Sequencing machines

robd · Post by **robd** » 16 May 2007, 17:07

Only going off my experience,but the reason they don't spend 3 weeks in the classroom is so they can gain hands on experience straight away,
it costs money to train people and so sending them in at the deep end,with a work place coach is a more sensible approach,and i believe the
retention rates are now much better.
like it or not the job is changing and ultimately it will be those who can adapt who will survive.
But i concede your point Tommo that there's reality and the realms of royal mail fantasy,by this i mean new entrants should receive 6 weeks on a
walk to gain confidence and learn the ropes,however as you and i know this is not always the case.
My Point about recuitment is this,the wage of a postman,in comparison to someone in retail or customer service(call centres)compares quite favourably
and royal mail have used this along with a more flexible shift pattern to entice a better grade of staff.(not minimum wage/casual)
However i do worry like you Tommo and everyone on here,that once the job is more automated then the prestige and value of the job will be lost.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 16 May 2007, 17:19

As an ex call centre slave I can tell you being a postie is a lot better even with all the brown stuff we are getting at the moment. 8 hrs a day of being told your are crap at your job, that you masturbate too frequently, questioning your parentage, et al. All for about 2/3 of the wage I'm getting now.

However, this does not alter my position in that we have to protect the job as it is as no one else will. Also I do know for an absolute fact that we deserve what we have and in no way should RM being trying to erode our entitlements and wages.

F0zziebear · Post by **F0zziebear** » 16 May 2007, 17:56

Trust me I had to get agency staff in and all it caused was hassle. It normally required another postman who came back to sort out the mess. However, the mantra from Tom Melvin was clear everyday. This is easier said than done if all posties refuse overtime to fill in for rounds that aren't covered, and if the new posties are some YTS drop-outs. Believe me it was a mess at times and I could do almost fcuk all about it. Once I left along came some decent new recruits who were trained up (just my luck).

As for the machines, well you'll have to wait and see. I don't know their spec etc... but RM have a dreaful record at implementing new machinery and auotmation solutions in general. They are using internal people to do this whom won't take VR and are in a pool sitting in Rathbone Place. Maybe that might seem a little harsh, but that's life!

The competititon (I know as I oversaw the design) will have solutions in place better than what RM are attempting to put in now. These solutions will have almost 100% mech mail and therefore cost wise if they can deliver the stuff will always be cheaper than the RMequivalent. It's a question of monkeys and peanuts when it comes to delivering the things.

As for better recruits. I didn't say that, but pointed out a wider employment market!

F0zz

johno47 · Post by **johno47** » 16 May 2007, 18:11

Fozzie im glad your reading my posts, everything you said about what RM want is what ive said on this site many times,
Robd mate can you please tell me who these people are who are highly motivated and earn less than us, i can tell you that ive done this job for a long time and there are not many people who earn less than us, and as for enticing a better grade of staff, you will find that a lot of skilled people in industry have come into RM because that industry has gone,
i.e coal, pottery, metal and a number of others and some earned more than what they are on now and they werent more skilled than us, i was a milkman and took a drop in wages to work for RM and yet being a postman was more skilled than that, but RM are not bothered who does this job, in the dispute over Christmas at Burslem we had casual staff who could hardly speak broken english, we had 5 managers on one walk 4 men 1 woman on 1 walk, most of the casuals looked like they had been recruited off park benches, the ammount of mistakes they made was incredible, Tommos right you had to go to school to learn this job and you werent let out on your own until they were sure you were capable, RM are taking the skill out of this job, and it will be their biggest mistake because once its gone you will never get it back, we will be like our competitors, asking for directions.

L Tommo · Post by **L Tommo** » 16 May 2007, 20:36

Johno mate i think U hit the nail on the heed!!! The Q: U ask, "who theses people are, who are highly motivated and earn less than us." Is the point ...

I would like to know as well????

Ok We are seen as UNSKILLED LABOUR... I say Bollox!!!! A Labourer and a fine honest job as it is...

DONT LEARN THE DIVISIONS OF ALL THE COUNTRY. To a high standard..

DONT learn to work a computer on a LSM. CFC. MTT. IMP.

DONT LEARN BOOKROOM DUTIES, (ex PHG)

DONT work in the RLE. (ex PHG)

DONT Become a PHG Having to take a internal test that most uni bods would find hard.. State pass grades have dropped so much, and standards are so bad In Parliment it comes up in talks...

This is the state of the country now.. (im not gonna go in2 1 over this but its true)

RM are just downgrading this fine old job, Pride knocked out of us, and thats not rose coloured glasses... It true!!!!

As for training on site for hands on experience???? Not any more or very little, as when i trained i got 4 hrs a day O/T. And made sure any bod i trained i wanted at a v good standard!! I prided in knowing i gave them the same start i got from my old Trainer and then later mate, Now sadly Passed on to the Big Walk in the sky... RIP Wally...
Then My office didnt want to pay to train, so i said bollox as they took the piss and then said and knew wot they did, So we wouldnt train em, So then RM could just bring in the Dross as Fozzie said.... Why not be picky with newbies??? There is a cut in hrs aint there so a LAST IN FIRST OUT SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE.. In my view.. And then VR's and natural wastage.. AI dont like that word as it means RM chat for sacking... But over all the turn over got worse
and every week a new half dozen came and went!!! Even stacking shelves would be to much for some of the shite ive seen... (stacking shelves is a job to be proud of if done proper) Im not some POSTMAN of the year but im worried as RM rip this job apart from with in.... Ive said it many times before and must be pissing people off with it but they have a inside hidden agenda to wreak this industry.... Just take a look of how these Highly paid bods keep there jobs. It cant just be Old school tie and arse licking... RM Old St are SHITE HOUSES!!!! END OF!!!! I wouldnt let em run a bath, Even if they knew how????

Right enough of my bollox im off to kick the cat and stick me old post office badge on in Gold Metal.. (prob tin) Even the fecking badges are PLASTIC!!!!

OUT

FECK FECK FECK FECK FECK!!!

KawasakiKid · Post by **KawasakiKid** » 16 May 2007, 21:33

Tommo here's a glass to you and Old Wally!!!!!!!!I prided in knowing i gave them the same start i got from my old Trainer and then later mate, Now sadly Passed on to the Big Walk in the sky... RIP Wally... TOMMO that you honour your old trainer when he is no longer with us, shows your integrity on this site. Here's to you and old Wally

-------------KWACK

L Tommo · Post by **L Tommo** » 16 May 2007, 21:53

Old wally will be larfing his bolloxs off now and telling ya to get the brandie out!!! feck all that bubbles n stuff!! ahhhh wot a bloke!!!!

RIP MUKKA!!!

KK That was real nice bruv and Wall is SMILEING DOWN NOW TELLING Big Al n lil ad to feck right off n a YES VOTE WILL BE ON HIS BALLOT AS WELL!!!!

CHEERS!! OUT!!!

EVEN THE BROWN BREAD WILL VOTE YES IN THE BALLOT!!!

SO MUST WE!!!!! DONT STAND FOR SECOND BEST , AS WE ARE THE BEST POSTAL SERVICE IN THE WORLD!! AND SO

WE SHOULD BE PAYED A REASONABLE WAGE!!!! NOT SUFFER THESE SHITE BLACKMAILING OFFERS WITH MORE STRINGS THAN PINNOCIO ON STAGE!!!

24601 · Post by **24601** » 16 May 2007, 22:05

Blimey this thread has certainly gone off on a tangent !!!!!

I have come to the conclusion after being involved with the machines for 6 months that the main reason for them is to take the skill out of the job --- and they plan to buy 450 of them !!!!

KawasakiKid · Post by **KawasakiKid** » 16 May 2007, 22:13

I luv TANGENTS You peel back the skin, take offeth the pith, break 'em gently into segments etc etc

you ride what you want, I'll ride my KAWASAKI

L Tommo · Post by **L Tommo** » 16 May 2007, 22:16

I luv TANGENTS N ALL KK!!!

OUT

I LIKE ALL KINDS OF ORANGE,, but not postmen in the colour!!! GRRRRRRRRRR!!!

DirtyHarry · Post by **DirtyHarry** » 16 May 2007, 22:16

I'm hardly surprised by that, 24601. Equalisation , that's what it's all about.
Managers want us to downgrade our skills to the level of theirs. ie , have none at all !!!!!

ROCKY · Post by **ROCKY** » 17 May 2007, 14:35

whos been taking the pith

Post by **dman** » 17 May 2007, 16:20

we are told at the mdec that its not a skilled job, yet they expected us to learn how to touch type, and if you are not up to standard and pass the levels that are set, you are given time to get there if not they get rid of you :Confused

DirtyHarry · Post by **DirtyHarry** » 17 May 2007, 16:32

Most RM managers wouldn't know what a skilled job was , even if that skilled job
had the ability to bite them on the asss.

ROYALMAILCHAT

Sequencing machines

re: I saw it aswell

I shake my head at the facts!!!

Thanks KK thats luvly mate!!

SMASHING AINT THEY!!! MMMMMMM!!!