World Class Mail - World Class Mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

12 September 2011
LTB 773/11


No. 773/11
Ref : 24300
Date: 12th September 2011




TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleague,

RE: World Class Mail

In moving forward the Unions main Conference Policy, Emergency Motion 3, the Postal Executive has also been considering all the issues associated with World Class Mail.

As part of this, the Union recognises there is a need to provide more information about World Class Mail, explain more clearly the Union’s current policy and how we intend to deal with WCM in the National Talks arising from the recently published Joint Statement.

Please find attached to this LTB a comprehensive WCM Briefing Document which will assist all Postal Branches and CWU Representatives in explaining the current position to CWU members.

We do understand that given both the nature of WCM and the way it has been rolled out, that this is not an easy subject to communicate. Therefore, as part of the Briefing Document we have also included a letter that can be circulated to the relevant CWU members.

Any general enquiries to the content of this LTB should be directed to the DGS (P) Department. Specific functional enquires should be directed to the relevant Assistant Secretary.





Yours sincerely






Dave Ward Ray Ellis
Deputy General Secretary (P) Assistant Secretary






Bob Gibson Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary



World Class Mail – A CWU Briefing Document

Introduction

The purpose of this World Class Mail Briefing Document is to assist CWU Branches and Representatives in explaining the Unions current WCM policy and how we intend to deal with WCM in national talks with Royal Mail.


Background

The Royal Mail Group has undertaken a major investment into the system of working known as “World Class Mail “. The company’s decision to invest in this method of working was taken in the lead up to the last national dispute and the concept of WCM was always going to be a major component in their approach to modernisation. Ultimately the WCM method of working is designed to directly engage employees into achieving consistently higher levels of efficiency, performance and quality.

At the time the CWU took the view that WCM was not going away and that the best way to address the issue was to become fully involved in influencing and shaping the development of WCM in the right way.

Royal Mail accepted within the Business Transformation Agreement that CWU could be fully involved in the ongoing development of WCM and that it would not replace or supersede existing National Agreements, including the Industrial Relations Framework.

It was clearly understood by the company that in reaching an agreement on the approach to WCM, this was not the Union simply rubberstamping the Royal Mail product – far from it. It was a genuine attempt by both parties to work together, learn from the experiences of WCM rollout and then jointly develop a way of working that would achieve the best possible outcome for customers, employees and the company.

The agreed approach to WCM must not be seen by either party in isolation from the overriding principles of the Business Transformation Agreement. Neither can it supersede these principles. The specific words in the WCM Section of the Agreement reflect the fact that what was agreed is an evolving process – not the finished article. In June 2010 the National Agreement was supplemented by a more detailed RM/CWU WCM involvement Framework which was circulated to all Postal Branches. For ease of reference the appropriate section of the original Agreement and the subsequent involvement Framework are reproduced at Appendix A and B.

In setting the full background of how WCM was introduced it is important that all CWU Representatives recognise that irrespective of the current difficulties between the RMG and CWU, the agreed approach to WCM always envisaged that the issue would be subject to ongoing discussions.

How CWU Policy has developed

During the course of Business Transformation deployment there has been regular national RM/CWU meetings to monitor the overall progress of the agreement. The subject of WCM has consistently featured on the agenda of these meetings.

In addition, concerns over specific issues has also led to ad-hoc WCM meetings. One such issue was whether or not new kit/machinery should be rolled out locally through WCM or whether it should be introduced through the National Generic Trial Agreement. We have also encountered a number of flashpoints around safety issues.

Separate from our meetings with Royal Mail, the CWU also set up our own national WCM Group. From time to time, this has taken input from CWU Representatives directly involved in the initial WCM sites.

To summarise, it is fair to say that the WCM journey has been difficult and has divided opinions within the Union, our members, and indeed some managers.

What the aforementioned demonstrates is that we were already running into difficulties with the rollout of World Class Mail. However, events took a turn for the worse when in March 2011 the company broke the news on ColleagueShare and also announced that they were about to implement a new business plan. It was against this background that the Union was forced to respond to the company’s actions.

On the 28th March the Postal Executive agreed a document which set out the CWU response to what we saw as a breach of the agreement and a breach of trust by the employer. The full response of the Union was contained in PEC document 52/2011 and it included a comprehensive policy designed to put pressure on the employer to address what was an extremely difficult situation. As part of our overall policy the Postal Executive decided we could no longer continue to give our full support to World Class Mail and the following statement was agreed:

“Given Royal Mails failure to adhere to the agreed approach to World Class Mail, we will suspend forthwith all involvement in the future roll out of WCM, until such time that all of our concerns are addressed. In existing WCM sites we will advise members that they should honour their contracts of employment, but should not become involved in any work outside of their contract and or in conflict with other existing National Agreements. We will also insist that the company provide the Union with detailed information on all the costs and anticipated savings associated with the World Class Mail project”.

On the 29th March 2011 a National Briefing was held with all CWU Branches to explain the CWU Policy in response to the RMG announcements on their new business plan and ColleagueShare. A full copy of this Policy position was circulated to all Postal Branches. The element of our policy covering World Class Mail was then subsequently reaffirmed as part of Emergency Motion 3, which also dealt with the major challenges facing the Union at this years Annual Conference.


The current Position

In recent meetings with the company and in the context of the national Joint Statement to commence talks on a range of important issues, the subject of WCM has continued to feature strongly on both parties’ agenda.

The Union has told the company that they must now address our concerns about the way WCM is developing. In some locations it is clear their current approach is outside the terms of the National Agreement. Furthermore, we believe some managers continue to demonstrate a desire to go it alone on World Class Mail and ensure that all our existing National Agreements become subservient to their view of World Class Mail. We have again re-enforced with the company that the current policy of suspending CWU involvement in the further rollout of WCM, is also a direct response to management’s unacceptable actions on ColleagueShare and the fact that they have not yet addressed our concerns over their new Business Plan.

For their part Royal Mail has not hidden their disappointment at the Unions policy which they say is beginning to slow down the rollout of the WCM programme. However, at a meeting on the 19th July the company said they were willing to engage in fresh national talks over WCM and challenged the Union to provide more clarity about the specific areas involved in WCM that were causing problems.

In the last few weeks the Union has consulted further with the Postal Executive and CWU Divisional Representatives and drawn together a list of our main concerns. This list can be found at Appendix C.

Our list of concerns over WCM was sent to Royal Mail on the 16th August 2011 and will now form part of the Agenda in our ongoing national talks.

Next steps

National talks linked to the recent Joint Statement are due to commence in earnest on Tuesday 13th September 2011. The Union view these talks as an opportunity to review the whole concept of World Class Mail and where necessary it will be our intention to negotiate additional safeguards that address our issues of concern.

In the meantime, it is crucial that we maintain pressure on the company by upholding the Union’s WCM Policy. In the first instance, we would ask Branches to ensure that this Briefing Document is discussed at branch meetings and that all CWU Representatives understand the Union’s policy. Secondly, we would ask Branches and Representatives to communicate and re-enforce our policy with the affected members in the workplace. This includes circulating the attached letter at Appendix D.

We must remind our members that our current approach on WCM, is being adopted primarily for two reasons. Firstly, it is directly linked to the major national issues that have been agreed within Emergency Motion 3. Secondly, it is designed to address specific concerns over Royal Mail’s approach to WCM.

We have advised the company that we will keep our policy under review in light of the overall progress being made on all the national issues associated with Emergency Motion 3.



We will keep you informed of developments.

A report on behalf of the CWU Postal Executive Council



Dave Ward Phil Browne
Deputy General Secretary Acting Assistant Secretary



Ray Ellis Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary



Bob Gibson Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary










Appendix A



The World Class Mail section of the Business Transformation Agreement

Royal Mail and the CWU are proud of the role employees have played in the achievements of the company and the productivity improvements over recent years. Given the challenges the business now faces, including volume decline, both parties have a mutual interest in building upon these achievements by embracing world class performance.

Royal Mail and the CWU recognise that the best way to deliver world class performance is by employees, unions and managers working together to build a culture of mutual interest that will help drive improvements in everything we do.
Central to this will be the development of a structured approach to safety, customer service, productivity and employee engagement.

Royal Mail and the CWU commit themselves to working together to develop and deploy world class standards of performance and methods using a range of approaches. One such approach developed by Royal Mail is the World Class Mail (WCM) initiative. In order to progress WCM Royal Mail are committed to help the CWU at all levels to gain a better understanding of this initiative.

Royal Mail welcomes the support and full involvement of the CWU in taking WCM forward with a positive role in improving and enhancing WCM to ensure its success in practice.

Both parties commit to the deployment of WCM, which will be the subject of consultation at all levels and will be consistent with existing national agreements. The rollout which started in mail centres in January 2009 will complete in mail centres and RDCs by September 2011. In delivery offices WCM is still being developed and will be completed in all delivery offices and network hubs by September 2012.

Royal Mail and the CWU will establish by end April 2010 an approach for regular and effective involvement at national, regional and local level to review the continuous development, deployment and progress of WCM. Royal Mail will ensure that WCM becomes a core agenda item in the new strategic involvement forums. Royal Mail will also ensure that the CWU have access to the relevant senior project managers. The relevant local representative will be involved in work area activity.

Any issues affecting national agreements, and employee terms and conditions will be the subject of normal negotiation procedures.




Appendix B



World Class Mail Consultative Framework

Royal Mail and CWU are committed to work together to achieve world class standards of performance and methods and this will be supported by a culture of mutual interest. To support this there will be regular and effective involvement at national, regional and local level in order to review the continuous development, deployment and progress of World Class Mail, in line with the Business Transformation 2010 and Beyond Agreement.

As World Class Mail is a journey, the way of doing this will evolve in line with our developing understanding of it. This Consultative Framework is structured to provide a supportive environment for the positive development of World Class Mail consistent with national agreements and improved engagement of employees in matters affecting their work.

World Class Mail will be a core agenda item in the new strategic involvement forums which are in the process of being established, and in addition the following arrangements will be immediately implemented and are subject to review in line with the principles outlined in the agreement and above.

National level

World Class Mail will be reviewed monthly at a meeting of the National Deployment Group. The purpose of the session will include but not be limited to reviewing the development of the World Class Mail concept, its’ pace of rollout and the consideration of any issues that may impact on national agreements. Additional events will be arranged as necessary to allow more in depth consideration of particular issues, and will include NDG members, the Royal Mail programme lead, relevant experts and additional attendees as necessary.

Regional level

At regional level, the relevant director and divisional representative should meet as a matter of urgency to share progress of World Class Mail initiatives in their function/area so far. Going forward, World Class Mail will become a regular agenda item at regional Business Transformation deployment meetings to review progress of the rollout and consistency with national agreements.

Local Level

As part of their regular meeting schedule, local managers and local CWU representatives will review progress of World Class Mail in each unit in which it has been implemented. The local CWU representative will also have access to World Class Mail leads and will support local employees in identifying and developing examples of good practice, consistent with national agreements and business policies. The intention is for World Class Mail to develop in an open and constructive environment and CWU area representatives will also be encouraged to monitor and support progress on a regular basis.



Any issues affecting national agreements and employee terms and conditions will be the subject of normal negotiation procedures in accordance with the Business Transformation 2010 and Beyond Agreement.



Appendix C



List of CWU World Class Mail concerns that will formulate part of the agenda in ongoing talks with the company:

· The potential for the concept of WCM to marginalise the Union in the workplace and at national level, at the very time when the national parties have committed to improve relationships.

· The potential for WCM to circumvent the Industrial Relations Framework and national agreements. In particular, concerns that WCM, as a process, will be used to remove duties and drive productivity whilst replacing normal collective bargaining.

· The need to bottom out, once and for all, the whole approach to health and safety and the reporting of accidents.

· The need to provide more clarity over what issues can be dealt with at national or local level.

· The potential for WCM to divide the workforce creating favouritism for those who engage and alienation for those who are less enthusiastic.

· Despite the considerable commitments in existing agreements to involve the Union and allow us to shape the development of WCM, the actual process is still driven solely by management techniques and tools that are being rigidly applied.

· The lack of quality information being provided by the company over progress of World Class Mail and future role out.

· The need for a proper training package and stronger communications for representatives and employees.

A better understanding of the company’s objectives, including the level of investment, the anticipated cost reduction and a robust process for monitoring the financials going forward.

· The opportunity for the Union to introduce some of our own ideas into World Class Mail that could improve industrial relations and provide tangible benefits for employees including appropriate remuneration.

· The need for the Union to put in place a robust CWU support structure to ensure WCM is developed fully in line with national agreements and the outcome of our forthcoming talks.




Appendix D



A copy of the letter to be circulated to the relevant CWU members


Dear Colleague 9th September 2011



World Class Mail

We recently wrote to all CWU members explaining that the Union is involved in crucial discussions with the company and Government on a wide range of issues that affect everybody’s future.

Whilst these discussions take place, and also as direct response to Royal Mail’s announcements on ColleagueShare and a new Business Plan that downgrades future expectations, the CWU has told Royal Mail that we have suspended our involvement in the further rollout of World Class Mail.

Although this is part of a wider Union Policy, designed to put pressure on the company to address our concerns over what the future holds, we have also told Royal Mail that we have specific concerns about the way the company are developing WCM. Amongst our concerns is the following:

The fact that some managers appear to be using WCM to remove duties and jobs that should be proper to discussion and agreement with the Union under nationally agreed procedures.

It appears that some managers are using WCM in a way that is dividing the workforce, by offering incentives such as overtime and better choice of annual leave to those who are enthusiastic about the process, whilst at the same time alienating those who are not so engaged.

The fact that some managers appear to be using WCM as a way of not reporting accidents and therefore giving a false picture on the real impact on Health and Safety. We have also received reports that in some locations, rather than improve Health and Safety, some WCM practices seem to undermine normal Health and Safety Procedures.

We are concerned about the cost of introducing World Class Mail and have asked the company to provide us with full details on the cost implications for every site.

The current situation is that Royal Mail has agreed to address the Unions concerns on WCM as part of their commitment to wider national talks.

Whilst these talks continue, it is important that CWU members support the Union’s stance of non involvement of the further rollout of WCM. We will keep you informed of developments.



Yours Sincerely




Dave Ward Ray Ellis
Deputy General Secretary (P) Assistant Secretary




Bob Gibson Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary

[fishtank]

How do you implement World Class Mail with a third rate management structure?
It's like trying to perform surgery wearing boxing gloves and a blindfold.

[Lincox]

World Class Mail must be when we can get round the walk in the same time as Hussain Bolt can run the 200 Metres. Until we reach that standard, managers will bully, harrass, vicimise. Why do we continue to let them get away with it? While the union heirarchy should be doing much more to stamp out this culture, it is still up to us to fight in the trenches and hit them with as many bullying and harrassment claims as we can muster.

[Talell]

In June 2010 the National Agreement was supplemented by a more detailed RM/CWU WCM involvement Framework which was circulated to all Postal Branches.

anyone got a copy of this? can't find it on the union website to save my life.

[BELIAL]

That's WCM dealt with, now where's me £5,400 from "colleague shares" and can I have my pension back?Please

[teesdale]

Better choice of annual leave, shite they gave them an extra days leave on top of their entitlement at Bristol Mail Centre. That must have cost £1500.

[hubbahubba]

World Class Mail must be when we can get round the walk in the same time as Hussain Bolt can run the 200 Metres. Until we reach that standard, managers will bully, harrass, vicimise. Why do we continue to let them get away with it? While the union heirarchy should be doing much more to stamp out this culture, it is still up to us to fight in the trenches and hit them with as many bullying and harrassment claims as we can muster.

Is Hussian a distant cousin of Sadam?
No doubt,the one that got away?

[Himaggen]

Here is the LTB as a download, (converted from .doc to .pdf, for those of you unable to access the CWU website or not running compatible software).

[ndg1]

its amazing introduce WCM in a mail center and so call managers on that group become area health and safety reps . whats going on . and that group now wil do the investigation on any accidents. and any SAFETY REPS can go away.?

[WHITEANT]

WCM part of that is the cleaning of your vans ,i asked when do we clean our vans .Either a tuesday or a saturday when your finished early ,i said but we lapse on (cough) light days u should still have time ,needless to say none of the vans get cleaned