AGs - Always On the S****y end of the stick!

[HastaLaVictoriaSiempre]

Hi there,

I'm an AG (30hrs) based at Cwmbran Delivery Office in South Wales. Our employment conditions are APPALLING - even by RM standards!

We're expected to prep and deliver 3.5 hour walks (the same as OPGs in our office) but with far less prep allowance. What really rubs salt into the wounds is the fact that there are offices within our own delivery sector where conditions are fairer (eg 27h/28hr contracts servicing 2.5hr walks). I'm trying to motivate other AGs in our office to stand up for themselves, so that we can improve our lot. I'd like to know what sort of terms other AGs work under?

Any replies would be much appreciated!

Thanks

Che

[POSTMAN]

Welcome,and i'll move this to Blue Shirts,you'll get more responses there.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

HastaLaVictoriaSiempre

Don't forget to check the rules out at http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/forum/rules.php and of course enjoy yourself.


It sounds like the rep or area rep needs to be brought into this or if they are not willing to do anything then can I suggest a voluntary withdrawal of goodwill.

This involves:

1. No coming in early.
2. No use of private cars.
3. No working overtime.
4. No work outside your contract. (ie No IPS sorting if your duty does not have it included.
5. Weigh your bags and don't exceed the matrix.
6. Take your breaks.
7. If you have to cut off - (Part of No overtime) but check local agreements as under some local ones overtime is beyond contracted by day and some by week.

All of these should be voluntary and not organised in any way as then it can be deemed as unofficial action. This is also why you should not discuss it at work or force anyone else to do the same.

Also check out this thread for information on Withdrawal of goodwill. http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/forum/vi ... php?t=1685

Moved to Union Room -Postman beat me to it.

[HastaLaVictoriaSiempre]

Thanks for the welcome and advice/info, POSTMAN & TrueBlueTerrier.

Of course, I would never condone unofficial action (lmfao)!

I do, however, as an individual, feel that I've reached the end of my tether as far as taking a softly softly approach with intransigent management.

As an individual and making no attempt whatsoever to influence my co-workers, I shall be following CWU advice and working only to my contract from now on (Yes Simon, that does mean I'll be cutting off at the end of my contracted hours). If any of my colleagues choose to do likewise, that is entirely down to their conscience!

Cheers guys

Che

[coaster]

No offense but how does weighing your bags (thus taking more bags out which they dont seem to provide) help? Is it because you take longer going to the bag drop so many times thus need overtime?

Or something else? (aside, of course the H/S issues)

Not trying to disagree just interested :)

edit: Oh, and what is an AG?

[pinstripe]

No offense but how does weighing your bags (thus taking more bags out which they dont seem to provide) help? Is it because you take longer going to the bag drop so many times thus need overtime?

Or something else? (aside, of course the H/S issues)

Not trying to disagree just interested :)

edit: Oh, and what is an AG?

I'm an AG also on a 30 hour contract. Same in my office regarding duty structure, but I think most of the AG's that started after me are on lower contracts. (AG is a part timer) Weighing bags and constantly having to refill them doesn't actually take that much time but management (sometimes) intimidate AG's (Usually inexperienced staff) into carrying overweight bags. Less bags for drivers to take out, more time to put more on drivers duties or cut hours. Sadly most positions are being reduced to part time hours meaning that there is an influx of AG's who due to bullying by management, indifference or sometimes open hostility from F/T staff have little or no loyalty to RM, the Union of their colleagues. It shouldn't be like that.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No offense but how does weighing your bags (thus taking more bags out which they dont seem to provide) help? Is it because you take longer going to the bag drop so many times thus need overtime?

Or something else? (aside, of course the H/S issues)

Not trying to disagree just interested :)

edit: Oh, and what is an AG?

Don't worry never offended by a politely worded question, after all if you don't ask how can you understand.

It all takes time and that's what they are after so its a kind of counter to their aims. Weighing the bags, sending out more bags than usual, dead walking back to the drop point, moving mail from the mail bag to your pouch, recording the weights, all these tasks take us time to do so if they want to play the awkward bastards play them at their own game.

It does take a while but eventually they get so pissed off running bags out, covering cuts offs, conveying posties out, providing correct paperwork and guidance etc, it eventually wears them down and they come to a compromise which, after all, is all that anyone wants.

AG as someone said is a part time postman formally its Assistant Grade I believe. Though why not in this day and age just call everyone PGs as in Postal Grades.

[coaster]

Ahh, I see. Thanks for the information! :)

[ghostgirl]

No offense but how does weighing your bags (thus taking more bags out which they dont seem to provide) help? Is it because you take longer going to the bag drop so many times thus need overtime?

Or something else? (aside, of course the H/S issues)

Not trying to disagree just interested :)

edit: Oh, and what is an AG?

Don't worry never offended by a politely worded question, after all if you don't ask how can you understand.

It all takes time and that's what they are after so its a kind of counter to their aims. Weighing the bags, sending out more bags than usual, dead walking back to the drop point, moving mail from the mail bag to your pouch, recording the weights, all these tasks take us time to do so if they want to play the awkward bastards play them at their own game.

It does take a while but eventually they get so pissed off running bags out, covering cuts offs, conveying posties out, providing correct paperwork and guidance etc, it eventually wears them down and they come to a compromise which, after all, is all that anyone wants.

AG as someone said is a part time postman formally its Assistant Grade I believe. Though why not in this day and age just call everyone PGs as in Postal Grades.

I was taken on 6 months ago - part time 25hrs - and my job title is PG

[DGP1]

AG - Associate Grade (or non IPS staff) but that was done away with at SDD (I think) and replaced with OPG. At least that's what I was told in my DO.

[dvbuk55]

AG - Associate Grade (or non IPS staff) but that was done away with at SDD (I think) and replaced with OPG. At least that's what I was told in my DO.

You are quite right! There is no such thing as an AG, only full time and part time. If you work a 5 day week on a 30 hour contract you have 17.5 hrs delivery, 2.5 hrs break and 10 hrs for other work. On a full time contract its 10 hours more. If you don't want to go over your time don't.

[moggymoz]

AG - Associate Grade (or non IPS staff) but that was done away with at SDD (I think) and replaced with OPG. At least that's what I was told in my DO.

You are quite right! There is no such thing as an AG, only full time and part time. If you work a 5 day week on a 30 hour contract you have 17.5 hrs delivery, 2.5 hrs break and 10 hrs for other work. On a full time contract its 10 hours more. If you don't want to go over your time don't.

this is where its all wrong (10 hrs for other work) that means less than 2 hrs prep a day ( also travelling time) especially when you're on a different walk every week it takes you a couple of days to get use to the frame.

[DGP1]

AG - Associate Grade (or non IPS staff) but that was done away with at SDD (I think) and replaced with OPG. At least that's what I was told in my DO.

You are quite right! There is no such thing as an AG, only full time and part time. If you work a 5 day week on a 30 hour contract you have 17.5 hrs delivery, 2.5 hrs break and 10 hrs for other work. On a full time contract its 10 hours more. If you don't want to go over your time don't.

this is where its all wrong (10 hrs for other work) that means less than 2 hrs prep a day ( also travelling time) especially when you're on a different walk every week it takes you a couple of days to get use to the frame.

The thing is FT staff can spend 2 hours or more on IPS so it doesn't mean an extra 2 hours on prep. I also get pushed from duty to duty (sometimes on a daily basis) so I can't get used to to a frame either.

[pinstripe]

AG - Associate Grade (or non IPS staff) but that was done away with at SDD (I think) and replaced with OPG. At least that's what I was told in my DO.

You are quite right! There is no such thing as an AG, only full time and part time. If you work a 5 day week on a 30 hour contract you have 17.5 hrs delivery, 2.5 hrs break and 10 hrs for other work. On a full time contract its 10 hours more. If you don't want to go over your time don't.

this is where its all wrong (10 hrs for other work) that means less than 2 hrs prep a day ( also travelling time) especially when you're on a different walk every week it takes you a couple of days to get use to the frame.

The thing is FT staff can spend 2 hours or more on IPS so it doesn't mean an extra 2 hours on prep. I also get pushed from duty to duty (sometimes on a daily basis) so I can't get used to to a frame either.

Different offices, different rules. My office F/T do 1 hour IPS and no more. This is changing with the longs and shorts, they may have to do an extra 30 minutes, but they have an extra hour and a half on long days and they will still have at least 50-90 mins longer to prep their walks, given that walks are meant to be equal at 3.5 hours(LOL). AG's are on straight 6 hour days Mon-Sat, 3.5 hours delivery, 30 mins meal relief, 30 mins conveyance leaves 1.5 hours for prep inc deads, re-directions, etc. Even on a normal day , 8 hour shift, 1 hour IPS, 40 minutes meal relief, 30 mins conveyance, 3.5 hours delivery leaves 2 hours 40 mins for prep. FT have over an hour longer (in my office) to prep a walk of the same length, and FT are meant to be the more experienced staff.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

At our DO FT and PT have the same amount of time for delivery and prep - FT do 2 hours on IPS - can I move to your office Pinstripe.