Of Com summary

[SpacePhoenix]

Yeah I think they would love to to target non drivers but how they would be able to legally I dont know.no idea if they could change contracts to make driving mandatory.

Only way that I can think of that they might attempt it is the way I believe other companies have attempted probably major contract changes is to "sack everyone" and then re-employ them on different contracts

[DGH]

When (not if) letters go to 5 days delivery and parcels go to 7 days there won't be a need for many job losses.

Who covers the weekends is what comes next and goes back to the saying " there will be jobs within royal mail for those that want them".

Are able to and want to work for Royal Mail. The 'able to' is just as disturbing as 'want to'. End to family friendly? All employees to drive withing x years? Able to do 6 hour delivery spans?

[daveyeff]

just got back at the office at 5 tonight. i was out at 9.45. so iv,e been out 7.15.....bring on 6 hour deliveries

[postieblueshirt]

Yeah I think they would love to to target non drivers but how they would be able to legally I dont know.no idea if they could change contracts to make driving mandatory.

Only way that I can think of that they might attempt it is the way I believe other companies have attempted probably major contract changes is to "sack everyone" and then re-employ them on different contracts

Yes I fear you are correct same happened to my wife who works for supermarket chain.she had to sign a new contract or lose job.that was aimed at being more flexible but its generally the same thing they could do to us.

[Sugar]

Reading between the lines and what rm have been throwing out there this past couple of years I think ofcom have rubber stamped rm's plans/agenda which rico was probably brought in to do in the first place. Get the uso reduced, increase parcels to 7 days a week, streamline the number of delivery options/products offered, cut wage bill and increase individual workloads with only AHDC and finally reduce headcount all in the name of "efficiency and customer experience".

The future looks a lot like Amazon.

[Acca Dacca]

Yeah I think they would love to to target non drivers but how they would be able to legally I dont know.no idea if they could change contracts to make driving mandatory.

Only way that I can think of that they might attempt it is the way I believe other companies have attempted probably major contract changes is to "sack everyone" and then re-employ them on different contracts

Yes I fear you are correct same happened to my wife who works for supermarket chain.she had to sign a new contract or lose job.that was aimed at being more flexible but its generally the same thing they could do to us.

They wouldnt be able to 'sack' non drivers and force them to sign a new contract with driving as that is simply impossible to sign given the lack of a license. Lawyers would have a field day.

They would need to make non drivers redundant and pay them off or find alternative non driving duties, which is more likely, for those who want to stay.

[Cucumber]

Yeah I think they would love to to target non drivers but how they would be able to legally I dont know.no idea if they could change contracts to make driving mandatory.

Only way that I can think of that they might attempt it is the way I believe other companies have attempted probably major contract changes is to "sack everyone" and then re-employ them on different contracts

Yes I fear you are correct same happened to my wife who works for supermarket chain.she had to sign a new contract or lose job.that was aimed at being more flexible but its generally the same thing they could do to us.

They wouldnt be able to 'sack' non drivers and force them to sign a new contract with driving as that is simply impossible to sign given the lack of a license. Lawyers would have a field day.

They would need to make non drivers redundant and pay them off or find alternative non driving duties, which is more likely, for those who want to stay.

With the job becoming so focussed on driving these days with the growth in parcels, plus many offices being moved away from areas they deliver in it makes perfect business sense to have everyone driving. Rather than costly redundancy payments, why wouldn't Royal Mail embark on a training program for driving lessons, the cost of which can be repaid back off wages?

[Acca Dacca]

Yeah I think they would love to to target non drivers but how they would be able to legally I dont know.no idea if they could change contracts to make driving mandatory.

Only way that I can think of that they might attempt it is the way I believe other companies have attempted probably major contract changes is to "sack everyone" and then re-employ them on different contracts

Yes I fear you are correct same happened to my wife who works for supermarket chain.she had to sign a new contract or lose job.that was aimed at being more flexible but its generally the same thing they could do to us.

They wouldnt be able to 'sack' non drivers and force them to sign a new contract with driving as that is simply impossible to sign given the lack of a license. Lawyers would have a field day.

They would need to make non drivers redundant and pay them off or find alternative non driving duties, which is more likely, for those who want to stay.

With the job becoming so focussed on driving these days with the growth in parcels, plus many offices being moved away from areas they deliver in it makes perfect business sense to have everyone driving. Rather than costly redundancy payments, why wouldn't Royal Mail embark on a training program for driving lessons, the cost of which can be repaid back off wages?

I dont know what their plan will be. All I do know is that it wont be 'sack' everyone and force non drivers to sign, or not sign, a new contract with driving mandatory.

[postslippete]

I don't agree with OfCom's summary. They are even following Royal Mails plan that by reducing letter deliveries from 6 days to 5 will make the company net cost savings of around £125m–£225m per year!! This year has been tough for most businesses due to the pandemic and RM have suffered with Covid sickness and PPE expenditure BUT how many millions will be spent axing these 2,000 senior managers?? Are we going to be making these same losses next year when these 2,000 managers and quite possibly covid19 will be gone due to the vaccines?

The decline in letter traffic has always been an entirely deliberate strategy by Royal Mail. They have been trying to "manage the decline" for years and these changes will be positively welcomed by the company. In fact they have just recently put the price of stamps up. This Xmas I've seen days worth of mail stashed up in frames, just left on the sidelines because our tracked parcels are the priority. Thats why the OfCom summary is total b*llocks. Customers I know are still waiting for bank cards, medical appointments etc etc. Unbelievable I know but people still rely on these things.

All OfCom are doing is giving Royal Mail the green light to further reduce their USO and we know they will do this. We all know that this is the company's gameplan to reducing the overall workforce but if we are making record profits next year then any agreement with the CWU should surely reflect that....

[freespeech]

I don't agree with OfCom's summary. They are even following Royal Mails plan that by reducing letter deliveries from 6 days to 5 will make the company net cost savings of around £125m–£225m per year!! This year has been tough for most businesses due to the pandemic and RM have suffered with Covid sickness and PPE expenditure BUT how many millions will be spent axing these 2,000 senior managers?? Are we going to be making these same losses next year when these 2,000 managers and quite possibly covid19 will be gone due to the vaccines?

The decline in letter traffic has always been an entirely deliberate strategy by Royal Mail. They have been trying to "manage the decline" for years and these changes will be positively welcomed by the company. In fact they have just recently put the price of stamps up. This Xmas I've seen days worth of mail stashed up in frames, just left on the sidelines because our tracked parcels are the priority. Thats why the OfCom summary is total b*llocks. Customers I know are still waiting for bank cards, medical appointments etc etc. Unbelievable I know but people still rely on these things.

All OfCom are doing is giving Royal Mail the green light to further reduce their USO and we know they will do this. We all know that this is the company's gameplan to reducing the overall workforce but if we are making record profits next year then any agreement with the CWU should surely reflect that....

Lots to pick up here but I'll go with two points you make. How has "letter decline" been an entirely deliberate stratgey by RM? Yes, they are trying to manage the decline but their strategy hasn't created it. Just think of your own actions over the years or those of friends and family. Actually sending a letter these days is very much in decline and nothing to do with RM.

Secondly RM don't "own" the USO as you suggest by saying "their USO". It is defined in legislation and is the basis for how the business needs to operate whether RM like it or not. If another carrier had the same reach and products as RM then they would be subject to the same USO too. Anyone can apply to work under the USO framework - it isn't owned by RM.

[SpacePhoenix]

Yeah I think they would love to to target non drivers but how they would be able to legally I dont know.no idea if they could change contracts to make driving mandatory.

Only way that I can think of that they might attempt it is the way I believe other companies have attempted probably major contract changes is to "sack everyone" and then re-employ them on different contracts

Yes I fear you are correct same happened to my wife who works for supermarket chain.she had to sign a new contract or lose job.that was aimed at being more flexible but its generally the same thing they could do to us.

They wouldnt be able to 'sack' non drivers and force them to sign a new contract with driving as that is simply impossible to sign given the lack of a license. Lawyers would have a field day.

They would need to make non drivers redundant and pay them off or find alternative non driving duties, which is more likely, for those who want to stay.

With the job becoming so focussed on driving these days with the growth in parcels, plus many offices being moved away from areas they deliver in it makes perfect business sense to have everyone driving. Rather than costly redundancy payments, why wouldn't Royal Mail embark on a training program for driving lessons, the cost of which can be repaid back off wages?

I dont know what their plan will be. All I do know is that it wont be 'sack' everyone and force non drivers to sign, or not sign, a new contract with driving mandatory.

Long term it'll end up with everyone forced to be drivers. Parcels will soon get to the point where van share won't be viable and RM will probably move more and more DOs away from the areas they cover. We've some DOs where the 600s have to park in the street to unload and a few where the older 600s barely fit and the newer 600s don't fit through

[postslippete]

Lots to pick up here but I'll go with two points you make. How has "letter decline" been an entirely deliberate stratgey by RM? Yes, they are trying to manage the decline but their strategy hasn't created it. Just think of your own actions over the years or those of friends and family. Actually sending a letter these days is very much in decline and nothing to do with RM.

Secondly RM don't "own" the USO as you suggest by saying "their USO". It is defined in legislation and is the basis for how the business needs to operate whether RM like it or not. If another carrier had the same reach and products as RM then they would be subject to the same USO too. Anyone can apply to work under the USO framework - it isn't owned by RM.

Im glad that you picked up on it.

I know RM don't own the USO its regulated by OfCom and what I meant was that it was basically giving Royal Mail the green light to cut their costs and reduce their service. I'm not naive to think that Royal Mail will be more than happy with a 5 day USO on letters either. They say that they are but really they would like to be rid of it. Its the treacle of running this business was Allan Leighton's exact words.

Letters have been in massive decline this year due to the pandemic with many businesses going to the wall. And its not those who send a letter to friends and family that make Royal Mail that much money anyway; its these mail sort, bulk letter postings and D2Ds. There hasn't been much enthusiasm for letters due to increased downstream access which allows companies such as TNT, UKmail, Citipost etc (theres loads of these companies who sort mail) to take sorted mail and deliver it to us and cream our profits from it - even though none of them actually deliver letters. TNT had a go at cherry picking but gave it up pretty soon because they found that it was not profitable in the way that they did it.

And so Royal Mail keep banging on about parcels making the profits, not letters. And it is all about "managing the decline in letters" and using the internet and people sending e-mails as a valid excuse for their reasoning. I wouldn't disagree with changing consumer attitudes and the fact that doing everything online has become the norm but they never talk about how they could increase the letters business. IMHO it is our Unique Selling Point over other couriers; our D2D business in particular is a massive growth area but I believe that it has been massively under-marketed and undervalued for years.

[postmanplod69]

Yeah I think they would love to to target non drivers but how they would be able to legally I dont know.no idea if they could change contracts to make driving mandatory.

Only way that I can think of that they might attempt it is the way I believe other companies have attempted probably major contract changes is to "sack everyone" and then re-employ them on different contracts

Yes I fear you are correct same happened to my wife who works for supermarket chain.she had to sign a new contract or lose job.that was aimed at being more flexible but its generally the same thing they could do to us.

They wouldnt be able to 'sack' non drivers and force them to sign a new contract with driving as that is simply impossible to sign given the lack of a license. Lawyers would have a field day.

They would need to make non drivers redundant and pay them off or find alternative non driving duties, which is more likely, for those who want to stay.

With the job becoming so focussed on driving these days with the growth in parcels, plus many offices being moved away from areas they deliver in it makes perfect business sense to have everyone driving. Rather than costly redundancy payments, why wouldn't Royal Mail embark on a training program for driving lessons, the cost of which can be repaid back off wages?

I dont know what their plan will be. All I do know is that it wont be 'sack' everyone and force non drivers to sign, or not sign, a new contract with driving mandatory.

Long term it'll end up with everyone forced to be drivers. Parcels will soon get to the point where van share won't be viable and RM will probably move more and more DOs away from the areas they cover. We've some DOs where the 600s have to park in the street to unload and a few where the older 600s barely fit and the newer 600s don't fit through

Long term yes but as Royal Mail havent employed any non drivers for the last 10 years or so in 20 years i would imagine all the non drivers would have retired anyway.

[DGH]

Long term yes but as Royal Mail haven't employed any non drivers for the last 10 years or so in 20 years i would imagine all the non drivers would have retired anyway.

Quite a few in their mid-forties to early fifties in our office are non drivers. They are maybe 15-25 years from retirement. But 20 years isn't a timeframe that RM think in. They think about the next 5 years as 'long term planning' and the next 2-3 as mid-term planning.

[claretandblue]

Guy i work with is 39 and a non driver, 23 years service.