Postal workers are overpaid, workshy luddites, says report

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Postal workers are overpaid, workshy luddites, says government report

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog ... ost-office



Listening to Pat McFadden read out Peter Mandelson's statement on the future of the Royal Mail in the Commons, I got the impression it was going down far better with the Tory MPs than with Labour ones. Edward Leigh, the Conservative rightwinger who tried to privatise the Post Office when he was a minister 15 years ago, said: "I welcome New Labour to the Thatcherite wing of the Conservative party." Ouch.

The Communication Workers' Union has just issued a statement condemning the report and it says that it will be making a further comment once it has studied the findings in detail. By then, I expect, there will be even more fury. The report itself is runs to 167 pages – you can read it here – and, having skimmed it very quickly, the impression it gives is that postal workers are overpaid, workshy luddites.

On pay, it says they get more than the going rate:

Research conducted for the current price control found "substantial evidence to suggest that, on average across the country, Royal Mail currently pays above market average rates". This study found that base pay for operational grades is between 6% and 25% above median base pay in comparable roles across all sectors, and above the top quartile base pay in some sectors. The most recent economic data continues to support this view. Full-time pay is 20% higher for Royal Mail employees than other postal workers.

On working practices, it says workers often get away early:

It has been common practice that postal workers go home when they have finished their round. In the summer or on certain days of the week when volumes are low, this can be up to three hours before their paid hours have ended. If, however, additional time is needed to complete a round, overtime can be claimed or the round not completed.

And, on modernisation, it says – astonishingly – that postal workers are wasting up to three hours a day doing a task done by machine in continental Europe.

Letters are prepared for delivery in two, separate procedures: walk-sorting, and walk-sequencing. In the first, Royal Mail uses machines in its mail centres to sort 70% of letters into groups which correspond with the addresses covered by each postal worker's "walk". This is a substantial improvement from 50% just two years ago, but is still markedly lower than the 95% managed by leading European operators. In the second procedure, walk-sequencing, letters are placed in the correct sequence for delivery. At Royal Mail, this is carried out entirely by hand. It takes each postal worker between two-three hours each morning before starting his or her delivery round. The leading European companies use walk-sequencing machines to perform the same job automatically for around 85% of their mail.

The report does say that the Royal Mail intends to introduce walk-sequencing for 75% of letters by 2012-13. The fact that the Royal Mail is so far behind best practice is, presumably, a management failure, not an employee one, although the report also criticises the CWU for being resistant to new technology.

[Tman]

The report does say that the Royal Mail intends to introduce walk-sequencing for 75% of letters by 2012-13. The fact that the Royal Mail is so far behind best practice is, presumably, a management failure, not an employee one, although the report also criticises the CWU for being resistant to new technology.

What? That can't be right, surely?

Can't be the good old CWU they're talking about? I'm shocked they could insinuate such a thing....

[BELIAL]

Yes its a shame we can't all get Groucho club membership

[Thorby Bislam]

Tman, stop viewing the CWU through RM management prescribed glasses. The union has never stood in the way of change. I, myself, have been in this job long enough to have witnessed colossal amounts of change to our working practices.
What the union has done, and continues to do is what they are there to do, make sure (to the best of their sometimes limited ability) is that we, the workforce get rewarded for accepting such changes. It is this that the report criticises as "being resistant to change"

[k979aaa]

Tman, stop viewing the CWU through RM management prescribed glasses. The union has never stood in the way of change. I, myself, have been in this job long enough to have witnessed colossal amounts of change to our working practices.
What the union has done, and continues to do is what they are there to do, make sure (to the best of their sometimes limited ability) is that we, the workforce get rewarded for accepting such changes. It is this that the report criticises as "being resistant to change"

Maybe he has reached the lofty height's of management or aspire's to their is no unity in one's selfish self as one manager said to me!. Just about some's "Tman" too a tee!.

[Tman]

Same old boring replies, and still so wide of the mark.

"Never stood in the way of change....." Are you blind?

Seen the dead hand of the CWU on many proposals and plans over the years; everything from plans for a new staff canteen at a certain DO rejected, to proposals for a higher paid "operator" grade in MCs country-wide turned down ("it's unfair on all the other posties who don't work in MCs innit").

A good union to maintain the staus quo, but progressive? Not in my experience.

Still, maybe the CWU will focus on RM issues now, and leave the plight of Bolivian workers, etc to others....

[brothermagrew]

Tman, stop viewing the CWU through RM management prescribed glasses. The union has never stood in the way of change. I, myself, have been in this job long enough to have witnessed colossal amounts of change to our working practices.
What the union has done, and continues to do is what they are there to do, make sure (to the best of their sometimes limited ability) is that we, the workforce get rewarded for accepting such changes. It is this that the report criticises as "being resistant to change"

Maybe he has reached the lofty height's of management or aspire's to their is no unity in one's selfish self as one manager said to me!. Just about some's "Tman" too a tee!.

The Tman will be hanging his RM Magnum boots up very shortly, I wish him well in his forthcoming retirement and look forward to him becoming the Victor Meldrew and the voice of concience of the Royalmailchat Forum. Although on past postings I will probably still disagree with most of what he has to say. It after all is a free country for him to rant and rave.

[dvbuk55]

Tman, stop viewing the CWU through RM management prescribed glasses. The union has never stood in the way of change. I, myself, have been in this job long enough to have witnessed colossal amounts of change to our working practices.
What the union has done, and continues to do is what they are there to do, make sure (to the best of their sometimes limited ability) is that we, the workforce get rewarded for accepting such changes. It is this that the report criticises as "being resistant to change"

Maybe he has reached the lofty height's of management or aspire's to their is no unity in one's selfish self as one manager said to me!. Just about some's "Tman" too a tee!.

The Tman will be hanging his RM Magnum boots up very shortly, I wish him well in his forthcoming retirement and look forward to him becoming the Victor Meldrew and the voice of concience of the Royalmailchat Forum. Although on past postings I will probably still disagree with most of what he has to say. It after all is a free country for him to rant and rave.

I don't think it's tman retiring soon I think it's nightonic - no tman can't wait to get his hands on TNTs newer equipment - whoever TNT is

[rockytony67]

"Never stood in the way of change" "A good union"

Never let it be said that I'm selective when taking quotes from other people

[Night Tonic]

The report doesn't say we're workshy luddites at all but its right in saying that the CWU has frequently stalled or stood in the way of change that is inevitable. Of all the images the CWU has, that one is somewhere near the top. The CWU's role is an important one but most will recognise that in many areas it operates in the dark ages and like most of us, has grown used to the cottonwool protection of the state.

[BELIAL]

The report doesn't say we're workshy luddites at all but its right in saying that the CWU has frequently stalled or stood in the way of change that is inevitable. Of all the images the CWU has, that one is somewhere near the top. The CWU's role is an important one but most will recognise that in many areas it operates in the dark ages and like most of us, has grown used to the cottonwool protection of the state.

I was going to say the above comments were a bit strong and that you were merely depressed and suffering from terminal lethargy.
After that one however I hope your dreams come true ,that your pension vanishes up a hedge funds rectum and you spend your dotage performing profitable tasks and rooting in the sludge for your daily sustenance ,ie. no change . Bring on dog eat dog,grandad

[banner18]

What is all the arguing about? Whilst I have worked for RM deliveries I have seen change virtually every year. The last round of changes have seen every hour we are paid getting used. The only other things I could do now to save RM money would be to come in early and run around my duty, as some are already having to do. The sorting side of the operation may well be innefficient, but could that have something to do with past Governments creaming RM profits for decades instead of reinvesting some of it? It is this lack of investment, and not the postal workers, that is one of the fundamental reasons for our current dire position.
Firstly we were told that RM was in trouble and we needed to introduce SDD to solve the problem and save money. Did the CWU stand in the way? No. A few years passed by and RM are in trouble again so we are told that we need to modernise by using all paid hours and introducing new machinery. Did the RM get there way? Yes, after a few strikes maybe, but they got exactly what they wanted. Now after all this we are told we need to part privatise to secure the service. The machines are still not here, and people say the CWU stands in the way of progress.
Wake up and smell the coffee!

[fmrPOSTIE]

What is all the arguing about? Whilst I have worked for RM deliveries I have seen change virtually every year. The last round of changes have seen every hour we are paid getting used. The only other things I could do now to save RM money would be to come in early and run around my duty, as some are already having to do. The sorting side of the operation may well be innefficient, but could that have something to do with past Governments creaming RM profits for decades instead of reinvesting some of it? It is this lack of investment, and not the postal workers, that is one of the fundamental reasons for our current dire position.
Firstly we were told that RM was in trouble and we needed to introduce SDD to solve the problem and save money. Did the CWU stand in the way? No. A few years passed by and RM are in trouble again so we are told that we need to modernise by using all paid hours and introducing new machinery. Did the RM get there way? Yes, after a few strikes maybe, but they got exactly what they wanted. Now after all this we are told we need to part privatise to secure the service. The machines are still not here, and people say the CWU stands in the way of progress.
Wake up and smell the coffee!

The argument now by some, is that Royal Mail's had 10 years to introduce this "new machinary" and fact is PO management have been incompetent and incredibly slow to take up all the money available to invest in mechanisation. Hooper even pointed out that the CWU has instructed posties not to use the new machinary (what the hell is that about?). Your right that the delivery part is not the main issue - sorting and processing is STILL incredibly labour intensive, just look at hand-stamping...even posties have to sort their own walks, this should have gone years if not decades ago!

I cant see why Royal Mail cannot just take all the money availbale to it from Govt - and just blitz the entire network, install new machines, amalgamate MCs and reduce the labour burden as much as poss, that does not mean massive job cuts - mail still has to be delivered & collected and of course, this new machinary will require operators to manage it.

I want to see Royal Mail do this by itself, there is no need for TNT to come in, we can do this with public money.

[brothermagrew]

Tman, stop viewing the CWU through RM management prescribed glasses. The union has never stood in the way of change. I, myself, have been in this job long enough to have witnessed colossal amounts of change to our working practices.
What the union has done, and continues to do is what they are there to do, make sure (to the best of their sometimes limited ability) is that we, the workforce get rewarded for accepting such changes. It is this that the report criticises as "being resistant to change"

Maybe he has reached the lofty height's of management or aspire's to their is no unity in one's selfish self as one manager said to me!. Just about some's "Tman" too a tee!.

The Tman will be hanging his RM Magnum boots up very shortly, I wish him well in his forthcoming retirement and look forward to him becoming the Victor Meldrew and the voice of concience of the Royalmailchat Forum. Although on past postings I will probably still disagree with most of what he has to say. It after all is a free country for him to rant and rave.

I don't think it's tman retiring soon I think it's nightonic - no tman can't wait to get his hands on TNTs newer equipment - whoever TNT is

Then my apologies to the Tman

[Night Tonic]

I cant see why Royal Mail cannot just take all the money availbale to it from Govt - and just blitz the entire network, install new machines, amalgamate MCs and reduce the labour burden as much as poss, that does not mean massive job cuts - mail still has to be delivered & collected and of course, this new machinary will require operators to manage it. I want to see Royal Mail do this by itself, there is no need for TNT to come in, we can do this with public money.

Bang on.