Angard casuals V Christmas casuals? EVERYONE PLEASE READ!!

[ennabee]

From speaking to a few Angard staff at our mail centre, they are losing shifts as the Xmas casuals who started last week and this week are getting regular shifts at a lower hourly rate. It's not right, but it's happening!!!!

Not only are Angard workers "losing shifts" I have been barred from what I think you are doing, ie working as an xmas casual for RM.

I was not given the choice to work directly for RM - four weeks full shifts at my local MC, albiet for less pay in my case (but I think they pay around £8.00 for nights at my MC to RM casuals (local rates))

All my freinds and family could apply as an RM casual - but not me - as I work for Angard . We were booked 4 weeks work by Angard but they cancelled after one day - too late to work for RM(or get other Xmas work) and we were actively discouraged by letter, and possibly barred by the website (it told us not to apply), from applying to work as an RM casual as back up

[massdebate121]

Just phoned Angard. Apparently Royal Mail have decided to put their Xmas casuals before Angard. It makes sense, I suppose. More of them and they're cheaper.

Or it could be more bullshit from Angard. Who knows.

[ennabee]

Just phoned Angard. Apparently Royal Mail have decided to put their Xmas casuals before Angard. It makes sense, I suppose. More of them and they're cheaper.

Or it could be more bullshit from Angard. Who knows.

I also think RM beleive it's also easier/less embarrassing to get rid of Angardees, one phonecall and Angard have to phone round or text with the bad news, so no rows at MCs.

[POSTMAN]

Seems the xmas casuals are aroud £3 an hr cheaper than you Angardies,the union are aware of the situation.

[hodge2002]

Seems the xmas casuals are aroud £3 an hr cheaper than you Angardies,the union are aware of the situation.

Yep, We are getting £6.22 an hour, which seems to be £3-4 less then what regular Angard temps are on.

[massdebate121]

We're on £12ish an hour. Not sure what the daytime rate is though.

[ennabee]

Id just remind people that Angard workers get more because they have 12 weeks service under Agency Workers Rights, not because they are working for Angard rather than RM.

Angard basic is the minimum wage for ALL shifts with a 50p bonus for nights, at all MC's ....the exception being the Xmas period 2011 when extra for nights was given at some MCs.

I worked Angard nights last Xmas for £7.84, but in the early Summer I was paid £6.58 as I didn't have the 12 weeks service



PS. Are any Angard people working at the moment?

[massdebate121]

Some in my MC have been offered weekend shifts. It's something, I suppose...

[ennabee]

Some in my MC have been offered weekend shifts. It's something, I suppose...

A couple at ours did one or two night shift I think.. but nothing since AFAIK

[ennabee]

Someone was asking elsewhere about RM retaining some of their own Xmas casuals after Xmas, If they do they'd be screwing Angard as much as us.

It's probably breaching an agreement with Angard{I know Royal Mail almost entirely own them, but they're a different legal entity} if RM take on their own casual workers after Xmas.

[markadam1962]

Someone was asking elsewhere about RM retaining some of their own Xmas casuals after Xmas, If they do they'd be screwing Angard as much as us.

It's probably breaching an agreement with Angard (I know Royal Mail almost entirely own them, but they're a different legal entity) if RM take on their own casual workers after Xmas.

Yes this made me laugh out loud! I started as a Christmas casual back in 2010 and was kept on until 2011 when we were shafted (sorry shifted) over to Angard. Only to find that gradually the work has dried up and RM have reverted back to employing casuals directly.

I finally got a response from "Just Say It" regarding my lack of work/revetting:-

Thank you for your email.

I have been in touch with my colleagues at Royal Mail HR so that your concerns could be addressed.

They have updated me as follows - your contract with Angard states that your employment will be terminated if you have not worked for us or not been in touch for 28 days. I believe you were contacted for your availability for shifts on several occasions. You were also sent text messages about delivery work at Sandwich DO which we did not receive a response to.

](actually I had informed Angard by phone to only put me forward for evening/weekend shifts as I work part-time during the day)

In July, all current Angard workers were sent a letter, at the request of RMG, to advise that as part of the planning process, Angard BAU work would continue to feed into Christmas work requirements and they should not apply for work directly to RMG at Christmas. However Canterbury has since closed down and the workers there had no assignments to be placed in.

My understanding is that Canterbury has reopened as a Christmas unit, and workers have been contacted directly by the site. If the site had placed an order with Angard, then Angard would have contacted the worker involved. (interesting as I was told I could not work as I needed vetting and I was ready to start at the end of November)

After 3 months since you last worked, you are now out of vetting and you would need to be revetted to comply with RMG policy.

Thank you for getting in touch Mark I hope my response has explained the situation.

Regards


I have had it with RM/Angard and will be requesting my P45 and any leave. Whats the point, they win.

[ennabee]

However Canterbury has since closed down and the workers there had no assignments to be placed in.


Not true of all the other MCs that have laid off Angard workers and taken on RM casuals though!


In July, all current Angard workers were sent a letter, at the request of RMG, to advise that as part of the planning process, Angard BAU work would continue to feed into Christmas work requirements and they should not apply for work directly to RMG at Christmas.

Quite a damning admission - the letter was at the request of RM!! So RM themsleves are responsible for barring us from applying to work for them

[Verging]

Also not convinced that was what the letter actually told us (it was a part of it) but my understanding was the RM casuals supplement current workforce (we are part of current workforce, in my opinion, that was implication in the letter ) and certainly not what Angard said verbally over the phone or in person. Think they have done a little bit of backtracking on the letter.

[ennabee]

Also not convinced that was what the letter actually told us (it was a part of it) but my understanding was the RM casuals supplement current workforce (we are part of current workforce, in my opinion, that was implication in the letter ) and certainly not what Angard said verbally over the phone or in person. Think they have done a little bit of backtracking on the letter.

Yes, but they've admitted it was at their (RMs) instigation rather than something Angard concocted after asking RM about Xmas workload,


plus they use the expression "should not apply"

[rogersh]

However Canterbury has since closed down and the workers there had no assignments to be placed in.


Not true of all the other MCs that have laid off Angard workers and taken on RM casuals though!


In July, all current Angard workers were sent a letter, at the request of RMG, to advise that as part of the planning process, Angard BAU work would continue to feed into Christmas work requirements and they should not apply for work directly to RMG at Christmas.

Quite a damning admission - the letter was at the request of RM!! So RM themsleves are responsible for barring us from applying to work for them

I am not sure if Angard had hired ALL the Christmas casuals this year they would have been told to use the new temps as a cheaper option.
In any event it was fortunate that payroll for Angard were so incompetent last Christmas they gave Royal mail a good excuse to hire workers on minimum wage & replace Angardees in mail & distribution centres this Christmas & possibly beyond.
It is my opinion that many more Angard workers are going to be gradually phased out by losing AWR status or heart (read markadam) because i cannot see workers being paid double the rate.