Deliveries key in crunch talks at Royal Mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/36971/ ... Royal+Mail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

Talks between Royal Mail and the CWU union were ongoing as Socialist Worker went to press.

The talks were extended after a failure to reach an agreement over deliveries.

The union is in dispute with Royal Mail over pay and conditions.

It called off a planned national strike for 4 November after it said it had made progress in talks with Royal Mail bosses.

Both sides have been in discussions since.

The union’s live strike ballot has been extended each week that talks continue.

Deliveries have remained an important issue as workers are furious over “absorption”.

This is when a worker can’t complete their round and another “absorbs” the work with no extra pay.

Workers fear that this will only get worse now that Royal Mail has been privatised.

The strike ballot for workers in Royal Mail and Parcelforce has been extended until 3 December while the union says it is considering an offer from Royal Mail.

[DB1100]

I don't see absorption as the problem,it's the normal workload that's the problem,that and the attitude of management.If they stopped lapsing and adsorption in our office within a week people would still be coming in early and trying to go home early,I feel sorry for the reps when they are trying to put a case together to get thing's changed and half the office won't do the job properly

[Red Robbo]

When it comes to the ballot for the agreement I think the deliveries will sway it and it will be a non - starter, however it will be too late to have RM over a barrel, Christmas will be long gone.

[mark02]

When it comes to the ballot for the agreement I think the deliveries will sway it and it will be a non - starter, however it will be too late to have RM over a barrel, Christmas will be long gone.

There is little chance of a strike now, so stop deluding yourself.......... There's no chance that the union would call one now, there would be uproar from "most members!!! (Including me)

[bigcol]

Let's face it. The problem is having to work your hours. It's a shock to most posties.

[clashcityrocker]

Why would anyone be furious over absorption?
Who says you have to do it for free?

Deliveries is really simple.
You start on time.
You do an honest day's work using the tools provided.
You take a scheduled meal relief.
You finish on time or you get paid overtime.

[fishtank]

You do an honest day's work.

Royal Mail's interpretation of that part differs from ours.
That has led to a great deal of bullying and harassment.
Members should not have to accept that as part of their job.
What happened to the union's promise of a framework for "a fair day's work"?

Why would anyone be furious over absorption?

It's just my opinion but I don't think reps in offices up and down the country are furious over absorption.
Absorption makes starting early and skipping meal relief virtually pointless.
Are the negotiators protecting jobs or protecting flyers?

[spiderj]

Our office is chocka with early starters
I asked if the start times have changed.hmmmm
Can't get my head round folk working for free

[Richard007]

It's a sad fact that more than half the post persons in my office come in early put door to doors in frame in their own time and run on delivery just so they can go home 20 mins early no meal relief and cut many corners I cannot understand why & get fed up being one of the last ones out because I start on time & work at a fair pace & always take 20 mins before delivery & 20 mins half way around , some posties seem to be able to go all day with no break

[bustedflush]

It's a sad fact that more than half the post persons in my office come in early put door to doors in frame in their own time and run on delivery just so they can go home 20 mins early no meal relief and cut many corners I cannot understand why & get fed up being one of the last ones out because I start on time & work at a fair pace & always take 20 mins before delivery & 20 mins half way around , some posties seem to be able to go all day with no break

Why sad? You stated "over half come in early". What does that tell you? A democratic majority therefore put the early completion of the job BEFORE 2O minute breaks etc. And you are NOT working for free if you come in early and finish early - you are simply completing the round in an earlier time slot than proscribed. Now IF people came in early and took no break and still finished on or over their time then yes, the workload is excessive. I'd rather have my 20 minutes at home with a cup of coffee in front of the TV or in the garden in summer. It seems most think that way. People don't start early to spite the Union or reps etc. but for a better quality of life as they see it. The distinction must be made between those whom want to start early and those that have to start early. I finished at 12:55 today, and yes I came in half hour early and took no meal relief. As did my partner, the pair next to us in the aisle, and the pair next to them etc. Sometimes the managers shake their heads when we leave at 13:00-13:30 on busy days, but let us do it as they know we'll seldom ever be signing the docket sheet for going over and they are aware some of us are fast. Plus the customers get their mail earlier.

[clashcityrocker]

Why sad? You stated "over half come in early". What does that tell you? Blah blah blah

Do you have a contract of employment that allows you to work flexi-time?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

But do YOU all defend the Postie that doesn't chose to start and finish early and prefers his breaks during working time when his overtime is questioned because YOU can do it faster and never claim overtime.

To be fair to some of the early starters here - they do.

[redeye67]

When it comes to the ballot for the agreement I think the deliveries will sway it and it will be a non - starter, however it will be too late to have RM over a barrel, Christmas will be long gone.

There is little chance of a strike now, so stop deluding yourself.......... There's no chance that the union would call one now, there would be uproar from "most members!!! (Including me)

No chance of a strike ? What planet do you inhabit everyone in our office and others posties I know are all up for the strike if it's called and as for an uproar obviously you got no back bone support your union and stop moaning

[fishtank]

No chance of a strike ? What planet do you inhabit everyone in our office and others posties I know are all up for the strike if it's called

....but it won't be called so like he says...stop deluding yourself.

[tincatinca]

It's a sad fact that more than half the post persons in my office come in early put door to doors in frame in their own time and run on delivery just so they can go home 20 mins early no meal relief and cut many corners I cannot understand why & get fed up being one of the last ones out because I start on time & work at a fair pace & always take 20 mins before delivery & 20 mins half way around , some posties seem to be able to go all day with no break

Why sad? You stated "over half come in early". What does that tell you? A democratic majority therefore put the early completion of the job BEFORE 2O minute breaks etc. And you are NOT working for free if you come in early and finish early - you are simply completing the round in an earlier time slot than proscribed. Now IF people came in early and took no break and still finished on or over their time then yes, the workload is excessive. I'd rather have my 20 minutes at home with a cup of coffee in front of the TV or in the garden in summer. It seems most think that way. People don't start early to spite the Union or reps etc. but for a better quality of life as they see it. The distinction must be made between those whom want to start early and those that have to start early. I finished at 12:55 today, and yes I came in half hour early and took no meal relief. As did my partner, the pair next to us in the aisle, and the pair next to them etc. Sometimes the managers shake their heads when we leave at 13:00-13:30 on busy days, but let us do it as they know we'll seldom ever be signing the docket sheet for going over and they are aware some of us are fast. Plus the customers get their mail earlier.

Only in time will you realise the folly of that approach.

Those managers will at some time in the future fill up that time between you finishing early and your proper finishing time regardless of the fact that you came in early and took no breaks.

You will take the hump and start coming in on time and taking your breaks and will not be able to complete and so will cut off or want overtime......... cue bullying and harassment.