Flexibility what does it mean?

[fosal29]

I work in a small delivery office about 20 rounds rural and town. All delivery potsmen start at 6 and finish a 2. My Dom insists that if we get a heavy day he can force us to go over our delvery time by 30 mins mainly by having to absorb another round. He's shown me the agreement where it states we can be "asked" to over by 30 mins if needed. Does "asked" mean forced, I thought it was voluntary. Yesterday( mon) was heavy and we had to aborb a round between 8 of us. Most were well past 2 O'clock with little chance of getting that time back during the week. Asked our office rep and he hasn't got a clue. Hoping someone will know what the agreement actully means. Thanks.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

see http://overpaidunderworked.blogspot.com ... y-and.html for full agreement:

But the extract you are most interested in:

Variation of hours – Where necessary, for example when traffic volumes are unexpectedly high or resourcing issues arise, individuals may be asked and may themselves request to vary their duty times by up to 30 minutes on a swings and roundabouts basis. Again, individual circumstances will be taken into account and total weekly contractual hours would not change.

It does say "May be asked" it does not say "Can be instructed" so you can say No also as he has forced you to do it you should be able to claim the 30 minutes back this week that's my interpretation of the "swings and roundabouts" section.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Defintion od "ask" (sk)
v. asked, ask·ing, asks
v.tr.
1. To put a question to: When we realized that we didn't know the answer, we asked the teacher.
2. To seek an answer to: ask a question.
3. To seek information about: asked directions.
4.
a. To make a request of: asked me for a loan.
b. To make a request for. Often used with an infinitive or clause: ask a favor of a friend; asked to go along on the trip; asked that he be allowed to stay out late.
5. To require or call for as a price or condition: asked ten dollars for the book.
6. To expect or demand: ask too much of a child.
7. To invite: asked them to dinner.
8. Archaic To publish, as marriage banns.
v.intr.
1. To make inquiry; seek information.
2. To make a request: asked for help.
Idioms:
ask for it/trouble Informal
To persist in an action despite the likelihood that it will result in difficulty or punishment.
ask out
To invite (someone) to a social engagement.

In all of those definitions I cannot see where ask means "instruct" or does not mean "volunatry" they are trying it on again. Of course you could show him this bit in the agreement:

Phase 3 – Transforming the way we work
Both parties are committed to introducing new ways of working throughout the business by April 2008. In order to achieve this there will be a trial in four offices per AGM area covering the following:

*
New arrangements to cover for one another and develop sensible options to absorb absences, and increased workload, where time exists within normal hours
*
To ensure all paid work hours are utilised
*
To creates a working environment where employees, CWU reps and managers feel valued and motivated.

[k979aaa]

I work in a small delivery office about 20 rounds rural and town. All delivery potsmen start at 6 and finish a 2. My Dom insists that if we get a heavy day he can force us to go over our delvery time by 30 mins mainly by having to absorb another round. He's shown me the agreement where it states we can be "asked" to over by 30 mins if needed. Does "asked" mean forced, I thought it was voluntary. Yesterday( mon) was heavy and we had to aborb a round between 8 of us. Most were well past 2 O'clock with little chance of getting that time back during the week. Asked our office rep and he hasn't got a clue. Hoping someone will know what the agreement actully means. Thanks.

If your rep does not know that what does he do this is the biggest thing since the way forward agreement! I am no union rep but even i have more grasp of the situation!. I would get all of you together and say to you all we have our contractual hour's be it 40 hours or twenty and if we have too flex on monday or any other day of the week we all want the time back at the end of the week!. IF THEY ASK YOU TO FLEX ON SATURDAY RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND WITH ONLY YOUR MIDDLE FINGER EXTENDED AND SAY IM GONNA FLEX YOUR A*S!. PS DON'T SAY IT JUST SAY NO

[johnnyp]

I work in a small delivery office about 20 rounds rural and town. All delivery potsmen start at 6 and finish a 2. My Dom insists that if we get a heavy day he can force us to go over our delvery time by 30 mins mainly by having to absorb another round. He's shown me the agreement where it states we can be "asked" to over by 30 mins if needed. Does "asked" mean forced, I thought it was voluntary. Yesterday( mon) was heavy and we had to aborb a round between 8 of us. Most were well past 2 O'clock with little chance of getting that time back during the week. Asked our office rep and he hasn't got a clue. Hoping someone will know what the agreement actully means. Thanks.

Why have you guys lapsed a walk on a heavy day?Has your rep been having his weekly resources meetings with the Dom?It is vital these are done to see if this sort of lapsing can be carried out.It looks like he needs a few of you to help him/her out. Also all you guys that went over your times are now owed that back by the end of this week,dont forget it will you.

[fosal29]

I work in a small delivery office about 20 rounds rural and town. All delivery potsmen start at 6 and finish a 2. My Dom insists that if we get a heavy day he can force us to go over our delvery time by 30 mins mainly by having to absorb another round. He's shown me the agreement where it states we can be "asked" to over by 30 mins if needed. Does "asked" mean forced, I thought it was voluntary. Yesterday( mon) was heavy and we had to aborb a round between 8 of us. Most were well past 2 O'clock with little chance of getting that time back during the week. Asked our office rep and he hasn't got a clue. Hoping someone will know what the agreement actully means. Thanks.

Why have you guys lapsed a walk on a heavy day?Has your rep been having his weekly resources meetings with the Dom?It is vital these are done to see if this sort of lapsing can be carried out.It looks like he needs a few of you to help him/her out. Also all you guys that went over your times are now owed that back by the end of this week,dont forget it will you.

We lasped walks everyday during the summer now its Mondays, Tuesdays & Saturdays regardless of the amount of mail. About 6 weeks ago we had electorial register letters for every house, we still had to absorb a round finnished at 3.45. Out on delivery for over 5 hours. I don't want to get time back. I don't want to extra in the first place.

[k979aaa]

I work in a small delivery office about 20 rounds rural and town. All delivery potsmen start at 6 and finish a 2. My Dom insists that if we get a heavy day he can force us to go over our delvery time by 30 mins mainly by having to absorb another round. He's shown me the agreement where it states we can be "asked" to over by 30 mins if needed. Does "asked" mean forced, I thought it was voluntary. Yesterday( mon) was heavy and we had to aborb a round between 8 of us. Most were well past 2 O'clock with little chance of getting that time back during the week. Asked our office rep and he hasn't got a clue. Hoping someone will know what the agreement actully means. Thanks.

Why have you guys lapsed a walk on a heavy day?Has your rep been having his weekly resources meetings with the Dom?It is vital these are done to see if this sort of lapsing can be carried out.It looks like he needs a few of you to help him/her out. Also all you guys that went over your times are now owed that back by the end of this week,dont forget it will you.

We lasped walks everyday during the summer now its Mondays, Tuesdays & Saturdays regardless of the amount of mail. About 6 weeks ago we had electorial register letters for every house, we still had to absorb a round finnished at 3.45. Out on delivery for over 5 hours. I don't want to get time back. I don't want to extra in the first place.

Well all of you and i mean all of you must stick together take your time too do your job's PROPERLY no CAR'S no cutting across the grass and NO COMMEING IN BEFORE YOUR TIME!. And don't forget use the VAN'S and take your BREAK'S together FOR THROUGH UNITY YOU CAN BEAT THE DOM!.

[johnnyp]

I work in a small delivery office about 20 rounds rural and town. All delivery potsmen start at 6 and finish a 2. My Dom insists that if we get a heavy day he can force us to go over our delvery time by 30 mins mainly by having to absorb another round. He's shown me the agreement where it states we can be "asked" to over by 30 mins if needed. Does "asked" mean forced, I thought it was voluntary. Yesterday( mon) was heavy and we had to aborb a round between 8 of us. Most were well past 2 O'clock with little chance of getting that time back during the week. Asked our office rep and he hasn't got a clue. Hoping someone will know what the agreement actully means. Thanks.

Why have you guys lapsed a walk on a heavy day?Has your rep been having his weekly resources meetings with the Dom?It is vital these are done to see if this sort of lapsing can be carried out.It looks like he needs a few of you to help him/her out. Also all you guys that went over your times are now owed that back by the end of this week,dont forget it will you.

We lasped walks everyday during the summer now its Mondays, Tuesdays & Saturdays regardless of the amount of mail. About 6 weeks ago we had electorial register letters for every house, we still had to absorb a round finnished at 3.45. Out on delivery for over 5 hours. I don't want to get time back. I don't want to extra in the first place.

Efficent summer staffing we all had to do depending if mail volumes were down or not,but now traffic should be on the up(autum pressure)and lapsing should only be agreed via weekley resources meetings with the local rep.Remember you must not work over your contracted weekly hours,i am suprised you are lapsing walks 3 days a week at this time of the year,also 5 hours out on a walk is too long imho.

[k979aaa]

To the author of the post "johnnyp" has posted an item in the download's section of the union room that may be of interest too you and other's!. It is called lighten the load this is the basis of doing your job's to the book and thus useing up all avaliable hour's!.

[ronpetetrevchris]

i myself work in a small office and trying to get management decision on something is terrible. The union because we are isolated take time to get back and usually with an interpretive answer.
And that is where we are fked- lets face it there are so many grey areas no-body (unless they work in a large centre) know what the f is goin on, managers exploit this and call ur bluff. Personally i cant lose my job, so cant go that route.
Blaming the rep is sh9t, i am a rep and couldnt tell u half the time what the f is goin on, people come up to me like i have all the answers and i hear the same time as them. And i read ALL litereature.
As foe flexibility i couldnt tell u how much BS we have been told from a six week rotation, to if u say now its wilful.
Its easy to criticise, but to get a solid answer from union area is hard, i expect its the same as us, up top are w0ank, full stop, they have sold us down the river with grey areas.Its anything goes for management!

[k979aaa]

I did say that this so called agreement was open to abuse by management long before the vote last year!. And so it has come to pass that the interpretation of this agreement has now started, it was not a question of if but when but now it is here and now that the management are useing the grey area'a of this SHAM agreement!. FOR HOW CAN WE WORK AN "AGREEMENT " WITH SUCH AMBIGUITY IN IT'S VERY FABRIC THAT WE MUST ALL SAY THIS IS NO "AGREEMENT" WE CAN ABIDE BY!.IT HAS MORE HOLE'S IN IT THAN THAT OF A WHORE'S TIGHT'S!. :cfo & :lfo

[Big Daz]

total weekly contractual hours would not change.

Simple to understand and black and white any DOM thinks it means something other than that is off their rocker!

[paul_skinback]

I work in a small delivery office about 20 rounds rural and town. All delivery potsmen start at 6 and finish a 2. My Dom insists that if we get a heavy day he can force us to go over our delvery time by 30 mins mainly by having to absorb another round. He's shown me the agreement where it states we can be "asked" to over by 30 mins if needed. Does "asked" mean forced, I thought it was voluntary. Yesterday( mon) was heavy and we had to aborb a round between 8 of us. Most were well past 2 O'clock with little chance of getting that time back during the week. Asked our office rep and he hasn't got a clue. Hoping someone will know what the agreement actully means. Thanks.

Why have you guys lapsed a walk on a heavy day?Has your rep been having his weekly resources meetings with the Dom?It is vital these are done to see if this sort of lapsing can be carried out.It looks like he needs a few of you to help him/her out. Also all you guys that went over your times are now owed that back by the end of this week,dont forget it will you.

Say thanks to Billy and Daves SO GOOD skills at looking after our aspirations. LOL. With their so good negotiating skills with the best offer - settlement "WE can get!" No one with an ounce of common would ever have agreed to this pile of sh*t but good old Billy, Dave, and the nine did and they then allowed the members to make a choice on an ambiguous ballot after "THEY" made the ballot hard to understand! This is the real way forward At least 11 of ours are sc*bs working for RM! Oh and just in case your not sure after GEO ROUTE our office have lost more than 5% of the office with sackings in the last month for sickness and D2Ds and they have told us they are moving onto Hi VIS and HELMETS next! With O/T and cut offs to follow, being off route and cars on delivery to follow that! So please play their game lose your job or do your job properly the choice is yours!
As far as i am concerned this is the reduction of workforce by any means with the sanction of HQ that RM wanted. So way to go Billy and Dave youve done it for me you really have sold us out.



F*cking sc*m!

100% Spot on

[kay_thebigbird]

Not having been a postie for a year sounds like things have changed greatly,so whats this about doing other walks & 30 mins extra, the new walk that I am having is a long & heavy one & I am only 28 hour contract did buy down from F/T 2 years ago ,not perpared to go well over finish time,do these changes include P/T staff.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Not having been a postie for a year sounds like things have changed greatly,so whats this about doing other walks & 30 mins extra, the new walk that I am having is a long & heavy one & I am only 28 hour contract did buy down from F/T 2 years ago ,not perpared to go well over finish time,do these changes include P/T staff.

Its meant to Kay - but with the advent of "Local Agreements" the picture is different from office to office. In my office a lot of PTs complain because of the extra bits added, but instead of sticking to their guns and cutting off or claiming docket, they come in early for free.

Best check with the Office Rep as soon as you restart. Once again well done