Time and study

first_class_stamp · Post by **first_class_stamp** » 27 Feb 2008, 18:00

Could anyone advise me, is it a legal requirement to have a time and study assessment carried out on a new delivery?

Post by **dvbuk55** » 27 Feb 2008, 19:22

The round should be tested and risk assessed and that would be down to your H&S Rep.

first_class_stamp · Post by **first_class_stamp** » 02 Mar 2008, 10:49

Thank you for replying to my post. In our office we have lost four rounds due to cost cutting measures and the destruction of the postal service more commonly know as, â€œThe Business Plan.â€

Post by **dvbuk55** » 02 Mar 2008, 11:17

first_class_stamp wrote:Do all the rounds which have had extra work added to them have to be time and studied and risk assessed and can I refuse to deliver a round until they have been?

Any changes have to be agreed and any significant changes have to be risk assessed for bag drops, toilet facilities, transport to and from and any possible H&S issues. Although you don't have a CWU Rep or H&S Rep there will be one within your area responsible for your office so contact him with your and your colleagues misgivings.

Many of the posters on this forum predicted that in weak offices changes would be pushed through but lots of the diehards said no it will be by local agreement - well we were right and they were wrong.

My advice would be to contact CWU HQ for your local area rep and seek their advice as to who is going to negotiate the changes within your office and what you can do about the imposition of the changes already in place.

Finally you cannot refuse to carry out any lawful instruction but you can work within the limit of your contract by coming in on time, not using your own vehicle, insisting on bag drops either static or van meet, finishing on time but if the office you work in is full of O/T kings your efforts may well be wasted as they will gobble up what you leave. You should really become involved in the union structure and stand yourself for IR Rep or H&S Rep.

first_class_stamp · Post by **first_class_stamp** » 02 Mar 2008, 11:30

If the round has not been risk assessed surely I have an argument that I am putting myself in unnecessary danger and have grounds to refuse to deliver the duty?

Stormproof · Post by **Stormproof** » 02 Mar 2008, 11:31

This week for 2 days we are to have a graduate LM watching over us in Callers from 7am til 7pm to see exactly what we do. I'm sure managers think we sit down all day and read the paper, from the moment we start our duty to the minute we finish we don't sit down, what are they expecting to find? I'm sure they are looking for some spare hours somewhere, well they ain't gonna find them

This manager covered Callers when we were on strike and he probably thinks its an easy duty, well that were'nt difficult was it when alot of the public never crossed our picket line

first_class_stamp · Post by **first_class_stamp** » 02 Mar 2008, 11:32

If I have an accident on delivery and the delivery has not been risk assessed can I sue Royal Mail?

Post by **dvbuk55** » 02 Mar 2008, 12:25

first_class_stamp wrote:If the round has not been risk assessed surely I have an argument that I am putting myself in unnecessary danger and have grounds to refuse to deliver the duty?

You would first have to identify any potential hazards to your line manager. That wouldn't necessarily make the round untenable would it? You just work your 8 hrs. If the hazard means you cannot complete the delivery then you have grounds for non completion but not for refusing to take the delivery out.

Post by **dvbuk55** » 02 Mar 2008, 12:42

k66yla wrote:This week for 2 days we are to have a graduate LM watching over us in Callers from 7am til 7pm to see exactly what we do. I'm sure managers think we sit down all day and read the paper, from the moment we start our duty to the minute we finish we don't sit down, what are they expecting to find? I'm sure they are looking for some spare hours somewhere, well they ain't gonna find them This manager covered Callers when we were on strike and he probably thinks its an easy duty, well that were'nt difficult was it when alot of the public never crossed our picket line

They are always looking for spare hours. You generally find when a Manager shadows workers they find it much harder than when a worker shadows a manager.

first_class_stamp · Post by **first_class_stamp** » 02 Mar 2008, 12:44

Thank you for your advice. The problem we face in our office is that NOBODY knows the rules. Our previous shop steward did his best but never convinced me he knew the rules and our manger just bullshits and gets away with it all the time. I have worked for Royal Mail almost three years and rely on the old timers for advice but, I'll ask one person something and get an answer and ask the same question to someone else and they will give me a totally contradictory answer. Is there anywhere I can get a copy of Royal Mail procedures and policies?

first_class_stamp · Post by **first_class_stamp** » 02 Mar 2008, 13:48

In our office we have lost four rounds due to cost cutting. These four rounds have been absorbed by adding more work to all other town walks, many of which were already overloaded due to last years cost cutting measures.

We do not have a union representative in our office.

The changes have been bought in on trial basis.

The general opinion of the postmen / women working in our office is that it is impossible to complete many of the rounds in the time provided if we get allot of mail, namely Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Can anyone please advise me, when the trial period finishes can we invoke, â€œstatus quoâ€

first_class_stamp · Post by **first_class_stamp** » 02 Mar 2008, 14:17

These changes are on a trial period the majority of postmen / women are working excessive overtime during this trial period to complete their deliveries, which I believe results in the trial not showing a true reflection of the amount of work that can be done within our contracted hours.

Post by **dvbuk55** » 02 Mar 2008, 14:36

first_class_stamp wrote:These changes are on a trial period the majority of postmen / women are working excessive overtime during this trial period to complete their deliveries, which I believe results in the trial not showing a true reflection of the amount of work that can be done within our contracted hours.

All the rules of engagement for want of a better word are contained on the CWU web site. In addition to these changes you will also no doubt be bombarded with the summer efficiency proposals and the flexibility proposals. It sounds like you have just had the geo route implemented so far but in truth there is more to come so I'd advise you to get a rep or get in touch with your area rep. Someone needs to be negotiating change with your DOM.

http://www.cwu.org

Post by **weetrogg** » 02 Mar 2008, 14:55

Its sounds to me that you should become the cwu rep, it might sound daunting but ive just been elected and although it was a bit nerve racking at first, with lots of help and advice from other reps, area reps and other branch officials im now more at ease. Unfortunately if your office is weak the agreement that was signed to end the dispute offers you little protection, so step up to the plate and become your office rep!!!

WE are the union

Post by **POSTMAN** » 02 Mar 2008, 15:07

first_class_stamp,mate if you have any problems or queries post them up on here and we'll answer as best as we can,which you have just seen in this thread.
You're never alone.