Seasonal hours suspended Update-"To start 4th of September"

[TopperGas]

Back on topic

Is this confirmed 100% as ending on the 17th December? According to one of our managers the delay and confusion was RM wanting it shifted back a week so it ran until the 24th.

It is still due to finish 17th December.
The official reason given by the union was that Royal Mail were concerned that the traffic forecast for the next 8 weeks was showing very low levels and they were worried that there would be a lot of trapped costs (us hanging around doing nothing waiting on vans) rendering the whole thing pointless. Apparently they wanted to hold off until late October /early November.

To be honest I think the whole thing would have been more efficient and more acceptable to members had it been limited to the 6 weeks before Christmas and reciprocated in the 6 weeks of late July/August when traffic is historically at its lowest.

But what do we know?

That's far too sensible a suggestion for RM, assuming post reverts back to the normal next week after this week's bank holiday, then we'll be out of the door far earlier next week for no obvious reasons.

[Mr Rush]

Why is everyone focused on the end of the world, it is not a scenario where I'd be worried about work or getting mail.

To borrow a saying: it is easier to imagine the end of the world than RM successfully implementing Seasonal Hours.

[LouBarlow]

Back on topic

Is this confirmed 100% as ending on the 17th December? According to one of our managers the delay and confusion was RM wanting it shifted back a week so it ran until the 24th.

It is still due to finish 17th December.
The official reason given by the union was that Royal Mail were concerned that the traffic forecast for the next 8 weeks was showing very low levels and they were worried that there would be a lot of trapped costs (us hanging around doing nothing waiting on vans) rendering the whole thing pointless. Apparently they wanted to hold off until late October /early November.

To be honest I think the whole thing would have been more efficient and more acceptable to members had it been limited to the 6 weeks before Christmas and reciprocated in the 6 weeks of late July/August when traffic is historically at its lowest.

But what do we know?

That's far too sensible a suggestion for RM, assuming post reverts back to the normal next week after this week's bank holiday, then we'll be out of the door far earlier next week for no obvious reasons.

If they get you out of the door earlier, then can potentially absorb more rounds.

[ted_e_bear]

Back on topic

Is this confirmed 100% as ending on the 17th December? According to one of our managers the delay and confusion was RM wanting it shifted back a week so it ran until the 24th.

It is still due to finish 17th December.
The official reason given by the union was that Royal Mail were concerned that the traffic forecast for the next 8 weeks was showing very low levels and they were worried that there would be a lot of trapped costs (us hanging around doing nothing waiting on vans) rendering the whole thing pointless. Apparently they wanted to hold off until late October /early November.

To be honest I think the whole thing would have been more efficient and more acceptable to members had it been limited to the 6 weeks before Christmas and reciprocated in the 6 weeks of late July/August when traffic is historically at its lowest.

But what do we know?

That's far too sensible a suggestion for RM, assuming post reverts back to the normal next week after this week's bank holiday, then we'll be out of the door far earlier next week for no obvious reasons.

If they get you out of the door earlier, then can potentially absorb more rounds.

No doubt that's probably their contingency plan B.

[Zicomurphy]

Back on topic

Is this confirmed 100% as ending on the 17th December? According to one of our managers the delay and confusion was RM wanting it shifted back a week so it ran until the 24th.

It is still due to finish 17th December.
The official reason given by the union was that Royal Mail were concerned that the traffic forecast for the next 8 weeks was showing very low levels and they were worried that there would be a lot of trapped costs (us hanging around doing nothing waiting on vans) rendering the whole thing pointless. Apparently they wanted to hold off until late October /early November.

To be honest I think the whole thing would have been more efficient and more acceptable to members had it been limited to the 6 weeks before Christmas and reciprocated in the 6 weeks of late July/August when traffic is historically at its lowest.

But what do we know?

That's far too sensible a suggestion for RM, assuming post reverts back to the normal next week after this week's bank holiday, then we'll be out of the door far earlier next week for no obvious reasons.

If they get you out of the door earlier, then can potentially absorb more rounds.

Weren’t we told that one of the few benefits of seasonal variations would be a big reduction in the need to lapse/absorb walks?

[Woody Guthrie]

If the vans continue to arrive at the same time it's unlikely that anyone will be out on delivery significantly earlier.

I suppose the biggest plus for Royal Mail from this might be the ability to remove a great deal of early overtime which most offices are currently relying on due to staff shortages.

As for absorption/lapsing since most people on here complain about unachievable workloads I'm surprised that's even a thing.

The same s**t applies as always, if you have time fair enough. If you don't, you don't.

If there's no capacity in the entire office for lapsing it's something your rep/area rep should be addressing at the weekly resource meeting.

[Pidleypoo]

In my office they’ve been paying ridiculous amount of people to come in early and most are still not completing.

With these seasonal hours they should be paying no one to come in early.

[worktotime]

Back on topic

Is this confirmed 100% as ending on the 17th December? According to one of our managers the delay and confusion was RM wanting it shifted back a week so it ran until the 24th.

It is still due to finish 17th December.
The official reason given by the union was that Royal Mail were concerned that the traffic forecast for the next 8 weeks was showing very low levels and they were worried that there would be a lot of trapped costs (us hanging around doing nothing waiting on vans) rendering the whole thing pointless. Apparently they wanted to hold off until late October /early November.

To be honest I think the whole thing would have been more efficient and more acceptable to members had it been limited to the 6 weeks before Christmas and reciprocated in the 6 weeks of late July/August when traffic is historically at its lowest.

But what do we know?

That's far too sensible a suggestion for RM, assuming post reverts back to the normal next week after this week's bank holiday, then we'll be out of the door far earlier next week for no obvious reasons.

If they get you out of the door earlier, then can potentially absorb more rounds.

not really as it would just give you time to knock on a few extra neighbours to get rid of parcels , but if your duty is to big anyway and you claim everyday then instead of claiming 60 mins you might only claim 36 mins , or just work your hours and take it back , simple

[guardianangel]

In my office they’ve been paying ridiculous amount of people to come in early and most are still not completing.

With these seasonal hours they should be paying no one to come in early.

Exactly ,there should now be no overtime in the mornings now with everyone starting earlier,if they want overtime they should do it on delivery,i think that is the idea to stop people stealing a living in the mornings and earning their money on delivery,they are already moaning like f--k in our office,what did they expect vote yes and this is what you get.

[Runnerdan]

I’m part time but have always been told to come in early to help prep. Double prep everyday, and today been told my hours will be cut as the seasonal hours start. So we’re going into a busier time and they start cutting hours, surely they have had all summer where they could have done that?
Literally sick of the place and how they take advantage of people, scumbags!

[oypostie]

The official reason given by the union was that Royal Mail were concerned that the traffic forecast for the next 8 weeks was showing very low levels

and Royal Mails traffic forecasts are always so accurate

[scotchy1962]

The official reason given by the union was that Royal Mail were concerned that the traffic forecast for the next 8 weeks was showing very low levels

and Royal Mails traffic forecasts are always so accurate

Always amazed me when the managers go on about low forecasts, they don't really know that far in advance as Joe/Joan Bloggs hasn't decided if they need those nose trimmers or not.
And it doesn't matter how much mail there is if you can't see anything for packets/parcels.
Ignore all long range or even short term forecasts they're always wrong.
Bit like the weather.

[Woody Guthrie]

Joint Communication Covering The National Rollout Of Seasonal Variation 4th September 2023:

Branches, Representatives, and members will recall that a number of LTBs (Letter To Branches) have recently been issued in terms of moving forward the commitments contained in the Business Transformation, Recovery and Growth Agreement in relation to Appendix 1, Seasonal Variation, the most recent being LTB 213/23 issued on 21st August.

However, you will also be aware that over the course of last week, there had been widespread speculation that the planned changes under Seasonal Variation as outlined in these LTBs would be delayed until October and limited to 9 weeks.

To be clear, this speculation was started by Royal Mail who did initiate an approach to the CWU on possible options to delay the development of Seasonal Variation due to some concerns in regard to forecasted traffic levels over the next few weeks. However, following further talks, Royal Mail has moved away from this consideration as it has now been highlighted that any changes in the commencement date of Seasonal Variation at such short notice will generate a number of systems issues that in turn could impact on the accuracy of employee’s basic pay.

However, during this period of discussions both parties have agreed to a Joint Communication which reaffirms a number of key aspects of Seasonal Variation.

Clearly, this period of ongoing conjecture has not been a helpful development nor has the delay in issuing this Joint Communication. However, it is now hoped that this further clarification will end any remaining confusion in this regard, alongside reaffirming the wider aims and aspects of Seasonal Variation.

Any issues arising from the local application of Seasonal Variation should be raised via the IR Framework and any questions on the interpretation or application of the arrangements should be fast-tracked to the relevant ROD/CWU Divisional Reps as necessary.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

……

JOINT STATEMENT

This Joint Communication has been issued to confirm that the planned move over to the Seasonal Variation as set out in the RMG/CWU Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement, Appendix 1, will take place as previously outlined and reported.

From Monday 4th September to Sunday 17th December 2023. Full-timers (including 35-hour contracts) will see a 24 minutes per day variation increase applied before their start time. Part-timers will see a 10 minutes variation before their start time.

From Monday 18th December 2023 to Sunday 26th May 2024. Full-timers and part-timers will work their normal hours.

From Monday 27th May 2024 to Sunday 8th September 2024. Full-timers will see a 24 minutes per day variation decrease (starting 14 minutes later and finishing 10 minutes earlier). Part-timers will work 10 minutes less per day, finishing 10 minutes earlier.

In setting out this Joint Communication, it can be confirmed that Royal Mail did initiate an approach to the CWU on the option to delay the deployment of seasonal variation due to some concerns regarding forecasted traffic levels. However, following further talks, Royal Mail has since moved away from this consideration as it has now been highlighted that any changes in the commencement date at such short notice will generate a number of systems issues which could have impacted individuals pay.

Royal Mail and the CWU have agreed an approach which supports the need for Royal Mail to be more flexible in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The approach will also support the Universal Service Obligation and ability to meet quality of service targets against varying levels of workload over the seasons of the year. The approach is based on a mutual interest approach and will aim to maintain job security and secure terms and conditions for employees. Seasonal variation aims to better align scheduled hours in different blocks of the year to the typical workload in those periods. In doing so it also aims to: -

• Improve productivity and efficiency and USO/services standards for customers and ensuring all workload is cleared including door to door.

• Reduce the need for outdoor lapsing and absorption which is unpopular for employees.

• Provide more consistency of delivery time for Estimated Delivery Windows for customers.

• We agree that employees’ weekly hours will be adjusted up and down by a fixed amount for a block of weeks and their start and finish times will vary slightly depending on seasonal peaks and troughs of work.

A further aim of the introduction of the seasonal hour’s approach is to maximise consistency of duty cover, which helps with familiarity for frontline OPG’s and consistency for customers and so the core of work through different seasons is intended to be the indoor and outdoor work related to the listed duty walk-holders. There may be instances where there is a gap between supply of hours which needs to be filled with productive work, and it is the aim to do this from additional work added to the core duty rather than reallocating people to alternative duties with more workload.

The initial design for Year 1 will be jointly reviewed to capture lessons learned, taking feedback with the aim of improving the approach.

The introduction of Seasonal Variation will also focus on the commitments outlined within the National Joint Statement on improving Quality of Service & USO Compliance: -

• Deliver Section 2.5 of the BRT&G Agreement, which committed Royal Mail and the CWU to urgently improve and restore Quality of Service for all products, including achievement of our USO obligations;

• To reduce the reliance on agency workers whilst meeting productivity targets.

To deliver the aims and opportunities set out above, it is critical that local managers and CWU reps work jointly to maximise the value of these additional hours during the High Season via the Weekly Resourcing Meetings.

Both Parties recognise that there are a number of other matters which are still under discussion nationally, for example, the approach for Delivery Revisions and these will be jointly progressed and communicated.

Royal Mail and the CWU also confirm that all other aspects of Seasonal Variation remain fully in place.

Any issues arising from this Joint Communication should be raised to the signatories for resolution

Francis Williams Commercial & Field Programme Director

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

[Woody Guthrie]

A further aim of the introduction of the seasonal hour’s approach is to maximise consistency of duty cover, which helps with familiarity for frontline OPG’s and consistency for customers and so the core of work through different seasons is intended to be the indoor and outdoor work related to the listed duty walk-holders. There may be instances where there is a gap between supply of hours which needs to be filled with productive work, and it is the aim to do this from additional work added to the core duty rather than reallocating people to alternative duties with more workload.

Read this a few times.
Not a f***ing clue what it's on about.

[richj2009]

If you want to stay working for royal mail you just need to be a bitch and do whatever they want. The union is dead as paid absences regarding union matters are being removed. Be a bitch or leave that's the choice we all have now. If you complain and continually cut off you'll become a target of increased scrutiny. Why you talking to him. Why you making a coffee, your eating crisps at your frame. Be a bitch or leave. It's game over. We have no rights only the wrongs of royal mail to accommodate now.