I believe the long term plan is to close even more mail centres and run all parcels through these new superhubs that they have built. It had 69 mail centres in 2007, 51 in 2012 and probably even less of them now. By automating the parcels they need less staff in processing and also hope to save on indoor time in delivery offices.
Physically impossible just using the superhubs as even combined their machines won't have anywhere near the number of selections needed. RM would either need to have some DOs starting 3-4 (maybe more) hours later or have the superhubs sort the parcels into batches, each of which could be run as a sort plan on the PSMs in MCs (I don't think even half of MCs currently have a PSM).
It also wouldn't save RM any staff in processing, it would just mean that less casuals/agency would be needed
Well, Royal Mail initially did want some of us in certain delivery offices to start up to 3-4 hours later. They have now proposed moving start times in DOs up to 60-90 minutes later and could that be a stepping stone towards moving to the promised land?
f less casuals/agency would be needed then that's more efficient and the company can save money? Obviously idk because I don't work in processing but they wouldn't spend billions on these parcel hubs if they couldn't dramatically improve efficiency.
On the face of it, shareholder value is the dumbest idea in the world.
I believe the long term plan is to close even more mail centres and run all parcels through these new superhubs that they have built. It had 69 mail centres in 2007, 51 in 2012 and probably even less of them now. By automating the parcels they need less staff in processing and also hope to save on indoor time in delivery offices.
Physically impossible just using the superhubs as even combined their machines won't have anywhere near the number of selections needed. RM would either need to have some DOs starting 3-4 (maybe more) hours later or have the superhubs sort the parcels into batches, each of which could be run as a sort plan on the PSMs in MCs (I don't think even half of MCs currently have a PSM).
It also wouldn't save RM any staff in processing, it would just mean that less casuals/agency would be needed
Do you not remember a couple of year's ago, Terry Pullinger saying they're expecting the new hubs to bulk out and the excess work would go to the M/C'c.
Well, Royal Mail initially did want some of us in certain delivery offices to start up to 3-4 hours later. They have now proposed moving start times in DOs up to 60-90 minutes later and could that be a stepping stone towards moving to the promised land?
That change in start times I believe was initially based on RM basically axing the Skynet network and sending stuff by either road or rail. I don't know if they have totally ruled that out from happening
Remember if it’s dark and the driveway or lane is unlit you do not have to walk down it.
Where does it state you do not have to go down an unlit driveway or lane??
The likes of AMAZON, and supermarkets do it up to 22:00 at night. The majority of Local Authorities have now turned off street lighting hoping to save money.
Yes but they are driving to every address they deliver to and at most have a 100 to 120 drop off points not somewhere around 8 times that number all whilst having to walk 10 miles or more oh and having to account for their time should they stop to have a rest of 5 minutes or more. Oh and they actually got a 10% pay rise this past year
I believe the long term plan is to close even more mail centres and run all parcels through these new superhubs that they have built. It had 69 mail centres in 2007, 51 in 2012 and probably even less of them now. By automating the parcels they need less staff in processing and also hope to save on indoor time in delivery offices.
Physically impossible just using the superhubs as even combined their machines won't have anywhere near the number of selections needed. RM would either need to have some DOs starting 3-4 (maybe more) hours later or have the superhubs sort the parcels into batches, each of which could be run as a sort plan on the PSMs in MCs (I don't think even half of MCs currently have a PSM).
It also wouldn't save RM any staff in processing, it would just mean that less casuals/agency would be needed
Easy way round that close half the MC's and have 2 or 3 PSM's in those left and process all outward Packets/Parcels at the Super Duper Hubs and nothing but Inward at MC's for the Delivery Offices there would be no need to change over plans and less Network needed just for Letters/Flats and Specials in terms of Outward then when you have Wagons come in it will be either Letters/Flats/Specials or Packets
I believe the long term plan is to close even more mail centres and run all parcels through these new superhubs that they have built. It had 69 mail centres in 2007, 51 in 2012 and probably even less of them now. By automating the parcels they need less staff in processing and also hope to save on indoor time in delivery offices.
Physically impossible just using the superhubs as even combined their machines won't have anywhere near the number of selections needed. RM would either need to have some DOs starting 3-4 (maybe more) hours later or have the superhubs sort the parcels into batches, each of which could be run as a sort plan on the PSMs in MCs (I don't think even half of MCs currently have a PSM).
It also wouldn't save RM any staff in processing, it would just mean that less casuals/agency would be needed
Easy way round that close half the MC's and have 2 or 3 PSM's in those left and process all outward Packets/Parcels at the Super Duper Hubs and nothing but Inward at MC's for the Delivery Offices there would be no need to change over plans and less Network needed just for Letters/Flats and Specials in terms of Outward then when you have Wagons come in it will be either Letters/Flats/Specials or Packets
Still leaves you short. From a quick Google there's about 1,350 DOs around the country. If you add up all the walks in our area (area covered by the MC) there's around 900 and we're one of the smaller MCs. Just looked up one type of PSM that has 360 outputs. So either we'd need three sort plans or we'd need three machines which we physically couldn't fit in.
To have half the number of MCs processing flats and letters it'd take double the mech time to run everything that's mech.
For flats, letters and parcels you're going to get some stuff that's not suitable for sorting on a machine.
Your strategy will still have DOs starting at least 2-3 hours later
I believe the long term plan is to close even more mail centres and run all parcels through these new superhubs that they have built. It had 69 mail centres in 2007, 51 in 2012 and probably even less of them now. By automating the parcels they need less staff in processing and also hope to save on indoor time in delivery offices.
Physically impossible just using the superhubs as even combined their machines won't have anywhere near the number of selections needed. RM would either need to have some DOs starting 3-4 (maybe more) hours later or have the superhubs sort the parcels into batches, each of which could be run as a sort plan on the PSMs in MCs (I don't think even half of MCs currently have a PSM).
It also wouldn't save RM any staff in processing, it would just mean that less casuals/agency would be needed
Easy way round that close half the MC's and have 2 or 3 PSM's in those left and process all outward Packets/Parcels at the Super Duper Hubs and nothing but Inward at MC's for the Delivery Offices there would be no need to change over plans and less Network needed just for Letters/Flats and Specials in terms of Outward then when you have Wagons come in it will be either Letters/Flats/Specials or Packets
Still leaves you short. From a quick Google there's about 1,350 DOs around the country. If you add up all the walks in our area (area covered by the MC) there's around 900 and we're one of the smaller MCs. Just looked up one type of PSM that has 360 outputs. So either we'd need three sort plans or we'd need three machines which we physically couldn't fit in.
To have half the number of MCs processing flats and letters it'd take double the mech time to run everything that's mech.
For flats, letters and parcels you're going to get some stuff that's not suitable for sorting on a machine.
Your strategy will still have DOs starting at least 2-3 hours later
You seem to think that Royal Mail plan on still having Small mail Centres my suggestion(Which is I work in Processing and certainly don't want any Mail Centres shutting) less Mail Centres just the bigger ones with 3 PSM's basically doing the Inward Sorting for a Larger Area than Currently. Which will feed more Delivery Offices and yep there would still be Manual sorting for each Delivery Office but no segregating of Mail Streams all Packets other than Special Delivery sorted into the same sleeves. Probably can see Flats being sorted manually maybe even straight into sleeves bar bulk postings which would be trayed amongst letters and yep Delivery Offices will be starting later even the agreement has them starting an hour to 90 minutes later to start with but in time expect that to be extended to the 3 hours. Walks will need a headtorch to be added to the uniform for the evening finishes in Winter
You seem to think that Royal Mail plan on still having Small mail Centres my suggestion(Which is I work in Processing and certainly don't want any Mail Centres shutting) less Mail Centres just the bigger ones with 3 PSM's basically doing the Inward Sorting for a Larger Area than Currently. Which will feed more Delivery Offices and yep there would still be Manual sorting for each Delivery Office but no segregating of Mail Streams all Packets other than Special Delivery sorted into the same sleeves. Probably can see Flats being sorted manually maybe even straight into sleeves bar bulk postings which would be trayed amongst letters and yep Delivery Offices will be starting later even the agreement has them starting an hour to 90 minutes later to start with but in time expect that to be extended to the 3 hours. Walks will need a headtorch to be added to the uniform for the evening finishes in Winter
Tracked and normal large already get sorted together, I think it's only a matter of time before we end up doing the same with Tracked small and normal small. 3 PSMs would take up the space in just about any large MC, leaving little if any room for any manual packets or letters and flats (mech or manual)
Sorting flats into sleeves isn't doable as we use powered conveyors when doing the primary sort of small packets and Tracked
My own view on Royal Mail plans is full automation. That includes the parcel machines walk sorting.
Only problem being that would require a huge infrastructure change such as York's required as well as transportation to the delivery offices of those yorks. That will eliminate a large part of the IPS.
My own view on Royal Mail plans is full automation. That includes the parcel machines walk sorting.
Only problem being that would require a huge infrastructure change such as York's required as well as transportation to the delivery offices of those yorks. That will eliminate a large part of the IPS.
I agree with everything you’ve just said there Filthy Len
More top class content from the most clued up contributor on here by a county mile,definitely not a banter account
You seem to think that Royal Mail plan on still having Small mail Centres my suggestion(Which is I work in Processing and certainly don't want any Mail Centres shutting) less Mail Centres just the bigger ones with 3 PSM's basically doing the Inward Sorting for a Larger Area than Currently. Which will feed more Delivery Offices and yep there would still be Manual sorting for each Delivery Office but no segregating of Mail Streams all Packets other than Special Delivery sorted into the same sleeves. Probably can see Flats being sorted manually maybe even straight into sleeves bar bulk postings which would be trayed amongst letters and yep Delivery Offices will be starting later even the agreement has them starting an hour to 90 minutes later to start with but in time expect that to be extended to the 3 hours. Walks will need a headtorch to be added to the uniform for the evening finishes in Winter
Tracked and normal large already get sorted together, I think it's only a matter of time before we end up doing the same with Tracked small and normal small. 3 PSMs would take up the space in just about any large MC, leaving little if any room for any manual packets or letters and flats (mech or manual)
Sorting flats into sleeves isn't doable as we use powered conveyors when doing the primary sort of small packets and Tracked
Yet again you think how your Mail Centre operates is how every Mail Centre will operate in the future. That will not be the case the whole point is to change the whole way Royal Mail operates and if they can help to nudge the Older posties and their ways of thinking out the door through making things awkward ie actual rates of working forcing Weekend shifts onto them then well New people won't know any better. Casuals won't be worried about Health and Safety and using conveyors for sorting
Sorting flats into a sleeve is a lot slower than sorting into a frame as you have to walk between each sleeve. In the time to sort 1 flat into a sleeve you could have sorted half a dozen in a frame.
RM don't want weekend shifts, they cut ours right back in the realignment. Saturdays for lates (think they're a 17:00) has been the norm for many years.
Actual rates of working have been around for years just never enforced anymore. They probably will get enforced again when more stuff gets barcodes (RM would need to at least double the number of PDAs that we have, the current PDAs a lot of them are knackered)
RM won't want to be using casuals if they can avoid it as what they pay the casuals/agency along with the agency supplying the casual is very expensive
So your paying over the odds to yourselfs have you told the regulators about this best practice and cannot deliver a letter sent first class yesterday is that a first class service?
Last edited by k979aaa on 09 Apr 2023, 20:19, edited 1 time in total.
How many of you hardcore union people looking for another job outside of royal mail? And have you found anything that offers the pay/afternoon finishs and conditions you expect?
