LTB 288/20 - Temporary USO Changes - Cessation Monday 8th June 2020

Post by **POSTMAN** » 03 Jun 2020, 12:17

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-288-20-temp ... june-2020/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No: 288/2020
2nd June 2020

For the Immediate Attention of All:
Postal Branches
Divisional Representatives
Area Delivery Representatives
Area Processing Representatives
Area Distribution Representatives

Dear Colleagues

Temporary USO Changes – Cessation Monday 8th June 2020

Further to LTB 239/20 Branches will be aware that the temporary changes to USO Deliveries on a Saturday were due to cease no later than Saturday 13th June 2020, but that the changes were subject to review.

On receipt of consistent negative feedback from the field on the impact of the cessation of Saturday letter deliveries on the operation, the union has made further representations on our view that normal USO deliveries should be resumed as a matter of urgency.

During discussions today, Royal Mail has confirmed that following consultation with the Regulator, the current temporary arrangement will cease one week early with normal USO deliveries and agreed duty arrangements resuming from Monday 8th June 2020.

We would request that Branches and Representatives engage to ensure that any temporary arrangements are removed and agreed duty and attendance patterns are restored in time for the resumption of normal USO deliveries. For the avoidance of doubt Saturday 6th June 2020 will be the last day of the temporary arrangement to cease Saturday USO letter deliveries.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:

Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary, email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference: 230.03 or

Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 014.14

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

DGH · Post by **DGH** » 03 Jun 2020, 14:06

How is normal attendance and duty pattern compatible with any social distancing measures?

Or does it mean going back to the arrangements that were in place before the Saturday debacle began? If so, that's not normal USO.

Post by **britwrit** » 03 Jun 2020, 14:39

Now that the warm weather has solved this problem forever and forever, these are issues we'll never ever have to deal with. It's magic.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 03 Jun 2020, 15:18

DGH wrote:How is normal attendance and duty pattern compatible with any social distancing measures?

Or does it mean going back to the arrangements that were in place before the Saturday debacle began? If so, that's not normal USO.

It'll be like the rest of the week. some will go in later and have to wait for a van, which won't be back early as those i the orning will have their normal workload

DGH · Post by **DGH** » 03 Jun 2020, 15:44

Yes, I'm sure you're right. But that's not really what the above bulletin says, in my view.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 03 Jun 2020, 15:52

DGH wrote:Yes, I'm sure you're right. But that's not really what the above bulletin says, in my view.

What that bulletin says is not possible as for it to happen you'd have to back to 2 in a van and end social distancing. if that were to happen, the HSE would probably take RM to the cleaners if anything happened

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 03 Jun 2020, 17:28

DGH wrote:Yes, I'm sure you're right. But that's not really what the above bulletin says, in my view.

It says agreed duty and attendance times should be restored.
It doesn't say normal duty and attendance times.

Cucumber · Post by **Cucumber** » 03 Jun 2020, 19:38

Wonder what the next new idea is going to be?

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 03 Jun 2020, 20:34

Cucumber wrote:Wonder what the next new idea is going to be?

The next phase will be moving from damage limitation to recovery and that will mean the the return of pressure.

At the moment managers are being given space to fail, that means that the pressure on staff to complete has mostly not been applied and leaving mail in the frames has become a habit.

As staffing levels return to some kind of normality managers will be expected to reduce the failures. Unless the parcel volume decreases it's going to get messy because parcels and therefore duties will take longer the more people head back to work/school.

Cucumber · Post by **Cucumber** » 03 Jun 2020, 21:03

Woody Guthrie wrote:
Cucumber wrote:Wonder what the next new idea is going to be?
The next phase will be moving from damage limitation to recovery and that will mean the the return of pressure.

At the moment managers are being given space to fail, that means that the pressure on staff to complete has mostly not been applied and leaving mail in the frames has become a habit.

As staffing levels return to some kind of normality managers will be expected to reduce the failures. Unless the parcel volume decreases it's going to get messy because parcels and therefore duties will take longer the more people head back to work/school.

Agreed.

We were widespread failing well before the Saturday parcels experiment due to not enough vans/drivers and the implementation of single vans. That's still the case. Losing at least 90 minutes worth of delivery time per shared van due to them simply not being designed for people walking between loops.

Pumpernickel · Post by **Pumpernickel** » 03 Jun 2020, 21:09

Today I learned that 13 - 7 = 8!

I've obviously been doing it wrong all this time!

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 03 Jun 2020, 22:03

The bi question, which no one will know the answer to is how much of the extra workload of packets will become permanent. If a very large chunk of all the extra workload of packets becomes permanent them RM will have to look at revising EVERY walk in the country and maybe put the old walk in here and there

Cucumber · Post by **Cucumber** » 03 Jun 2020, 22:12

SpacePhoenix wrote:The bi question, which no one will know the answer to is how much of the extra workload of packets will become permanent. If a very large chunk of all the extra workload of packets becomes permanent them RM will have to look at revising EVERY walk in the country and maybe put the old walk in here and there

The packet volumes will remain the same whilst social distancing/queuing remains in shops etc. For the rest of this year at least, given that the virus, whilst not as prominent is still established in areas all over the country. People will order online rather than go out for things. Our office made tentative attempts to change some duties by giving 1-2 extra loops of mail to the passengers, with no packets/parcels for huge parts of the route, to allow driver to concentrate on parcels. This was totally refused by passengers - all of whom are using their own cars etc and going straight home after last letter.

citypostie · Post by **citypostie** » 03 Jun 2020, 22:37

Cucumber wrote:
SpacePhoenix wrote:The bi question, which no one will know the answer to is how much of the extra workload of packets will become permanent. If a very large chunk of all the extra workload of packets becomes permanent them RM will have to look at revising EVERY walk in the country and maybe put the old walk in here and there
The packet volumes will remain the same whilst social distancing/queuing remains in shops etc. For the rest of this year at least, given that the virus, whilst not as prominent is still established in areas all over the country. People will order online rather than go out for things. Our office made tentative attempts to change some duties by giving 1-2 extra loops of mail to the passengers, with no packets/parcels for huge parts of the route, to allow driver to concentrate on parcels. This was totally refused by passengers - all of whom are using their own cars etc and going straight home after last letter.

They might say that social distancing will be here a long time but look at London today! That was a mass gathering and the police stood and watched. Most people are just getting back to normal now and it won't be soon until everyone gives up on it. We might as well have let Boris go for his herd immunity plan because it's going to happen anyway and we wouldn't have brought the country to a standstill

Cucumber · Post by **Cucumber** » 09 Jun 2020, 14:32

citypostie wrote:
Cucumber wrote:
SpacePhoenix wrote:The bi question, which no one will know the answer to is how much of the extra workload of packets will become permanent. If a very large chunk of all the extra workload of packets becomes permanent them RM will have to look at revising EVERY walk in the country and maybe put the old walk in here and there
The packet volumes will remain the same whilst social distancing/queuing remains in shops etc. For the rest of this year at least, given that the virus, whilst not as prominent is still established in areas all over the country. People will order online rather than go out for things. Our office made tentative attempts to change some duties by giving 1-2 extra loops of mail to the passengers, with no packets/parcels for huge parts of the route, to allow driver to concentrate on parcels. This was totally refused by passengers - all of whom are using their own cars etc and going straight home after last letter.
They might say that social distancing will be here a long time but look at London today! That was a mass gathering and the police stood and watched. Most people are just getting back to normal now and it won't be soon until everyone gives up on it. We might as well have let Boris go for his herd immunity plan because it's going to happen anyway and we wouldn't have brought the country to a standstill

Royal Mail aren't responsible for people at a gathering outside of work.