GSP 18-19 Collection & Delivery Christmas/Peak Arrangements 2019
04/November/2019
Description
I wish to advise you of the agreed Collection & Delivery Christmas/Peak arrangements to apply this year, which are outlined below.
General
The Company operational plan for Xmas/Peak reflects the continued reduction in letter mail and significant growth in parcels and packets. The DPH parcels machinery will augment the normal processing arrangements. Additional staffing, equipment and CMVs are in place as part of Interim Arrangements at DSUs. Therefore, the Company should be better prepared this year to deal with the changing mail profile and phenomenal growth in parcels. That said, there are many DSUs where the facilities are not up to standard and unlikely to cope without the Company recognising and dealing with the issues in advance. In relation to letter mail decline, the Union accepts this reality and has addressed this by the 316 FTE reductions and is offset by growth of packet and parcels.
In such circumstances the Union has ensured that the overtime levels for this year will be similar to the level that applied in 2018, with the assignment of work, included parcels should be agreed locally. Additional overtime/resources to cater for expected parcel volume increase in the Peak period, should also be agreed locally. Having concluded local agreement, the Company require staff to work the overtime to affect a full delivery of their route, in line with their contractual obligation.
Saturday 14th December 2019
- Full nationwide delivery, without casuals, limited to 8.5 hrs with pro-rata reductions for non-full-time routes. The 8.5 hours is inclusive of all hours currently assigned to Saturday parcel and packet delivery.
- Full nationwide collections will take place as per the normal Monday to Friday collections schedule. Collections Retail Offices will be coordinated to facilitate their closing time.
- The Mails Network will operate on Saturday evening 14th
Sunday 15th December 2019
- Parcel delivery in urban areas (in line with normal Saturday parcel and packet catchment)
Saturday 21st December 2019
- Full nationwide delivery, without casuals, limited to 10 hrs with pro-rata reductions for non-full-time routes. The 10 hours is inclusive of all hours currently assigned to Saturday parcel and packet delivery.
- Full nationwide collections will take place as per the normal Monday to Friday collections schedule. Collections from Retail Offices will be coordinated to facilitate a 5.30 pm closing time.
- The Mails Network will operate on Saturday evening, 21st December.
Sunday 22nd December 2019
- Parcel delivery in urban areas (in line with normal Saturday parcel and packet catchment)
Monday 23rd December 2019
- Normal working day, with full nationwide collections.
Tuesday 24th December 2019
- Full nationwide delivery
- No collections
Sub-Office Inward Sorting Premium
- At Sub-Offices where delivery staff are in receipt of an ongoing payment for inward sorting, they will receive an additional three weeks payment of the inward sorting premium.
Shut-down Days – C&D Operations
- Wednesday 25th to Friday 27th December 2019 (inclusive).
Post-Christmas Period
- On Saturday 28th December, parcel delivery in urban areas (in line with normal Saturday parcel and packet catchment).
- Full nationwide deliveries recommence on Monday 30th December 2019.
- There may be special arrangements for the acceptance and/or collection of Contract Customer mailings.
Surplus staff and leave reserves
- From Monday 18th November, surplus staff and leave reserves will be assigned work at the discretion of local management. This will include night work, delivery of parcels/packets, covering collections or working in the registered locker. Where any issue arises in this regard the LR will be deployed in line with the DSM’s requirements, pending resolution of the issue.
- There will be additional network runs throughout the day, to cater for increased parcel volumes. Network vehicles will be despatched as they become full.
Finally, where any operational issues arise during the Xmas/peak period, they should be addressed immediately and both parties will engage at the appropriate level to ensure timely resolution of any issues. Branches are requested to conclude local discussions as early as possible. In the event of disagreement, a signed minute should be referred to CWU Regional Officers.