Sequencing machines

[24601]

Hi

I wrote this as an answer in the 'introduce yourself' thread.

Thought it might be of interest here.

I'm a walk sequence machine operator working nights (23.30-7.30) We assume the trial must be over cause we've been told that funding has been withdrawn and the machines now have to be paid for by our own office budget.



'We are trialing 2 French walk sequencing machines.
The mail arrives from the mail centre in batches containing 12-14 walks and are about 5000-6000 letters in size.It then takes up to 45 minutes to sequence the mail (the mail has to be put through 3 times)
Mail is then in walk order which saves an experienced post person about 10 minutes a day.However it also means that anyone can throw in a walk (even managers)

The machines can also walk sort mail,that takes about 10 minutes to do 12-14 walks.

Before the mail can be sequenced it has to go through a mail centre for franking and coding as the sequencing machines can only read the red bar codes.

They're probably not the all singing all dancing machines that they were made out to be.

An engineer told me that Royal Fail intend to buy about 450 more machines to put in bigger delivery offices when they have decided between the French and German versions.'

[KawasakiKid]

Li'l AD has spat his dummy out and sez if we don't do as he says, he aint gonna buy any of those machines now? ---------KWACK

[POSTMAN]

Thanks for that 246,sounds like a lot of work for nothing really,the Courier pointed out that it saves 30 mins on throwing up a walk.
There were trials in Stratford East London.

Perhaps the bonus like you said is that anybody can now throw up a walk,but in the present climate that doesn't really help much.
10 mins or 30 mins aint gonna cut a lot of jobs,so i still can't see what the big deal is all about ,or is there summin else under foot!

[rachris]

Do these machines only sort into street order and not number order, and you sort the numbers into order yourself. As the red barcodes on the letters at present only represent the postcode. I was told these machines would do everthing but deliver the mail!!! Yea right!! Chris

[POSTMAN]

I was under the impression they done it exactly as your frame,in number order as well.

[ROCKY]

LIKE THE NUMBER YOU MUST BE EARLY 40S IF U R EX GREN MACHINE,ANY AND ALL INFO(EVEN BASICS)WILL BE WELCOME
CHEERS

[24601]

The machines sort the letters exactly into walk orderaccording to house numbers,on rural rounds they do the same. They use a slightly longer code which identifies the house number or name.

Rocky if you're talking about my number,it comes from my favourite musical Les Miserables and I'm mid 50's (only 6 years to go if Royal fail lasts that long !!!!)

[L Tommo]

Now 24601 Mate... Thats a class Musical You mentioned there.. Wot a show!!! WOW!!

I urge anyone who likes a little History but with Music and powerful scenes and singing TO GO AND TAKE A GANDER!!!

Le Mis is my fave n all... Could use it and the Songs/tunes as our call to arms!!!

OUT

GO AND SEE FOR URSELVES, THE SONGS ARE SPOT ON!!!

[Aaron]

I got told today in WTLL that these machines knock about 20mins off your prep time, but it will be upto a year before these are installed in our office.

[F0zziebear]

I think we all know that when new machinery is installed it won't work quite how you want it at first. There will be a dip in quality, but usually it will make a difference. As for the red barcodes. I am led to believe that there is a bit at the end of a postcode that never gets used. This bit allows you to walk sequence, but wasn't needed before as we didn't walk sequence mail.

One assumes that if a machine is doing walk sequencing then the primary sortation is taken out and prep time is considerably reduced. To me that means merging walks and removing duties? This means posties will be outside longer delivering longer rounds, but within the same duty time (though not before 6/6:30am). This will also likely to mean less time in the office with your comrades and therefore the atmosphere will lessen and it will be more like working by yourself?

It also means that you could employ people from a wider spectrum to throw-up walks and then have someone else taking it out. As long as the person taking the walk out determines the walk sequence. This may well mean more part-time jobs/job-shares and allow those who cannot do a full shift (maybe mothers with young kids) to be employed.

This may sound odd, but it is something RM have been looking at as a way to increase the employment market they can recruit from.

Wonder what you think

F0zz

[DirtyHarry]

Well , I can't say I'm impressed by Royal Mail's plans up to now , I very
much doubt that I will be when these machines are up and running , either.

[robd]

This may sound odd, but it is something RM have been looking at as a way to increase the employment market they can recruit from.



F0zz

I agree,there are several factors for this and i believe we are already seeing a better caliber of staff recruited due to the fact the hours are no longer
as unsociable.
also once the skilled element of the job(sorting)is lost we could eventually see a graded workforce,where people are paid a premium wage for there
knowledge and ability to prep walks,and a lower wage for solely the delivery element.
we must remember while we moan about an average wage,there are people in other sectors who are trained and highly motivated and earning far less
than us
Royal mail certainly holds all the cards for me,as shortly they will be able to attract and recruit people from a much broader spectrum.

[L Tommo]

Over all if we agree with the RM exct action and vote no, We will then be overlooked when we try and fight for our jobs when the MECH comes in to D.O's as they will anyway.. I believe.. We have to make our points that RM and CWU have agreed upon and keep duties.. The MECH will need staff, Not as many as ngts inmost offices But still will need at least 4 per MECH.. As per CFC.. Dont let the dick head industrial engineers come in and tell the people that will work on them like they do on CFC's LSM's IMPS and the job type.. In My MC on nights we need 3duties per LSM As we hit well over 100k a MECH 150K on ave, CFC ON LATES supposed to have 4 people on it.. We and local rep got 6 people.. as due to the type and amount of work at a pressured time ie 1700 till 2100 Collections come in... The early part of duty is slow and in past RM understood this.. We did to and worked our arses off from 1700till 2100. If we got 20 mins out of it we had a result... But most nights 5 mins wash up time.. And we still had above the amount of duties on each MECH... Local Agreements will make a lot of diff in the future!!!! So lets now fight out of Local Strength first!!!!! ie BURSLEM. LONGTON.. Then vote YES and see where the CWU HQ take us????? BUT COVER OUR ARSES with local reps in the know and dont give up on any duty or min worked as we all know we work out of good will.. This is being dropped from RM so they move the goal posts and run scared of THE COMPETITION... We dont have to..... They will try all the dirty tricks and bartering under the sun.... JUST DONT BUY IT!!!! KEEP TOGETHER KEEP STRONG KEEP UNITED...


OUT#



WE SHALL PREVAIL..............

[ROCKY]

HOW LONG CAN YOU DELIVER FOR,IVE JUST DONE 6HRS STRAIGHT NO BREAK AND IM SHAGGED TO SAY THE LEAST,AND IM NOT 40 YET AND I AM FIT,MANY OF OUR LADS COULD NOT DO THAT,IT LOOKS FROM THE LITTLE INFO FLOATING ABOUT THAT THESE MACHINES WILL ONLY MAKE SMALL SAVINGS DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF NON MACHINABLE MAIL AND YOU STILL HAVE TO LOB IT IN THE FRAME,I CAN AVARAGE ABOUT 30 PER MIN FROM A CODED BUNDLE I DONT SEE THAT INCREASING MUCH EVEN IF IT IS IN ORDER CAUSE YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO CHECK THE ADDRESS FOR MISSORTS ETC

[L Tommo]

How can we be getting BETTER recruited staff now????? When the newbies start now they DONT TAKE 3 WEEKS AT SCHOOL. DONT LEARN CARDS, WALKS, DIVS, ANYTHING apart from theres a bag theres a frame, theres the work go and deliver it.... The class and type of POSTIE now is the worst ive seen!!!! I walked trainned as a few others did/do. And ask them if they think like u mate???????? Fozzie i agree your points but know RM are doing this so to DOWNDGRADE OUR JOBS and open the door for (in my opinion) halfwits with a passport, even if they cant speak ENGLISH!!!! No i dont know if you like this???
but i dont!!!!!!!!!!! So when better is employing illegal imagrants as done in my MC.. and employing people who DONT CARE ABOUT THE ROYAL MAIL, Just a chance to rob it!!! As in most D.O.'s now!!! FACT ive seen it, Same as most must have??? Tell me if im wrong???

I cant see and wont see how this is BETTER????? Enlighten me robd!!!!

OUT


DONT LET THE PART TIME TAKE OVER THE FULL TIMERS RIGHTS!!!!!