Royal Mail brief to managers : New ways of working in delivery, processing and distribution

SPECIALTRACKED · Post by **SPECIALTRACKED** » 24 Mar 2020, 11:11

I return to work next week, to a mail centre with over 200 ppl in close proximity, new people arriving daily from the agency, how is this a safe working environment? My family are self isolating, so I’m probably going to infect my whole family!

dtyssmshdchrb · Post by **dtyssmshdchrb** » 24 Mar 2020, 11:29

I'm on annual leave just now and just went out for a walk around where I live and deliver to. Saw two vans out with their usual partners, sharing as usual. Thankfully I'm a rural driver and don't need to worry about van shares but it doesn't bode well for how seriously my office is taking it. We have no union representative there and most people are too spineless to make a stand as an individual or by rallying mutual support amongst their colleagues.

There was talk of staggering starts but in an office where almost everyone comes in before their time, I'm not holding out any hope. Its also a very small and grotty office of about 20 staff and I reckon you'd need half that amount in there to comply with social distancing.

antcpfc · Post by **antcpfc** » 24 Mar 2020, 11:36

My manager said instead of sharing vans he will turn ablind eye to using your own car.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 24 Mar 2020, 11:38

antcpfc wrote:My manager said instead of sharing vans he will turn ablind eye to using your own car.

"It's good to get these types of posts, the ridiculous my manager said bollox so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low life c***s they have always been."

themailman · Post by **themailman** » 24 Mar 2020, 11:38

Schiff · Post by **Schiff** » 24 Mar 2020, 12:06

themailman wrote:
Mate, you don't need a union rep or a spine to comply with distancing and 1 per van, it's practically Law. Your job is in no risk whatsoever for doing those 2 things and unless you simply don't have a manager, every DO will be aware of this by today. You walk into work next time and spacing isn't being adhered to, you can walk out.

This^^^^^^^^^^

Unless you simply aren't man or woman enough to take responsibility for the safety of both you and your family, then just walk out the moment you are expected to take part in unsafe working methods.

Dindin · Post by **Dindin** » 24 Mar 2020, 12:07

I'm not using my car in any circumstances.

Dindin · Post by **Dindin** » 24 Mar 2020, 12:08

How do they get the ips done ?

Post by **flaminmoses** » 24 Mar 2020, 12:26

Surely a vehicle needs to be disinfected after every use?
How can you allow another person in one which has recently just been used?
Not only will breath droplets still in circulating but unless the person put fresh gloves on the steering wheel and gearstick etc will be high risk.

cpsteve · Post by **cpsteve** » 24 Mar 2020, 12:39

If its dangerous to sit next to someone then we should not be working.

themailman · Post by **themailman** » 24 Mar 2020, 12:48

casualnowwithangard · Post by **casualnowwithangard** » 24 Mar 2020, 12:50

This may be unpopular but why don't we carry on in shared vans, paramedics go round 2 in a van, the binmen are 3 to a van.

The real problem is in the offices in the morning.

I don't see a viable way of delivering which is fair on everyone

themailman · Post by **themailman** » 24 Mar 2020, 13:04

themailman · Post by **themailman** » 24 Mar 2020, 13:06

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 24 Mar 2020, 13:27

This may be unpopular but why don't we carry on in shared vans

By changing the procedure Royal Mail have effectively admitted that van sharing is an unsafe practice in the current circumstances.

If they now allow it to continue they would open themselves up to legal liability. Now they've opened pandora's box they're going to find it very hard to close again, this virus isn't going away any time soon and even when the risk decreases there will still be an element of risk.

We know they've talked about removing van sharing in the normal course of business changes.

We may actually never van share again.