Bespoke Door 2 Door Item 1st & 2nd October 2015 

Bespoke Door 2 Door Item 1st & 2nd October 2015 

Branches and CWU representatives will be aware of the fact that Royal Mail operates in an extremely competitive environment for direct mail and advertising revenue. The CWU recognises this and continues to support the businesses drive to increased revenue through growth in addressed and unaddressed products in order to protect jobs and terms and conditions. There is however a significant number of Door to Door customers that Royal Mail cannot currently capture for a variety of reasons and these potential customers end up advertising through competitors, using television, radio, press or other mail carriers who are eating into what was traditional workload in Royal Mail.

 

In order to improve Royal Mail’s prospects of capturing more work and revenue in this competitive market we have agreed to trial alternative D2D delivery methods (see LTB 596.15) to see if we can reduce the costing of the product and get a foothold in this particular sector. Through this type of contract we hope to be able to demonstrate to customers in this area of the market that Royal Mail can cope with this type of contract.

 

Whilst D2D is not something our members are particularly fond of on a day to day basis we have a responsibility to our members to work with Royal Mail to stem the threat of competition and the associated loss of workload and revenue, and to bring as much work as possible into our workplaces to help protect jobs and terms and conditions. That is why we have agreed to deliver this contract.

 

As far as the joint statement is concerned we have plagiarised the Joint Statement used last year for the World Cup contract and attempted to put in place things we believe will assist our representatives arrive at sensible operational arrangements through dialogue with their local managers, recognising that this will require willingness and commitment on their part as well to bring this about. Resourcing to workload for w/c 28th September will need to be reviewed in light of the joint statement and is an essential requirement of the joint statement. The statement is not too prescriptive and is intended to provide guidance and examples of what probably needs to be put in place to support our members and the operation over the whole week including any jointly identified additional resource being paid at SA rate. Serious consideration will also need to be given to the provision of replenishment and the feeder runs required to support this. It is important that H&S issues are taken fully into consideration indoor and outdoor.

As part of the resourcing discussions CWU Representatives will also wish to note that the Bespoke D2D contract due to be delivered W/C 28th September but not to be delivered on Monday 28th (see LTB 546.15) has now been reverted to a standard contract which means this contract can now be delivered Monday to Wednesday if that suits local arrangements.

 

Attached to this LTB are the postcodes where the items are being provided for delivery which in total amounts to 5m items for 620 delivery units at an average of 8k per unit spread across most of the UK (Not N. Ireland). The L, CH and some WA postcodes have been excluded. Units will need to check the contract manager to see what other items they can expect during w /c 28th September and factor this into their local discussions and resourcing plans.

 

Finally we have recognised that this contract that will undoubtedly stir sentiment and raise concerns and emotion in certain postcodes and in some of our members and as a consequence certain postcodes have not been included. This issue will need to be dealt with sympathetically in other areas of the UK with complete respect for the wishes of those concerned.

 

It would be appreciated if all Branches could please ensure that this LTB is circulated to all Delivery offices and CWU Delivery representatives without delay.

 

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 230.03

Email address: mstewart@cwu.org

 

 

Yours sincerely
Bob Gibson

CWU Assistant Secretary