes
 mitigate the impact on employees from the changes and ensure employees issues have been fully taken into consideration and dealt with in line with the appropriate national agreements
 any potential surplus will be dealt with in line with the MTSF
 the project timetable will include sufficient time at all stages of the process to allow meaningful discussions and relevant negotiations with the union to take place in line with the IR Framework

3. Strategic involvement

National Strategic Involvement (NSI) meetings will continue to take place on a regular basis and as a minimum quarterly to ensure any developments are shared at the earliest possible stage.

The role of the NSI meeting will be:
 To ensure ongoing strategic involvement with any potential impact from the changes

Business Transformation 2010 and Beyond
 To discuss the timetable for any proposed changes
 To support the units involved in line with the agreed process
 To clear any appropriate communications to be circulated from national level on proposed changes

Strategic involvement meetings below national level will continue to meet four times a year to provide information and to provide the opportunity for local representatives to discuss, input and influence any proposed changes.

4. Employee impact/people issues
 no member of staff will be forced to buy down their hours/go part-time and no part-time employees will be forced to increase their contractual hours
 the aim will be to meet every individual’s first preference wherever possible and offer suitable alternative jobs that take into account individuals’ personal circumstances. To assist this aim, all MDEC employees will be given the opportunity to complete a non-binding preference exercise to provide information that can establish an initial manpower plan
 in addition to the terms of MTSF, an outplacement support package (currently contained in Clear Choice) will be provided to help individuals so that they can make realistic and appropriate choices for their future
 MDEC employees wishing to remain within Royal Mail and opt to regrade due to no keyer work being available will have the opportunity to receive OPG training in advance of any potential closure where vacancies can be accommodated by Royal Mail
 whilst the review is taking place, CWU represented grade vacancies within the area of the three MDEC sites will be filled on a temporary basis where this will assist to provide job opportunities for those MDEC employees affected
 relocation assistance in paragraph 8 of Annex A of the code of practice for managing surpluses 2002 will be available

5. Framework Application

Any issues regarding the application/interpretation of this Agreement will be forwarded for resolution to the lead negotiators of this Agreement.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Mail Centres, Collection Hubs and MDECs

A new (non pensionable) supplement to basic pay to all OPGs/OSGs in Mail Centres, OPGs/OSGs in Collection Hubs (who are not eligible to receive the Delivery Pay supplement) and Royal Mail CWU grades in MDECs pro rata for part-time employees. The supplement will increase in value as agreed in basic pay rises. It will flow through in 2011 and 2012. It will be paid 52 weeks a year at the rate of £8.00 per week and applies to new entrants. It replaces the first £8.00 of any PBS/ICS residual bonus payment in the Unit. In Units where the PBS/ICS payment is greater than £8.00, the amount over £8.00 will still be paid to existing recipients. Where the existing PBS/ICS payment is less than £8.00, the shortfall is funded on an ongoing basis by using the pool of money created by the former ESOS productivity scheme. The employees eligible for this pay supplement will also receive a one-off non-pensionable lump sum payment of £75 (pro rata for part-time employees) along with the first payment of the new supplement.

The above approach uses up the pool of money created by the former ESOS productivity scheme. Hence the ESOS scheme will cease to exist and will not accrue any future money.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

MDECs

Lump Sums

The payment of £1000 (pro rata for part time employees) will be paid as follows:

£100 lump sum will be paid on successful completion of a revision at all three MDEC sites in 2010.

£900 lump sum will be paid on successful implementation of the MDEC Rationalisation Programme, including to employees who leave the Business at the time of implementation. The detailed changes arising from the transformation plan will be the subject of further negotiations and progressed as soon as practicable to ensure the changes are deployed and payment is received as early as possible (i.e. no later than 2012/13).

[HeyYouGuys]

You get the feeling whether the Union accepts RM's offer or not, at some point, and probably the first chance they get, they will close one of the MDEC's down.

They keep going on about natural attrition, but it will get to a stage when it becomes economically viable to close one of them (probably Stoke).

The offer of "alternative employment" within RM sounds laughable. All the other RM departments around the Stoke MDEC area have shut. Our own mail goes to Wolverhampton and back when we deliver to someone else in the city! The chance "to train" doesn't sound particulary good either - and "training" is does not always lead to "a job".

I've heard a lot of negative vibes the last ouple of weeks, and this from an MDEC worker, part of the company which has up to now being pretty resistant to cuts. Doesn't sound good to me.

[toronto68]

There is alot a negative vibes going around and when the questions are asked they are neither confirmed or denied. When you ask a question its "I'll have to get back to you on that". And one team is told things in WTL and the other team is not, that doesn't help either.

[CoachingMonkey]

There is alot a negative vibes going around and when the questions are asked they are neither confirmed or denied. When you ask a question its "I'll have to get back to you on that". And one team is told things in WTL and the other team is not, that doesn't help either.

Yes, and it doesn't help when one of the senior managers (one who visits the MDEC once every 3 years and has the most expensive car on the car park when he turns up) pops into one of the WTL's and talks a load of crap and demeans the HYS responses. A truly world class prat.

But then again, when did RM bosses have any respect for their subordinates, especially those who are just "manual data entry keyers".

I would point out that the my team manager is above all that, and has done his best to keep us in the loop. It's the people higher up who are the problem.

[Robert Tressell]

A union rep at my place said yesterday that he thinks two MDEC sites might have to go.
And when a journalist pal of mine contacted the union to talk about this matter he was told the union was unaware of any threat to MDECs.

A complete mess with one person not knowing what the other person is doing or saying. Unfortunately this kind of poor service is leading me to a NO vote.
The workers deserve better than this.

[CoachingMonkey]

A union rep at my place said yesterday that he thinks two MDEC sites might have to go.
And when a journalist pal of mine contacted the union to talk about this matter he was told the union was unaware of any threat to MDECs.

A complete mess with one person not knowing what the other person is doing or saying. Unfortunately this kind of poor service is leading me to a NO vote.
The workers deserve better than this.

We haven't heard that - in fact the managers are making out that the situation isn't too bad, and that new technology might even "create" more work. Not sure about that one, but there are a lot of mixed messages coming out about the future of RM and the MDEC's.

Thing is, I'm not sure you will get a better deal. It's certainly a close call with regard to the vote.

Also, I'm surprised that the union said they were unaware of of any threat to the MDEC's. Was the journo speaking to the right union?

[CoachingMonkey]

One more thing,

The managers are very careful with their terminology. There are lots of mentions of "new technology", "new systems", but not one mention of "MEERS".

Must be that the "mere" use of that term has negative connotations.

[Joe_Esposita]

To be honest, I haven't made up my mind yet either, especially due to the rumors flying around about a possible merger of the MDEC's as it does seem to be a bit pointless agreeing to a pay rise only to be shown the door via the MTSF when one or possibly two get shut down.

At this stage it is not worth hassle of thinking which of the three would be closed as there's a case for them all, as: -

Stoke - Low numbers in terms of staff

Stockport - Not a RM building and so costs more to lease the office space

Plymouth - Possibly too big, if the indications/rumors of the improvement that MEARS has over AI; then possibly the Network won't need that many staff. Also if I remember correctly isn't half the building not used? So RM could benefit by whats the land worth?

Also MEARS doesn't have to be specifically mentioned as it is part of the Tech Refresh (which IS mentioned in the Rationalisation agreement), but again it is only rumor at this point on exactly what the improvement would be (if there is any!). So again it's really pointless to throw things around until we are told something more concrete.

I wait with baited breath

[CoachingMonkey]

Stoke - Low numbers in terms of staff

That's right. The building at Stoke used to be full. Someone told me there was hot-desking in the early days!

Everybody can fit into a single room now, and there's plenty of room on the car park.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

[BELIAL]

1. Introduction
With the technical advances that have been made in the Address Interpretation (AI) Programme, a review will be undertaken under the banner of Tech Refresh. The review will also consider the associated technology due to be deployed within the mail centre network, the fall in mail volumes and the future requirements of the current MDEC network at Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke.

Not wishing to be alarmist but when I read that and then look at the rest of your bit of the agreement, there does seem to be more than a suggestion that all three MDEC sites will be surplus to requirements on completion of the transformation program

[will-lost]

1. Introduction
With the technical advances that have been made in the Address Interpretation (AI) Programme, a review will be undertaken under the banner of Tech Refresh. The review will also consider the associated technology due to be deployed within the mail centre network, the fall in mail volumes and the future requirements of the current MDEC network at Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke.

Not wishing to be alarmist but when I read that and then look at the rest of your bit of the agreement, there does seem to be more than a suggestion that all three MDEC sites will be surplus to requirements on completion of the transformation program

Thats my general understanding of the agreement. If any MDEC's do stay open it will only be a temporary situation until the new AI system gets upto speed.

[norma8046]

I heard a rumour last Xmas that a new MDEC was being prepared in Bristol (with all the latest technology) and that the Plymouth one was being closed. Not sure of the reliability of the source, mind you; but it didn't come from nowhere.
Twould be a shame and a great loss, as it's a great place to work, although some of the people are slightly entrenched.