Any Journalists Trawling this site?/Angard Staffing?

[POSTMAN]

http://www.jobisjob.co.uk/angard-staffing/job-offers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Salary: Meets National Minimum Wage

[fishtank]

Emergency motion E4 : Agency workers
Congress notes with concern the report of 5 September 2011 that the government plans to reduce the rights that the Agency Worker Regulations introduced on 1 October this year. Congress, however, believes that the existing regulations already fall short of the legal and moral requirements that the Agency Workers Directive imposes on EU states.
The subsequently issued statements by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) on 6 and 10 September supported the review of so- called 'gold-plated' provisions. The REC has produced a specific briefing document on the 'Swedish Derogation' advising agencies how to use this to best advantage.
Congress notes with concern in recent weeks the increasing numbers of employers, including the major supermarkets' meat supply chain, seeking to avoid the application of equal rights for agency workers by applying 'the Swedish Derogation'. This will allow employers, in conjunction with agency businesses, to avoid equal pay by directly employing the agency workers on contracts that may offer as little as one hour's work per week.
Congress therefore instructs the General Council to explore grounds for a legal challenge against the UK government in respect of its failure to properly implement the spirit and the legal requirements of the Agency Workers Directive.

[Arnie2011]

interesting Fishtank. any references please?

[bluebell]

I spoke to someone whilst working at the Royal Mail last Christmas. He has worked there all his life. He said then that the way the Royal Mail is heading is to slowly by natural waste and redundancies get rid of the proper staff and then replace them with temping (casual staff).

Basically casuals are expendable, can be turned on and off like a tap.

I'm glad I looked at this forum, you've educated me in to what's going on.

When I innocently asked an Angard employee whether they were a temping agency they said 'well really we are Reed.co.uk but it's too tricky to go in to details.'
Well now I can see just exactly who they are by reading your replies, it's makes me fume.

Birmingham City Council are going the same way too.

[noggin1969]

It's going back to the 1800's , working men standing round the gates tugging their forelocks going " any work today guv'ner "

[markadam1962]

Started last Christmas in the Mail centre as a Christmas Casual but along with 9 others was kept on and made RM Casuals and have been busy most of the year with 2 to 3 nights a week. From the offset we all knew the pay rate (min wage + night shift allowance £1.77). I was always available for shifts even at a moments notice this worked well as I often picked up another night on the strength of "are you available tomorrow". I want the night shift as it fits in with family commitments.
As of this week having moved across to Angard I have been offered a 3 hour shift in Ashford (more petrol than wage!!) and delivery work which I have never done. A couple of my night shift casual colleagues went to a delivery office and were turned away as they had had no training!! When I asked about night shifts I was told there were none. This week I have not worked a single shift...thanks Angard .
Much as I understand that there may well be animosity amongst those who think we are just stealing jobs and overtime please remember that I just want to earn some money. I really feel let down by RM

[Aron_Dawson]

I was going to say UN-believable.... but in this company it certainly isn't! Will these 12 week Temps be on their Temp contract forever more then? It will never be sorted by either the Union or the Posties because there are too many people who can't see further than their own noses and only become interested when something effects THEM!

I have my contract and due to ambiguous wording it is quite likely to stay in force indefinitely :o

[Blue29]

At an induction day quite recently the inductor guy explained away the temp contracts by saying the company is undergoing revisions of duties at the moment. And so temp contracts make balancing the staff easier for RM - if there ends up being too many staff at any given office the temps will be reallocated elsewhere whenever possible. Once the revision is over the temp contracts will be a thing of the past and all current temps will be offered permanent ones. Do I believe a word of it? no.

[markadam1962]

Posted this already on the the Mail Centres page just as an update

There may be light at the end of the tunnel (and its not a train!). Spoke to my manager yesterday and it seems the first week has been a bit of a cock up! Angard have not local knowledge when it comes to people and jobs and have taken the "square peg/round hole" approach on placements and have caused no end of grief for local staffing arrangements that have worked in the past. I have been told that as of next week our local MC need for last minute staffing will revert to call on demand (I don't mind this I might add) and Angard will be informed who is in on the night.

Fingers crossed!

[axeman]

Started last Christmas ..................please remember that I just want to earn some money. I really feel let down by RM

Oh deary me........... lets throw out that old codger who's been working all his life for royal fail and give you a bit of money

[markadam1962]

Started last Christmas ..................please remember that I just want to earn some money. I really feel let down by RM

Oh deary me........... lets throw out that old codger who's been working all his life for royal fail and give you a bit of money

That's about the strength of it axeman welcome to the wonderful world of work 2011

[POSTMAN]

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Latest news at 1320 on Wednesday 21 September 2011

Dear Colleague

ANGARD STAFFING SOLUTIONS LIMITED

The purpose of this LTB is to advise Postal Branches that a new company, namely Angard Staffing Solutions, has been set up to provide the Royal Mail Group with their own internal casual/agency workforce.

The new company is registered at Companies House as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal Mail Group.

This development raises a number of important issues for the Union and we have told the Royal Mail Group that we want to engage in urgent and proper discussions to fully understand all the possible implications of this development.

The company has agreed to meet the Union and has initially told us that whilst Angard is owned by the Royal Mail Group, recruitment of casual and agency staff will still be undertaken through the Reed Employment Agency. The RMG has stated that the rationale for this development is that it is a more tax efficient way of employing casual labour. They claim this is common practice in many companies.

However, the Union is aware that this may also be linked to the new European Agency Workers’ Directive which becomes law in October 2011. The advice we have received suggests that by taking this step Royal Mail may exempt themselves from the new law and the benefit this provides for agency workers.

As part of understanding the full implications of this new arrangement, the Union will be seeking written assurances covering the intended use of this casual labour resource, the numbers involved and the potential impact on existing staff. We will also want to consider whether or not this provides an opportunity to recruit and negotiate on behalf of agency workers in the future.

We will advise you of further developments in due course.

Any enquiries on the content of this LTB to the DGS (P) Dept.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)

[casualnowwithangard]

It all becomes clear once once a little research is done. My mistake.

As of the 1st Oct the new Agency Worker Directive and Regulations 2010 will come into force. Google it if you want to read the whole thing but the main provision that effects the Royal Mail is the Equal Pay for Equal Work part. This means that they can no longer pay temp workers less than perm workers...However there is a little snag...you have to have been in the job for 12 weeks before benefiting from this clause.

The 12 weeks clause is the reason that new Temp staff are only being offered 12 week contracts by Angard. There is always a way to screw the working man/woman and there is always a boss willing to walk that way.

hi i have just been transferred from RM casual to this angard agency and we have been told that we will get 38 week contract and be staying on the same pay £5.95 an hour, however i can't seem to get hold angard and neither can my line manager - it doesnt make sense my manager calling angard for angard to call me, what was wrong with my manager calling me direct like they did when i was a RM casual

[scapula]

I have been working for Angard since 22nd August and still have not been paid ....they will give any excuse and say they will call me back and dont..they have sent me conflicting emails and dont reply to them and seem to have no idea of whats going on..
Today ..(get this!) I said I had no money and would not be able to work in a couple of days time because i cant get to work anymore and they told me to go to the Job centre and ask for a crisis loan!!!
WTF!!!
I am totally demoralised now..

[markadam1962]

Can any casual reading these posts please share your experiences. This is a farce and seems to be getting worse. I'm blue in the face telling Angard/Reed that I am available for work from 5pm until 7am everyday; but no, I still get called for day deliveries (no experience). Is anyone finding the jobs offered unreasonable i.e time/distance? My worry is that many of us won't be called if we turn down shifts and eventually we won't get called any longer.