Strong rumour 22,000 agency incoming.

[2yearpostie]

yes it is true we have 11 agency staff starting tomorrow from 2pm until 7pm wed to sunday large parcels and tracked cancelling anybody working their day off no overtime to be booked we are expected to cover large areas of other walks to take us to our time manager told us royal mail no a lot of people rely on overtime so they want to hit us in our pockets i told her if this is the case no problem make sure we have got enough trolleys for all the walks also when it comes to good will at christmas she is going to have a massive problem.

Strange how its happening in some areas but not in others. Wonder what the thought is there?

[clashcityrocker]

Strange how its happening in some areas but not in others. Wonder what the thought is there?

It might be related to which super hubs are up and running?
It might be they are targeting what they perceive to be weaker areas?

[priority102]

This company has never failed to baffle me. They turn the thumb screws on DOMs every day about cutting back on overtime (that would entail paying experienced, trained, already employed staff to do the additional work) but then pay eye watering amounts to agencies to send in personnel with no experience and in lots of cases wouldn't give a toss about what they doing as they know they're only there for a very short time before being shown the door.

Just like the government.....no money for things we value but limitless pots of cash for things that wind us up.

[General Mannerheim]

Strange how its happening in some areas but not in others. Wonder what the thought is there?

It might be related to which super hubs are up and running?
It might be they are targeting what they perceive to be weaker areas?

I think there trying to poke the more militant area's trying to get an un-official walk out going as they know other offices will follow in that area.

[Marshamp11]

yes it is true we have 11 agency staff starting tomorrow from 2pm until 7pm wed to sunday large parcels and tracked cancelling anybody working their day off no overtime to be booked we are expected to cover large areas of other walks to take us to our time manager told us royal mail no a lot of people rely on overtime so they want to hit us in our pockets i told her if this is the case no problem make sure we have got enough trolleys for all the walks also when it comes to good will at christmas she is going to have a massive problem.

In that case when management tell you there is overtime again tell them to poke it. We had a similar sitiuation about 3 years ago, I haven't done a minutes overtime since. Finish on my time bang on everyday no exceptions.

[Mickeybrowneyes]

If you overtime is being cancelled and they are taking your rest day money, this is surely a fight for your rep to stop this. Your earning potentials shouldn't be jepidised by agency staff.... They should only be used operationally when they haven't got the numbers or will for the current employees to complete the work. Start later and work Sundays yes, but to gobble up your overtime no.. contact your area rep....

[BenacreNick]

Just for context, I understand this figure to be 2,400 not 22,000.

I'm not saying I agree with any of it, but the title headline is misleading.

[kookoo32]

No agency in our place. The manager has been trying to recruit from agency for weeks as we're so short staffed. No-one from the agency wants to come and work for RM, I mean how bad can a place be when the agency staff are turning you down

[xPandabear1992x]

Had about 15 at ours this afternoon.

[ted_e_bear]

Had about 15 at ours this afternoon.

What were they doing, mind you if it was their 1st day that prob won't mean anything.

[TopperGas]

Strange how its happening in some areas but not in others. Wonder what the thought is there?

It might be related to which super hubs are up and running?
It might be they are targeting what they perceive to be weaker areas?

I had a text from Pertemps today saying that Royal Mail are looking for temp Parcel Delivery Drivers based at the 3 parcel depots in my area.

Perhaps RM want to accelerate the move to parcel deliveries from the parcel depots to lessen the affect of a strike on the basis the bulk of the parcels/Tracked will still be delivered when we're on strike?

If that is the case then it seems RM would sooner we went on strike rather than try and negotiate a reasonable pay rise and changes to our T&C's.

[guardianangel]

18 suppose to come to our office Monday only 10 turned up,once they start mis delivering and doorstepping losing parcels and prescriptions companies will start claiming shed loads from royal mail,be under no illusion the pressure will be too big for Simon Thompson,just stick together and watch him crumble.

[Marshamp11]

No agency in our place. The manager has been trying to recruit from agency for weeks as we're so short staffed. No-one from the agency wants to come and work for RM, I mean how bad can a place be when the agency staff are turning you down

Mate if mine does a lot if agency work and word always gets round to people of which companies to avoid and RM are high up on that list where he is located, he says he would rather clean sewers (and he has), than do any work at RM.

[Racingpostie]

Between 15-20 rocked up at out depo yday, went out in pairs doing parcels. Some are staff that have done Sunday's before others not done anything like this before and evidently struggled judging what was brought back in Yorks this morning. Even had some come on walks and despite no pressure O/T told they can stay out to finish it . They've played their hand early Rm, get through a week or two of this and see what's left of the agency staff and that's before any mail is touched.

[Clappedoutpostie]

Between 15-20 rocked up at out depo yday, went out in pairs doing parcels. Some are staff that have done Sunday's before others not done anything like this before and evidently struggled judging what was brought back in Yorks this morning. Even had some come on walks and despite no pressure O/T told they can stay out to finish it . They've played their hand early Rm, get through a week or two of this and see what's left of the agency staff and that's before any mail is touched.

I bet they won’t even touch the mail, that will be awaiting us on our return. People need to make sure they do the job correctly and follow the cut of procedure if it still exists then.