MDEC rationalisation – strategic change to data entry work
Postal, MDECs April 14 2021
Wednesday 14th April 2021
Up to 73 experienced manual data entry workers will be offered opportunities to transfer into Admin jobs in Customer Experience and Finance or conversely into the heart of the Royal Mail operation over the following months, as increased parcel traffic and the technological improvement needed to keep pace with it drives a strategic move away from separate manual data entry centres (MDECs) within the business.
“This operational change will mean that, between now and the end of 2021, MDEC workers at our sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Farnworth, near Bolton, will be asked to transfer into other Royal Mail units,” explains CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey, who adds that “of course, this will be done in full accordance with MTSF protocols and on the ‘reasonable, as close as possible and wherever possible’ principles.”
From the beginning of 2022, the only MDEC unit still in business will be our Plymouth site, which is undertaking a full operational revision for realignment purposes during June and July of this year.”
Any Stoke or Farnworth workers who would rather not take up alternative roles within Royal Mail will be offered VR opportunities if this is their preference – again, fully in accordance with the long-established MTSF (Managing The Surplus Framework) national agreement.
“There are 73 members affected by this – 45 at Farnworth and 28 at Stoke – of whom 20 are full-time and the remainder are on part-time hours,” Andy says, “so for some, this could be a chance to move up to full-time positions.”
All members affected have been informed in formal briefings and a full preference exercise has commenced, with forms to be returned by or before Wednesday 28th April.
Andy continues: “Our manual data entry members have done a superb job over a long period of time and it’s certainly my expectation that those transferring into alternative Royal Mail positions will bring valuable experience and skills with them, while those who choose to leave the company will go with our thanks and very best wishes.
“And for our Plymouth members, we’re determined to make sure we get this operational revision right and maximise the security and value of the continuing activity on this site.
“A good exchange of views took place via two reps’ briefings this morning (14th April) and we are due to meet with management on 6th May to review the outputs of the preference exercise. Following this, we will meet with our reps again on 7th May.”