TAKING CSS MACHINES OUT

transporter03 · Post by **transporter03** » 19 Jan 2020, 17:26

Please correct me if I'm wrong but does this mean that we will revert back to sorting the mech mail in the original way ?.
I appreciate that we don't get the same amount as we used to do but if they are going to add possibly a sixth to each delivery surely this will slow down the indoor process .That's before you take into consideration the extra d2d's that will need prepping. There is a lot of talk about adding to the outdoor workload but no mention of the indoor aspect. A York full of Chinese packets takes some getting through as anyone who walk sorts will tell you !.For once thank heavens for a bit of banter with your colleagues to get you through it all.

Phantom · Post by **Phantom** » 19 Jan 2020, 18:41

Mail will revert back to either coding bundles or manual sort.

Seymour Buts · Post by **Seymour Buts** » 19 Jan 2020, 19:42

Css machines? Is that what sequences the mail? Why are they taking them away?

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 19 Jan 2020, 19:46

So they've spent millions investing in these CSS machines and training OPs to run them, and now, they want to do away with them?

Surely what they will save on the swings (by not employing CSS operators); they will lose on the roundabouts (by having more bodies on the DO shop floor to sort the mail)

transporter03 · Post by **transporter03** » 19 Jan 2020, 20:18

Seymour Buts wrote:Css machines? Is that what sequences the mail? Why are they taking them away?

Yes you are right that these are the machines which sequence the mail.
In our office we have been told that due to falling letter mail volumes they are no longer viable. As a consequence the 3 which we have will be removed at some point this year. My guess is it will be sooner rather than later. Rumour has it that one of our smaller neighbouring delivery offices will then move in with us using the space vacated by the machines. This will leave another piece of silverware for Rico + co to sell off !.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:16

transporter03 wrote:
Seymour Buts wrote:Css machines? Is that what sequences the mail? Why are they taking them away?
Yes you are right that these are the machines which sequence the mail.
In our office we have been told that due to falling letter mail volumes they are no longer viable. As a consequence the 3 which we have will be removed at some point this year. My guess is it will be sooner rather than later. Rumour has it that one of our smaller neighbouring delivery offices will then move in with us using the space vacated by the machines. This will leave another piece of silverware for Rico + co to sell off !.

MCs can also sequence mail on their IMPs and iLSMs though in many MCs some of them will be decommissioned and removed to make space for the new PSMs so there's a good chance that some DOs are going to start to get their mail later as there'll be less machines available to sequence the mail. Our local MPU got reverted back to a normal DO years ago

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:30

Well letters are out packets are in so says the man from Hamburg but has residency in a Swiss canton employed by RM yet pays no TAX over here!

Thailand1 · Post by **Thailand1** » 20 Jan 2020, 02:28

Hi All

The much will still get sequenced at the Mail Centres but will probably be 1st wave only......The 2nd wave albeit a smaller quantity will be walksort only ie not to frame.

Thailand1 · Post by **Thailand1** » 20 Jan 2020, 02:31

Sorry should be the Mail* will still get sequenced.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 20 Jan 2020, 03:40

Thailand1 wrote:Hi All

The much will still get sequenced at the Mail Centres but will probably be 1st wave only......The 2nd wave albeit a smaller quantity will be walksort only ie not to frame.

Could be an increase in the amount on wave 2 depending on what CSS and iLSM/IMP capacity the MCs have. It sounds like a good few MCs are going to have 1 or 2 iLSMs removed to make room for PSMs so they'll have a reduced capacity for running mech mail

Binsey · Post by **Binsey** » 20 Jan 2020, 07:52

postslippete wrote:So they've spent millions investing in these CSS machines and training OPs to run them, and now, they want to do away with them?

Surely what they will save on the swings (by not employing CSS operators); they will lose on the roundabouts (by having more bodies on the DO shop floor to sort the mail)

When the Employer initially purchased the CSS machines in 2005 it was seen as a 10 year project (in and out)so they have had a least 15 year use.

More worryingly it appears the CSS Removal Stage 1,2,3 disagreements around the country are going too be the first flashpoints with EA.

Post by **Nick b** » 20 Jan 2020, 12:49

The mail will still be done by remaining CSS office’s in the area, it is those with just 2 machines in their office that will be closed.
However, the personnel who man the machines will still receive night allowance plus machine allowance up to 5 years after their jobs have gone which makes any great savings questionable.

pinstripe · Post by **pinstripe** » 20 Jan 2020, 15:37

Nick b wrote: However, the personnel who man the machines will still receive night allowance plus machine allowance up to 5 years after their jobs have gone which makes any great savings questionable.

I thought allowances were only protected for 3 years? Still, better than an instant 25% wage cut straight away.

Tman · Post by **Tman** » 20 Jan 2020, 16:16

Nick b wrote: However, the personnel who man the machines will still receive night allowance plus machine allowance up to 5 years after their jobs have gone which makes any great savings questionable.

Not at all. There's the reduction in Engineering workload hours (maintenance, repairs, etc) plus a reduction in the spares budget and spares holdings, any of which would dwarf old Bert's machine allowance.

Post by **Sugar** » 20 Jan 2020, 16:49

Tman wrote:
Nick b wrote: However, the personnel who man the machines will still receive night allowance plus machine allowance up to 5 years after their jobs have gone which makes any great savings questionable.
Not at all. There's the reduction in Engineering workload hours (maintenance, repairs, etc) plus a reduction in the spares budget and spares holdings, any of which would dwarf old Bert's machine allowance.

/\/\/\/\/\ as he says.

Plus you have travelling costs for engineers going round all these DO's with CSS machines. The savings on spare parts will be quite significant in the long run and free up huge amounts of storage for any new machines coming in. Plus if they manage to sell off the machines elsewhere instead of just scrapping them they'll recoup a few quid there.

This is probably the start of moving more and more DO's into single units to save on building maintenance and/or rents. Said owned buildings will get sold off for a short term gain.