Future scenarios....

[fishtank]

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binari ... ential.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1.Reduce to 5 collection and delivery days each week. All other services remain the same as today

2.1st class service would change, so that local mail is delivered next day, but national mail would take 2 days.

Same price as 1st class service
Same delivery targets (93%) although in reality likely that more than 93% of mail would meet these targets
2nd class service would still exist in its current form (delivered in 3 days)
Same collection times as currently

3.Post boxes emptied at same time as mail is delivered in that area

• Post boxes would have details of the final collection time – this would be based on the expected delivery times in that area. The final collection time would vary across locations with boxes being emptied between 9am-4pm depending on the area.
• Post boxes would continue to have details of the nearest post box with a later collection time e.g., 4.30-6.30. These post boxes would be in towns, at post offices, delivery offices (place where you collect your parcels)

4.Replace current 1st and 2nd class with a single two-day postal service.

This service would cost less than 1st class and more than 2nd class
Delivery targets would be 95% (mid-way between current service levels) In reality, urban mail would be likely to arrive faster than rural mail
Collection times would be same as currently

5.The rules would state that post had to be delivered between 9am and 5pm (an hour or two later than current rules).

All other aspects would stay the same (costs, 1st and 2nd class, targets etc)
Delivery times in your area would be consistent each day
This would save on transportation costs as Royal Mail would have more time to transport mail, so could take more by road rather than by air.
People in some areas will not receive their mail until 5pm

Working 9 to 5 what a way to make a living....

[Hitcher]

3.Post boxes emptied at same time as mail is delivered in that area

But that can be an hour or more different depending on the amount of mail!

[RedBagMan]

3.Post boxes emptied at same time as mail is delivered in that area

... by the same person ???

[Lincox]

Yep, same person and with a little seat attached to the trolley so that you can sit and sort all the local mail so it can be delivered immediately. A small cape will be provided for when it rains and winter months one of those small greenhouse heaters.

[newtimes]

[pinstripe]

A small cape will be provided for when it rains

For a moment, I had visions of us wearing our pants on the outside and a cape with a big "P" on it. So close.

[Stormproof]

3.Post boxes emptied at same time as mail is delivered in that area

Used to do that before SDD came in on the town duties. Our rurals still do it. Though obviously thats not the last collection of the day.

[bigcol]

3.Post boxes emptied at same time as mail is delivered in that area

But that can be an hour or more different depending on the amount of mail!

6 hours on my duty!

[britwrit]

Obviously this is some sort of hoax. Deregulation of the postal market is going to lead to infinitely better service.

[Lincox]

And infinitely worse terms and conditions of employment.

[redneck]

Once again the fact that parcels/packets traffic is rising is completely ignored. None of the suggestions in that document make the case for the six day delivery being a factor in our increasing business in that area. If we go five days we make ourselves no better or worse for packets than some of the other deliverers around.

There is an agenda here to reduce manpower, not that it is mentioned at all as such.

[fishtank]

There is an agenda here to reduce manpower, not that it is mentioned at all as such.

I think you're right.
There was an expectation that modernisation would reduce headcount,in processing that has been achieved to a certain extent with the rationalisation of mail centres but in delivery where the majority of staff work because of the failure of the delivery methods revisions there has not been anywhere near the promised savings or reductions.
This,to me anyway smacks of a rather desperate plan b.

Alternatively it could just be a teaser for possible buyers highlighting potential cost savings still left in the business although i think any serious buyer with an imagination could see that potential.
Relative silence from the union so far but i think news will come from thursday's meeting.

[NWpostie]

3.Post boxes emptied at same time as mail is delivered in that area

Used to do that before SDD came in on the town duties. Our rurals still do it. Though obviously thats not the last collection of the day.

I remembered that when I started working for RM, we used to pick up box keys from the PHG so that at the end of our first delivery we emptied them and took them back to the DO be sorted for the second delivery locals and the rest are sent to the mail centre, it got stopped and the van started collecting them from the boxes instead.

Parcels is the way forward in my opinion, mail will still be around but more like bulk mail in bursts, few social mail and the Christmas rush, you can't email parcels or packets, it had to be delivered physically, our established and proven network is to our advantage, we need to be treated with fairness, reasonable workloads, forget van sharing, just give each parcel delivery men a big van with parcels and packet along with some mail, maybe a small sorting frame inside, they can work to their own speed and no personality issues, no differing speed, I could think of more but its late in the evening....

[tivoli]

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binari ... ential.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Scrolling down, existing minimum standards stated as letters delivered 6 days a week but packets only 5 days, perhaps a possibility for some relief on a Saturday!

[fishtank]

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binari ... ential.pdf

Scrolling down, existing minimum standards stated as letters delivered 6 days a week but packets only 5 days, perhaps a possibility for some relief on a Saturday!

Packets have always been mon-fri under the USO.
No relief i'm afraid.