LTB 002/16 Managerial Cover in Delivery Offices

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No. 002/16

Ref: 230.05

4th January 2016

To: Branches with POSTAL Members

Dear Colleague

Managerial Cover in Delivery Offices

The CWU were approached last year by Royal Mail regarding a trial involving managerial cover in Delivery Offices. Whilst this trial is primarily aimed at managerial grades and the involvement of Unite/CMA the CWU received an invite to be involved in the trial which we accepted. Tony Williams CWU Divisional Representative NW/NW was nominated to represent the Outdoor Department/CWU in the trial.

Shortly afterwards we received a proposal from Royal Mail for OPGs to act as day off cover for line managers. The proposal was for OPGs to cover the managerial indoor tasks such as IPS & Prep supervision, when the line manger was taking a day off. The OPG would then complete the outdoor part of their own duty, which would have been prepped by OPG colleagues. It was also proposed that the OPG would receive Leadership Allowance for this role.

Whilst we were considering the proposal and discussing a Terms of Reference for a trial Royal Mail took the view, which we shared, that it would be difficult to get sufficient volunteers for the role and consequently the proposal was withdrawn.

However Royal Mail has continued to discuss the issue of managerial day off cover with Unite/CMA. Branches will wish to note that these discussions do not involve plans for OPGs to act as managers for part of their duty, and that there is no agreement with the CWU for OPGs to lapse part of their own job to cover managerial roles in the way outlined above. Any approaches of this nature should be reported to CWU Divisional Reps without delay, utilising the IR Framework if necessary.

CMA/Unite has agreed a trial of “Trainee Managers” and at this point in time we are not yet clear what this entails and how this role will differ from the current acting manager roles.

Any further developments will be reported in due course.

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference

Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Bob Gibson

CWU Assistant Secretary

[General Mannerheim]

Tony Williams CWU Divisional Representative NW/NW was nominated to represent the Outdoor Department/CWU in the trial.

What a surprise!

[SpacePhoenix]

Reading this it looks like RM might want to bring in "Team Leaders" i can see this being the first step towards that

[A2B]

Reading this it looks like RM might want to bring in "Team Leaders" i can see this being the first step towards that

That is what they want the Work Place Coach to evolve into

[Jambomatt1874]

Who is actually sitting in an office somewhere thinking some of this stuff up?? I wish I had enough sparetime during my working day to sit and think of some stupid ideas that they come up with!!

[rainbowwarrior72]

I was talking to a manager (on the EVR list) in the SW1-20 area and he told me this very idea, seems that RM think it's a goer whether or not the CWU/CMA are on board

[motherhubbard]

What the bloody hell is IPS and prep supervision anyway?
I don't need anyone to supervise me.

So is the idea that one day some wank will be stood next to me on the IPS asking where does this go every 2 minutes, and the next day he will be supervising me?
Only in Royal Mail.

[genesis]

The other problem, would be prepping the acting managers duty .
Some one would have to come off what they were allocated to do . Will cause resentment, no doubt .

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Its also a bad idea leadership wise, but then RM has never understood "leadership" as opposed to "Management"

You never let anyone in a leadership role have to rely on specific work from subordinates, only generalised work or tasks that evolve further with managerial influence.

In plain English leaders don't do the same work as those they supervise, and you don't leave them open to abuse of position, or where they could be influenced by staff.

In other words as a manager are you going to trust that the prepper has sorted it correctly, as a prepper are you sure that you were responsible for the alleged missorts.

Its a can of worms with a professional management culture, and ........... .

[greengiant]

The other problem, would be prepping the acting managers duty .
Some one would have to come off what they were allocated to do . Will cause resentment, no doubt .

And if the acting manager and manager would be off at the same time, would there be an acting acting manager? And if the acting acting manager was off as well, would there need to be an acting manager for the acting acting manager?

[interesting]

What will it have on the back of their hi viz

Manager for the day

[halfull]

What will it have on the back of their hi viz

Manager for the day

This made me laugh, not much does on here but this did
how about this one- Prep & ips supervisor. That would make them look really important.

[ted_e_bear]

Hope this doesn't come to our place anytime soon we've got at least two resident brown-nosers who'd jump at the chance to pretend to be managers !!

[Lincox]

REminds me of that great left wing song.

The working class can kiss me ass. I've got the gaffers job at last.