LTB159/17 - Terms of Reference between Royal Mail and the CWU on Trial Activity Relating to the Traffic Transformation Initiative

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB159/17 - Terms of Reference between Royal Mail and the CWU on Trial Activity Relating to the Traffic Transformation Initiative

No. 159/2017

16th March 2017

For the Immediate Attention of All:

Postal Branches

Divisional Representatives

Area Processing Representatives

Area Delivery Representatives

RDC Representatives

TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU ON TRIAL ACTIVITY RELATING TO THE TRAFFIC TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE

Dear Colleagues

Branches and representatives will be aware that the business’ current methods for measuring the volume of mail handled are complicated and may produce inaccurate information in some circumstances, which can impact on resourcing to workload and QofS.

The business therefore approached the Postal Department in October 2016 in relation to trial activity to assess ways of improving the accuracy of traffic data and reporting by simplifying traffic recording at source (Primary Sortation). The Traffic Transformation Project that has been developed would see the introduction of new devices for recording traffic and the development of new technological solutions to improve traffic reporting.

Cross departmental discussions have therefore been taking place to secure an agreement to enable the trial activity to take place and have now concluded with the attached Terms of Reference being agreed and endorsed by the Postal Executive.

To summarise the trial activity:

The objective of the trial is to develop and test potential technical and manual traffic recording models. Technical machine interfaces will be installed on all machines across the Mail Centre estate. Correction and reporting tools and a new application for PDA’s to support manual traffic recording operation are also being designed.
It is anticipated that the bulk of the new technical systems will be ready to switch on from the start of the new financial year in April 2017. The manual PDA solution will follow later in the year.
From April 2017 the existing traffic recording methods will run in parallel with the new processes and systems across the Mail Centre estate in order to analyse the accuracy of the proposed new approach and assess the impact of the system change. If the new system proves reliable discussions will take place at National level in relation to replacing the current sampling and recording arrangements from April 2018.
Annex A of the attached agreement will be utilised to ensure that data collected in relation to traffic counts is verified via a process to be introduced at Delivery Offices to substantiate the volumes recorded and verify the accuracy of the revised processes.
To ensure further traffic recording accuracy RDCs and the ILC will also be included in the manual element of the project. Any proposals to expand activity to automation in RDCs and the ILC will be subject to discussion and agreement by the National Processing Group.
Discussions will take place between local managers and CWU representatives to ensure the alignment of correct resourcing of the two recording systems/processes.
It is recognised that the 12 month parallel run during the trial period will require identification of dedicated Traffic Recorders in each Mail Centre, RDC and ILC who will record traffic in all primary work areas. The identification and alignment of Traffic Recorders will be conducted jointly in line with local and National agreements and full training will be provided.
The trial and any agreed subsequent deployment will also require additional investment in regard to resourcing of Traffic Sampling roles. It is anticipated that initially 18 (Net hours) will be required in each plant. The recruitment of this resource will be expected to be in the following order:
Offer part time to full time opportunity to current part time traffic sampling duty holder.
Offer part time to full time opportunity by aligning the sampling activity to a current part time processing duty.
Create a new part time duty and recruit in line with the National agreements. In such a case, where a part time OPG moves from his/her current duty to a new traffic recording duty, their current vacant duty will be filled jointly.
All resourcing arrangements will be on a temporary basis for the duration of the trial, with the view of being made substantive should the new processes be agreed for deployment.
Full training will be provided where required.
The trial will be overseen by Mahmood Ali, NEC (Processing, RDC’s & ILC) and Tony Bouch, NEC (Deliveries) and the National Processing Working Group who will report back and provide recommendations to National level. Local Managers and CWU Representatives involved will all feed into this process. The outputs of the trial will be formally reviewed by the signatories of this TOR and should the trial be considered a success any permanent deployment of new traffic recording processes will be the subject of further discussions and agreement at National level prior to deployment.

In line with previous initiatives the trial will include the full involvement of CWU IR, H&S and Engineering representatives.

Processing, RDC’s & ILC: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, quoting reference: 053

Email address: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org

or

Deliveries: Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary (Elect) quoting reference: 300.

Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org

Yours sincerely



Davie Robertson Mark Baulch

Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary (Elect)

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Branches and representatives will be aware that the business’ current methods for measuring the volume of mail handled are complicated and may produce inaccurate information in some circumstances

Well blow me down with a feather, who would have thought that. (everyone on delivery)

[LouBarlow]

They need a way to try and establish call rates rather than volume. In theory, it can be a light day yet we still go to every house, if there is a bulk posting. Managers will say 'well you are getting out earlier' but it doesn't always work that way, when, for example, you are doing extra IPS in the morning.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

They need a way to try and establish call rates rather than volume. In theory, it can be a light day yet we still go to every house, if there is a bulk posting. Managers will say 'well you are getting out earlier' but it doesn't always work that way, when, for example, you are doing extra IPS in the morning.

Call rates could easily be recorded by making our RM2000 frames have sensors in each delivery slot, if they got rid of those double slots.

The only ambiguity would be if you only took D2D on delivery where addresses had other mail.

Oh and if an address only had a parcel, you would need to put something in the frame slot. Would be even better if we could press an off/off light button as a separate thing to letter call rates for each address, to indicate an attendance call.

[SpacePhoenix]

It is recognised that the 12 month parallel run during the trial period will require identification of dedicated Traffic Recorders in each Mail Centre, RDC and ILC who will record traffic in all primary work areas. The identification and alignment of Traffic Recorders will be conducted jointly in line with local and National agreements and full training will be provided.

Won't happen, we don't have enough staff as it is, if they want dedicated traffic recorders in, then they'll have to put new jobs in

[60091]

In our office we only take d2d were there's mail anyway! And Most put all d2d in Saturday and let them flowers through the week!

[Tman]

Branches and representatives will be aware that the business’ current methods for measuring the volume of mail handled are complicated and may produce inaccurate information in some circumstances

Well blow me down with a feather, who would have thought that. (everyone on delivery)

Any inaccuracy (inevitably down to good old human error) could "go up as well as down" as the financial ads like to say, so don't cheer too loudly just yet.