Royal Mail announces 1600 job cuts

[PhilthyPhil]

Seriously, though, the overall number of managers has not reduced by the same percentage as the percentage reduction in frontline staff over the past 10-15 years. Of course, managers have a role to play in the privatised Royal Mail. But they need to be subjected to the same efficiency, cost-cutting and increased productivity drives that us mere mortals have had to face. If there are too many managers for the reduced workforce, it's only right that they should face the same organisational changes that we've had to go through, in this 'transformation' process !

This seems to be something which varies a lot from area to area. We have lost a much larger percentage of managers than posties over the last few years including all our collection managers, at least 1 lino out of every office and the cluster DOMs.

[human1]

Its clear that 1600 managers jobs will go .... but .... its not clear that any delivery managers job will be axed .... friend of mine who is line manager in delivery office said to me that no cul on delivery managers' job .... delivery managers' jobs are safe because there is shortage of delivery managers.

[Budfrog]

I think you will find that many front-line managerial positions will be altered to become more of a hands on supervisory position in both DOs and MCs although this may grey the lines between CWU and CMA role responsibilities (in a similar way that team leaders have already). Could be a good thing in the long-term if it nurtures a better working relationship between the grades.

[A2B]

Its clear that 1600 managers jobs will go .... but .... its not clear that any delivery managers job will be axed .... friend of mine who is line manager in delivery office said to me that no cul on delivery managers' job .... delivery managers' jobs are safe because there is shortage of delivery managers.

Well to counter that i was told that at the moment a delivery office with over 25 employees requires 2 managers, in the future 1 manager will be required to look after 40 employees.

[Lounge Lizard]

"The first redundancies since the Government part-privatised Royal Mail in October involve 1600 managers, mostly from its Victoria head office"
So what have more than 800 managers that aren't now needed been doing at head office apart from ?
And less than 800 from elsewhere is less than one per delivery office .

[Brain Fury]

The briefing to managers today said that there are no changes in the operational management structure. However some operational managers may be allowed to take VR in order to create vacancies for non-operational managers who want to stay in the business.

[PhilthyPhil]

Well to counter that i was told that at the moment a delivery office with over 25 employees requires 2 managers, in the future 1 manager will be required to look after 40 employees.

The agreed ratio is up to 50:1 but we have some singleton DOMs with over 50 staff, overall in our sector it is about 40:1

[Brain Fury]

"The first redundancies since the Government part-privatised Royal Mail in October involve 1600 managers, mostly from its Victoria head office"
So what have more than 800 managers that aren't now needed been doing at head office apart from ?
And less than 800 from elsewhere is less than one per delivery office .

I saw that quote today. It's cobblers. I've never been there but I'm sure that there aren't even 800 managers at VE. We only have one floor in the building. It's just a lazy journalist seeing that they cuts are in "headquarters" and central functions and assuming that means in the main HQ building.

And as I just said, there will be no cuts at DOs.

[coxie]

25 March 2014
LTB 192/14 ROYAL MAIL GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT - JOB LOSSES

No. 192/2014
Ref: 68000
Date: 25th March 2014

TO ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS
Dear Colleague

ROYAL MAIL GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT – JOB LOSSES

All Branches will be aware that the Royal Mail Group announced today a management reorganisation that they say has the potential to result in up to 1,600 job losses, including a knock on impact to CWU support and admin functions.

The company has advised the Union that the job losses largely affect the managerial population, although there is likely to be a limited impact on CWU represented grades across admin functions. The Union has had no formal proposals on the shape and scope of this reorganisation.

Formal discussions will now commence with the company and the Union will do everything possible to minimise the impact of these job losses on CWU grades by utilising the provisions of the MTSF Agreement including, where appropriate, ensuring in the first instance, a reduction of agency workers where this is feasible.

The company has also confirmed that there will be no compulsory redundancies of permanent employees and that this announcement has no impact on CWU operational frontline grades.

Once we have established the extent of these proposals the Union will be holding a Briefing of its Administration Representatives. Further information will follow in due course.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to Andy Furey National Officer.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

[Budfrog]

However some operational managers may be allowed to take VR in order to create vacancies for non-operational managers who want to stay in the business.

When a similar albeit smaller exercise took place around 2 1/2 years ago around 100 support managers expressed an interest in moving into Ops .... 1 was taken on

[maisymoo04]

so what happens now to all the acting manager ??????????????????????????????????
do they all drop back to their own opg grades i would imagine that will have to happen first

No all the Dom supports will be doing the work , royal mail bung them extra £200 a month

[blisterfeet]

If management did go on strike would we be able to go into work? by that I mean by law doesn't there have to be a certain number on managers per staff? I would gladly cross the picket line, I'd even come in on a day off just to cross the line.

[clashcityrocker]

I would gladly cross the picket line, I'd even come in on a day off just to cross the line.

What would Bob Crow do? (Apart from turn in his grave at all these supposed trade unionists bragging about crossing picket lines)

[OnAFlyer]

what about WCM staff and planners, aren't they in "managerial " roles.?

It's absolute comedy. We're being asked for suggestions on how the office can save hours, whilst these WCM clowns walk around putting stickers on things they want moved around.

[OnAFlyer]

I'm not sure the maths is as simple as that though, as TNT are only creating jobs in certain geographical areas and they are not creating like-for-like jobs with ours. You are right that it will ultimately result in job losses, but not on the scale you imply. If TNT create 20,000 part time jobs, consisting of 'second jobbers, those juggling childcare arrangements', for example (their words) it is clear that these will be short hour contracts.

You are right that the maths isn't that simple.
Their aim is to cover 40% of all postcode areas - so the geographical areas untouched by TNT will be rural. Yet these areas aren't the most profitable for RM and an implosion in the centre will ripple out and affect those areas as well.
As to the short hour contracts - it may mean that for every 2 jobs they create we lose 1 job but that would mean a huge increase in delivery span which is probably unsustainable.
So we might not lose jobs but to save them we may al be asked to lose hours.

There simply isn't the work to sustain 2 posties covering the same streets.
Given that RM is a large, slow-to-respond chaos monster largely run by and staffed by muppets, I don't see us winning this battle.
"Only" losing 20 000 jobs may prove to be wishful thinking.

...And that's when we lose the USO because it will no longer be sustainable.