Autumn Pressure 2013 and Agreement between CWU and Parcelfor

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 746/2013
Ref: 106A.04
Date: 8th November 2013


For immediate distribution to:

All Postal Branches with Parcelforce Members
All Regional Organisers
All Parcelforce Depot Representatives



Dear Colleague

Joint Statement Autumn Pressure 2013 and Agreement between CWU and Parcelforce Worldwide on the 2013 Autumn Pressure and Christmas Remuneration Proposals for all CWU Grade Depot Employees

Attached for the information of Branches is a copy of the abovementioned Joint Statement and agreement, which have been ratified by the Postal Executive.

In line with the attached agreement discussions between local Parcelforce Representatives and Management may now commence in order to ensure adequate cover for work and manpower requirements for the Autumn Pressure/Christmas period.

Branches are requested to ensure that our representatives are made aware of the attached information.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org or lwright@cwu.org quoting reference number: 106A.04

Yours sincerely




Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary



JOINT STATEMENT

Autumn Pressure 2013

Parcelforce Worldwide is having a successful year with continued growth in parcel volumes resulting from our industry leading quality performance. As we grow and in concert with our Expansion Programme, we continue to face operational challenges in how we handle the significant increases in parcel volumes during the Autumn Pressure peak. This peak period we are expecting our highest ever volumes. In response to this we are recruiting more people than ever and hiring more vehicles than ever.

In addition we will be operating a Southern regional cull in a new site at Hemel Hempstead. The cull site is designed to support our National Hub in Coventry and the new NWPC in Chorley by providing peak period processing relief capacity and will be open during November and December. Where it makes geographical sense depots will send and receive traffic to and from the Coventry Hub and NWPC and potentially to the Southern cull site. It is agreed that the priority resourcing option for transporting this work will be PFW employees or RMN Drivers.

Against that backdrop both parties acknowledge that the concept of the relief cull is to provide capacity over and above normal processing capability and that all planning will be based upon these assumptions. It is not the intention to undermine either the Coventry Hub or NWPC performance in respect of items processed or the earnings opportunities of employees during this period via under utilisation. Both parties accept that if the anticipated traffic levels do not materialise and capacity is being under-utilised, then traffic will be diverted back to maintain the performance of the main processing centres.

Once peak is over, this site will close and operationally revert to Coventry and NWPC for our processing needs.

Quality of service remains our top priority so it’s important to continually and jointly monitor volume trends to ensure service continuity and if service is at risk culls will remain an option to be considered in full consultation with the CWU at the early stages and prior to any decision being made.

The Autumn pressure period is of critical importance to PFW. It’s our busiest time of year and our reputation has been won through our outstanding performance over the last few years. It’s essential that we continue to provide this high level of service and so allow Parcelforce Worldwide’s reputation to continue to prosper. We know we can count on all of our people in continuing to offer their best efforts in supporting this task. This is in the interest of continued business success, future growth and job security in all our existing and future sites.


Terry Pullinger Peter Fuller
Assistant Secretary Operations Director
CWU Parcelforce Worldwide

Date: 6th November 2013
Agreement between CWU & Parcelforce Worldwide on 2013 AUTUMN PRESSURE AND CHRISTMAS Remuneration Proposals for all CWU Grade Depot Employees



1. Introduction

This agreement has been reached to ensure that the expected increased volumes of traffic during the pre-Christmas period can be delivered to meet customer requirements and maintain the magnificent quality of service performance currently being achieved. It also confirms the payment arrangements for December 2013 and the operating arrangements for the holiday period.

2. Pressure Period Working

It has been agreed between both parties that during the pressure period the following terms will apply for all CWU Graded Depot employees.

Weekdays: additional hours to be put in if necessary to handle increased workload, with scheduled attendance offered where appropriate and subject to normal conditions

Weekends: Local discussions will identify the requirement for scheduled attendance working on Saturday and Sundays for the period Saturday 7th December to 22nd December 2013 inclusive. Where workload requires attendance for Saturday or Sunday working, employees will be invited to enter into an advance commitment to attend for any or all of the required Saturdays or Sundays. Upon the signing of this advance commitment, employees will be eligible for a special payment of £18.12 an hour for those days worked, equivalent to double the normal duty hourly rate, instead of the normal pre-scheduled or overtime rates.

In addition, employees who sign for an advance commitment for two or more of the three Saturdays/Sundays highlighted previously and perform the work will receive a single payment of £33.00 in addition to the above rate.

The special payment will be offered for attendance of a minimum of six hours on each of the Saturdays/Sundays as required.

Anyone committing under these arrangements to attend for more than one Saturday/Sunday who fails to fulfil their commitment will only receive the pre-scheduled rate of pay for any days attended and any previous payments made will be rectified accordingly on the next pay date.

Operations managers will meet unit reps to discuss the work and manpower plans required in each office. These meetings will identify the extent, if any, to which additional attendance over normal is required. Against this backdrop both parties commit to work together to ensure that the appropriate number of applicants required in each of the depots, on all of the days covered by this agreement, is fully met. In advance of signed commitments being made, volunteers will initially be sought on a without prejudice basis in order to gauge demand and assist in matching attendances to planned traffic levels on each of the relevant days.

3. Payment Arrangements

December salaries will be paid on 24th December 2013, and will include variable payments for the weeks commencing 18th November, 25th November, 2nd December and 9th December. 

4. Attendance Arrangements

Parcelforce Worldwide depots will be open for business on all days, including Saturdays, that are not designated bank or public holidays. December 24th, Christmas Eve is a normal working day. Local discussions will take place over any necessary adjustments or reductions to duties, in line with previous agreements, on shifts either just before or just after the public holidays due to changes in network arrangements affecting the flow of work.

Any enquiries appertaining to this agreement should be referred directly to the respective Headquarters.


Terry Pullinger Sharon Sherriff
Assistant Secretary Head of Employee Relations
Communication Workers Union Parcelforce Worldwide

6th November 2013