Mail workers in unoffical walkout over shared vans

[celerycelery]

Been a big walkout in lincoln deliver office today. Today was the day the van share (2 people go out in 1 van) started. Total mess this morning and it resulted in 1 member of staff being suspended. Other workers were not happy at this so staged an unofficial walkout. Not going back today and will decide tomorrow what they are doing.

[not me]

interesting,i can see problems at our office when it comes

[Pat Ostman]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/linc ... 959322.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

About 50 Royal Mail workers in Lincoln are striking outside the sorting office on Firth Road in protest over proposed changes to their jobs.

Staff say they are unhappy about a range of issues to do with their working conditions including sharing vans and changes in delivery routines.

In a statement, Royal Mail said the action was unlawful and changes were agreed with the unions two years ago.

Disruption to deliveries in the LN1-LN6 areas are expected today.

Health and safety

Kevin Leicester, spokesman for the Communication Workers Union (CWU), said: "Our concerns are that people have got issues surrounding health and safety and safeguarding customers' mail.

"We don't believe Royal Mail has covered all these issues."

The Royal Mail statement said: "We are disappointed that a number of our staff at Lincoln Delivery Office have taken unofficial, unlawful industrial action this morning over operational changes which are part of a deal agreed with the CWU in 2007, and endorsed in a national ballot, covering modern, flexible working arrangements.

"We urge these staff to return to work as soon as possible."

Special Delivery items should be unaffected.

It was actually around 200 staff I was told and will rise tomorrow

[Pat Ostman]

interesting,i can see problems at our office when it comes

Stand together brothers!

[not me]

too many play the short game in my office for personal gains

[apple]

as far as i remember sharing vans was not in the agreement

[Pat Ostman]

too many play the short game in my office for personal gains

know what you mean

[Pat Ostman]

as far as i remember sharing vans was not in the agreement

yep, usual rm guff

[brothermagrew]

as far as i remember sharing vans was not in the agreement

brother macfan you are most probably correct that the wording sharing vans or van sharing did not appear in word form in the agreement, but RM will treat van sharing as a new form of flexible working practices.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

But it does say:

Both Royal Mail and CWU are jointly committed to working together to deliver that change by agreement.

Imposing it is not really "working together"

Both parties recognise that a fresh start is needed and are committed to moving away from the adversarial relationships that persist in too many parts of the business. This needs to be replaced by respect for different viewpoints and a determination to work together to find common sense solutions that are mutually beneficial

Again imposing is adversarial.

New ways of working – Employees will be treated fairly, with respect, and will be expected to be flexible. The opportunity to perform more flexible attendance patterns will be introduced to improve alignment to workload, increase efficiency and provide a better work-life balance for employees.

They expect us to be flexible perhaps we can be, but they kind of ignored the first part - how come its us that have to accept the deal when its against us but RM managers don't when its for us.

[celerycelery]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/linc ... 959322.stm

About 50 Royal Mail workers in Lincoln are striking outside the sorting office on Firth Road in protest over proposed changes to their jobs.

Staff say they are unhappy about a range of issues to do with their working conditions including sharing vans and changes in delivery routines.

In a statement, Royal Mail said the action was unlawful and changes were agreed with the unions two years ago.

Disruption to deliveries in the LN1-LN6 areas are expected today.

Health and safety

Kevin Leicester, spokesman for the Communication Workers Union (CWU), said: "Our concerns are that people have got issues surrounding health and safety and safeguarding customers' mail.

"We don't believe Royal Mail has covered all these issues."

The Royal Mail statement said: "We are disappointed that a number of our staff at Lincoln Delivery Office have taken unofficial, unlawful industrial action this morning over operational changes which are part of a deal agreed with the CWU in 2007, and endorsed in a national ballot, covering modern, flexible working arrangements.

"We urge these staff to return to work as soon as possible."

Special Delivery items should be unaffected.

It was actually around 200 staff I was told and will rise tomorrow

No way 200. Doubt they have that many workers to be honest. 75% is estimated figure, around 90 - 100 staff.

[belle smith]

as far as i remember sharing vans was not in the agreement

There was something about reviewing inovative duty structures, but no comimtment to implament leapfroging/starbursting.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

as far as i remember sharing vans was not in the agreement

There was something about reviewing inovative duty structures, but no comimtment to implament leapfroging/starbursting.

There was

Innovative Duty Structures: Units will take the opportunity to review existing duty structures and identify innovative approaches to meet the above objectives.

My blogand the downloads section have the agreement in full.

[k979aaa]

as far as i remember sharing vans was not in the agreement

brother macfan you are most probably correct that the wording sharing vans or van sharing did not appear in word form in the agreement, but RM will treat van sharing as a new form of flexible working practices.

Where is the line drawn at flexible working practices anything goes like the oldest profession prostitution for the sake of management!. I would think bullying staff to drive or to work as a team of two and the slowest two will be bullied in to becoming ever faster for that is what this is about nothing more and nothing less!.

[norbert]

as far as i remember sharing vans was not in the agreement

brother macfan you are most probably correct that the wording sharing vans or van sharing did not appear in word form in the agreement, but RM will treat van sharing as a new form of flexible working practices.

that's why everything is deliberately worded in such a vague and obscure way - translate the corporate b/s & management speak - must be a lot of pressure from the Nazi War General mentality Senior & Area management , they're on their way out .