have i made a mistake?

[fmrPOSTIE]

Thats a shocking assesment Caticus, but no doubt true. I cant understand why the union aren't hot on training, this affects qofs and delivers a poor service for everyone. To be owed 70hrs is disgraceful, and to me is a clear sign as to why RM are obsessed with part-time contracts, get new people in unfamiliar with the postal service - shaft them by offering such a low weekly contract that they are reliant on o/t and being a "yes body" for management...

[stokes11eg]

What you are all saying about different procedures in different offices is refreshing to hear, I say that because after working for Royal Mail for over a year I am still in shock at how badly the place is run. It's nice to know that the rest of Royal Mail isn't in such a shambles!!

I'm aware of the 'proper' procedure for recorded, special deliveries & packets, although not because of training, this was just picked up along the way as it was mentioned by some of the decent posties, who do give a damn about what's right & wrong, but I'm also aware that there's a large percentage of posties, both new & long timers, who don't give a ***** about the job at all. They leave packets/recorded deliveries all over the place, in full view & get away with it day after day! Signing for & putting recorded letters through the door is not unheard of at my office. I think it's an absolute disgrace that rules & procedures are not enforced, meaning that the few loyal customers RM have left are not getting the service they are paying for!

Training at my office is almost non-existant after the one day induction, with new starters just being shoved infront of a fitting & told to prep it in & take it out, no information about the route, how to tie it up, or where to go, if your really lucky you might just get a photocopy of a map of the walk, but without pouch boxes marked, that usually doesn't matter though, because it's very rare that there's any keys available as they are usually at home with the regular postie on his day off! That's fine for the posties who 'choose' to use their cars but when you don't drive it's a complete nightmare to ensure that you're not going to be carrying overweight bags, or dead walking all over the place to get to & from the nearest postoffice! On top of that you're expected to complete the delivery, but the managers are always careful to avoid informing new starters about claiming overtime! One Christmas temp I was talking to today was owed over 70 hours in unpaid overtime - it's just a joke!

It would be nice to think that it's not this bad everywhere else, it gives me some hope that Royal Mail is actually worth caring about - or do I just care too much?

No, you can't care too much, but sadly you have sussed Royal Mail out, and if you continue to be a good worker, you will probably find that through time, your not so nice workmates, will start picking on you, and make
you feel as if you are at fault for doing the job properly!!!

[parceloftwats]

What you are all saying about different procedures in different offices is refreshing to hear, I say that because after working for Royal Mail for over a year I am still in shock at how badly the place is run. It's nice to know that the rest of Royal Mail isn't in such a shambles!!

I'm aware of the 'proper' procedure for recorded, special deliveries & packets, although not because of training, this was just picked up along the way as it was mentioned by some of the decent posties, who do give a damn about what's right & wrong, but I'm also aware that there's a large percentage of posties, both new & long timers, who don't give a ***** about the job at all. They leave packets/recorded deliveries all over the place, in full view & get away with it day after day! Signing for & putting recorded letters through the door is not unheard of at my office. I think it's an absolute disgrace that rules & procedures are not enforced, meaning that the few loyal customers RM have left are not getting the service they are paying for!

Training at my office is almost non-existant after the one day induction, with new starters just being shoved infront of a fitting & told to prep it in & take it out, no information about the route, how to tie it up, or where to go, if your really lucky you might just get a photocopy of a map of the walk, but without pouch boxes marked, that usually doesn't matter though, because it's very rare that there's any keys available as they are usually at home with the regular postie on his day off! That's fine for the posties who 'choose' to use their cars but when you don't drive it's a complete nightmare to ensure that you're not going to be carrying overweight bags, or dead walking all over the place to get to & from the nearest postoffice! On top of that you're expected to complete the delivery, but the managers are always careful to avoid informing new starters about claiming overtime! One Christmas temp I was talking to today was owed over 70 hours in unpaid overtime - it's just a joke!

It would be nice to think that it's not this bad everywhere else, it gives me some hope that Royal Mail is actually worth caring about - or do I just care too much?

I totally feel the same way about everything you've put there and it's exactly the same at my place. Ive been working at my D.O now about 6/7 months and sometimes it feels like the place is one big p*sstake!

[shelanda]

The blame for bad training cannot be continually put onto the union, unfortunately when you are fighting someones corner and they say "it's ok I will manage" in front of the manager then you here them slating you for allowing it to happen, or they think you should be a mind reader and know that they have been asked to do an unfamiliar walk argued a bit then agreed! but hey lets blame the union! Training is important to the union unfortunately you get these idiot managers that deliver as and when asked on unfamiliar walks and make individuals feel inadequate if they say they want training...bully boy tactics that work mores the pity. It is staff that should be stronger and not keep giving in as that is where the problem is! If they keep doing walks untrained it loses all the bargaining power!!

[ar26]

Rubbish, you want a fellow post worker to admit to his manager he doesn't feel he can do the job properly. yes in an ideal world that would work, remember we're not in an ideal world at Royal Mail. Countless times I've asked help from my union rep re working to time etc, no help whatsoever. Yes it should be RM who ensure they give addiquate training but as they usually don't then the union should be doing more to support the worker and not asking in front of the manager the questions that can lead to the worker looking like he shouldn't be in the job.

[shelanda]

Sorry you misunderstand it is not the rep asking in front of the manager it is the individual saying to the manager they are ok and can manage, most of the time after the rep has spoken on their behalf saying how wrong it is to expect them to go out untrained. What argument has a rep got when they are being undermined! We are all the union, and so we have to stand up and challenge too. Sorry about your experiences with your rep but I think you know the answer..........if rep no good get rid and put your money where your mouth is I did!

[ar26]

Apologies Shelanda, I stand ( well sitting at the moment) corrected

[shelanda]

no problem but thank you

[dvbuk55]

It's one of those local anomaly things - in theory all items should be returned to the locker/callers the same day but distance does play a part and in our case where the officer has a day off the card is returned in a prepaid 1st class envelope and any items are left at a post office for the collections guy to pick up - though that is not without it's problems.