Industrial Engineering Data Gathering : Scott Grant (Mail Ce

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Letter to Branches




No. 162/2012
Ref: 730.03
Date: 9th March 2012

To All Postal Branches
To All Area Processing Representatives
To All RDC Representatives
To All Divisional Representatives





Dear Colleague

Industrial Engineering Data Gathering – Scott Grant (Mail Centre/RDCs)

THE CWU POLICY IS ONE OF NON CO-OPERATION WITH SCOTT GRANT INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERINGS.

THAT MEANS OUR MEMBERS SHOULD DECLINE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BE TIMED BY A STOPWATCH, FILMED OR PHOTOGRAPHED.

The department has been made aware that Royal Mail are intending to employ the services of external Industrial Engineers (IE’s), from a company called Scott Grant Ltd, to undertake site visits to gather data in Mail Centres and RDC’s.

We have been informed that these visits are due to Royal Mail reviewing their product strategy and the pricing of products to enable them to set their prices at a level which exceeds their current cost, in order to remain competitive and to meet regulatory requirements.

Representation has been made to the business by my department in regard to a number of issues that need to be clarified prior to our members co-operating in this exercise. In addition it has also been raised that inadequate notification had been given to allow us time to pro-actively engage with our representatives in order that they had an understanding of what this activity entailed. Until these issues have been resolved we have informed the business that we will be advising our members not to co-operate with the Scott Grant IE’s.

It has been emphasised to the business that the Union when consulted in the proper manner, are more that happy to support an open and transparent data gathering exercise.

Talks have been taking place and both parties have exchanged draft terms of reference for this activity but it is unfortunate that I have to report that the business has decided pull out of those discussions and proceed without an agreement.

This attitude is both disrespectful to the CWU and totally out with the commitment to improve relationships.

To be clear this initiative raises significant inconsistencies in management’s approach to processing revision activity in respect of National Data Bank Values, budgets, performance expectations, the role of World Class Mail and continuous improvement.

Against that backdrop until a genuine understanding is reached and an agreed terms of reference is in place Mail Centre and RDC representatives should advise our members that our policy is one of non co-operation with Scott Grant IE’s.

It is advised that our members politely decline to be timed with a stopwatch or photographed/filmed by the Scott Grant IE’s due to the fact that there is no National Agreement in place in regard to this activity.

Branches and representatives are requested to ensure that our members are made aware of this policy.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Terry Pullinger, Assistant Secretary, e-mail: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference number: 730.03.

Yours sincerely



Terry Pullinger
Assistant Secretary

Industrial Engineering Data Gathering – Scott Grant (Mail Centre RDCs).doc