LTB 141/22 – TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION COVERING THE CHANGE OF SORTING ARCHITECTURE IN RDC/PARCEL HUBS
No: 141/22
24th March 2022
For the Immediate Attention of All:
Postal Branches Divisional Representatives RDC Representatives
Area Processing Representatives Area Distribution Representatives
Territorial Engineering Representatives
Dear Colleagues
TERMS OF REFERENCE BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION COVERING THE CHANGE OF SORTING ARCHITECTURE IN RDC/PARCEL HUBS
Branches and representatives will be aware that Royal Mail has made various announcements with regard to aspirations on parcel automation and PSM utilisation levels across the Processing function. From a CWU perspective, the objective in supporting initiatives to improve automation levels must be based on a measured approach that balances workload across both automated and non-automated sites.
Key to the above objective of maximising the utilisation on the Mail Centre based Parcel Sorting Machines (PSM’s) while retaining current workload across the RDC network, discussions have focused on changes to the sort architecture in RDC/Parcel Hubs, to ensure that machinable traffic for PSM equipped Mail Centres is presented in dedicated Yorks.
A Terms of Reference for trial activity has now been concluded and endorsed by the Postal Executive, a copy of which is attached for information.
The trial activity will entail changes to the sort architecture within the RDC’s to enable the segregation and presentation of machinable parcels to PSM equipped Mail Centres, to ensure that machinable traffic can be better aligned to the PSM’s.
The agreed trial approach will test the concept of a revised sort architecture over a 6-week period at the following sites:
- PRDC
- SWDC
- NDC
- NWRDC
- SDC
- Atherstone
Branches will note that YDC is not included in the initial activity although it has been agreed that should the trial be deemed successful that YDC will be introduced to the trial during the 6-week period. Representatives at YDC will be updated in this regard, should it be proposed to introduce the revised arrangements at the site.
As the business have indicated that they wish to commence the trial activity with immediate effect, the department has written under separate cover to the representatives at the above listed sites and provided them with a copy of the TOR in advance of this LTB being issued in order that they may engage from an informed position.
The usual safeguards have been secured within the TOR with regard to duty structures, job numbers earning packages etc., although in the view of the business the change will have no impact on these issues going forward.
No workload will be diverted as part of this trial and the basic layouts are largely the same as at present with only the selections changing.
The trial will be monitored by the Joint RDC Working Group and a joint review will take place at the end of the trial period against the agreed success criteria.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 231.07
Yours sincerely,
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary