LTB Consumer In Control (Evening Deliveries)

[Geezer]

Letter to Branches




No.794 /10 Ref. 530 Date: 14th September 2010


To: Branches with POSTAL Members

Dear Colleague,

Consumer In Control (Evening Deliveries)

Branches will be aware that the Union has been consistently challenging Royal Mail over a considerable period of time urging them to develop and introduce new products and services. Indeed it was the Union that pushed strongly for the inclusion of a section covering this aspect within the Business Transformation Agreement, hence the “shared vision” section of the National agreement.

Branches will also be aware that due to the changing shape of the mails market, fulfilment and home shopping is becoming increasingly important to both consumers and e-retailers. As a consequence we have been talking to Royal Mail about a premium evening delivery service for the last couple of months.

As a result Royal Mail will be trialling a Monday - Friday evening delivery service (6pm to 10pm) for a six month period commencing in October 2010 as part of a range of convenient delivery options for customers. The CWU is fully supportive of this trial.

The trial will take place delivering to postcodes within the greater London area, bounded by the M25 and will be run from the following trial locations;

• Mount Pleasant Mail Centre
• Watford Mail Centre
• Croydon Delivery Office

The trial will test a number of factors such as the demand for evening deliveries from online retailers, the benefits for customers, pricing structure and any operational or logistical issues. The trial will be staffed by OPG volunteers.

Royal Mail clearly views this as an important addition to the range of delivery options within their portfolio. From our perspective, aside from the fact that it could generate new work which we obviously welcome, if this product were to develop and the trial is successful it may well open the door for further opportunities to widen the trial to other locations, develop innovative attendance patterns and boost Royal Mail’s market share and opportunity in an area of potential market growth.

The attached guidelines have been jointly produced to provide the necessary assurances on safety, training, involvement and duty selection for the trial. In addition the agreed guidelines involve the Union fully in the trial as it develops along with regular reviews and a full review at the end of the trial in order to discuss the scope for continuation or expanding the trial and initiative further. The trial guidelines have been endorsed by the Postal Executive. Mark Baulch will be overseeing the trial on behalf of the Postal Executive.

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 530
Email Address: hnutley@cwu.org

Yours Sincerely



Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary

===========================================================================================================================================================================================================

Consumer in Control
Evening Delivery Trial Guidelines

Between October 2010 and April 2011 Royal Mail will be trialling evening deliveries as part of a range of convenient delivery options for customers. The CWU has supported and helped shape the trial and will remain involved as it progresses.

The trial will help assess demand and see whether we can provide a competitive cost-effective service. RM and CWU recognised the importance of ‘an improved and greater range of products and services’ in the “Modernisation - a shared vision” section contained within the BT 2010 and Beyond National Agreement. This trial is consistent with this vision.

The evening delivery option will be offered to customers of participating retailers’ web sites, Evening deliveries will use the existing Royal Mail Tracked™ product and customers will nominate an evening delivery of their choice. If customers are not at home to accept delivery at the specified time, they will be offered normal re-delivery or collection options.

The trial will be in the London area bounded by the M25 only.
Trial Objectives
1. To test demand for nominated evening deliveries among on-line shoppers;
2. To quantify the benefits that the evening delivery service brings to both end-consumers and the participating retailers;
3. To understand the price end-consumers are prepared to pay and how we can profitably operate such a service;
4. To create a log of issues that retailers, consumers, and Royal Mail experience in providing the service, to inform roll-out planning;
5. To understand operational lessons.

Trial Locations
The trial depots will be at: Mount Pleasant Mail Centre in the London Region;
Watford Mail Centre in the Anglia Region;
Croydon Delivery Office in the SE Region.

Duration
The trial will run for 6 months from 18th October 2010

Volunteering
It is estimated each depot will need up to approximately 15 volunteers, dependent on volumes.

Initially we will ask everyone to complete the self selection form handed out at the awareness raising events. If we still have more volunteers than needed we will apply the following selection criteria:

• Anyone on MTSF terms first (i.e. pay protection from late shift allowances 21:40 - 01:59);
• Existing late shift employees (assuming they can be spared);
• Location;
• Seniority – (in the event of still having more volunteers than needed).

Training will be provided to everyone taking part covering safety, security and standard operating procedures and any relevant issues for the trial, for example satellite navigation equipment (routing tool), maps, driving changeover etc.

In the event of there being a shortfall of volunteers for the trial at any trial site the national project and CWU leads will consider further resourcing options.

Involvement and Review
Any local issues that arise will be discussed and resolved in line with existing agreements. Regional leads will provide updates to local CWU reps during the course of the trial. Local working groups involving managers, postmen and women and their representatives will be set up and will meet regularly during the trial. The purpose of these groups will be to take feedback, track learning points and share best practice.

Success Criteria/Review
The National RM/CWU parties will meet regularly to review the trial and any issues that have been flagged up by the local working groups. Any further issues or difficulties will be dealt with as they arise.

A national mid trial review involving the national leads will take place during January 2011 and a further review at the end of the trial in April 2011. The review will discuss all aspects of the trial, including the scope for continuation, change or expansion.

[DGP1]

FFS Why would anyone want to be out delivering in the cold dark wet nights, some areas are bad enough in the daytime let alone at night

[fishtank]

FFS Why would anyone want to be out delivering in the cold dark wet nights, some areas are bad enough in the daytime let alone at night

Will we run a sweep? How long until the first one gets jumped/beaten to a pulp.

[DGP1]

FFS Why would anyone want to be out delivering in the cold dark wet nights, some areas are bad enough in the daytime let alone at night

Will we run a sweep? How long until the first one gets jumped/beaten to a pulp.

Then sacked for failing to safeguard the mail

[brothermagrew]

It is well known that the hottest time of the day (11:00-15:00) maybe this is RM's answer to taking care of the potential skin cancer problem.

[Wessex]

I've got an idea although some may consider it radical.I envisage posties delivering the majority of their letters before their customers have gone too work.I know, don't suppose it will ever work lol

[DGP1]

I've got an idea although some may consider it radical.I envisage posties delivering the majority of their letters before their customers have gone too work.I know, don't suppose it will ever work lol

Ideas like that won't get you into management

[baldrick]

I think the only volunteers they are likely to get will be PT looking to
get a FT duty for 6 months and possibly permanently after that.

[bunkerland]

It is well known that the hottest time of the day (11:00-15:00) maybe this is RM's answer to taking care of the potential skin cancer problem.

That would be just like Royal Mail............always thinking of us!

[pop it in pete]

No doubt this is will form (if successfull) part of Royal Mails argument to abolishing the USO.

Once thats out the way we then become more desirable to private investors.

[DirtyHarry]

I'd get Bob Gibson off his fat ass, and get him pounding the pavements from 6-10 at night, delivering the mountains of rubbish the fat get has saddled us all with.

[Big Daz]

No doubt this is will form (if successfull) part of Royal Mails argument to abolishing the USO.

Once thats out the way we then become more desirable to private investors.

Not every item we handle is USO.

[fishtank]

No doubt this is will form (if successfull) part of Royal Mails argument to abolishing the USO.

Once thats out the way we then become more desirable to private investors.

Not every item we handle is USO.

Well after this lot......

Royal Mail’s First and Second Class services: priority and non-priority letters and packets weighing up to 2kg
Royal Mail’s standard parcel service: non-priority delivery of parcels weighing up to 20kg
Royal Mail’s Special Delivery: a registered and insured next-day delivery service
Royal Mail’s international outbound service, its international public tariff, and international signed-for products - the UK is also subject to the Universal Postal Union’s requirement to deliver mail coming from abroad
Mailsort 1400, First and Second Class: pre-sorted mail of all formats up to 2kg
Cleanmail, First and Second Class: the ‘entry level’ bulk mail product most often used by smaller businesses
Royal Mail's Keepsafe, its mail re-direction for up to 12 months, Post Restante, certificate of posting, and business collections: a range of support services that ensure the security and integrity of the mail.

What's left?

[POSTMAN]

There are certain packets that are not part of the USO,hense in a london reps meeting they (RM) suggested duties to include packets for even later starts/finishes.

[fishtank]

There are certain packets that are not part of the USO,hense in a london reps meeting they (RM) suggested duties to include packets for even later starts/finishes.

The USO places no limits on when anything can be delivered only that it is a daily service(working day's Mon-Sat).
Last letter times are nothing to do with the USO.