Buy down no options offered

[summersunshine]

Hi
Have been delivering the post for the last 33 years, and applied for a buy down option over two years ago. I followed the procedures and was even told how much approximately I would receive in "buying my hours" and dropping down to 20 hours a week from full time. Since then I have not been able to get anything sorted. The management has changed a number of times and my now manager has said that he can't be expected to uphold the agreement made with the manager at that time. I now don't have a regular round and am used a full time cover. I never know in advance what my day off is for the following week until midweek, and very rarely get the long weekend (Sat, Sun, Mon). My manager has said the problem is that "on paper" I am working part-time but getting a full-time wage, even though I am making up the hours doing other part rounds. I have said that I am happy to work part-time and get full-time wage if that's what it says "on paper"!!

Any advice would be appreciated

[jockstrapp]

You are entitled to know your days of like all walkholders and a long week-end every six weeks. See area rep.

[dvbuk55]

He's bullshitting you. You would have had to sign a new contract for 20 hours and would have received a lump sum for it. Your contract hasn't changed and so your seniority for duties hasn't changed and you are entitled to a full time duty.

[fishtank]

There are two separate issues here.
1.You are still on a full-time contract according to HR as your buy down was never processed.
2.Your full-time hours have been removed from the office budget....no doubt as part of the previous savings plan which should have facilitated the buy down.

I think you are unlikely ever to see that buy down now but if there are vacant full-time duties in your office..i would be having one on tuesday morning.
Dare i ask what your rep has to say about it?

[summersunshine]

At the moment I have been given a full time round to cover a colleague who has gone to work in the office due to a bad back and could be doing this round for the forseeable future. In a meeting a few months ago the rep asked the manager if I was deliberately being messed about in the hope I would get fed up and leave, the manager said that if the rep could come back with a 20 hour job plan he would consider it!! They have been given the next stage and need to save another 200 hours, so the rep has said that I should be getting a buy down offer to meet these savings.

[Dorset Plodder]

Good Luck Sunshine, Hope you get what you want! I'm sure you realise the implications of reducing your hours. However I bet you, as sure as eggs are eggs that once you've got your reduced hours they'll be expecting you to "Flex Up" and cover a Full Time Duty!... Stick to your Guns/Hours and tell him to stick it!

Last year we had several Posties who ONLY WANTED to work 22 hrs a week Bust! They were constantly Bullied into doing their own prep and bagging up etc. They all eventually quit. Guess what this year we have lots of Newbies who want the extra hours and the Mangement's answer is "Sorry we only need you to work your contracted 22 hrs"! FFS Needless to say come Christmas they'll be expected to knock out 50 hours a week! CWU sort your act out and protect your members (most of whom don't know their rights)!

[north london driver]

Good Luck Sunshine, Hope you get what you want! I'm sure you realise the implications of reducing your hours. However I bet you, as sure as eggs are eggs that once you've got your reduced hours they'll be expecting you to "Flex Up" and cover a Full Time Duty!... Stick to your Guns/Hours and tell him to stick it!

Last year we had several Posties who ONLY WANTED to work 22 hrs a week Bust! They were constantly Bullied into doing their own prep and bagging up etc. They all eventually quit. Guess what this year we have lots of Newbies who want the extra hours and the Mangement's answer is "Sorry we only need you to work your contracted 22 hrs"! FFS Needless to say come Christmas they'll be expected to knock out 50 hours a week! CWU sort your act out and protect your members (most of whom don't know their rights)!

nice bit about the cwu. but one thing i always said at union meetings that if we have staff on all
different contracts we would play into royal mail hands. management treat contract and part-time staff
like s**t and talk to them like scum.
this job should be for full-time staff only, our union should never allowed royal mail to bring in part-timers
so they could be ripped off every day.

[bitchface]

You are entitled to know your days of like all walkholders and a long week-end every six weeks. See area rep.

i really do wish and tire of reading this same rubbish ,over and over again..get your rep on it.see your rep..get your area rep on it...

the reason we post these things on here is because our reps are useless.how many times do you need to read threads about the reps being managers in disguise,or just there to feather there own nests before you wake up and except the facts....most reps suck.right the way to the top.

[bitchface]

Good Luck Sunshine, Hope you get what you want! I'm sure you realise the implications of reducing your hours. However I bet you, as sure as eggs are eggs that once you've got your reduced hours they'll be expecting you to "Flex Up" and cover a Full Time Duty!... Stick to your Guns/Hours and tell him to stick it!

Last year we had several Posties who ONLY WANTED to work 22 hrs a week Bust! They were constantly Bullied into doing their own prep and bagging up etc. They all eventually quit. Guess what this year we have lots of Newbies who want the extra hours and the Mangement's answer is "Sorry we only need you to work your contracted 22 hrs"! FFS Needless to say come Christmas they'll be expected to knock out 50 hours a week! CWU sort your act out and protect your members (most of whom don't know their rights)!

nice bit about the cwu. but one thing i always said at union meetings that if we have staff on all
different contracts we would play into royal mail hands. management treat contract and part-time staff
like s**t and talk to them like scum.
this job should be for full-time staff only, our union should never allowed royal mail to bring in part-timers
so they could be ripped off every day.

ripped off with the full consent of the union .royal mail did not do it on there own

[summersunshine]

Thank you all for your responses. Sorry have been on holiday for a couple of weeks so failed to respond before.

Following all your advice, I have spoken to the manager and it would seem that my buy down is in motion. I am still covering sick colleague round and will be doing so for next couple of months. Good point about being asked to "Flex up" I will certainly be prepared for that one and stick to my guns!!

Thanks again and will be back with more questions (hopefully won't have any!!) should anything not go to plan!!!