Station S Restructure
On Tuesday, February 1, 2005 Canada
Post consulted with the Union regarding the upcoming restructure at
Station S. At that
consultation, Canada Post provided the Union with a general overview of
its plans with particular emphasis on how Station S will be affected by
the implementation of the Vancouver Parcel Project.
It is hoped that this bulletin will
be helpful in informing Station S employees of the changes that are in
store for the future. Please
note that Canada Post's plans may change with little notice, so it is
possible that there may be further developments throughout the course of
the restructuring process.
A two-week volume count is
scheduled to commence on March 7, 2005.
The restructuring process is officially scheduled to commence on
April 4th, and the restructure is scheduled for implementation on August
15, 2005.
Vancouver
Parcel Project
The implementation of the Station S
restructure will coincide with the implementation of the Vancouver
Parcel Project. Under
Appendix S of the collective agreement, the parcel delivery that was
previously contracted out to Combined Urban Services (see "Dolphin
Delivery") will be returned to the CUPW bargaining unit by the
fall of 2005. Notwithstanding
that target date, Canada Post has set August 15, 2005 as the
implementation date for the Parcel Project.
The return of our parcel work
represents a significant gain and will help in ensuring our future job
security. However, the
return of the parcel work will reorganize Vancouver's parcel operations.
As of August 15th, Vancouver's parcel operations will be based out
of the parcel "hubs" at either the Vancouver Mail Processing
Plant (VMPP) or the Vancouver Parcel Distribution Centre (VPDC).
The new parcel system will be set up so that Mail Service
Couriers (MSCs) will report to one of the two "hubs".
Clearly, Station S will be directly
impacted by the implementation of the Parcel Project.
As of August 15th the majority of parcels destined for delivery
within Station S boundaries will be routed to one of Vancouver's two
parcel "hubs". However,
Station S will retain some of its parcel work.
Canada Post has advised that the Station S drivers will continue
to deliver parcels on their own routes, while MSCs will deliver parcels
for Station S foot routes.
New
Time Values
Following years of technical
studies, the parties at the National level have recently agreed to
introduce certain time values to the Letter Carrier Route Measurement
System (LCRMS) and the Mail Service Courier Work Measurement System (MSCWMS).
As a result, the Station S restructure will be affected by
several new time values. There
will be improved time values for Relay Box clearances and Street Letter
Box (SLB) clearances. In
addition, an interim time value for mailmobile stops will be implemented
at .65 minutes per stop. Further,
interim time values for DRS items (redirect mail) will be applied to
each individual Station S route.
Transportation
Canada Post has advised that all
Station S routes will be "portal to portal", which simply
means that letter carriers will be provided with transportation and the
appropriate time values to return to the Station S facility following
the completion of their shifts. Excluding
those routes that will use corporate vehicles as a means of
transportation, employees will be transported to and from their routes
by taxis. Canada Post has advised that it will likely structure routes
so that no more than two employees will share a taxi ride per trip.
As usual, Canada Post will try to market the private vehicle
option as an alternative mode of transportation, but take care to review
the ramifications of that option. Once
the incumbent of a PV route, an employee will not be able to use his/her
seniority to bid on another route.
For more information on private vehicles, please see your Shop
Steward.
Off
Site Lunch Facilities
In keeping with its current
restructuring trend, management will structure certain routes to use off
site lunch facilities. As a
result, those routes will likely be assessed greater workloads because
of the reduction in travel time. Off
sites will only apply to routes that are structured for conveyance by
corporate vehicles, and will not apply to routes
that are structured to travel by taxis.
Along with a CUPW observer, CPC route measurement officers will
be reviewing various possible off site locations as a part of the
restructuring process, and any potential site must offer proper eating
and restroom facilities. Employees who wish to eat their lunch at off site lunch
facilities will be able to do so without being required to eat Big
Macs, Whoppers, or Chicken McNuggets.
Employees who are structured to use off sites will be
provided with a beverage allowance.
Relay
Bag Delivery
At
the February 2nd meeting, management advised that mobile drivers will
continue to deliver relay bags for Station S foot routes. However, management also advised that each mobile route might
be structured to deliver relay bags for up to three (3) foot routes.
The Union stated its opposition to that approach and observed
that timely relay bag delivery has historically proven to be a
characteristic problem at Motorized Mail Courier (MMC) facilities.
In response, management advised that it is looking at a
"first" and "second' relay run so that the inevitable
delays that result at departure time may be avoided.
Plan
A Restructure
The
Station S restructure will include a two-week volume count.
While volume counts may not be among the most enjoyable of life
experiences, it is important to take the time to ensure that you are
credited for every single piece of mail that you handle while preparing
your route for delivery. Keep
in mind that the data that is generated from volume counts is used as
the basis for assessing your future inside workload.
As in the past, there are a few things that can be done to
maximize our time values:
Vacancies
- It is extremely important to
declare all vacant points of call.
After establishing the average daily mail volume for each
individual route, Canada Post will calculate sortation and preparation
rates based on the number of points of call in delivery.
You will receive higher time values for your sortation and
preparation if you reduce the number of points of call by declaring your
vacancies. Later, when a
vacancy comes into delivery, it can be added to your route.
Please take the time to declare your vacancies.
"Kills"
- Ensure that you have properly endorsed your kills.
Return to sender items which are "Moved/unknown"
require a simple slash across the address.
All other RTS items require a written endorsement.
Please take the time to properly endorse each type of
"kill", as there is significant difference in time values
between the two.
Missorts
- Please do not return your
missorts to the inside clerk until they have been counted.
Weighing
- Please do not take your mail
out of the station until it has been weighed.
Remember to include your Personal Contact Items, A/Os, and
carry-out portions - the weight of your mail generates a large time
value.
Route
Inventories
Route
inventories are frequently incomplete or inaccurate because of changes
that have taken place on a given route.
Please ensure that you are being properly credited for each point
of call on your route. There
is a route measurement package for each Station S route, and there is an
O38 form for each block included on your route.
038s contain the time values allocated for traveling distance, as
well as other physical aspects of your route such as doors, steps, panel
boxes, receptacles, and gates. These
documents are available for your review, and even a cursory examination
of your O38s will assist in confirming whether or not your route has
been properly assessed. Particular
scrutiny should be given if your sortation case features altered or
handwritten case strips, because those alterations are frequently made
as a result of changes to the number of points of call.
Union
Representation
While
Canada Post route measurement officers restructure letter carrier
routes, the Union has certain rights in terms of our participation in
the restructuring process. Under
the terms of the collective agreement, the Union has the right to
designate an observer for each restructuring exercise.
The role of the observer is to ensure that the restructuring
process is being conducted in strict accordance with the work
measurement system outlined in the Letter Carrier Route Measurement
System (LCRMS). The LCRMS
is a comprehensive document that has been incorporated into the
collective agreement by reference.
Al
Goldsack and Marlene Enns will be involved as the observer and inside
knowledge person for the purposes of this restructure.
Any concerns or questions relating to this restructuring process
may be brought to their attention or to any of the officers at our Local
office.
It is hoped that this bulletin has
been informative and helpful in identifying some of the issues that will
be faced during this restructure. In Solidarity,
Ken Mooney
President
CUPW Vancouver
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