RM recruitment row as bosses set up their own temp agency

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/city-news/ ... -23450723/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ROYAL Mail has sparked outrage by secretly setting up its own recruitment agency to fill thousands of temporary jobs.

Unions fear the move is a “devious ploy” to save money and get around new rights for agency workers coming into force at the weekend. They also claim it is part of a shift towards using more “casual” posties that is damaging delivery services.

The Communication Workers’ Union believes management would like to follow the example of the Dutch, who rely on an army of students, mums and retired people who fit in deliveries when it suits them. Under new rules, temporary staff have the right to the same pay and conditions as full-timers if hired through a third party.

But Department of Business guidance says “those who are likely to be outside of the regulations include… where a company employs its temporary workers directly”.

CWU deputy general secretary, Dave Ward, said: “The creation of a separate company to recruit and manage casual labour smacks of a deliberate attempt to get around the agency regulations. It is a clear sign of Royal Mail preparing to casualise the industry.”

But Royal Mail last night dismissed the claims over its new in-house recruitment agency Angard as “nonsense”.

A spokesman said: “Through Angard, our costs are lower than we’d pay to external agencies.” He added that its main job would be to recruit 18,000 temporary staff for the busy Christmas period.

[RedBagMan]

My latest three month contract finishes tomorrow - still nothing from HR Sheffield - should I go into work on Friday - maybe I'll ask "da management" tomorrow morning ... it might be my last chance to wilfully delay as well (JOKE JOKE)

Glad they're sorting out the Christmas Thieves tho (JOKE JOKE (?))

[silly suffolk]

spoke to a young lad tonite who has been an agency worker for rm, and now is under the direction of rm's own agency, he told me the new rates of pay he would be getting . a little bit more than he was on [minimum wage] but no where near what the new legislation says they should be getting. it just about sums up rm management paying themselves a kings ransom, and using a loop hole to keep people on subsistance wages. lowest of the low.