Letter to Branches No. 88/13 Minor Repairs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 88/13
Ref: 300
Date: 13th February 2013

To: Branches with Postal Members

Dear Colleague,

Minor Repairs

Branches will be aware of the commitment contained in the BT2010 agreement regarding minor repairs. Following lengthy discussions between the Union and Royal Mail regarding an agreement to carry out minor repairs and the subsequent deployment, discussions have now concluded. Branches will appreciate that whilst we were able to wrap up the wording of the National Agreement in August 2012, it was necessary to continue discussions in an effort to conclude and agree a final set of supporting documentation including safety, processes & procedures.

The previously unagreed documentation including the processes, risk assessments and Safe Systems of Work that was used to roll out Minor Repairs without agreement has been reviewed and completely overhauled with the full involvement of two of our ASRs, John Nash from the CWU Walk Design Group and Peter Concannon from the CWU Motor Transport Advisory Committee. The review has put the safety of our members at the centre of Minor Repairs and the role of the ASRs is embedded in the pre & post Minor Repair deployment process.

We are now close to completing the pre-work and will soon be in a position to move to the pilot phase. The Pilot offices, which are listed below, will be briefed by their manager in the very near future.

North Area: Halifax DO
Cumnock/Kilmarnock, Airdrie DO

East Area:                       Lowestoft & Beccles DO
                                      Bedford DO
 
West Area:                      Llandrindod Wells DO
                                      Ludlow DO
 
South East Area:             West London DC
                                      Lewes DO
 
South West Area:           Bridport DO
                                      Haverfordwest DO        


The Area Delivery Reps and ASRs associated with these offices will be contacted separately and will be provided with the suite of documentation to be used at the pilot offices. ASRs will play a central role during the pilots and will be expected to
attend Minor Repair Training and provide a post pilot update to the Outdoor Department and Health & Safety Department. It is also recommended that Area Delivery Reps attend a training session in order to familiarise themselves with the content of the Minor Repairs process.
         
During the Minor Repair pilot, and beyond, the business will be seeking volunteers to complete the training and undertake minor repair tasks. However, even after training the agreement makes it clear that the OPG will make the final decision whether to tackle a minor repair or not. This principle is repeated in the Joint Statement covering deployment.

Additionally, the agreement makes it clear that when a minor repair incurs time over and above the normal duty span then this will be recorded on the day and paid in cash or time in lieu at the end of each week. All claims for extra time will be paid in good faith (for the sake of clarity cash means paid as overtime).

The issue of offices with members that are currently undertaking Minor Repairs using unagreed procedures has been discussed and they will be required to attend a re-training session to ensure compliance with the revised Safe Systems of Work and processes that have now been agreed with the CWU.

We are now satisfied that the Agreement and the Joint Statement covering deployment and all supporting documentation and processes meets with our requirements and puts in place the necessary safeguards for us to proceed to the pilot phase. Subject to the satisfactory outcome of the pilot it is the intention to move to national roll out/deployment. The deployment programme will be shared with the CWU in advance and Branches will be informed accordingly.

A copy of the Minor Repairs Agreement, together with the Joint Statement covering deployment is included in this LTB.

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 300
Email address: hnutley@cwu.org


Yours sincerely


Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary

[fishtank]

Just my opinion but i think this is bollocks.

1. It's stealing work from other parts of the business.
2. If i wanted to be a mechanic...I would be a mechanic.
3. I don't have time to be a mechanic.
4. I'm s**t at being a mechanic.
5. I'll end up breaking something important.
6. I may end up being responsible for the death of a colleague.

[silly suffolk]

Just my opinion but i think this is bollocks.

1. It's stealing work from other parts of the business.
2. If i wanted to be a mechanic...I would be a mechanic.
3. I don't have time to be a mechanic.
4. I'm s**t at being a mechanic.
5. I'll end up breaking something important.
6. I may end up being responsible for the death of a colleague.

can you have a look at my skoda?

[RTP]

Hang on, the previous LTB's on this when we were told not to get involved in minor repairs stated along the lines..."we feel that OPG's should be paid for doing minor repairs".

Now I don't know about anyone else, but I took that as being a few extra quid in my pay packet every week (bit like a driving allowance), not " any repairs carried out will be paid as overtime, or time in lieu, providing you go over your time like".

[fishtank]

You can see how this will pan out.

During the pilot phase it was found that delivering to neighbours sorry minor repairs took absolutely no extra time at all therefore it was decided that OPGs could absorb a full engine strip down and rebuild during the time saved due to falling mail volumes.
This of course protects full-time jobs...going forward.

[Cut Off King]

You can see how this will pan out.

During the pilot phase it was found that delivering to neighbours sorry minor repairs took absolutely no extra time at all therefore it was decided that OPGs could absorb a full engine strip down and rebuild during the time saved due to falling mail volumes.
This of course protects full-time jobs...going forward.

If I didn't know better, I'd assume that you were cynical.

[Tman]

So how do both of you get on with wheel-changing and minor repairs to your own cars then? Take it to a local garage?
Surely in a DO of X number of people there's a couple who are savvy enough to do up a wheel nut or tighten a mirror?

{"I'd be a mechanic if I wanted to be a mechanic" and "rebuild engines.." }

[fishtank]

So how do both of you get on with wheel-changing and minor repairs to your own cars then? Take it to a local garage?

Yes.

[UnhappyGremlin]

So how do both of you get on with wheel-changing and minor repairs to your own cars then? Take it to a local garage?
Surely in a DO of X number of people there's a couple who are savvy enough to do up a wheel nut or tighten a mirror?

{"I'd be a mechanic if I wanted to be a mechanic" and "rebuild engines.." }

My own car repairs are always done at a garage. But this is irrelevant to the issue. The fact is as soon as you do repairs on vans, being unqualified and untrained to do so, you will be held liable and responsible by RM for any injuries that result, either to yourself, your colleagues or third parties, and damage to RM equipment and vehicles and those of third parties. Do you think a manager will back you up? It's a legal minefield. It would be your neck and job on the line, and given the choice of a manager/RM admitting liability or throwing you to the wolves, which do you think would be most likely?

In my unit, we were told by a manager, that if we did repairs we would be held legally responsible by RM, and only trained/qualified people are to do repairs. Many offered to undergo training, but this never materialised. The workshops and the RAC are paid to do this, let them.

It's about protecting yourself, your wellbeing, and your job.

[dvbuk55]

Our garage has been scaled down and repairs now take an age. Personally I take my car to the garage twice a year for a service and MOT if necessary and at the first sign of a problem it goes to the garage and if there is something about it I don't like I change it.

[Lounge Lizard]

Just my opinion but i think this is bollocks.

1. It's stealing work from other parts of the business.
2. If i wanted to be a mechanic...I would be a mechanic.
3. I don't have time to be a mechanic.
4. I'm s**t at being a mechanic.
5. I'll end up breaking something important.
6. I may end up being responsible for the death of a colleague.

I totally agree, and only drive a van because it currently suits me so to do. Bring this in, and no extra payment just like there's no driving allowance, and the likelyhood is that as and when I may well opt for being a passenger in a shared van.
As for someones question "So how do both of you get on with wheel-changing and minor repairs to your own cars then?" I don't have a car.
If the CWU agrees with this next it'll have us cooking breakfasts in the canteen too and with no extra time allowed.

[POSTMAN]

So how do both of you get on with wheel-changing and minor repairs to your own cars then? Take it to a local garage?
Surely in a DO of X number of people there's a couple who are savvy enough to do up a wheel nut or tighten a mirror?

{"I'd be a mechanic if I wanted to be a mechanic" and "rebuild engines.." }

It's a bit like,oh there's summin wrong with the sorting machine,hold on I've a spanner i'll fix it.
Seriously Tman.

[Brainache]

Our garage has shut and we have to take omv 20 miles to other DO garage. one & half hours OT at least every time. Mad, but easy OT.
If the slightest thing is wrong on my van out comes the OT sheet .

[newtimes]

So how do both of you get on with wheel-changing and minor repairs to your own cars then? Take it to a local garage?
Surely in a DO of X number of people there's a couple who are savvy enough to do up a wheel nut or tighten a mirror?

{"I'd be a mechanic if I wanted to be a mechanic" and "rebuild engines.." }

It's a bit like,oh there's summin wrong with the sorting machine,hold on I've a spanner i'll fix it.
Seriously Tman.

I can fix them, good and proper

[Tman]

It's a bit like,oh there's summin wrong with the sorting machine,hold on I've a spanner i'll fix it.
Seriously Tman.

Nothing like the same at all. The idea that "I could be a mechanic (even though I'm too helpless to even change a wheel) but don't want to be, I'd rather be a postie,so there" is laughable.