Signing for job.

rodtheplod · Post by **rodtheplod** » 31 Jul 2018, 13:29

Having worked for RM for 3 years in the same DO I have never been able to sign for a job. The DO did try and have a re-sign last year which was rejected by the union.
Because of this Managers use the excuse that as I am not a duty holder they can move me whenever and where ever they want. They wont move others who aren't duty holders and will never move those that have signed for jobs.
When duty holders come in on there days off as over time they stay on their own jobs and it is others, including floaters that have signed for jobs that get moved.
I view this lack of a re-sign as not being granted the same equal opportunities as others in the office and is therefore discrimination.

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 31 Jul 2018, 14:02

rodtheplod wrote:Having worked for RM for 3 years in the same DO I have never been able to sign for a job. The DO did try and have a re-sign last year which was rejected by the union.
Because of this Managers use the excuse that as I am not a duty holder they can move me whenever and where ever they want. They wont move others who aren't duty holders and will never move those that have signed for jobs.
When duty holders come in on there days off as over time they stay on their own jobs and it is others, including floaters that have signed for jobs that get moved.
I view this lack of a re-sign as not being granted the same equal opportunities as others in the office and is therefore discrimination.

1) You will find in this business that there are colleagues with 15 years service or over who are still reserves.

2) The valid reason for the rejection of the resign from the union was?

3)Not having a signed duty then the clause at the foot of your " 318" in small writing " as directed" springs to mind.

4) Not moving others who aren't duty holders could be connected to their contracted hours.

5)Overtime exceeding a duty cover. Your office must have a great budget.

6) In a resign there are always winners and losers as the business requires reserves/floaters to cover Sick absence, annual leave, and rotational days off so at the end of the day had a resign taken place there will be someone in exactly a similar position to what you are in now.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 31 Jul 2018, 15:38

Indeed after 14 years on the same duty - I am about to become a reserve.

Seymour Buts · Post by **Seymour Buts** » 31 Jul 2018, 19:52

It's not discrimination, this has been gone through time and time again. Royal Mail consider all duties the same so how can it be discrimination when we're all doing the same job.

I do feel for those who have signed for cover groups to be honest. I had one when I started but came off it due to rest day working; I'd end up as a reserve absolutely anywhere and it was doing my head in. At least now I tend to be on the same duty for six days as holiday cover. It's getting to the stage now I know virtually every duty in our office anyway so it makes no difference to me anymore.

Seymour Buts · Post by **Seymour Buts** » 31 Jul 2018, 19:56

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:Indeed after 14 years on the same duty - I am about to become a reserve.

Why, out of interest?

Has it's perks to be honest. I probably could get a duty now but I'm in two minds; I reckon I'd get bored doing the same duty six days per week everyweek. This job can be quite repetative as it is, least being a reserve adds some variation.

Kurteye · Post by **Kurteye** » 31 Jul 2018, 20:17

3 years wow lol. I’ve been here 11 years and no closer to a duty. There’s people here on 15 years ahead of me.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 01 Aug 2018, 07:32

rodtheplod wrote: I view this lack of a re-sign as not being granted the same equal opportunities as others in the office and is therefore discrimination.

And you'd be wrong, better rethink this.

Peterpostie · Post by **Peterpostie** » 01 Aug 2018, 14:37

I am a section reserve and since we got a new manager I have been getting put on all different duties,sometimes 3 or 4 duties in a week.Is there anything I can do about this.am getting fed up of getting shoved around all the time.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 01 Aug 2018, 15:25

postietom wrote:
TrueBlueTerrier wrote:Indeed after 14 years on the same duty - I am about to become a reserve.
Why, out of interest?

Has it's perks to be honest. I probably could get a duty now but I'm in two minds; I reckon I'd get bored doing the same duty six days per week everyweek. This job can be quite repetative as it is, least being a reserve adds some variation.

Re sign going from 1 in 6 to 9 day fortnights and CDV - losing walks and mid-table seniority.

MinTee · Post by **MinTee** » 01 Aug 2018, 15:45

Peterpostie wrote:I am a section reserve and since we got a new manager I have been getting put on all different duties,sometimes 3 or 4 duties in a week.Is there anything I can do about this.am getting fed up of getting shoved around all the time.

I was in the same boat. I had a word with my union rep and told him it was stressing me out to the point where I was fed up and was thinking of leaving. Haven’t had a problem since, now they ask if I’m ok with moving.

Peterpostie · Post by **Peterpostie** » 01 Aug 2018, 16:40

MinTee wrote:
Peterpostie wrote:I am a section reserve and since we got a new manager I have been getting put on all different duties,sometimes 3 or 4 duties in a week.Is there anything I can do about this.am getting fed up of getting shoved around all the time.

I was in the same boat. I had a word with my union rep and told him it was stressing me out to the point where I was fed up and was thinking of leaving. Haven’t had a problem since, now they ask if I’m ok with moving.

The thing is it’s my union rep who is doing the rota because the manager is hopeless and he seems to be accommodating his mates.
Sorry for changing the subject of the thread.

danterossetti · Post by **danterossetti** » 01 Aug 2018, 17:48

Be straight with the union rep and tell them how it appears.

LaggyBand · Post by **LaggyBand** » 01 Aug 2018, 17:59

It’s almost like a different job, in terms of mindset - being a never-gets-moved duty holder and a thrown-about reserve.

Took me seventeen years to get a fixed duty.

People with fixed jobs that moan at our place really have no idea what it’s like being a reserve. Yeah, they say “I was a reserve once you know” - and they say it genuinely thinking being a reserve twenty years ago was the same as it is now.

It’s ok giving it the “just do what you’re told and finish on time”, which, on paper, sounds like it should make no difference. But it’s largely make-believe on the floor. Try doing it day in day out, advocating your side, being challenged constantly, whilst your fixed duty work mates look around from their frame with a hint of “I’m glad I’m safe” across their face.

My advice: the better reserve you are, the more your talents will be put to work. Never, ever, think if you be good today you’ll be left alone tomorrow. Never think that.

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 01 Aug 2018, 19:16

I am on a fixed duty but I used to be a Reserve. A re-sign is more likely to give a part-timer a fixed duty because this is the direction that Royal Mail is heading. That is why you get full-timers with over 15 years service working as reserves. Apart from DDA, I don't get all this ring-fencing b*llocks - its really just a means of improving a part-timers working life to that of a full-timer.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 04 Aug 2018, 14:23

LaggyBand wrote:It’s almost like a different job, in terms of mindset - being a never-gets-moved duty holder and a thrown-about reserve.

Took me seventeen years to get a fixed duty.

People with fixed jobs that moan at our place really have no idea what it’s like being a reserve. (A) Yeah, they say “I was a reserve once you know” - and they say it genuinely thinking being a reserve twenty years ago was the same as it is now.

(B)It’s ok giving it the “just do what you’re told and finish on time”, which, on paper, sounds like it should make no difference. But it’s largely make-believe on the floor. Try doing it day in day out, advocating your side, being challenged constantly, whilst your fixed duty work mates look around from their frame with a hint of “I’m glad I’m safe” across their face.

(C)My advice: the better reserve you are, the more your talents will be put to work. Never, ever, think if you be good today you’ll be left alone tomorrow. Never think that.

A fellow cynic... well said LB

(A) I never pay any attention to the old gits going on about how hard they "Used" to have it 20 years ago. Yeah right you were a Reserve when we had bikes... had three bags of mail.... could finish your own duty AND complete another duty and STILL finish before your contracted end time!

(B) I think some people underestimate just how stressful it is to get messed about on a daily basis, not knowing which duty you're on until you turn up at the DO. Having to argue with Incompetent Managers that couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery, and are only interested in their own Bonuses instead of trying to sort their DO out!

I really do sympathise with Reserves when they get messed about and try to help out, even if it's just emptying their IPS frames out. How many times do you see "The Chosen Few" sitting on their frames gassing to their mates when someone's been switched at the last minute and is really struggling.

(C) IMO they should pay Reserves for the ammount of Duties they can cover (I know RM wanted (and succedded) in doing away with lots of different payscales). In all honesty a well trained Reserve is a lot more of an Assett to the Business than a Postie that's only ever done the same Duty for the last 15 years (we've got a few).