GSP 17-24 Mail Processing
02/August/2024
Description
I wish to update you regarding a presentation An Post made to the Joint Automation Steering Group regarding its processing operations.
Members are aware of the continued change in the profile of mail, which is significantly impacted by the decline in letter mail volumes and continued growth in packet/parcel volumes. This has resulted in a requirement by the company to make operational changes at the mail centres to ensure sufficient space and capacity is in place to cater for PEAK/Xmas period and beyond.
Flat machines at AMC, DMC and PMC have been removed together with a reduction and consolidation of work, resulting in sorting via 13 Letter machines. The company has invested €15m in automated sorting machinery which is in the early stages of implementation at PMC, with go live targeted for late November. The changes will enable better utilisation of the sorting centers, provide more space, and critically provides for additional processing, leading to a max sort of up to 100k parcels at PMC. This is quite remarkable as this is the same volume originally catered for in DPH. Processing capacity with the support of the sites at Airside, Baldonnell and Park West will likely see up to 2.7m packet/parcels to be processed weekly.
In the context of deciding on these operational changes the company has confirmed that it has no plans for further consolidation of mail centres. The union welcomes the changes as the approach is consistent with the views we outlined to the company and McKinsey Consultants that better utilisation of the existing infrastructure and sites is preferable to a new single site processing operation.
That said it is recognised that the changes will inevitably impact on staff and there is an obligation on the company to process implementation of the changes under the Mail Processing Agreement. In this regard the company has confirmed its intention to do so by immediate local engagement with Branches to encompass the following
- Staffing Levels
- Duty & Attendance Details
- Training
- Overtime/Extra Hours distribution
- PEAK/Xmas arrangements
Branches are directed to seek early meetings with local management and request engagement and information on the above matters. Any issues that cannot be addressed locally, should be referred in line with our agreed procedures. The support of our newly appointed Regional Officers is available to Branches in AMC and PMC.
While the company does not at this time intend to change the MDN Network, they do intend to augment the existing operation with third party haulers, where necessary.
The company will shortly present its Final Mile PEAK/Xmas operational plans to the C&D Joint Working Group and I will revert to you when agreement is concluded.