LTB:York Containers - Misuse of Cardboard Sleeves:

[POSTMAN]

York Containers - Misuse of Cardboard Sleeves:

Following several recent complaints regarding the above, a letter has been sent to the Royal Mail National Container Control Manager and copied to the Head of Central Postal Control and the Director & Chair of the Royal Mail Letters National Safety Steering Group (copy reproduced below).

I would once again draw Branches and Area Reps attention to Letter To Branches (LTB) 735/06 dated 3 November 2006.

Following discussions with Royal Mail HQ and correspondence with Tony Fox Territorial Director and Chair of the Royal Mail National Safety Steering Group, it was confirmed that the agreed Policy to remove Cardboard Sleeves remains in place and Royal Mail will stick to its commitment that cardboard sleeved York Containers will no longer be routinely used for the distribution of packets within the Mail Centre network with complete withdrawal very soon.

The grounds for withdrawal of Cardboard Sleeves were set out by Central Postal Control (CPC) in the instructions sent to Area General Managers (AGMs) and Mail Centre Managers as follows:-

The use of Cardboard Sleeves for packet traffic was having an adverse affect on the network
Safe Systems of Work were not being followed
Increased York Container demands
Reduced vehicle utilisation
Large amounts of unwanted, waste cardboard requiring repatriation.

The instruction to AGMs and MCMs stated clearly that Cardboard Sleeves can only continue in use for the Amazon Book Contract and the QVC operation at Crewe and additionally for "emergency use" only which needs to be cleared by Central Postal Control (CPC) and would require the use of "false bases" and "cross member supports" to improve the lifting height of packets from the Sleeves and so reduce the risk of injury. The instruction to AGMs was issued by Mike Eady Royal Mail HQ Head of Central Postal Control (CPC) and Cathy Way Royal Mail HQ Head of Network Design.

Every Post Code Area throughout the UK is not "exempt" from the removal of Cardboard Sleeves and this false statement has cropped up on more than one occasion in more than one location. If this is what is being said to you then request the evidence in writing as it will not be found !

Clear instructions were given to MCMs not to purchase further Cardboard Sleeves and where MCMs have somehow purchased new cardboard sleeves and it has come to our attention, the matter has been raised with Royal Mail HQ. Unless new Cardboard Sleeves are purchased for use on Amazon Traffic then the MCM should be told to send them back to where they came from but whatever he/she does they should not be used inappropriately or unsafely. No Staff in Mail Centres or Delivery Offices should be forcibly put under pressure to use inappropriate equipment and work unsafely

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Thanks for that I was getting sick of the avalanches that occurred when trying to open them. Use shrouds please MCs.

[DGP1]

We're using bags again

[POSTMAN]

Ironic,we had 2 yorks today useing them,but i couldn't rem whether we were allowed to work with them.
So i'm guessing that if we get them again then we can refuse to empty them,is that right!.

[L Tommo]

Thats about the strength of it mate...


OUT

[Lounge Lizard]

What's 'the QVC operation at Crewe'?

[ianpostie]

Ironic,we had 2 yorks today useing them,but i couldn't rem whether we were allowed to work with them.
So i'm guessing that if we get them again then we can refuse to empty them,is that right!.

we had 6 yorks of work in last night all with cardboard,our driver said the mail centre has loads of yorks there with cardboard sleeves.can we refuse to touch them?

[GONZO1967]

IN GLASGOW MAIL CENTRE THEY ARE CONTINUALLY USING CARDBOARD SLEEVES TO CONVEY MAILS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE UNION HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD MANAGEMENT THAT THIS PRACTISE MUST STOP BUT THEY SEEM TO JUST PAY THEM LIP SERVICE AND DO WHAT THEY WANT. IT'S ABOUT TIME ALL STAFF REFUSED TO USE THEM AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, IM SURE THAT IF WE ALL STOPPED WORKED WORKING THEY WOULD SOON GET THEM OUT THE SYSTEM AND STOP RISKING OUR COLLEAGUES IN DELIVERY AND OTHER FUNCTIONS.

[ianpostie]

IN GLASGOW MAIL CENTRE THEY ARE CONTINUALLY USING CARDBOARD SLEEVES TO CONVEY MAILS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE UNION HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD MANAGEMENT THAT THIS PRACTISE MUST STOP BUT THEY SEEM TO JUST PAY THEM LIP SERVICE AND DO WHAT THEY WANT. IT'S ABOUT TIME ALL STAFF REFUSED TO USE THEM AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, IM SURE THAT IF WE ALL STOPPED WORKED WORKING THEY WOULD SOON GET THEM OUT THE SYSTEM AND STOP RISKING OUR COLLEAGUES IN DELIVERY AND OTHER FUNCTIONS.

totally agree with you,its dangerous when these sleeves are full and you open them up and the packets come tumbling towards you.rm failing us on health and safety grounds?

[L Tommo]

Tell ya all wot... Pull out the cardboard and stick a drawing of your screw and let it manage the floor... Do a much better job and no bother as well.. Job done!!! If they dont listen ... TAKE THE PISS!!


out

[Sparrowhawk]

Very interesting ! So is that official ? Funny how our managers haven't told us about this. We use these cardboard inserts all the time. Most of them have no bases and one shift continually fill them with packets. The following shift then has to empty them as it's a mixture of local mail which has to be split for each road to then sort. I'm sure my colleagues will be delighted to know that they are illegal. Can I copy and print the LTB to show to the guys I work with ? Am I right in thinking we can refuse to work them if it's anything but Amazon in them ? Thanks.