Shift patterns?

[steve1873]

Our full walk sequence revision is due to go live in January. As it stands neither the union nor management have discussed any options regarding attendance patterns and appear to be working on the basis that the office will be continuing the 5 day week with 1 in 6 Saturdays off. When questioned about this both our rep and line manager simply state that we will be given a vote (when I do not know) but follow this up with the additional information that if we move to a 4 day week that it will cost jobs...

Now I have spoken to a friend who moved to another office around a year ago who is now working a 4 day week and he tells me this is not the case. The way I see it, is that although on a daily basis it would be true that less staff would be required due to the longer shifts, overall the staff would not be reduced as they would still be required to cover for staff who were having more rest days. Obviously there will be an impact on the indoor workload due to walk sequencing, but this will be the case regardless of the shift pattern. If the office requires x amount of hours pre-revision then it will still require x amount of hours (minus the impact of becoming fully walk sequenced) post revision. Am I making incorrect assumptions? My discussion with my former colleague has re-inforced my belief that we are being stitched up and rail roaded into continuing with the 5 day week with the threat of job losses. I.e. being given incorrect information prior to any vote whereby the staff are being manipulated into voting for a 5 day week so as not to cost any colleagues their jobs.

My friend has told me they work the following system:

Week 1 - Monday & Tuesday off

Week 2 - Wednesday & Thursday off

Week 3 - Friday & Saturday off

So straight away, a doubling of the Saturdays off increasing from an average of 8.7 per year to an average of 17.3. Not only that, but every Friday, Saturday in week 3, and then back to Monday, Tuesday the following week, so an extra long-weekend every 3rd week. This would be attractive to me personally.

However, I accept that people within the office may not agree and for various reasons (childcare etc.) may not want to work a longer shift to secure the benefit of more days off.

I am just concerned that it is almost being decided for us by our rep and management, through a lack of communication and accurate information to the unit.

At what stage in the process have other units had discussions regarding shift patterns and were you steered towards voting for 1 particular pattern? With just over 3 months to go until we go live and with xmas pressure fast approaching I would like to think we would have had such discussions by now.

Does moving to a 4 day week automatically introduce the reduction in staff numbers as has been suggested to myself and others, as I cannot visualise why this would be the case?

Cheers.

[international]

You will not change your shift pattern it will carry on the way it is it is too hard for the manager to organise shift cover we were promised all this 1 in 4 Saturday off etc nothing come from it a year laterit should be all dealt with at local level it all depends on your union

[POSTMAN]

See here Steve,you're being done over...

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 15&t=47043" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And...

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 42&t=28089" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;