Postal Engineers after thought or what

ebbe · Post by **ebbe** » 17 Dec 2008, 13:00

I like may engineers that work for Royal mail feel we are a necessary evil and it really gets up managements back that we are there, why are we such an after thought when any decisions are made and that's by management and union

Post by **dvbuk55** » 17 Dec 2008, 13:06

ebbe wrote:I like may engineers that work for Royal mail feel we are a necessary evil and it really gets up managements back that we are there, why are we such an after thought when any decisions are made and thats by maagement and union

I don't know, but it looks like the n's missing from your keyboard - maybe you should get an engineer to take a look at it.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 17 Dec 2008, 14:39

Maybe you could ask Tman, afterall he's the font of all knowledge.

Tman · Post by **Tman** » 17 Dec 2008, 17:36

Oh dear, the call of "I'm ignoring you Tman" didn't last too long then?

and I never even noticed, until you said....

It's like this Ebbe, we were sucked into this situation by the ludicrous "merger" of the CWU dinosaurs with the old NCU/POEU way back when.
The NCU hierachy were warned that it was a bad move at the time, but "big" was seen as "powerful" back then, so the so-called merger went ahead.
As for "management" hating you, that's just thier innate fear of something they can't control or understand. Remember the old POTTC Milton Keynes term for Ops managers? "Posties without bikes" which always sums it up rather well.

But don't worry, they'll be back on those old bikes again soon, by the look of it.

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 17 Dec 2008, 18:15

I wouldn't throw your bike clips away just yet. If TNT follow their Dutch model then the buzzword for tech functions will be "outsourcing" or put another way ,cheapest competitive tender. Still thats market forces for you. Hope you're not overpaid and underworked. How long does TUPE last for if you have to sign a new contract?

Tman · Post by **Tman** » 17 Dec 2008, 18:49

I won't worry too much. TNT are so reliant on automation "back home" (as are most continental postal services; good old CWU/RM management again..) that us "spanner danglers" (to quote Old Man Preston) will be OK.
It's the RM workers in competition with school mums with a couple of hours to spare mid-morning who may be feeling a little uneasy though..

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 17 Dec 2008, 20:04

Good luck

Jack

Post by **fmrPOSTIE** » 19 Dec 2008, 18:50

if TNT do get their grubby mits on a slice of RM, and i really hope they dont, no doubt they'll be re-visiting Vehicle Services too...

Tman · Post by **Tman** » 19 Dec 2008, 18:56

I doubt it. It's the delivery network and staff they need, not a fleet of leased vans.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 19 Dec 2008, 18:57

fmrPOSTIE wrote:if TNT do get their grubby mits on a slice of RM, and i really hope they dont, no doubt they'll be re-visiting Vehicle Services too...

All the engineering jobs will be out-sourced if TNT get in, it costs more and is usually of a lower standard (cut costs etc.) but that's efficiency for you (see Rail Track-Balfour Beatty rail crash).

Post by **fmrPOSTIE** » 19 Dec 2008, 19:39

Tman wrote:I doubt it. It's the delivery network and staff they need, not a fleet of leased vans.

Doesn't Royal Mail do that now?

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 19 Dec 2008, 19:51

fmrPOSTIE wrote:
Tman wrote:I doubt it. It's the delivery network and staff they need, not a fleet of leased vans.
Doesn't Royal Mail do that now?

I think it's actually Contract Hire because it's more tax efficient

which means that instead of putting the vehicles on the balance sheet they get put on short term liabilities, it just means that it costs more

it's OK if you are a SME and find it difficult to raise tens of thousands to buy a fleet of vehicles but for a company the size of RM they should just be buying them outright and not funding the banking system (failed).

Tman · Post by **Tman** » 19 Dec 2008, 21:10

fmrPOSTIE wrote:
Tman wrote:I doubt it. It's the delivery network and staff they need, not a fleet of leased vans.
Doesn't Royal Mail do that now?

Doesn't RM do what now? Lease vans or deliver mail?

Most (probably all) similar vehicle fleets are leased, as it saves on capital asset depreciation and servicing costs. They (we) are also the only company who go the "final mile", and always will be, and that's why TNT want to buy in.