Later Starts Joint Statement

RMG/CWU Joint Communication on provisional Indicative Modelling of Delivery Offices Start and Finish Times within the timeframe of the Negotiators Agreement.

Following the release of the RM/CWU Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Negotiators Agreement, both parties have agreed to share the indicative modelling for Delivery Office start and finish times before CWU members participate in the forthcoming ballot.

In producing the indicative modelling outputs both parties recognise that changes to start and finish times are of concern to many employees in all functions, particularly in Delivery and commit to seek to minimise change in start and finish times whilst still achieving the necessary improvements in cost and environmental impact due to reducing the reliance on air transport.

We have jointly produced a webpage enabling access to the following information which can be accessed at https://www.cwu.org/national-agreement-proposed-start-and-finish-times/ This supersedes what has previously been published. This will show:

  • The provisional and indicative start and finish times based on an up to 1630 last letter and up to a maximum of 60 minutes later
  • The provisional and indicative start and finish times based on an up to 1630 last letter and up to a maximum of 90 minutes later

The proposed start and finish times laid out in the agreement

The negotiators agreement between Royal Mail and the CWU states that:

Deployment approach-
It is agreed that:

“In 2023 in advance of the Network Window change there will be no change to delivery duty start times relating to this project. Where there are managerial proposals to alter start times these must be supported by changes to local workload, or productivity changes and be subject to the full terms of the IR Framework.”

“Both parties are committed to a joint programme of work designed to achieve the necessary Pipeline, work flow and Mail Centre cycle time improvements required to limit the change to start and finish times up to a maximum of 60 minutes. To achieve this, joint activity will be undertaken at a national and local level to review all such opportunities to advance workload and facilitate this outcome.

“Where improved product flow is consistently achieved as a result of the activity set out above and sustained for a period of 3 months prior to deployment in March 2024 then start and finish times will be moved accordingly. Performance during this period will be jointly monitored and reviewed by the Joint Working Groups with a view to resolving any issues.

“Where this programme of work does not make it possible to limit the change to up to 60 minutes, during March 2024 delivery start and finish times will move up to a maximum of 90 minutes later as a result of extended network window, the last letter delivery time at this point will move to up to 16:30.”

“Last letter Delivery completion times will vary up to 16.30 hrs though the majority of deliveries across the UK will be planned to complete before 15.30 hrs, with the vast majority by 16.00 hrs. It is recognised that a small exceptional number of rural deliveries will continue to completed later than 16.30 hrs.”

Provisional and indicative start times based on a change of up to 60 minutes

If through the joint programme of work designed to achieve the necessary Pipeline, workflow and Mail Centre cycle time improvements required to limit the change to start and finish times up to a maximum of 60 minutes the proposals would see:

  • 19% of walks finish up to 30 minutes later
  • 81% finish between 30 and 60 minutes later

Based on this analysis 64% of walks have a last letter time up to 15.30, with 93% up to 16.00.

Provisional and indicative start times based on a change of up to 90 minutes

Using the most up to date analysis of the data relating to the indicative later start and finish times using up to 90 minutes, the proposals would see:

  • 19% of walks across the country finishing up to 30 minutes later
  • 20% finish between 30 and 60 minutes later
  • And 61% finish between 60 and 90 minutes later

Based on this analysis 44% of walks have a last letter time up to 15.30, increasing to 76% up to 16.00. It is recognised that a small exceptional number of rural deliveries will continue to be completed later than 16.30 hrs.

How the proposed changes have been worked out

It is important to provide clarification that the indicative modelling assumptions have been completed using the following information:

  • Delivery Duty Set (DDS) data from May 2023,
  • Finish time is calculated as 15 minutes after last letter time
  • All associated data and times are for 1254 Delivery Offices and Large SPDO’s
  • All associated data and times are based on Wednesday attendance, using the dominant duty pattern for a Full-Time duty within the office

Both parties understand that there will be local factors and circumstances which have influenced the outputs of the indicative modelling that may not have been captured accurately, however those aspects will be addressed through the National & Local joint working groups and further reviewed in line with the deployment approach.

Working together to explore possible further improvements

The new national network will be designed based on an up to 3-hour extension to the network window at end state of the programme.

The degree to which this change will impact Delivery Offices will be different by Mail Centre, dependent on local arrangements and position in the network.

Between May 2023 and September 2023, newly established National and Local Joint Royal Mail/CWU Working Groups will explore if the modelled impact on Delivery start and finish times can be improved upon.

As set out above, both parties are committed to a joint programme of work designed to achieve the necessary Pipeline, workflow and Mail Centre cycle time improvements required to limit the change to start and finish times up to a maximum of 60 minutes.

Where this programme of work does not make it possible to limit the change to up to 60 minutes, during March 2024 delivery start and finish times will move up to a maximum of 90 minutes later as a result of extended network window, the last letter delivery time at this point will move to up to 16:30.

“Exception process for all employees (Delivery, Processing, Distribution) to accommodate caring and other requirements.

As a result of the above changes to working patterns many individuals will need to adjust their attendance times. Royal Mail will ensure that in the vast majority of cases these changes will be minimal and can be accommodated with enough notice and support. However, some employees will have responsibilities and commitments in their personal lives which may make this more difficult. Royal Mail will therefore strive to accommodate at all times the needs of individual employees, whilst also meeting the needs of the operation. Royal Mail and the CWU will jointly develop the process and guidance which will be used to support all front-line employees.”

Deploying the changes

It is important to confirm that the changes to start and finish times would be deployed in delivery in March 2024 and both parties will ensure that all employees will know the detail of the changes three months prior to deployment, recognising the degree of change in some delivery locations.

The high level timelines are:

  • National and Local Joint Working Groups established and will explore if the modelled impact on Delivery start and finish times can be improved –from June ‘23
  • Deploy solutions identified through Joint Working Group – by August ‘23
  • Delivery employee informed of change to start and finish times – December ‘23
  • Exception’s process opens – from December ‘23
  • Deployment of the Network Window Change – March 2024

In addition to the publication of the indicative modelling exercise both parties continue to work on an FAQ document (see appendix B) alongside the information and further information will follow including how the National and Local JWG will function going forwards.

Both parties have agreed that there will be a central contact point for questions and/or points of clarification to be sent to be dealt with by the National JWG and the email is: questions@royalmail.com