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Lost duty in repick

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
Redyam
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 97
Joined: 27 Sep 2009, 23:12
Gender: Male

Lost duty in repick

Post by Redyam »

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/n ... -decision/

Which one of you took Phil's walk?!
ted_e_bear
Posts: 4030
Joined: 03 Sep 2012, 19:37
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by ted_e_bear »

Shaugi
Posts: 79
Joined: 25 Sep 2024, 21:49
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by Shaugi »

Thats how seniority works.

I'm fully expecting to lose my duty when we have the repick.....assuming the duty even exists and isn't merged into a pod which tbh is quite likely.
norris9
Posts: 2668
Joined: 27 Feb 2019, 17:32
Gender: Female

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by norris9 »

I'm sure all those villagers are very nice people and think they are doing a nice thing trying to keep Phil, but they are actually getting in the way of a perfectly fair process called seniority.

I feel bad for whoever's picked that round as they haven't exactly welcomed him or her by doing this.
toonshola
Posts: 904
Joined: 29 Jul 2011, 16:31
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by toonshola »

I really hate seeing this type of crap, it’s completely unfair on the next person who gets the duty. They are not OUR duty’s anyway they belong to Royal Mail, we just cover them from repick to repick.
We already have people in our office squirming about the impending repick as they are sitting on duty’s that their seniority wouldn’t usually allow. A repick is right and fair, no favouritism just pure old length of service and I say this as someone right bang in the middle of the list.
Chelseablue
Posts: 2198
Joined: 19 Aug 2013, 14:33
Gender: Female

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by Chelseablue »

Prob is there is less duties to pick from now because of this strange way of working. Ppl with quite a bit of service might now be a floater now . Lets be honest most jobs are gonna be shambolic anyway.
heapsy
Posts: 2961
Joined: 02 Jun 2007, 23:40
Gender: Male
Location: Drinking with Gangsters

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by heapsy »

Van share created the same issue. I know one bloke who used to be my rotation man. Took 10 years to get a walk.
HTPostman
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1503
Joined: 01 Sep 2008, 23:53
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by HTPostman »

norris9 wrote:
31 Jul 2026, 11:33
I'm sure all those villagers are very nice people and think they are doing a nice thing trying to keep Phil, but they are actually getting in the way of a perfectly fair process called seniority.

I feel bad for whoever's picked that round as they haven't exactly welcomed him or her by doing this.
100%. I had this myself when I covered someone’s round for 6 months when they were off sick, only 2 or 3 in the village actually got to know me, the rest just mentioned how great the duty holder was, I get they were concerned but by the end it was a bit Groundhog Day.

Things took a bit of a turn when he eventually came back, and I’d see in the village Facebook group they’d be blaming me ‘bet it’s that speccy guy’ when I could tell the pictures showing misdelivered parcels were his.

On a side note he had the most unusual sorting method, I’ve never seen anything like it - he’d look at the surname only (old school?) and completely ignore the address. So he’d spot the surname Gregory and know that’s for 10 Cottage Way and position it in the frame accordingly or place it in the van for that street. That works fine apart from you have 4 sets of Smith’s, 3 Wright’s, 2 Thompson’s etc. Letters and parcels would be a complete lottery between them, and I was often being handed things back when I was covering the day after.

I’ve been retired 2 years now, as you can tell I’m over it all :wink: :Very Happy
The day is gonna come when we’re all gonna have to testify.

526
SMS1969
Posts: 1002
Joined: 28 Jun 2021, 11:36
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by SMS1969 »

HTPostman wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 15:37
norris9 wrote:
31 Jul 2026, 11:33
I'm sure all those villagers are very nice people and think they are doing a nice thing trying to keep Phil, but they are actually getting in the way of a perfectly fair process called seniority.

I feel bad for whoever's picked that round as they haven't exactly welcomed him or her by doing this.
100%. I had this myself when I covered someone’s round for 6 months when they were off sick, only 2 or 3 in the village actually got to know me, the rest just mentioned how great the duty holder was, I get they were concerned but by the end it was a bit Groundhog Day.

Things took a bit of a turn when he eventually came back, and I’d see in the village Facebook group they’d be blaming me ‘bet it’s that speccy guy’ when I could tell the pictures showing misdelivered parcels were his.

On a side note he had the most unusual sorting method, I’ve never seen anything like it - he’d look at the surname only (old school?) and completely ignore the address. So he’d spot the surname Gregory and know that’s for 10 Cottage Way and position it in the frame accordingly or place it in the van for that street. That works fine apart from you have 4 sets of Smith’s, 3 Wright’s, 2 Thompson’s etc. Letters and parcels would be a complete lottery between them, and I was often being handed things back when I was covering the day after.

I’ve been retired 2 years now, as you can tell I’m over it all :wink: :Very Happy
What a crazy sorting method , just look at the address to confirm FFS. Some people really are hard work, so unnecessary.
ted_e_bear
Posts: 4030
Joined: 03 Sep 2012, 19:37
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by ted_e_bear »

SMS1969 wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 15:53
HTPostman wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 15:37
norris9 wrote:
31 Jul 2026, 11:33
I'm sure all those villagers are very nice people and think they are doing a nice thing trying to keep Phil, but they are actually getting in the way of a perfectly fair process called seniority.

I feel bad for whoever's picked that round as they haven't exactly welcomed him or her by doing this.
100%. I had this myself when I covered someone’s round for 6 months when they were off sick, only 2 or 3 in the village actually got to know me, the rest just mentioned how great the duty holder was, I get they were concerned but by the end it was a bit Groundhog Day.

Things took a bit of a turn when he eventually came back, and I’d see in the village Facebook group they’d be blaming me ‘bet it’s that speccy guy’ when I could tell the pictures showing misdelivered parcels were his.

On a side note he had the most unusual sorting method, I’ve never seen anything like it - he’d look at the surname only (old school?) and completely ignore the address. So he’d spot the surname Gregory and know that’s for 10 Cottage Way and position it in the frame accordingly or place it in the van for that street. That works fine apart from you have 4 sets of Smith’s, 3 Wright’s, 2 Thompson’s etc. Letters and parcels would be a complete lottery between them, and I was often being handed things back when I was covering the day after.

I’ve been retired 2 years now, as you can tell I’m over it all :wink: :Very Happy
What a crazy sorting method , just look at the address to confirm FFS. Some people really are hard work, so unnecessary.
We've got a few that think 'their' way is the best going from people who've had to break off to do a special on time but if you suggest doing that loop whilst we're there instead of going back it's as though you're speaking a different language, one I remember is a van share where the person finished a loop at the top of a really steep hill, I suggested why don't I drop you off at the top and work down instead, reply was no we've always done it this way :arrrghhh
HTPostman
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1503
Joined: 01 Sep 2008, 23:53
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by HTPostman »

SMS1969 wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 15:53
HTPostman wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 15:37
norris9 wrote:
31 Jul 2026, 11:33
I'm sure all those villagers are very nice people and think they are doing a nice thing trying to keep Phil, but they are actually getting in the way of a perfectly fair process called seniority.

I feel bad for whoever's picked that round as they haven't exactly welcomed him or her by doing this.
100%. I had this myself when I covered someone’s round for 6 months when they were off sick, only 2 or 3 in the village actually got to know me, the rest just mentioned how great the duty holder was, I get they were concerned but by the end it was a bit Groundhog Day.

Things took a bit of a turn when he eventually came back, and I’d see in the village Facebook group they’d be blaming me ‘bet it’s that speccy guy’ when I could tell the pictures showing misdelivered parcels were his.

On a side note he had the most unusual sorting method, I’ve never seen anything like it - he’d look at the surname only (old school?) and completely ignore the address. So he’d spot the surname Gregory and know that’s for 10 Cottage Way and position it in the frame accordingly or place it in the van for that street. That works fine apart from you have 4 sets of Smith’s, 3 Wright’s, 2 Thompson’s etc. Letters and parcels would be a complete lottery between them, and I was often being handed things back when I was covering the day after.

I’ve been retired 2 years now, as you can tell I’m over it all :wink: :Very Happy
What a crazy sorting method , just look at the address to confirm FFS. Some people really are hard work, so unnecessary.
I get he’d delivered to the village for 20 or 30 years or whatever but it was a system that clearly didn’t work. The villagers just latched on that it was someone, anyone other than their beloved Joe Bloggs misdelivering their letters and parcels.
Last edited by HTPostman on 03 Aug 2026, 17:59, edited 1 time in total.
The day is gonna come when we’re all gonna have to testify.

526
HTPostman
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1503
Joined: 01 Sep 2008, 23:53
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by HTPostman »

ted_e_bear wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 16:23
SMS1969 wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 15:53
HTPostman wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 15:37
norris9 wrote:
31 Jul 2026, 11:33
I'm sure all those villagers are very nice people and think they are doing a nice thing trying to keep Phil, but they are actually getting in the way of a perfectly fair process called seniority.

I feel bad for whoever's picked that round as they haven't exactly welcomed him or her by doing this.
100%. I had this myself when I covered someone’s round for 6 months when they were off sick, only 2 or 3 in the village actually got to know me, the rest just mentioned how great the duty holder was, I get they were concerned but by the end it was a bit Groundhog Day.

Things took a bit of a turn when he eventually came back, and I’d see in the village Facebook group they’d be blaming me ‘bet it’s that speccy guy’ when I could tell the pictures showing misdelivered parcels were his.

On a side note he had the most unusual sorting method, I’ve never seen anything like it - he’d look at the surname only (old school?) and completely ignore the address. So he’d spot the surname Gregory and know that’s for 10 Cottage Way and position it in the frame accordingly or place it in the van for that street. That works fine apart from you have 4 sets of Smith’s, 3 Wright’s, 2 Thompson’s etc. Letters and parcels would be a complete lottery between them, and I was often being handed things back when I was covering the day after.

I’ve been retired 2 years now, as you can tell I’m over it all :wink: :Very Happy
What a crazy sorting method , just look at the address to confirm FFS. Some people really are hard work, so unnecessary.
We've got a few that think 'their' way is the best going from people who've had to break off to do a special on time but if you suggest doing that loop whilst we're there instead of going back it's as though you're speaking a different language, one I remember is a van share where the person finished a loop at the top of a really steep hill, I suggested why don't I drop you off at the top and work down instead, reply was no we've always done it this way :arrrghhh
Oh yep been there. I always used to say it’s not just management and CWU running RM into the ground, it’s some of the staff too.
My favourite was a busy 3 mile street, with loads of little cul de sacs and houses tucked on the right. They’d turn into the first cul de sac on the right, then constantly have to battle across 2 lanes of traffic. Rinse and repeat 35 times before finishing at the very top, 3 miles away. I said why don’t you start furthest away and then you’re only ever turning left, across one lane of traffic. They looked at me like I was from Mars.
The day is gonna come when we’re all gonna have to testify.

526
SMS1969
Posts: 1002
Joined: 28 Jun 2021, 11:36
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by SMS1969 »

We've got a few that think 'their' way is the best going from people who've had to break off to do a special on time but if you suggest doing that loop whilst we're there instead of going back it's as though you're speaking a different language, one I remember is a van share where the person finished a loop at the top of a really steep hill, I suggested why don't I drop you off at the top and work down instead, reply was no we've always done it this way :arrrghhh. :left:
A2B
Posts: 1985
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 19:34
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by A2B »

Has there been a glitch in the matrix?
SMS1969 wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 18:01
We've got a few that think 'their' way is the best going from people who've had to break off to do a special on time but if you suggest doing that loop whilst we're there instead of going back it's as though you're speaking a different language, one I remember is a van share where the person finished a loop at the top of a really steep hill, I suggested why don't I drop you off at the top and work down instead, reply was no we've always done it this way :arrrghhh. :left:
ted_e_bear wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 16:23


We've got a few that think 'their' way is the best going from people who've had to break off to do a special on time but if you suggest doing that loop whilst we're there instead of going back it's as though you're speaking a different language, one I remember is a van share where the person finished a loop at the top of a really steep hill, I suggested why don't I drop you off at the top and work down instead, reply was no we've always done it this way :arrrghhh
postslippete
Posts: 4169
Joined: 14 Jul 2014, 16:27
Gender: Male

Re: Lost duty in repick

Post by postslippete »

SMS1969 wrote:
03 Aug 2026, 18:01
I suggested why don't I drop you off at the top and work down instead, reply was no we've always done it this way :arrrghhh. :left:

There will be load's of idiosynchrosies with DM26.

- Is it better to drop the non-driver off with a trolley to deliver a week's worth of mail while the driver goes off and does parcels, or do you both stay together and clear the parcels in the van first and then deliver the mail together?
- Do you mark the parcels in the frame even though you may or may not be taking the mail with the parcels?
- If you're taking all the mail out, do you still bundle the 1c in with it?
- Do you follow the same route every day even if it means breaking off to do a Special or two and then doubling back, or do you adapt the route to fit the day's workload?
- When is the best time to take your break - before leaving the office or while out on delivery?
- Is it more efficient to prep and sort the parcels first and then the mail or vice versa?
- On Saturdays when you are mainly delivering Tracked items, is it quicker to optimise the route on the PDA or just deliver them as standard?


There's probably no right answer and management can't assume that a one fits all approach will work. Unless they are told otherwise, those on deliver will find the most efficient way that benefits them.
On the face of it, shareholder value is the dumbest idea in the world.