Bad weather policy

[Mr Rush]

I don't see why they just didn't send us home much earlier

If they're like the DOM we had in 2018 during the 'Beast from the East', they may be having a Cnut moment and filled with sociopathic rage that the weather won't bend to their Macchiavellian ways they spitefully double down on their contempt for OPGs.

[TopperGas]

Walked in today, over half office didn't show, they were told if you can't make it to any depot they could use up a days annual leave or lose a days pay.. Those of us that made it in didn't go out, sat around most of day and they finally let us leave a whole 20 mins early, how kind of them!

Same but had to stay until the end of shift, wouldn’t even let us take our break at home.
If you are sent home you should be paid, if they gave you the choice and you went home you would have to make the hours up. Unless we are already in the gig economy?

Can anybody understand what RM gain by making us stay at work even if there's no work we can do, it's not like we made it snow!!

[Thommo44]

If they hadn’t let the blue eyed posties leave 2 and a half hours early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve while everyone else worked to their time they could blame the system, this is just for spite. They can adjust their own clocking every Saturday morning

[Barnacle]

At the mo , parts of the country getting battered by constant snow blizzards , really deep . Amazon arent going out today . Some cant make it into work , prob i think losing a days pay ? If theres a decision made by the higher up nobody to come in , think they have to pay you ? Stonehaven is awful at mo

If your office notify you all not to go in, you are paid.
If you arrive but weather conditions mean deliveries are cancelled, you are paid.
If you can’t get to the office because of your local weather, you can take it as Special Leave, or use an annual leave day or make up the hours the following week.
Going to your nearest office is still RM policy.
If you call your own snow day you won’t be paid, especially if it turns out that beyond your road, the roads were fine and everyone else made it in.

[A2B]

What is the criteria for "Special Leave" because I believe that's at the DOMs discretion? so open to abuse

[Barnacle]

What is the criteria for "Special Leave" because I believe that's at the DOMs discretion? so open to abuse

It’s appropriate when you need to take an unplanned day off or two at short notice. For example, the schools shut because of snow, suddenly you have to stay home with the kids.

There has to be a proper reason, not just a football match or a hen party.

It IS abused by certain managers and so the rep has to be on it to ensure fairness

[A2B]

What is the criteria for "Special Leave" because I believe that's at the DOMs discretion? so open to abuse

It’s appropriate when you need to take an unplanned day off or two at short notice. For example, the schools shut because of snow, suddenly you have to stay home with the kids.

There has to be a proper reason, not just a football match or a hen party.

It IS abused by certain managers and so the rep has to be on it to ensure fairness

Define a proper reason? Heating breaks down and need to wait for plumber or child has school cancelled?

It's all open to the DOM and even if you are lucky enough to have a rep in the office you are very unlikely to be given Special Leave

[Barnacle]

What is the criteria for "Special Leave" because I believe that's at the DOMs discretion? so open to abuse

It’s appropriate when you need to take an unplanned day off or two at short notice. For example, the schools shut because of snow, suddenly you have to stay home with the kids.

There has to be a proper reason, not just a football match or a hen party.

It IS abused by certain managers and so the rep has to be on it to ensure fairness

Define a proper reason? Heating breaks down and need to wait for plumber or child has school cancelled?

It's all open to the DOM and even if you are lucky enough to have a rep in the office you are very unlikely to be given Special Leave

Burst pipes, a break-in, car driven into your house, anything that is unplanned and means you need a short notice day off to deal with.

Trivial reasons are not what Special Leave is for, and yes, it is abused by corrupt managers who have pets.

[A2B]

But as you probably well know it's very doubtful you would be given Special Leave for any of those situations that's why the sickness system was abused.

I would certainly argue that being unable to attend work due to the weather is an unplanned absence but RM & CWU now seem to think differently

[Barnacle]

But as you probably well know it's very doubtful you would be given Special Leave for any of those situations that's why the sickness system was abused.

I would certainly argue that being unable to attend work due to the weather is an unplanned absence but RM & CWU now seem to think differently

That’s not true - that RM & CWU now think differently… - if your rep knows the guidelines they can ensure that managers who like to ignore them, apply them.

If a member doesn’t speak to the rep, the rep can’t make sure the guidelines are followed.

Managers do secret deals that only come to light later.

But if the rep is on the ball, they can keep tabs on what is happening and inform staff of what they are entitled to.

Members not involving the rep is an issue. The rep can’t help if they aren’t told about a shafting.

[A2B]

The CWU have no say in the running of our office and constant pushing of issues further up the chain have brought zero change.

RM run this company and the CWU are allowed to tag along.... at the moment

[Barnacle]

The CWU have no say in the running of our office and constant pushing of issues further up the chain have brought zero change.

RM run this company and the CWU are allowed to tag along.... at the moment

Well that’s an issue. Each office is different. You need a strong rep who isn’t afraid to force a halt to what is going on - all within their remit, they can use the IR framework on each individual issue and bog them down to a halt.

If managers have managed to undermine the rep then the rep is possibly not getting support? I don’t know your area but it must be depressing to feel powerless.

[A2B]

Do you not feel from recent history that the whole of the CWU is powerless?

[Barnacle]

Do you not feel from recent history that the whole of the CWU is powerless?

I think the top table need to be ousted because they always seem to be reacting rather than war gaming likely RM plans and outcomes. Too often they appear to be congratulating themselves for understanding what RM upper management have just said.

However, at office level and the branch that supports the offices, as long as the rep is clear headed and uncompromised, they are really strong and stop managers running amok.

If you have strong office reps, that puts the pressure on the branch to put down the biscuit barrel. But if you don’t have a rep at all or the one you do have takes no great interest outside of their own interests, that can be demoralising.

[SpacePhoenix]

But if you don’t have a rep at all or the one you do have takes no great interest outside of their own interests, that can be demoralising.

The last time a sheet was put up on our union board showing who held what union position, covering both the MC and all DOs there was just 3 or 4 DOs that had a rep. Probably 80-90% didn't have a rep.