Union leaders have accused the Royal Mail of pressurising postal workers in Bradford to complete unrealistic delivery routes.
The Communications Wor-kers Union said a computerised route planning tool, called Pegasus, is being misused, meaning workers are not given enough time to complete routes.
It said employees were being told to walk at an average speed of 4mph carrying loads of up to 16kg to complete routes in three and a half hours.
The Royal Mail has said this is “nonsense” and that workers are expected to walk at “around 2mph”.
Bob Hulme, area delivery representative for the CWU in West Yorkshire, said: “The Pegasus planning tool defined the required walking speed as a high speed of 4mph and a lower speed of 3.85mph.
“In Bradford and other areas the routes have been planned on a speed of 3.85mph.
“That is quite a pace. You have to bear in mind that workers are carrying a 16kg mail bag and carrying up to eight of those per day over a three-and-a-half-hour delivery span.”
CWU national official Bob Gibson said: “This is putting pressure on delivery workers.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said no delivery staff were asked to cover a greater distance or deliver more mail than they were capable of.
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Comments:
Chris B, Bradford says...
11:05am Fri 12 Dec 08
I thought they dumped most of our mail now in a beauty spot in Bradford.
I thought they dumped most of our mail now in a beauty spot in Bradford.
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Dr Evil, Saltaire says...
11:26am Fri 12 Dec 08
Chris B wrote:
I thought they dumped most of our mail now in a beauty spot in Bradford.
These people deserve a prize not your childish jibes.Chris B wrote: I thought they dumped most of our mail now in a beauty spot in Bradford.
Leighann, Bradford says...
12:09pm Fri 12 Dec 08
Don't know about a prize but I received a card through my door last Thursday 4th December telling me to collect a parcel 48 hours latr, went Saturday, no parcel, said it had been sent to main office in town and my local delivery office hadn't reecived it back as yet, went Tuesday 9th December, still no parcel, told to try later in week, been today 12th December and still no parcel, told again to try next week because of Christmas rush.
Royal Mail have problems every year at Christmas time, why don't they get organised and do something about it. If my parcel doesn't arrive (which is a crimbo pressi for my other half) I will have to go through the long proces of claiming from Royal Mail
Don't know about a prize but I received a card through my door last Thursday 4th December telling me to collect a parcel 48 hours latr, went Saturday, no parcel, said it had been sent to main office in town and my local delivery office hadn't reecived it back as yet, went Tuesday 9th December, still no parcel, told to try later in week, been today 12th December and still no parcel, told again to try next week because of Christmas rush. Royal Mail have problems every year at Christmas time, why don't they get organised and do something about it. If my parcel doesn't arrive (which is a crimbo pressi for my other half) I will have to go through the long proces of claiming from Royal Mail
tracy2306, cleckheaton says...
12:12pm Fri 12 Dec 08
My son works for Royal Mail and I wouldn't swap jobs with him for anything. The weight they have to carry and the distance they have to cover in a limited time is unbelievable. I for one think they all deserve our support. It's the management, as is usual in companies, that a need a good kick up the proverbial a***!
Victor Clayton, Clayton says...
12:14pm Fri 12 Dec 08
don't think 4 mph would be possible. especially in Bradford!
ItchyBungle, Bradford says...
1:26pm Fri 12 Dec 08
4mph? I presume they will be getting Segways to ride on then! I support the workers who have to do a very difficult job in all weather conditions, and the vast majority do it to a good standard.
Keep it up lads! I guess Chris B's giro didn't arrive on time on one occaision!