LTB346/19 – Joint Statement between Royal Mail and the CWU Covering a National Deployment of Parcel Posting Boxes
No: 346/2019
10th June 2019
For the Immediate Attention of All:
Postal Branches
Divisional Representatives
Area Distribution Representatives
Area Delivery Representatives
Dear Colleagues
JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN ROYAL MAIL AND THE CWU COVERING A NATIONAL DEPLOYMENT OF PARCEL POSTING BOXES
Branches will be aware that trial activity has been taking place in line with the Terms of Reference Between Royal Mail and the CWU Covering a New Commercial Initiative – Meter Boxes to Accept Parcel Postings Trial (LTB 356/18 refers).
The trial activity in the LE and NN geographical areas involved 30 Meter Boxes and assessed the commercial benefits in being the first company to offer a Post Box approach to parcels. It involved the expansion of current Meter Boxes to accept parcel postings, to assess customer desire for this option and to test commercial viability to drive future strategy for posting customers and design of future street furniture.
Further to the trials in the Northampton and Leicester areas of dual purpose usage for Meter Boxes which was deemed as successful, the business plan is to now deploy this capability during Summer 2019.
Branches may well have seen that Royal Mail had publicised the initiative in the run up to their Capital Markets Day, which was unfortunate as we had not concluded the Joint Statement at that point. Although both departments were given pre-advice of the announcement, the business had indicated that they were unable to delay their comms.
Despite this, as this is a potential growth initiative, discussions have continued and a Joint Statement has now been concluded and endorsed by the Postal Executive, a copy of which is attached for your information.
In summary circa 1,433 meter boxes will be converted into dual purpose Parcel & Meter boxes to permit customers posting Standard parcels that have postage paid, either by account or where postage has been purchased on line through the Royal Mail Click and Drop channel.
Meter boxes that are currently collected from 5 days a week will require a Saturday collection and a Monday relief collection. Where needed Meter Boxes will be refurbished/painted. All Meter Boxes will be fitted with new time plates and branding plates, and known as Parcel Boxes.
After a period of one year the usage of the boxes will be reviewed and low volume boxes may revert back to being a meter box.
There will be full CWU involvement in the deployment activity and full training will be provided in relation to the revised processes.
The Nationally agreed Joint Statement contains the commitment that there will be a formal review monthly following the commencement of the roll out deployment in order to ensure any issues are resolved and after a one year period by RM and the CWU Nationally, taking full account of all experiences and the feedback gathered jointly from CWU/RM.
The Business has forwarded a proposed deployment plan based on Mail Centre catchment areas which is attached for the information of Branches.
Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to the relevant department.
Outdoor Department, email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference number: 532.
or
Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 721.03.
Mark Baulch Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary
Attachment 1 – JS National Deployment of Parcel Posting Boxes 10.06.19