National Agreement between Royal Mail and the CWU Covering the Review of Letters Machines
No: 227/21
For the Immediate Attention of All:
Postal Branches
Divisional Representatives
Area Processing Representatives
Area Distribution Representatives
Area Delivery Representatives
Territorial Engineering Representatives
Dear Colleagues
NATIONAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING THE REVIEW OF LETTERS MACHINES
Branches and representatives are informed that for some considerable time the departments have been involved in discussions with Royal Mail in an attempt to conclude a clearly defined agreed process for machine moves.
During the Pathway to Change discussions it was agreed that a joint review would be undertaken in relation to the utilisation of Letters Machines, including CSS, iLSM, IMP and CFC machines in line with Section 14 Strategic Review of the Operational Pipeline.
The intention of the activity is to review the letter machine capacity based on the continuing underlying decline in addressed letter volumes and the introduction of the DtS product, discounting the immediate extreme impact of COVID-19. Both parties recognise the importance of optimising the letter machine estate to improve the efficiency of the letter operation and ensure sufficient capacity remains to process and deliver all letter products in line with current service level and quality standards, ensuring reductions in automation do not set operational parameters which exacerbate letter decline.
Therefore, cross-functional discussions have been taking place with the business in relation to an agreement for the review activity. An agreement has now been concluded and endorsed by the Postal Executive, a copy of which is attached for your information.
In summary the attached agreement creates a clear process for the review of the Letter Automation Estate, covering CSS, IMP, iLSM and CFC machines both at National level and on a Mail Centre Catchment Area (MCCA) basis. At National level, due to the cross functional impacts of the program, it has been agreed that a new National Automation Group will be created. This Group will have initial oversight of the plan, which will be reviewed on a 3 monthly basis. This plan will determine the phased activity in each MCCA.
In reviewing local proposals, all functions affected by the potential machine removal or change are fully represented at the negotiating table through the creation of Local Joint Working Groups (LJWG) and can influence and agree the outcome of any proposed change. The process ensures that Engineering issues and concerns are fully considered as part of the process.
Annex A to the agreement provides an agreed process for machine moves that ensures that full consultation takes place on a MCCA basis, which we hope will be of assistance to our representatives across all functions in dealing with machine removal proposals.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:
Processing: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary,
email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 715.17.
Deliveries/Collections: Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary,
email: njones@cwu.org quoting reference: 540.
Engineering: Carl Maden, Assistant Secretary (Acting),
email: khay@cwu.org quoting reference: 420.
Yours sincerely
Davie Robertson Assistant Secretary
Mark Baulch Assistant Secretary
Carl Maden Assistant Secretary (Acting)