DOM Bust-Up Today

[Oh no its raining]

Hi guys, I've been with RM now for 2 months, and have been on a different walk every week, I've almost completed every day late, no problem to me, i'll claim the OT so long as im not doing or having anything else to do later that day that would conflict with a late finish.
Today, I had to cut off an already 'cut off agreed' walk (one where a SA duty will take 3 different walks cut-offs due to over size). To cut a long story short, I went upto my DOM today by-passing my LM as he's useless to say the least, and told them as it was such a heavy day that I was going to cut off (I was still prepping at 11:30) with 4 tubs to go) and I dont consider myself a slow prepper even though I have to get used to each frame every week.
Basically his words, including profanitys were 'your really taking the piss, the regular postman is cleared by 9 every day!' So I bit my tongue and said ok, lets do a deal, i'll prep one tub while you time me, then you prep one box while I time you' Loser agrees to be reported for harassment/time wasting (whichever is appropriate.
Anyway after about a 5 min steamy argument where I was seconds from telling him to shove the lot up his arse, he agreed and we did our prep each, it took him 8 mins 47 secs to do a tub of flats, and me 3 mins 56 secs to do a similar if not slightly more tub of flats, but he argued that he didnt know the frame, well hello you gigantic tit, thats why im slower than the regular postman, this is why im cutting off because you keep putting me on a different walk every week!
He has now told me, afterI finished my delivery that im being put forward for re-training as he considers me far too slow at the prepping part of the job, and that he thinks im fiddling for OT.
Does this sound like the regular kind of bully DOM as im truly considering going in tomorrow and telling him to shove it.

[fmrPOSTIE]

This guy sounds like a cnut to me!

Have you spoken to a CWU rep?

[morleyposty]

out of intrest are you full-time/part-time?

[Oh no its raining]

Im part-time, but only by an hour less per day, I start at 6:45 where full timers start 5:45 am, but its working out I work MORE hours per day because I do my full walk 99% of time without cutting off, many full timers cut off or bring mail back at 1:45pm.
We all get 1 hour SA per day which I claim and happily work, I have no problems with it, or working late, I try my hardest every day, working under the pressure of LM, DOM and 4 other full time posties that share my acceleration drivers van to try and get out on time, but whoever sorts out my walk every week has put me on very heavy 'primary' walks since I started, so im fighting a loosing battle every single day, and to be honest it is really wearing me down to the point of tears, as I like my job, and god knows im extreemly grateful to have it in these times of job losses and cuts, but I just feel like im the sh*t on someones shoe every morning when I go in.

[carpathia_kuja]

Best thing to do mate is ask your Union rep if he/she can get you, the DOM and him in the office to talk things over cos if something is bothering you at work you should always bring it to the attention of the DOM/Union rep. If your problems with the DOM you can take it higher but if you feel you can maybe sort it out by talking to them then go for it. It won't be giving in, its just doing what needs to be done. We all put up with s**t at some point in the job but like I said try talking with them about it if you can, make you feel alot better especially if yas understand eachother. I've had a few bust-ups (nothing too serious) and I've managed to sort it out pretty much straight away, but on the other hand I'd understand if you could'nt sort it out asap cos your situation could be different. Hope everything goes well for ya mate.

[Ernie Shoe]

Sounds lkike the norm to me.
New starters gernerally seem to get shat on.
Managers trying it on, drivers, others with regular rounds hassling you to hurry up prepping so they can rush out.

Keep having a backbone like you have and they will realise its popintless hassling you.

New starters just seem to get treated like s**t everywhere - disgusting!

Good Luck Mate!!!!

[redhand]

All sounds oh so familiar! Keep your chin up mate and good luck. Defo speak to your rep.

[piranha]

We have a DOM and I thought that was bad enough, but line managers too?!
There really is no end to RM's so called 'Management' is there, eh?

Don't forget whatever your finish time is to cut off roughly half an hour before,
because you need time to get back to the office, pouch off etc. You don't work
for free. Personally I've never even seen a manager work til his time in over 5
years....

Good luck fella

[dubdaz]

Sounds just like my office,any new starter who puts the extra effort in and gets the job done,is rewarded with all the heavy walks,whilst the ones who cut off end up getting the easier ones.Its called 'lazy management' ,cos in the long run people like yourself just end up thinking "this is bollocks,I'm not gonna help them out anymore".

[postmanx]

yes we also have this going on at our office at the moment, and not just new starters also full timers who have been with us for a while - DOM is saying they are on 'go slow' - this practice is going on in too many offices - and something needs to be done ASAP - THIS SHOULD NOT BE GOING ON AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED!!



so dont worry mate you are not alone - good luck and let us know the outcome

[lillywhite]

Well done for sticking to your guns tho mate

[Mister Chinaski]

Top stuff for staying positive mate - the attitude of LMs and DOMs towards new starters is, for the most part, appalling. I have never felt so alone as during those first months with Royal Mail. You take a problem to a manager and all you get is a look like they've got sh*t up their nose. The 'I don't want to know' management culture is a real problem for RM.
Sounds like you're enjoying the job despite it all - and it is a great job, at the end of the day - so I'd say stick with it. DOMs come and go. This guy sounds like a bellend but he won't be around forever. If you do feel you are being bullied/harassed, there's a procedure to deal with it, speak to your union rep or anyone you get on with.
Interested to hear how you get on. All the best!

[Oh no its raining]

Well, thanks for the responses, and support, I had my prep test yesterday morning when I got in, empty frame, 1 box of mech and 1 minute.... I threw it in at my regular pace with a 'coach' postie as a witness for me as cover over the DOM and my result was aparrently very good, I threw in 27 letters in the minute with the response of ' well done mate' from the DOM then he just walked off and I didnt see him again that whole morning. The 'coach' recons I should shaft him and put in a grievence for harrasment as I dont seem to be doing anything wrong, as backed up by all the posties in the neighbouring frames to me.
Anyway, the DOM will no doubt be back on me Monday morning, im on new heavy primary walk all next week so not looking forward to the hassle, but im encouraged by the support, thanks guys

[andy2007]

The fact that things got so bad in the first place, means that the Manager will no doubt try it on again. If on the other hand, you put a grievance in: It will go on record, will be investigated (but no guarantee that it will be fair), and even if you don't get anything done about this bully via the grievance. The fact that it's on record, will help you if, and when it happens again.

[lekker]

Now I'm not a coach so i might have this wrong - but I was under the impression that new entrants were ideally kept on the same walk for 12 weeks in order to give them confidence in doing the job. They should not be shoved straight onto the reserve and told to get on with it - it is a pointless exercise and does nobody any good. You need to see the office coach and the CWU rep. ( make sure you are a member ) ASAP to get this matter sorted before it gets out of hand. This sort of thing is why coaching was introduced as our beloved company found that after spending a fortune in recruiting people they were then leaving because they were dumped on. Seems that in some places it still happens