LTB160/2014 - JS - National Processing Group Activity

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 160/2014
Ref: 711.01
Date: 11th March 2014

To All:
Postal Branches With Processing Members
Divisional Representatives
Area Processing Representatives



Dear Colleague

Joint Statement Between Royal Mail Processing And The Communication Workers Union Regarding National Processing Group Activity

Branches and representatives will be aware of the commitment in respect of greater strategic involvement contained in the recently ratified Agenda For Growth, Stability & Long Term Success Agreement/Processing & Logistics Section.

In order to commence discussions a meeting of the National Processing Group (NPG) took place on the 24th March 2014. A Joint Statement has now been concluded in respect of this activity and is attached for your information.

You will note from the attached that the meeting was considered to have been positive and allowed discussion and consensus on a number of issues to be achieved going forward.

Branches and representatives are requested ensure that our members working in the Mail Centre network are made aware of the content of this LTB and the attached Joint Statement.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 711.01

Yours sincerely





Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary

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JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL PROCESSING AND THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION REGARDING NATIONAL PROCESSING GROUP ACTIVITY

Further to the ratification of the important Agenda for Growth, Stability and Long Term Success Agreement, Royal Mail and the CWU have been working together to progress our joint commitments.

A key element of the agreement was a commitment to reshape a new agenda and format for the National Processing Group (NPG) in order to raise the strategic profile of the NPG, establish greater understanding and consensus on the direction of the Processing function and enable the CWU to be actively involved in the development of a strategy that compliments a mutual interest joint vision. However, both parties acknowledge that this change of approach is at an embryonic stage and the agenda for the NPG will continue to evolve as we develop our thinking and equal understanding.
 
We have agreed to hold all NPG meetings wherever possible in different Mail Centres rather than centrally. This will enable us to see the operation in different sites and meet local managers and CWU representatives and learn their perspective on operational progress and how the new culture is evolving.

Against that backdrop the first meeting of the NPG since the National Agenda for Growth & Stability Agreement was ratified took place on 24th February 2014 in Birmingham Mail Centre and was attended by representatives from both the CWU and Royal Mail. Terry Pullinger, CWU National Officer responsible for the Mail Centre Network, was joined by Joe Malone, Davie Robertson, Katrina Quirke and Mahmood Ali from the Postal Executive. The lead person from Royal Mail, Ian Jones, Operations Programme Director, was joined by Paul Wills, Head of IR (Processing), Francis Williams, Head of Processing Design, and Geoff Braden, Process & Collections Director for the West Territory.
 
The NPG endorsed the aspirations and key purpose of the forum going forward and also recognised that the start point was to identify and close any knowledge gap, either perceived or real, from a CWU perspective.

Issues covered at this inaugural meeting were Royal Mail’s Operations & Modernisation Structure, performance update & measurement, Mail Centre operations including current design, workflow, kit & equipment, and resourcing processes.

In addition to the above and under the banner of Business as Usual the current status of the Mail Rationalisation programme was discussed, including the ongoing activity relating to Portsmouth and Ipswich Mail Centres

This meeting has been viewed as a useful starting point for the journey to achieving an equal and joint understanding and consensus of Processing operations, at which high level presentations were provided that we will now need to explore together in greater detail, as much of this will shape and develop our future joint Working Group activity going forward

Early consensus was developed on the need to improve and professionalise current processes in regard to weekly resourcing in Mail Centres, how new equipment ideas are developed, commissioned, trialled and deployed and how Standard Operating Procedures are maintained.

The discussion on the approach taken to the planning of resource to workload and productivity expectations identified that the need to professionalise and jointly develop an enhanced approach is required to ensure that managers and representatives at all levels are better placed to understand the inputs, purpose and outputs of the long and short term (such as weekly) resourcing processes. Critically it was agreed that the full involvement of the CWU from the start is required and that a closer working relationship will certainly help build trust and give the opportunity for more involvement in local resourcing decisions.

Whilst on site in Birmingham we also took the opportunity to hear from Karen English, the local Mail Centre Manager, and Clive Parsons, Acting CWU Area Processing Representative. They provided a valuable insight into their positive working relationship and also described how they are overcoming local challenges.

In closing both parties agree that cultural change does not happen overnight and that the meeting had provided the opportunity for an open and honest exchange of views throughout and constructive dialogue on how to take some important issues forward. 
 
We have agreed to start scoping the use of joint Working Groups in line with our commitment in the Agenda for Growth Agreement/Processing Programme of Works section.
 
The next NPG is scheduled to take place at Mount Pleasant Mail Centre on 27th March 2014.









Ian Jones Terry Pullinger
Ops & Modernisation Programme Director Assistant Secretary
Royal Mail CWU


Date: 11th March 2014

[dvbuk55]

Wow - does the CWU have a time machine? The meeting was concluded almost two weeks in the future. This could be the start of Back to the Future Part IV where the members terms and conditions are returned to the 18th Century. Obviously if you spout crap it doesn't need to be proof read

[daveyeff]

Wow - does the CWU have a time machine? The meeting was concluded almost two weeks in the future. This could be the start of Back to the Future Part IV where the members terms and conditions are returned to the 18th Century. Obviously if you spout crap it doesn't need to be proof read

the whole f****** lot of it is crap. i get the impression the leadership have lost touch with the members and reality,, and are in partnership with rm leaders.

[Ahebban]

Perchance the tea leaves and biscuit crumbs foretold of events to come?

[Lincox]

Everything is rosy in the bed occupied by Royal Mail and CWU. Just wait until the thorns start to appear.

[dvbuk55]

Everything is rosy in the bed occupied by Royal Mail and CWU. Just wait until the thorns start to appear.

Well you know how it is with married couples when they fall out it is always a pleasure to make up.

[wandle]

Everything is rosy in the bed occupied by Royal Mail and CWU. Just wait until the thorns start to appear.

Well you know how it is with married couples when they fall out it is always a pleasure to make up.

Yes, but the difference here is that when this couple 'kiss and make up', it's everyone outside the room that gets f***ed