LTB 107/24 – Further Deployment Programme for Parcel Sorting Machines Within the Mail Centre Estate/RDC Estate
No: 107/24
14th March 2024
For the Immediate Attention of All:
Postal Branches
Divisional Representatives
Area Processing Representatives
Territorial Engineering Representatives
Dear Colleagues,
FURTHER DEPLOYMENT PROGRAMME FOR PARCEL SORTING MACHINES WITHIN THE MAIL CENTRE ESTATE/RDC ESTATE
Branches and representatives will be aware that a Terms of Reference was agreed in 2018 covering the deployment of 20 Parcel Sorting Machines (PSM) across 16 Mail Centres (LTB 355/18 refers). Subsequently, in August 2021 Phase 2A of the deployment was progressed, which involved the deployment of a further 4 PSMs (LTB 359/21 refers), followed by Phase 2B in November 2021 that deployed a further 9 Solystic PSMs (LTB 461/21 refers).
Royal Mail are now ready to deploy a further roll out of 3 PSMs with the supplier, Solystic, within the Mail Centre estate, which will be known as Phase 2D and Royal Mail have confirmed that the deployment activity will be progressed in line with the agreed Terms of Reference, which is attached for ease of reference. In addition, also attached are the WTLL documents the business have prepared.
The precise deployment dates to each site will be kept under review as the rollout progresses, however this being said, the business hope to deploy all 3 machines by the end of October this year. The following 3 Mail Centres will receive a Phase 2D Parcel Sorting Machine (in planned deployment order):
- Leeds Mail Centre
- Plymouth Mail Centre
- Exeter Mail Centre
In the 3 plants affected above, the interim arrangements to allow the builds and the impacts of this build will have to be factored into the Realignment activity.
The 2018 TOR covering the deployment of the PSMs into the operation, which covers training, rotations, selection processes and staffing levels remains unchanged and is attached in the Joint Statement. However, this PSM has a lower throughput and will require one less operator at the induct area to run the machine, which means the following staffing levels will be required:
- 5 x Induct Operators (the other machines have 6)
- 2 x York Tippers
- 2 x Porters
- I x Eject/Reject
The CWU will continue to be fully involved in the deployment activity and monitoring in line with the 2018 agreement.
The Phase 2D deployment will take the number of PSMs across the Mail Centre Network to 36. Royal Mail have not indicated that this is an end state number and further deployment activity may take place in the future, given that the previous commitment was to introduce Automation at all current Mail Centre sites.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: shayman@cwu.org quoting reference: 732.01.
or
Bobby Weatherall, Acting Assistant Secretary email: khay@cwu.org or hmaughan@cwu.org quoting reference 520.
Yours sincerely,
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
Bobby Weatherall
Acting Assistant Secretary
107-24 – PSM Deployment Phase 2D – 14.03.24
137 – FINAL – TOR FOR THE DEPLOYMENT PROGRAMME FOR PSM WITHIN THE MAIL CENTRE
PSM WTLL initial briefing Exeter