Deployment of electric tug’s for the movement of mail in MCs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 673/2013
Ref: 723.01
Date: 9th October 2013

To All: Postal Branches
Divisional Reps
Area Processing Reps
Area Distribution Reps
Area Health and Safety Reps


Dear Colleague

Joint Statement between Royal Mail and the CWU covering the deployment of electric tug’s for the movement of mail in Mail Centres

Branches and representatives will be aware that the department has been pursuing a policy for the development of a standardised approach to the trialling and deployment of new equipment within the Mail Centre Network.

The parameters of the policy with regard to new equipment included manual and automated solutions such as Sorting Frames, Mail Tippers and Tugs etc, was reported to Branches in LTB669/12.

In addition to the above the department’s policy has been reaffirmed to all Mail Centre Representatives at either Area Divisional briefings or in general correspondence/discussions.

The support from Area Representatives for this policy has made a significant contribution to its deployment in the workplace. In particular, when challenging World Class Mail (WCM) activity, the policy has gone a long way to restoring the role of the CWU within the nationally agreed processes for the development and deployment of new equipment consistent with the National Agreements we already have in place.

It is against this backdrop that I have attached for the information of branches/representatives a copy of the Joint Statement that has been concluded, the content of which is self explanatory but for ease of reference I have listed the salient points below;

Four types of vehicles have now been agreed to be used for the movement of mail which are provided by one supplier

The situation regarding the type of equipment at Cardiff MC has been documented and agreed as an exception

Deployment will take place with the full involvement of the CWU

Full training will be provided by the equipment provider, which will be supported by trained Workplace Coaches inline with the current agreement.

All Health & Safety aspects, including Risk Assessments etc, have been undertaken and are attached electronically to the document

It would also be remiss of the department not to point out that this trial provided the Union with its first opportunity to pursue its current summit talks policy with regard to the wider Unions agenda for the Mail Centre Network/Operations i.e.

‘the development of an agreement on Mail Centre performance expectations, establishing planning values, upper decile and revision procedures for processing and an agreement on standardised Mail Centre operating procedures and core standards, establishing standardised operating kit and equipment’.

I would also like to place on record the departments appreciation to everyone involved in the trials.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or lwright@cwu.org quoting reference number: 723.01

Yours sincerely

Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary


JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING THE DEPLOYMENT OF ELECTRIC TUGS FOR THE MOVEMENT OF MAIL IN THE MAIL CENTRE NETWORK


Background

The Business Transformation Agreement 2010 commits Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union to work together at the development stage of key business policies which are best supported by transparency and good information share. This commitment is acknowledged as the key enabler for Royal Mail and the Union to engage and to develop mutual interest solutions that will aid/improve efficiency within the operation while responding to the needs of CWU represented grades.

In keeping with the National Generic Trial/Deployment Frameworks both parties have agreed to jointly access potential ways and automated handling solutions to improve the flow of mail through Mail Centres from both a Health and Safety and operational aspect. Against that back drop both parties recognise that in a highly automated and modern mail centre working environment there may be potentially better alternative solutions available as opposed to Mail Centre staff manually pushing mail in wheeled containers.

Introduction/Scope

An initial trial took place at Cardiff, with the following sites Belfast, Gatwick, Bristol, Glasgow, Greenford, Croydon, Leeds, Preston, Wolverhampton, HWDC, Jubilee and Mount Pleasant Mail Centres jointly reviewed in line with the Cardiff trial details and the success criteria to access the equipment in use at these locations.

Following the conclusion of this additional activity a further trial took place at Greenford and Sheffield MC and following a national review of this trial by Royal Mail and the CWU the following has been agreed as the deployment programme to enable the introduction of the approved / agreed equipment into the Mail Centre Network where required

The overall aim of this project is to enable an agreed portfolio of equipment to be identified and agreed as fit for purpose to fully support all aspect of the Mail Centre Operation and will culminate in this information being published and made available as fully tested solutions to support the standardisation of equipment




Operational Process

The review concluded that correct method of selection of the electric vehicles is from those that have followed the asset deployment framework on the National Assets register. The operation of the vehicles will be in compliance with the process detailed on the National Asset register.

The vehicles available for movement of mail within Mail Centres are Master Mover MP50 - 400 Pusher, Master Mover MT5 Puller, Yale MO50T and Atlas SOTT10.

The only exception will be Cardiff MC where the current Tug will be replaced with an identical tug from the national supplier Briggs due to specific building restrictions. It is also confirmed that the tug at Cardiff will not be available for use in any other location.

There has been a national change of supplier from Barlow-World to Briggs and all tugs have been transferred to the one of the vehicles detailed above. The maintenance of the vehicles and the positioning of the charging equipment is the responsibility of Briggs and in compliance with RM PUWER for the vehicles.

The number of tugs that are to be used for towing will be determined by local capacity/operational requirements, depending upon the route taken and the type of container being moved due to turning restrictions in some locations. The assessment of the capacity / operational requirements will be completed during the local risk assessment activity.

Training in use of the vehicles is provided either by Briggs or Briggs accredited RM employees/Workplace Coaches.

Deployment

There will be effective meaningful consultation between local management, CWU representatives and employees/members on the changes to be deployed with an Electric Vehicle. The introduction of any revised duty/attendance arrangements will be negotiated at local level in line with the IR Framework.

The deployment of electric vehicles will need to consider the impact on working conditions and where ever possible take consideration of employees’ concerns in respect of any impact e.g. earnings, attendance patterns, etc

The deployment of the electric vehicles will ensure all new working arrangements and equipment have been fully risked assessed locally and the agreed safe systems of work are in place. In addition Operators and Work Place Coaches will be trained in the changes to the operation, the loading and unloading the electric vehicles etc.

Training will be provided in the form of WTLL (Work Time Listening and Learning), and subsequently supported by Work Place Coaches. The Operators and relevant Work Place Coaches will be trained in the operation of the electric vehicle by an authorised trainer from the supplier of the electronic vehicle or a suitably accredited Royal Mail trainer.

A local deployment programme will identify any requirement for transitional arrangements to ensure there is no adverse effect on quality of service and/or health and safety and/or security standards within the Mail Centre

The proposed local deployment plan will be subject to local discussion as detailed above prior to implementation and will take into account / focus on all possible concerns, risks or difficulties associated with this project. This will ensure any unforeseen employee concerns are also resolved as quickly as possible, local parties will also meet regularly to monitor and review deployment arrangements.

CWU representatives shall be given appropriate additional release to facilitate this and enable them to consult with members on the proposed change.

Any questions of interpretation, implementation, or application of this Joint Statement shall be referred to the respective Headquarters for resolution.









Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary
CWU
Francis Williams
Head of Process Design
Royal Mail


Date: 3rd October 2013

[clashcityrocker]

So now in a MC you can get an electronic tug job?

[cloherty1976]

So now in a MC you can get an electronic tug job?

Yes and they have been in for years at my mail centre

[POSTMAN]

Whoooooosh...

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Whoooooosh...

was that going or

[Lincox]

Hope it don,t operate on PDA batteries.