Odd to blame the legacy staff for Royal Mail changing the terms and conditions for new starts 3 or so years ago. You signed up to them, so you must have been happy enough with them. Obviously anyone on those terms would like them improved....
It's not helpful to blame legacy staff, I agree. It's also not helpful to dismiss new starters grievances, this is too easy to do and doesn't appreciate the situation and circumstance that new starters find themselves in when starting at Royal Mail.
Yes, they signed the contract.
But....signing the contract doesn't tell them they are entering a two tier workforce. It is a contract substantially different and massively reduced in pay and terms and conditions compared to people on older contracts. This does not compare to the past where pay was reduced for a year or you weren't entitled to certain allowances . New starters contracts compared to old contracts are the most unequal they have been in royal mail history and that is not an exaggeration!
Interviews at Royal Mail can also be very dishonest. New starters have told me managers told them they wouldn't have to work Sundays, there is plenty of overtime, you will only work specific times only for them to find out this had all been fabricated as soon as they walk into the building. Added to this normally being a reserve and being put on the worst duties or duties that haven't gone out of days, you can see why they might be a little pissed off!
And again before people say well when I started I was a reserve, I had it tough...it does not compare to the situation in the present day. Offices are in chaos, workload is intense and the demands are ruthless.
It is wrong to dismiss new starters grievances just as it is wrong to blame legacy staff for something the business has introduced, not the staff! New starters should aim their anger at Royal Mail and the Union. People on older contracts shouldn't dismiss new starters anger at their situation but support them . Telling them 'you signed up to them' is a typical managerial response that shouldn't be said to staff.
It is the same now as management introducing DM26 and telling staff with any sniff of protest or greivance about it; 'well you voted for it'. Too cheap, too easy, don't do it!
