Terms of Reference between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union for Joint Working Work Measurement and Planning Value Development
Dear Colleagues
Branches and representatives will be aware of advice which has been issued by the department in relation to non-cooperation with industrial engineering activity since 2012 activity (LTB 162/12 and subsequently LTB’s 641/12, 366/13 and 640/14 refer).
During this time the department has been engaged in discussion with the business in relation to formalising an agreement in regard to Planning Values and Industrial Engineering in Mail Centres and RDC’s, in line with our agreed Progressive Agenda for Processing.
Historically in 2012 issues around industrial engineering activity arose when the business informed the department that they wished to use external Industrial Engineers, Scott Grant Ltd. to gather data across the RM pipeline which included Mail Centres and RDC’s. This came about due to a requirement for the business to convince the regulator that the costing and pricing approaches used in Royal Mail at that time were fair and competitive, hence the need to have independent verification of the key data that underpinned the pricing structure. In effect the key data being referred to was Data Bank Planning Values, derived from Royal Mail’s own industrial engineering assumptions.
Since that time discussions have been taking place, although they have been somewhat protracted on both sides for various reasons. The business did agree in principle, as a show of good faith and commitment to the discussions, to provide training in Industrial Engineering techniques for four of our CWU Representatives in 2013. The training was completed in 2015 and the department now has 4 dedicated representatives who are fully trained and available to offer assistance in regard to measurement activities.
The department can now inform you that an agreement which enables full involvement of our CWU Industrial Engineers in activity going forward and which details the processes and protocols to be applied has now been concluded and is attached for your information.
The attached agreement provides for:
Transparency in relation to how data is being gathered, details of what data is being gathered and what it is being used for.
That the IE’s will not report on individual performance.
That any data gathered by IE’s during their visit/s will not be used for the purposes of either conduct or individual performance management, with such issues remaining proper to the role of line managers.
The provision of the relevant kit/equipment for our IE’s to undertake measurement activity.
The approach to be adopted by IE’s during site visits to undertake measurement activity.
Recognition of the role of trained CWU representatives within the IE process and provision of adequate release time to participate with pay protection applying, in line with normal IR Framework arrangements.
Review of agreement in 12 months.
The business has committed to make every effort to provide notification to the department prior to Industrial Engineering activity taking place and we will share any such information with representatives at sites affected. Therefore any activity that is proposed by the business at sites where notification has not been provided should be brought to the attention of the department.
In addition should any representatives require Industrial Engineering assistance they are asked to contact the department where any possible assistance will be afforded to them.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 730.03
Yours sincerely
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 428/16 – Terms of Reference between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union for Joint Working Work Measurement and Planning Value Development
Attachment 1 – TOR for Joint Working Work Measurement and Planning Value Development
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
Leave a comment