I’ve been doing my job properly for 2 months now

Post by **fmrPOSTIE** » 15 Dec 2008, 15:41

Well done your_postie!!!

:)

If every postie did this RM would soon be up s**t-creek, and what would there fall-back be? Your doing the job right, it will expose how far the cuts have gone and the mis-management at DOM level.

Like you say - your doing the job bang on, following procedure and oh dear your DOM doesn't like it, but he cant do f**k all about it. You've got him bang to rights.

your_postie · Post by **your_postie** » 15 Dec 2008, 15:53

thx for the support everyone.

I must stress i'm not trying to be awkward by delivering like this, its just that this is the way that Royal Mail tell us we should be delivering... i'm doing nothing wrong.

i think its about time more people did the same... its in your own interest to do so...

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 15 Dec 2008, 16:00

your_postie wrote:thx for the support everyone.

I must stress i'm not trying to be awkward by delivering like this, its just that this is the way that Royal Mail tell us we should be delivering... i'm doing nothing wrong.

i think its about time more people did the same... its in your own interest to do so...

I posted this on my Blog on 28 September 2007 - I still think its applicable today - good on you as well

http://overpaidunderworked.blogspot.com ... perly.html

DO YOUR JOB PROPERLY

Now to non posties who seem, at the drop of a hat accuse postmen and women, of being lazy good for nothings, this may come as a shock. Royal Mail currently rely on delivery posties coming in early, running round their rounds and using their private cars, all for no extra money. I myself have been guilty of this is the past.

The reasons why Posties do the following is explained is below:

10 - 50% of Walking posties come in early - Mainly they do this as when Single Daily Delivery was brought in, Royal Mail offered what is called Job and Finish - if and when you finish your round you can finish work and go home.

25% of all walking posties use the own vehicles to get out to the round and to help them complete their round faster. All this with no extra allowances for petrol, wear and tear and the increase in insurance (you need business insurance to carry mail in the car)

50% - 75% of all posties do not follow Royal Mails guidelines for the weights of bags. Why ! because we do not want to let down the General Public who we see as our customers, so instead of having to keep going back to safe drops and pouch boxes they take out and carry overweight bags.

Yes Posties benefited from this way of working and so did our customers. However now Royal Mail see that Posties are finishing their rounds early, and whilst ignoring or implicitly helping us break Royal Mails guidelines, they now believe we do not work hard enough and are paid too much.

From 1 October the Union will be asking posties to do their rounds as per guidelines. This is neither official action or unofficial action, the Union are merely requesting that posties do their jobs properly as per Royal Mails own guidline. I for one will be doing so.

What though does it actually mean.

1. Come in at your start time, no starting early. Why should Royal Mail benefit from unpaid overtime when they spout propaganda that you are inefficient and go home early every day. Coming in early so you can finish early is the reason they are bringing in Annualised hours and Summer/Sick/Absence Lapsing.

2. Take your full meal relief entitlement. At the agreed time that Royal Mail have promulgated take a break either 40 or 20 minutes before you go out and/or 20 minutes at end of walk. The reasons are exactly the same as above, because everyone has been finishing early Royal Mail believe they can make savings here. By savings they mean making your rounds longer and getting rid of workers.

3. Stop using Private Cars. Why use them - you were finishing early under the old way after SDD so I can see why people were doing it. It had a perceived benefit to you. However as Royal Mail don't help pay for your increased wear and tear, fuel and insurance and now are saying we are under worked and overpaid. When you use your car, and finish early because of it you are reinforcing their misguided take on how hard being a postie is.

4. Weigh your pouches in line with the Matrix. Again we did this as it gave us a perceived benefit. However, we have all heard the mantra that we will provide the tools necessary to do the job correctly and how many of you do have the correct tools. If following the matrix means you have to send more bags out that mean Royal Mail have to take this into account when plotting the rounds. If you have to keep going back to your bag drops or arrange a timed drop this will help other workers in the long run. If more posties send more bags we will of course need more drivers to cope with the work.

If you do decide to follow the Union and "Do the Job Properly" and you will be unable to complete your round, remember that under the current law of the land Management cannot force you to complete your round on overtime. So make sure that you tell your immediate manager that you will be unable to complete the round and you do not wish to work over your time. But make sure you have a witness in case they try something on. Management may try the following tactics to get you to complete, however, in the end they cannot force you to work over your hours.

Royal Mail have asked you to be flexible. (They may have asked but you don't have to be)

I have not got anyone to cover it. (Sorry that's their problem not yours - they after all agreed to the cutbacks and savings in all offices)

They may offer you more overtime than you will actually work. (Again whether you accept or not is up to the individual but make sure you have witnesses to the offer)

They may tell you that you can't cut off and that you will be done for delay of mail. (On this one ask for a meeting with the Union Rep and advise him of what your manager said. If you do not have a union rep then either make as if to call the Area rep or actually call him whilst the manager is there and advise him of what has happened. Get him to speak to the manager on your behalf).

Remember overtime is voluntary even if you have signed the overtime waiver under the working time regulations, and Royal Mail cannot force you to work overtime, it is your choice.

After posting this I got some good advice from Pochahontas on Royal Mail Chat.

Can I also add to this very good advice - diarise everything. carry your union diary with you. make sure you jot down the time etc. when you do this and how you felt at the response - if a case is made and you go to IT with it it will give a picture to "hurt feelings".

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 15 Dec 2008, 16:03

your_postie wrote:thx for the support everyone.

I must stress i'm not trying to be awkward by delivering like this, its just that this is the way that Royal Mail tell us we should be delivering... i'm doing nothing wrong.

i think its about time more people did the same... its in your own interest to do so...

We have been told the same too they must think we have all the time in the world?. But like you i try my best too stick to these new rules and by the by i do and it's great the only thing is all the packet's building up every day and some fellow (worker's)

question my competence in doing my job!. But when the IB get hold of what he does he will be down the road quicker than his van driven by lewis hamilton!.

your_postie · Post by **your_postie** » 15 Dec 2008, 16:10

quality post/blog TrueBlueTerrier

I believe the only way to save our jobs is from the ground up... those on the front line do your job properly!

its as simple as that!

your_postie · Post by **your_postie** » 15 Dec 2008, 16:15

k979aaa wrote:
your_postie wrote:thx for the support everyone.

I must stress i'm not trying to be awkward by delivering like this, its just that this is the way that Royal Mail tell us we should be delivering... i'm doing nothing wrong.

i think its about time more people did the same... its in your own interest to do so...

We have been told the same too they must think we have all the time in the world?. But like you i try my best too stick to these new rules and by the by i do and it's great the only thing is all the packet's building up every day and some fellow (worker's) question my competence in doing my job!. But when the IB get hold of what he does he will be down the road quicker than his van driven by lewis hamilton!.

don't give in to peer pressure mate. you know in your own mind what your doing is correct (so long as your not taking the p!ss) which i trust you ain't.

the more people who do their jobs as they should be done the better, again i stress we are doing nothing wrong.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 15 Dec 2008, 16:31

your_postie wrote:
k979aaa wrote:
your_postie wrote:thx for the support everyone.

I must stress i'm not trying to be awkward by delivering like this, its just that this is the way that Royal Mail tell us we should be delivering... i'm doing nothing wrong.

i think its about time more people did the same... its in your own interest to do so...

We have been told the same too they must think we have all the time in the world?. But like you i try my best too stick to these new rules and by the by i do and it's great the only thing is all the packet's building up every day and some fellow (worker's) question my competence in doing my job!. But when the IB get hold of what he does he will be down the road quicker than his van driven by lewis hamilton!.
don't give in to peer pressure mate. you know in your own mind what your doing is correct (so long as your not taking the p!ss) which i trust you ain't.

the more people who do their jobs as they should be done the better, again i stress we are doing nothing wrong.

If everyone worked like this the job would be so much better!. And i do try my best every day and hour and minute and second of the day by the way!.

your_postie · Post by **your_postie** » 15 Dec 2008, 19:50

yeah i must admit, i feel so much more relaxed but its taken some time to adjust.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 15 Dec 2008, 20:34

your_postie wrote:yeah i must admit, i feel so much more relaxed but its taken some time to adjust.

Same for me and have a merry christmas.

your_postie · Post by **your_postie** » 15 Dec 2008, 20:38

and a merry christmas to you's

Pat Ostman · Post by **Pat Ostman** » 15 Dec 2008, 23:51

I refuse to come in early for no pay and get accused of bring lazy, incompetent and slow. This is from some of my fellow workers. It's actually bringing me down a bit as they discuss me behind my back.

There is a dark side about doing your job properly although I will continue to refuse to come in for nothing.

your_postie · Post by **your_postie** » 16 Dec 2008, 18:53

IPS wrote:I refuse to come in early for no pay and get accused of bring lazy, incompetent and slow. This is from some of my fellow workers. It's actually bringing me down a bit as they discuss me behind my back.

There is a dark side about doing your job properly although I will continue to refuse to come in for nothing.

Don't let them grind you down mate... the best thing to do is simply (calmly) confront them and expess the reasons why you are doing what you are doing.

After all Royal Mail does not ask you to come in early & cut corners etc; so don't.

Your doing nothing wrong.

Good on ya!

Viewfindergeneral · Post by **Viewfindergeneral** » 16 Dec 2008, 20:17

your_postie wrote:I’ve been doing my job properly for 2 months now, it’s like a different job in many ways, stress free!

I no longer cut any corners at all and I follow Royal Mails delivery procedure, security procedures and health & safety.

I either book the overtime or cut off; it’s as simple as that.

My DOM has had me in the office for ‘a little chat’, quoting ‘performance issues’, he said after his calculations I’m not up to speed on prep, I disregarded this to his face as his calculations are worth nothing. He threatened to test my delivery; I told him I was more than happy for him to do so, as I’ve got nothing to hide. Needless to say I’ve heard nothing since.

On my rural delivery:

I don’t come in early.
I prep at a good average speed (no rushing at all)
I prep 20% of D2D’s into my frame each day and deliver the 20% block even if they only have a D2D item.
Prep small parcels and pkts into the frame.
Band up, including the small parcels and pkts into the trays. (makes it easier when working from the back of the van.
10 minute vehicle check.
Load all mail in the rear of the vehicle.

Whilst on delivery:

Keep within the speed limits at all times.
Wear seatbelt every time I drive.
Always place PDA in glove compartment when I leave the vehicle if not required.
Always return the PDA back to its cradle when I return to the vehicle.
Always switch off the engine when I leave the vehicle.
Always remove the keys from the ignition when I leave the vehicle.
Always lock the vehicle when I leave the vehicle.
Hazard lights on when required.
Always work from the rear of the vehicle, (only have the one bundle of mail I’m working from in the front)
Always use paths, never cut across gardens.
Never step over small fences, hedges etc.
Never door step anything.
If on such items it suggests ‘if not in please leave with neighbour’, then I will try and do just that.
Never flick through my bundle of mail whist walking, I always do so at the door.
Don’t rush but maintain a good average speed through out.

In the eyes of Royal Mail I must be a model postman

Have I missed anything?

Bloody hell...are you me. That`s exactly what I`m doing now apart from the fact I`m on a bike!

Power to the people!!

your_postie · Post by **your_postie** » 17 Dec 2008, 16:42

good on ya mate...

more & more of us should start to do the same!

islfor · Post by **islfor** » 17 Dec 2008, 19:43

Ive been doing this for roughly 10yrs since becoming a Rep.