CWU.ORG : Mark Baulch : We're delivering change, but management must improve on toolsets and timings

[POSTMAN]

https://www.cwu.org/news/were-deliverin ... d-timings/

CWU News caught up with outdoor secretary Mark Baulch after yesterday’s divisional representatives briefing and we asked him for the latest news on revisions and pipeline impacts…

Q: There’s been a massive revisions programme right across the country. What’s the current state of progress on that?

It’s been a challenge certainly. But the good news is that we’ve now deployed over a thousand revisions, with only got around 20 or so of the table-top revisions still outstanding and we’re on track to do that.

On the structural revisions, that’s been more difficult, more of a challenge. We’ve deployed 176 of those revisions so far out of the 400, which was the target by the end of October. It’s fair to say that was a stretching target and it’s proven to be so.

We’re continuing dialogue with Royal Mail nationally in regard to how we deploy the rest of those revisions and, at the moment – with two more weeks of October to go after this week – there are a number scheduled to be deployed.

There will be a situation where it just simply won’t be possible at a certain point to deploy these revisions because we’ll be getting to near to Christmas and we’re continuing dialogue with the company in that regard. But we’re determined to deliver the benefits and the agreement which we signed up to with Royal Mail in terms of introducing the shorter working week by the end of October in all units.

It’s been a challenge that’s been made more difficult because of Covid, and more difficult because of some of the tools in the systems.

We have to find a better way going forward, and we’re going to jointly review and re-evaluate the current process, the current toolset that’s been used in those revisions and learn the lessons.

We can’t afford to make the same mistakes going into next year’s deployment of revisions.

So that has to happen and we will do that.

In some of those units where we have deployed revisions, several of those that I’ve visited, there are still some issues outstanding, particularly around frame layouts not being done correctly and in walk sequencing – the way that work is arriving not correlating to the actual route. There are also some issues in loop planning. and some of the imbalances on delivery.

We will work through those and we’re pushing the company very hard that they go back to those units where we’ve still got issues and we’re chasing and pushing and putting as much pressure on the company nationally as we can do, in order to make those corrections and put good some of those issues.

It’s been an extremely busy year, particularly over the last few months as it intensifies as we get nearer to the end of October deadline.

I understand that people are under a lot of pressure. I want to thank everyone, and the reps in particular, for the hard work they’ve put in.

We are learning lessons from the deployment. It has to be improved.

And we will do that.

Q: In the pipeline discussions today, in terms of the new hub, what were the key points from a delivery perspective?

We needed to update the divisional reps following last week’s postal executive, and some ‘red-line’ issues which we currently have with the company. Those red lines concern the company’s position around delaying workload until the afternoon – larger format three and four items – this is driven through the sortation capability in the new hub and that is a major red line for us.

We don’t believe that products should be delayed and we think that they should be delivered from all delivery offices, or at least from all those that have the capability and capacity to deliver parcels from the a.m. period and not delayed artificially into the afternoon.

We think that’s the wrong way to go.

It restricts the operation in terms of innovation. It restricts the ability for new growth of products and services and expansion in other areas. It’s not an acceptable position for us and we’ve articulated that to the divisional representatives today.

[theotherone]

176 out of 400 structural revisions only done.Are we set for a share price crash?

[Phantom]

Well our revision is a total mess, it's been rushed through and is completely unworkable.
No input from any staff and when you did question it, you were told that this is the way.
Loads are cutting off, absolute shambles.

[tomtallis]

.

[olilew]

Of those structural revisions, how many are a complete catastrophe? Answer that one sir?

[estelle]

Anyone else had a revision of the revision which didn't include the entire office? Cos they broke all the office, but they deemed only some of the office important enough to reintroduce most of the walks they removed, whilst leaving the rest of the office still broken?

No? Doesn't sound like something that would happen at all

of the two structural revisions I'm aware of in this area, there is a 100% fail rate in terms of success

good job lads

Christmas will be amazing

[worktotime]

its the usual put s**t in and get s**t out , but as long as simon can convince the shareholders thats everthing is rosy thats all that matters , but when the s**t hits the fan with massive failures especially over xmas and the fines start rolling in from ofcom for the quality of service failuresn, but at least we can say its f**k all to do with us and told you so and then the share price will drop anyway

[frankieboy]

its the usual put s**t in and get s**t out , but as long as simon can convince the shareholders thats everthing is rosy thats all that matters , but when the s**t hits the fan with massive failures especially over xmas and the fines start coming from ofcom , at least we can say its f**k all to do with us and the share price will drop anyway

And what's the betting he'll be leaving next year with a massive pay off.

[Chelseablue]

So simon answer this? Why have you not let the staff who knew these duties inside out have any say at all on these revisions ????????????? Give us an answer pls ?

[toonshola]

The whole situation is a complete joke. Had a discussion with a planner last week, a man who I may add has never done a delivery in his life. Anyway I was informing him the 180 calls put on my delivery from the revision would make the delivery about an hour too long on a good day. His reply was the computer says differently and it’s all been properly planned out. I’ve been doing this walk in the real world for 6 years day in day out but a bloke in an office with his computer knows better apparently. And I’ve lost this walk in the re-pick so I wasn’t just trying to benefit myself. Our revision starts a week Monday and it’s going to be a complete s**t show.

[theotherone]

We've actually managed to get ours chucked out so far so at least we won't be getting it in before Xmas.
7 months of planning....back to square 1.

[hans solo]

were maybe delivering change mark but were not delivering letters

[worktotime]

they will never be right when the dims and planners are using unrealist data , 3.2 mph with lwts , 100bsi , attendance calls 90 for 2 deliverys and 5.15 duty spans and they have also cut your travel time out and back by 10 mins , no 10 mins pouching off , oh and no time for knocking on neighbours , consumer collections , post boxes , well bollocks to the lot of it finish time and home and let them sort the mess out.

[Godric]

So the years of complaining that revisions are purely an exercise in giving us more work simply passed the union top brass by?

"Oh we didn't know the previous revisions were a total f**k up, not a single person that we take any notice of informed us"
"But we have provided you with office reps who recite the spell of protection "work to your time" whilst ushering you out of the locker/callers office before their tea goes cold."

the main concern of the union big wigs is remaining at the top table and remaining relevant to Royal Mail (they have shot themselves so many times in the foot before BT 2010 and after by backing down from Industrial action when they had the business by the balls so that they could help the Labour Party) and the membership are just a after thought ... i will never forget or forgive Dave Ward and Billy Hayes for putting the Labour Party ahead of the membership ... the same membership who pay there wages to represent the membership and not some political party

[tomtallis]