One Hour Contract

[DemonPostie]

Righto. I start my wonderful sounding One Hour Contract on monday.

Now, without going into the ethics of these rather shite sounding contracts, I have a few questions...

I am going to try to get as many hours as I can. The manager who interviewed me told me I could likely pick up as many as I wanted. But will I accrue holidays etc at the rate of one hours worth per week (something like a few seconds..) or against the number of hours I actually work?

I used to be quite an outspoken Union shop steward (like a union rep?) years ago. If I decide to get involved again, is the manager likely to just give me my single hour of work as "punishment" for causing trouble?

If I start at 9, what time can I expect to finish? Will they have me coming in at stupid o'clock in the morning to do sorting?

What are the ACTUAL disadvantages to having a 1hour contract, if I can still pick up 40+ hours per week? The pay will be the same, right?

Shoes: Until I get the apparantly rubbish ones they give you, a pair of DM's alright?

Ummm... I'm sure I'll come up with other questions!

[DemonPostie]

Thank you for that. No offence to all the people on this forum, but it's almost been putting me off the job. I've wanted to be a post man since I was a wee lad, but for some reason never thought to apply. I was well excited when I got the job, but then after readin all the pessimistic, bitchy, grumpy posts on here, it let a bit of the air out of my balloon. But you seem at least a tad optimistic, which is nice! I know I will enjoy the job, as I've had some really shite jobs in my time (carrot sorting, cat-food canning, hospital food merchant), and am ready to enjoy myself! It seems to me if everyone on here REALLY hates their jobs (their management, their company, their lives) so much, they'd quit. So there must be SOME good things about it! It would just be nice to see a bit more positivity, to give us new guys something to look forward to! You've all been at the job a whole long while, and must either be masochists, idiots, or secretly love it!

Anyhow, looking forward to putting on my high-vis jacket and joining your (grumbling) ranks!

And at the end of the day, chicks dig guys in uniform.

-e

[stevend5]

I am on 22.5hr contract but since joining in August 2007 i worked 40hrs +each week. However, since taking on Union Rep role, my hours have been reduced to 22.5hrs...because of low traffic.

I dont think so when they are still having people work thier days off, ect.

[DemonPostie]

Right, so I might keep my head down until I've blagged myself a 40hr contract. :)

Thanks for that!

-e

[DemonPostie]

Well, maybe they'll bake me some cookies.

I think my missus be happier with that, anyway!

-e

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The job itself is brilliant best job I have ever had. Its just the politics of Management v Postie that drag it down. If they let us come in do our job and leave on time I would have no complaints but when you cant do OT and have to finish on time they seem to ignore the fact that you have worked OT before. The also, except for the better ones, question why you cant complete and pressurise you into it. The compliance with H&S is frankly appalling the worst I have seen,the only pay lip service to it and turn a blind eye to breaches when it means the job gets done quicker.

Still its a job I won't quit from like my last one. It is the best job I have ever done.

[Darren Bent]

When you see job vacancies in your office noticeboard.

Apply for all jobs especially with full time reserve or 34 hours contract and don't expect a 34/full time contract with your own walk as it is not easy to get them as you might have to apply for one which nobody want or wait for several years.

[yokel]

I started on a 1 hour contract and have never worked less than 32 hours, as you point out, when you are not working for any reason you only get paid for 1 hour, this is brilliant for RM because if you are not in favour for ANY reason (a bit bolshie or slow etc) they simply leave you at home. I am afraid you have to be more willing to be useful if you want to keep the work coming. This is likely to be that way for some time because 30 or 40 hour contracts are now hard to come by and why would they bother giving you one when they have you in the position you are in. Longer contracts are usually awarded in seniority order so you moght have a long wait. Finally, I don't think a postie could be a union rep until they have served for a number of years because a lot of the rules on sickness, aggrieviances etc are complcated. Hope this doesn't put you off it's a great job but a shitty contract you have.

[Pat Ostman]

after readin all the pessimistic, bitchy, grumpy posts on here, it let a bit of the air out of my balloon.

And they gave you a ONE hour contract just so they do not have to pay you sick leave, holiday pay and bonuses? Ask yourself again, how come there is plenty of work available (OT) but they just throw you scraps in the form of this worthless contract? Quite simple really, its a Royal Mail known employment loophole. They know you want the money so you'll take what's given without the protection in law you deserve for the hours you put in.

You'll be bitching soon enough and rightly so.


Get used to being rung up any time of the week and 'expected' to drop everything for the worthless lino's that will do anything to get out of doing their job. Yes, there ARE good points to the job but these types of contracts should be outlawed.

I've been there, I am also usually quite but RM... GRRRR! :)

Right, so I might keep my head down until I've blagged myself a 40hr contract. :)

Will not happen.

[Phantom]

Disgusting, 1 hour contract - tell em to shove it or work your 1 hour and get another job - FFS

[banner18]

If everyone who took one hour contracts, only worked their one hour then RM would be forced to give out contracts for longer hours. Its a disgrace. Its the same old story, the powers that be use our own individual personal aims to get us to act in a way that mantains and brings in worser conditions for us individualy. If only people stood together more and could somehow look beyond their own personal circumstances and act in a way that was a benifit for all, we would live in a better world where things like one hour contracts would never be tolerated.

Having said that it is a great job to do.

[stokes11eg]

These people have to eat and work is the only real way of doing it! HQ should stamp out these contracts and get proper P/T contracts in NOW!

:cfo Just bieng nosey here ,but are the one hour contract payslips exactly the same as the 'normal' ones, or is there any intimation on them that another company is involved???

[krussel]

Thank you for that. No offence to all the people on this forum, but it's almost been putting me off the job. I've wanted to be a post man since I was a wee lad, but for some reason never thought to apply. I was well excited when I got the job, but then after readin all the pessimistic, bitchy, grumpy posts on here, it let a bit of the air out of my balloon. But you seem at least a tad optimistic, which is nice! I know I will enjoy the job, as I've had some really shite jobs in my time (carrot sorting, cat-food canning, hospital food merchant), and am ready to enjoy myself! It seems to me if everyone on here REALLY hates their jobs (their management, their company, their lives) so much, they'd quit. So there must be SOME good things about it! It would just be nice to see a bit more positivity, to give us new guys something to look forward to! You've all been at the job a whole long while, and must either be masochists, idiots, or secretly love it!

Anyhow, looking forward to putting on my high-vis jacket and joining your (grumbling) ranks!

And at the end of the day, chicks dig guys in uniform.

-e

In truth we must like the job (even me ) because most of us still get up and do it year afer year even though we moan like hell When you start you will love the sense of freedom of being out of the office and on your own to do the round, a good summer and a tan helps as well Its as time moves on and some aspects of the job that you loved get taken away then you start to moan with the rest of us

As for "chicks" well we dont get out so early nowadays and most have gone to work leaving the retired folk. Mind you over a year you will still see a few things on the doorstep to make you smile

[DemonPostie]

If everyone who took one hour contracts, only worked their one hour then RM would be forced to give out contracts for longer hours. Its a disgrace. Its the same old story, the powers that be use our own individual personal aims to get us to act in a way that mantains and brings in worser conditions for us individualy. If only people stood together more and could somehow look beyond their own personal circumstances and act in a way that was a benifit for all, we would live in a better world where things like one hour contracts would never be tolerated.

Having said that it is a great job to do.

I thought that's what the Union was for? Solidarity and all. Is the CWU doing anything about these contracts? Of course, I am going to look after myself, but if the union turned around and said Right, Everyone with a One Hour Contract should only do ONE hour, then hell yeah, I'll stand by my brothers (and sisters). Problem is I know if I refuse to do the hours, someone else will...

-e

[stokes11eg]

If everyone who took one hour contracts, only worked their one hour then RM would be forced to give out contracts for longer hours. Its a disgrace. Its the same old story, the powers that be use our own individual personal aims to get us to act in a way that mantains and brings in worser conditions for us individualy. If only people stood together more and could somehow look beyond their own personal circumstances and act in a way that was a benifit for all, we would live in a better world where things like one hour contracts would never be tolerated.

Having said that it is a great job to do.

I thought that's what the Union was for? Solidarity and all. Is the CWU doing anything about these contracts? Of course, I am going to look after myself, but if the union turned around and said Right, Everyone with a One Hour Contract should only do ONE hour, then hell yeah, I'll stand by my brothers (and sisters). Problem is I know if I refuse to do the hours, someone else will... I imagine that most people who are taken on with hourly-ten hourly.and temp. part time contracts will not bother joining the Union----and what will they do for funds then---can those at H'Q; not see that
their inaction will eventually sound their own death knell? time to get the boxing gloves out.


-e