Implementing the Transformation Agreement:Pete Keenlyside

[fishtank]

Implementing the Transformation Agreement

April/May Report

Business Transformation Agreement

The arguments are now done with, the votes have been cast and the membership have voted to accept the agreement. Whatever the rights or wrongs, the job now is to make sure it’s implemented on the agreed terms. That didn’t happen with the 2007 Agreement with the result that Royal Mail were able to get away with doing stuff that wasn’t in the Agreement and not sticking to commitments that were.

The bulk of this week’s Postal Executive was taken up with discussing how we were now going to move ahead with this. Dave Ward reported that he had already met with Royal Mail and that the intention was to set up a Joint Deployment Group, which would also include Roger Poole and ACAS. This would meet initially every fortnight. All the Divisional Reps were due to meet with Regional managers on 14 May and then joint meetings involving Area and Unit Reps would take place. He said the first task was to calm down the feelings raised by both sides jumping the gun on revisions and to that end a joint communication on this issue was planned for this week. What was needed above all was accurate information from the field so that neither side was relying on anecdotes provided by the other and the suggestion is to set up a traffic lights system so that every unit can be monitored to see where they are and what the problems are.

Bob Gibson reported on the progress of the joint workshops. There were still some issues outstanding around the information going into the various tools Royal Mail use. RM operates on the basis of 100BSI but that’s only possible for fully motivated staff operating an incentive scheme. Not the case for most of our members so that’s not something we can just accept. Also still unresolved is the accurate measurement of mail where what comes out of mail centres to DO’s always seems to be less than what goes in. He reported that he was due to meet RM this week again to try and sort out thee remaining issues and also to clear the menu of options for maximising the number of Saturdays off. The aim on D2D’s was to put them into workload and increase to 4 a week by the beginning of June and to 5 by July, assuming the contracts were there.
On the issue of World Class Mail the PE recognised that there was a need to get the involvement forums up and running as soon as possible. Royal Mail are still pushing this in a big way and it’s vital that this now proceeds according to the Agreement with the insistence that it doesn’t cut across existing national agreements. World Class Mail should also mean world-class terms and conditions and this mustn’t be forgotten.

Automation Deployment Guidelines

Acting Indoor Secretary Phil Browne presented a document to the PE dealing with the introduction of ILSM’s and Compact Sequencers into mail centres. This covers the rationale for choosing the locations for introducing the machinery, the safety issues in installing them, the success criteria to be achieved, the full involvement of the CWU at all levels and the maintenance of earnings opportunities. The guidelines lay down a minimum level of staffing, which will be one per CSS machine, working for around 2 hours on the machine followed by 2 hours on other associated work. The ILSM’s will have a minimum of 3 operators per machine plus separate porters and staff will rotate around the various roles. The final staffing levels will be subject to local agreement as some mail centres may need more depending on local circumstances. Selection will be as for specialist skills roles under the terms of the Way Forward and initially will be from those already Advanced TPM trained in seniority order. Full training will be given and all staff will receive the TPM allowance. The guide also contains a full description of the agreed TPM tasks for both machines.

Parcelforce Pay

Terry Pullinger reported that as part of the discussions on pay, Parcelforce had agreed a scheme to provide dental care to employees through a company called Denplan. This provides for 100% reimbursement for NHS treatment costs, worldwide dental injury and emergency cover and mouth cancer cover and the scheme will be open from 28th April this year. Talks were also continuing to establish an agreed job description and selection procedure for the Depot Trainer role. Terry reported that progress on the actual pay claim had been slow and difficult. This was partly because management wouldn’t move until the outcome of the Royal Mail Agreement was known and partly due to the Parcelforce managing director moving to POL. A temporary replacement has now been appointed and there is a commitment from both sides to conclude a new pay package as a priority.

Quadrant Pay

The PE was told that a closed offer had been received. As this was significantly below the current RPI of near 4%, this was rejected. Both sides have now gone away to review their positions and to see if there is anything that can be done to move the issue forward.

Postal Department Review

Following on from the retirement of Martin Collins, the Indoor Secretary, the PE have decided to carry out a review of the whole workings of the Postal Department. This will include looking at the roles and responsibilities of all Officers and Postal Executive members and will start immediately following Annual Conference. We decided that it wouldn’t be proper to fill the Indoor Secretary post until the outcome of this is known. In the meantime, PE member Phil Browne will carry out the role on a temporary basis.

Pete Keenlyside
7 May 2010

[Danelectro]

. RM operates on the basis of 100BSI but that’s only possible for fully motivated staff operating an incentive scheme. Not the case for most of our members so that’s not something we can just accept.

Nae sure if having fully motivated staff means a 100 BSI is achievable,it will have more to do with what performance standards
have been set,how the office is set up(how far to the missort frame,size of work area and isles etc) and of course the manager has to be able to run the office smoothly,mine hides the pens needed for the job in his office at the moment!

[shepherdess]

a post earlier stated that the delivery supplement would be started when your office has had a walk sequence revision now this post looks different ie 4 d2d in june 5 in july. Its not a hard question to answer and one the CWU should clarify asap

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I What was needed above all was accurate information from the field so that neither side was relying on anecdotes provided by the other

Perhaps a nod to RMC in this passage. However I think he is right in his implication that the CWU do need to make communication between HQ and the Shop Floor a lot quicker and more accurate.

[Martin Walsh]

I What was needed above all was accurate information from the field so that neither side was relying on anecdotes provided by the other

Perhaps a nod to RMC in this passage. However I think he is right in his implication that the CWU do need to make communication between HQ and the Shop Floor a lot quicker and more accurate.

There are currently talks going on nationally with the aim of getting a joint statement on deliveries which explains and claifies what the timetable is for the delivery supplement , the menu of options , the standards and door to door into workload.

[DirtyHarry]

There are currently talks going on nationally with the aim of getting a joint statement on deliveries which explains and claifies what the timetable is for the delivery supplement , the menu of options , the standards and door to door into workload.

Oooohhh, can't wait. You do spoil us rotten, don't you? And just when I was starting to think what a waste of my £3.01 a week it was paying the union, as well.