Non Drivers

[Dingo99]

Hello guys, I heard from a colleague the other day that RM want to get rid of non drivers? I don't have a licence and have a trolley duty, is there any truth to this? I mean I wouldn't be surprised, as you can't join anymore unless you have a full driver's license.

TIA,

Dingo99

[Chelseablue]

The colleague knows f all

[funkflex55]

Royal Mail want rid of all colleagues on the old contract whether driving or not. You'll never get admission that they want that but the way they act is slowly driving out the old staff to be replaced with cheaper inferior contracted staff.

[Dingo99]

Thanks guys, I almost want out anyway the way the job's gone to the dogs. But there are some positives, like the fact that it's just over a 5 min walk to my DO, after 15 years I fear I am a tad institutionalised lol.

[Chelseablue]

Been there a long time too dingo, theyv wanted all the old / experienced posties out for a few years now . Hopefully retiring in a few years as its just not the place it was and can only see it going right downhill with this new guy incoming.

[postslippete]

Most of the new staff that have been employed in our office all have driving licences so there might be some truth in that. I suspect that non-drivers on shared walks will eventually be phased out, but it won't happen overnight. The new method change imho could signal the end of van sharing because if posties are delivering the bulk of the mail every other day then why would you need two people working in a van?

The non drivers that remain will end up on HCT routes and in our office a few of the van sharing walks could easily be changed into a HCT route although it would mean that the OPG has to walk quite a bit further to their delivery point.

[Chelseablue]

You can only use an hct if its a certain distance away , so not too many of them esp at ours. Its been years that new starters have needed a driving licence and i mean years.

[Acca Dacca]

Is there a possibility those who dont get VR are given the option to be transferred to local mail centre in place of agency?

[Barnacle]

I think if your contract is from before 2010 (probably have the year wrong), it states in the contract that you won’t be expected to drive. All contracts after that expect driving.

So check your contract. They can’t just get rid of you and HCT jobs exist because the route is tricky to drive mostly.

[Acca Dacca]

I think if your contract is from before 2010 (probably have the year wrong), it states in the contract that you won’t be expected to drive. All contracts after that expect driving.

So check your contract. They can’t just get rid of you and HCT jobs exist because the route is tricky to drive mostly.

Think its more compulsory redundancies some people are worried about

[Barnacle]

I think if your contract is from before 2010 (probably have the year wrong), it states in the contract that you won’t be expected to drive. All contracts after that expect driving.

So check your contract. They can’t just get rid of you and HCT jobs exist because the route is tricky to drive mostly.

Think its more compulsory redundancies some people are worried about

The managers will decide who goes in that scenario.

[postslippete]

You can only use an hct if its a certain distance away , so not too many of them esp at ours. Its been years that new starters have needed a driving licence and i mean years.

A normal HCT are currently used for walks that start and finish within a mile of the delivery office and a powered HCT are used for walks that have steep terrain. However, that is now - in the future our delivery methods are changing. Maybe in an age of electric bikes and scooters, someone will design something for the company that doesn't look as ridiculous as the e-Trike so they don't have to walk as far to that 1st delivery point?

[crazyshrew]

I think if your contract is from before 2010 (probably have the year wrong), it states in the contract that you won’t be expected to drive. All contracts after that expect driving.

So check your contract. They can’t just get rid of you and HCT jobs exist because the route is tricky to drive mostly.

I was employed summer 2011 as a "Postperson with cycling"
Only had a provisional (paid for by the jobcentre) for ID purposes.

Colleagues and managers will have the occasional pop about me being the only non driver in my office. but I just tell them
"Royal Mail employed me ride a bike"
They can't get rid of me because I am still providing the company exactly the same as was agreed when I signed on that godforsaken dotted line...or would provide if they'd kept the biles

[SpacePhoenix]

Is there a possibility those who dont get VR are given the option to be transferred to local mail centre in place of agency?

Unlikely. Think RM long term want to replace all of us with agency. Think it's almost at the point now where at least half the people on shift are agency.

[Mr Rush]

I think if your contract is from before 2010 (probably have the year wrong), it states in the contract that you won’t be expected to drive. All contracts after that expect driving.

So check your contract. They can’t just get rid of you and HCT jobs exist because the route is tricky to drive mostly.

I was employed summer 2011 as a "Postperson with cycling"
Only had a provisional (paid for by the jobcentre) for ID purposes.

Colleagues and managers will have the occasional pop about me being the only non driver in my office. but I just tell them
"Royal Mail employed me ride a bike"
They can't get rid of me because I am still providing the company exactly the same as was agreed when I signed on that godforsaken dotted line...or would provide if they'd kept the biles

Same! "Walking and cycling". Quite happy to ride a bike out to delivery should one ever be provided. It's like a self-propelled LWT. Send me out with the first class for multiple duties collapsed together on a Saturday and they can really boast about their carbon footprint. The outdoor times are crap now but at least it would rekindle some autonomy in the job.