LTB 321/16 Renfrew Delivery Office - Extension of Delivery Span

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 23 May 2016, 13:52

LTB 321/16 Renfrew Delivery Office - Extension of Delivery Span

No. 321/2016

23rd May 2016

Renfrew Delivery Office – Extension of Delivery Span

Dear colleagues,

The department was approached at the recent Policy Forum regarding a proposed change to the length of the delivery span at Renfrew Delivery Office from 4hrs to 4hrs 50 minutes. The impact of this change made a significant impact on the duty structure and shifted the balance of FT to PT ratio significantly in favour of FT and at the same time increased contractual hours for some PT members.

In addition there was increasing pressure from members to agree to the change for obvious reasons. Subsequently the members were informed that the Outdoor department would take over responsibility for dealing with the introduction of any change in the delivery span, and that we would approach Royal Mail at National level to see if we could agree a way forward, confirmed in an agreement that would mean the change would be a controlled change monitored by and jointly reviewed by both parties. Royal Mail agreed to this approach and the agreement was placed before the Postal Executive for ratification on Tuesday 10th May 2016 where it was agreed. (Attached)

The detail of the ‘revision’ will be dealt with locally and the PT members who are made FT will do so on a substantive basis. The ADR, CWU Division and Branch are all OK with the agreement as are the members. A meeting with the member’s was held on Wednesday morning 11th May to discuss the arrangements and to answer any questions and deal with any concerns they may have. The meeting was attended by local parties and Stuart McIntosh, Mark Baulch and Bob Gibson on behalf of the CWU and Anton Harding on behalf of Royal Mail and was well received by the members.

Branches should note that there are no implications in terms of OMP or single wave and it is also worth noting that BT 2010 removed any restriction on the length of the span but did require certain criteria to be met. This ‘revision’ at Renfrew will provide an opportunity to jointly study the impact of such a step change in the length of the span and will inform any discussions of this nature going forward. Branches will be updated in due course.

Any enquiries should be addressed to outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference 230.03

Yours Sincerely

Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary – Outdoor

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 23 May 2016, 13:53

RENFREW DELIVERY OFFICE
Revised Duties & Delivery Spans

The Renfrew Delivery Office has undergone a review of their duties including the delivery spans. The outcome of this review shows that the current staffing base will go from 13FT posts + 23PT posts to 21FT posts and 9 PT posts. This review involves an increase in the length of the delivery span from 4hrs to 4hrs 50 mins which will be subject to ongoing review in terms of physical achievability and sustainability.

All the detail involving the duty content, attendance patterns and any people issues will be dealt with at local level. Any PT employee moving to FT within the office will do so on a substantive basis.

Nationally both Royal Mail and the CWU are supporting the introduction of this change on the following basis.

That this ‘step change’ increase in delivery spans will be carefully measured at Renfrew Delivery Office for a period of 6 months to allow sufficient time for the duties to bed in and studies to be carried out to identify any H&S, fatigue or musculoskeletal issues.

Any Equipment and uniform issues will be identified and alternative methods and uniform items will form part of the considerations and review of this study.

Any Operational Issues (All deliveries are scheduled to post last letters no later than the current delivery specification) will also form part of the considerations and review.

All deliveries will be required to take their designated MR and use the allocated delivery equipment at all times.

Throughout this study all OPGs in Renfrew DO will be invited to post any comments into a designated box for consideration by both parties. This can also be done by holding joint floor meetings on a regular basis.

There will be a joint review of this study in 6 months time involving representatives of Royal Mail and the CWU at Local, Area, Divisional and National level.

The purpose of the review will be to consider any and all reports derived from this study and to provide recommendations/actions that will support and facilitate any possible increase in the length of delivery spans.

Signatories. CWU & Royal Mail - National, Divisional, Area and Local.

May 2016

motherhubbard · Post by **motherhubbard** » 23 May 2016, 17:00

staffing base will go from 13FT posts + 23PT posts to 21FT posts and 9 PT posts.

So 36 staff becomes 30.
Are there 6 VRs on offer or do they have vacancies they won't need to fill?

I hope it goes well for them.

rubberbond · Post by **rubberbond** » 23 May 2016, 18:21

They will need more than you hoping for them, having done a 6 hour delivery today, I can barely walk,my wife has had to take the dog out ,whilst I rest my feet! I cannot see how extending the delivery span helps anyone. It will cause serious physical issues,down the line, but this company is incapable of seeing ahead more than the immediate day.

super-postie · Post by **super-postie** » 23 May 2016, 18:31

Motability scooters for all staff ! Will save on footwear too. But on a serious note I hope they have a good plan for reducing bag weights eg trolleys, smaller loops etc. Oh.. and management, union and workers insisting that staff adhere to delivery methods. Good luck.

fishtank · Post by **fishtank** » 23 May 2016, 20:24

Elephant in the room?
How did the staffing ratio get to 13 ft and 23 pt?
Where was the rep, the area rep or Stuart McIntosh then?

Much has been made of the staff wanting this, with a ratio of part-timers like that it's hardly surprising but the bigger question would be when everything is settled how many hours is this office losing?

motherhubbard · Post by **motherhubbard** » 24 May 2016, 14:36

It says some part time staff will move to substantive f/t contracts.
It also says there will be a review of all H&S, musculoskeletal, fatigue issues etc.
So what happens if after 6 months everyone just decides it is just too hard? (Not that all musculoskeletal issues will raise their ugly heads within 6 months)

Are these singleton van duties or is it still van share?

Post by **IloveMYredTROLLEY!** » 24 May 2016, 15:46

I suspect the carrot for the PT staff being made up to better contract hours won over delivery span stick, given that pre-change ratio.

The real question, besides that of fatigue long term, is are they really 6 hour delivery spans when using LWTs/HCTs correctly; filtering mail while stationary; DTN; taking all their paid meal relief (which I suspect will be 50+ minutes due to 9+ contract hours per day) etc.

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 27 May 2016, 14:10

it makes me wonder the difference up and down the country on the length of spans in D.Os. we,ve been on 4hrs 45mins for almost 6 years now. even regularly going over that by an hour/hour and half.....even two sometimes. if (probably when) the 6 hour deliveries come in, we'll be out for 8.

pants123 · Post by **pants123** » 28 May 2016, 12:32

daveyeff wrote:it makes me wonder the difference up and down the country on the length of spans in D.Os. we,ve been on 4hrs 45mins for almost 6 years now. even regularly going over that by an hour/hour and half.....even two sometimes. if (probably when) the 6 hour deliveries come in, we'll be out for 8.

Im on a 5 hour delivery.. have been for years... its a joke as i have to lapse as well....

6 hour delivery.... in royal mail's fantasy world is 8 hour delivery......

That will put me in hospital.... been forced out of the job now...

What a shame its come to this...

rubberbond · Post by **rubberbond** » 28 May 2016, 18:45

daveyeff wrote:it makes me wonder the difference up and down the country on the length of spans in D.Os. we,ve been on 4hrs 45mins for almost 6 years now. even regularly going over that by an hour/hour and half.....even two sometimes. if (probably when) the 6 hour deliveries come in, we'll be out for 8.

You'll be out for about 6 months with ,shin splints,plantar fasciitis ,knee problems, hip problems etc etc. Plus working longer, age wise, as well, you won't see any pension or be too knackered/ crippled to spend it. Time to bail out I think.

Post by **dvbuk55** » 29 May 2016, 13:16

I was under the impression the delivery span had been "flexible" for a number of years which at the time was described as an "enabler" - though what benefit to the members escaped me, it just seemed to enable longer deliveries.

stufergie · Post by **stufergie** » 29 May 2016, 17:03

motherhubbard wrote:staffing base will go from 13FT posts + 23PT posts to 21FT posts and 9 PT posts.

So 36 staff becomes 30.
Are there 6 VRs on offer or do they have vacancies they won't need to fill?

I hope it goes well for them.

No VRs. Its a case of some transfering to other offices or being made area reserves.

jaybee1618 · Post by **jaybee1618** » 16 Jun 2016, 17:34

i have been a postman for 27 years and this is the worst i have seen morale and yes 4-5 hour deliveries are causing injury but no one cares we are private now and it wont be long before the company ignores the union completely time to go i think

LouBarlow · Post by **LouBarlow** » 16 Jun 2016, 17:45

I'd kill for a 5 hour delivery. We have been 6 hour since our revision over a year ago and it is utterly ridiculous. I'm relatively young so God knows how old timers manage it.