GSP 18-18 An Post HQ proposed FTE Reductions
18/October/2018
Description
You will be aware from GS circular 13/18 issued in June, An Post Management presented fragmentary plans for upwards of 200 FTE reductions predominately in the Clerical Administrative areas of the Company. Furthermore, an expression of interest survey would be conducted in September to ascertain the level of interest in availing of the agreed Labour Court Voluntary Exit schemes.
Since then the Union has endeavoured, with some difficulty, to establish exactly the basis and assumptions on which the Company proposals were constructed, apart from a pre-determined outcome. We have identified individual units advanced plans, independently of each other, resulting in a somewhat incoherent approach. The Company is not in a position to implement all of the proposed changes at this time. The Union has also rejected proposals from the Company to outsource work. Following detailed engagement in recent days the Company has presented revised proposals in some areas.
While the expression of interest survey is a management Information Tool, it is certainly not a determining factor for the Union in its approach to the discussion to reduce posts. Apart from the fact that the applicants have an absolute right to change their mind right up to the last minute, the Union focus and obligation is to maintain the required staff numbers to provide the necessary services. In this regard the approach for Company HQ is no different to the approach we have adopted in all other areas of An Post.
There are however some indisputable facts associated with the Company proposals which the Union must deal with, which include, but not limited to the following specifics:
• Since establishment of the regional process centres, there have been further changes to the business.
• New Technology and development of Automated Process have led to a reduction in the level of manual work required and has significantly impacted on workload in some areas.
• Creation of 5 Geographic Areas for Management of Mails & Parcels Business requires revised support structures.
• Consolidation of delivery units and restructuring of the retail sub-office network has reduced the workload involved in servicing the revised networks.
• All other areas of the Company have had to deal with FTE reductions and work redesign.
In order to progress matters an agreed process of local and central engagement will commence immediately, in the context of existing agreements. I attach summary of the specific areas and FTE targets involved at this stage with the agreed engagement process and timescale to apply with Central Steering Group oversight. This local/central engagement is to commence immediately and assistance from the Clerical Sub-Group will be available to Branches during the process. While there is no agreement on an overall FTE reduction, the Union will work constructively with the Company towards identifying and agreeing posts which are no longer required. Where this involves centralising of work the Union expects the Company to positively deal with the staff impact issues to enable implementation.