Royal Mail bosses in bullying claim in Huddersfield

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-we ... -23067588/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

POSTIES in Huddersfield have vowed to make official complaints of bullying against Royal Mail bosses.

The 11 staff at the Northumberland Street delivery office claim they were pressured into doing extra work.

As part of a national drive to improve the organisation’s efficiency, delivery workers were asked on Tuesday to cover part of another route in addition to their own.

Jason White, representative for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), said there had not been enough consultation beforehand and the group took a vote to refuse the instruction.

He said they were then told they would be sent home without pay and were effectively threatened with the sack for refusing a reasonable instruction.

He said: “They didn’t give people any notice, they just basically said: ‘It’s happening, like it or lump it.’

“The workers hadn’t had any training or preparation.

“We took a vote and decided to refuse the order, but the management said if they went through with it they would have to go home and would no longer be employed by Royal Mail.

“There’s no problem with the idea in principle, but the way it was handled was unreasonable.

“Eleven people are putting in bullying and harassment complaints on the grounds they were intimidated into accepting change by being told if they didn’t comply they would be sent home.”

But Bob Hulme, area delivery representative for the CWU, said the new arrangements had been agreed with the union on a national level.

He said: “Unfortunately Huddersfield aren’t doing it at the moment, but there is a national agreement. As long as it doesn’t impact on their own deliveries, they are expected to do it.”

A Royal Mail spokesman added: “In autumn 2007 Royal Mail agreed a wide-ranging deal with the CWU covering modern, flexible working arrangements and the deal was subsequently endorsed in a national ballot.

“The reorganisation of workload at delivery offices is part of the flexibility agreement and realigns staff resource to ensure customers receive a good service.”

[axeman]

Wouldn't want him as area rep does he read the ltb's i have my doubts ..does he not know the criteria for this to hapen i think area reps should be up to speed on the rules governing ''absorbtion'' by now i don't do it but there again i dont rush around either so nothing much they can do is there

good on the lads of this office and bring this idiot of a manager down to size

[DGP1]

If I have enough time I'll take out the lapsing but strangely enough I never seem to have the time

[dvbuk55]

If I have enough time I'll take out the lapsing but strangely enough I never seem to have the time

Now just why would that be? Breakfast at Morrisons? Pressing the sheets? Self-motivation? Tut Tut

[dvbuk55]

Wouldn't want him as area rep does he read the ltb's i have my doubts ..does he not know the criteria for this to hapen i think area reps should be up to speed on the rules governing ''absorbtion'' by now i don't do it but there again i dont rush around either so nothing much they can do is there

good on the lads of this office and bring this idiot of a manager down to size

He may well read the ltbs but does he understand them - the Huddersfield lads should take heart from the fact that only the indoor element is enforceable and agreed - the delivery HAS GOT TO BE WITHIN THE 3.5 delivery span which is also in the agreement, if the indoor element is enforced that could mean that part of the ordinary delivery has to be left in let alone the lapsed duty.

[POSTMAN]

So why are others on here doing out door work if it's only indoor work supposedly being done?
Loads are doing other bits of walks.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Report from Huddersfield:

They have withdrawn lapsing "for the moment" and will engage the workforce and listen to suggestions and complaints before they re-introduce it.

The Area rep was over ruled or informed of the correct interpretation of the agreement, though in fairness their is some doubt that the paper quoted him correctly or in full.

B&H complaints are still going forward though apparently.

That old communist outlook of solidarity with the workers may be outdated to some but it certainly worked here, and the SWP members were at the forefront of the action as well.

[johnnyp]

Well done to all at Huddersfield DO Unity Is Strength.

[mitzi]

we are all employed for a set number of hours per day, so long as the request is not unreasonable, it is okay for royal mail or any employer to ask its employees to fulfill those hours. there is a national agreement for town delivery walks to be planned on the basis that they are not longer than 3.5hours in duration, most of our members are quite happy to go beyond this duration when it suits them for overtime purposes. so long as the terms of contract are not being broken by bullying indidviduals into compulsory overtime then the staff at huddersfield should have done as requested and left the area rep to argue about the way in which the situation had been dealt with thereby ensuring it doesnt happen again. by having a vote they are all setting themselves up for a charge of unlawful industrial action and the area rep in particular is obligated on behalf of the cwu to repudiate this or face possible legal action.
whilst many might not like the way the members were treated this is what the last conservative government left us with, food for thought when the next general election comes around.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

we are all employed for a set number of hours per day, so long as the request is not unreasonable, it is okay for royal mail or any employer to ask its employees to fulfill those hours. there is a national agreement for town delivery walks to be planned on the basis that they are not longer than 3.5hours in duration, most of our members are quite happy to go beyond this duration when it suits them for overtime purposes. so long as the terms of contract are not being broken by bullying indidviduals into compulsory overtime then the staff at huddersfield should have done as requested and left the area rep to argue about the way in which the situation had been dealt with thereby ensuring it doesnt happen again. by having a vote they are all setting themselves up for a charge of unlawful industrial action and the area rep in particular is obligated on behalf of the cwu to repudiate this or face possible legal action.
whilst many might not like the way the members were treated this is what the last conservative government left us with, food for thought when the next general election comes around.

I am from Huddersfield and it shows that either you are commenting on a situation with only a little knowledge of the local concerns, or more likely you have misunderstood the situation.

1. The agreement does not allow lapsing to be forced in as a regular matter on certain days - in this case Monday and Tuesdays, without the agreement of staff and when both staff and RM are happy with the situation. Yes they can lapse 1 day because of absences such as sickness or compassionate reasons, but no more with out agreement.

2. Our own rep is currently exhausting the IR framework and is in disagreement with the proposal. He was on leave when they tried to do implement the lapsing.

3. Working all hours is Phase 4 which has not yet been agreed nationally, but over which I and most have no argument with.

4. The Area Boss has decreed that staff would lapse but had not taken into account any rounds that were going to go over the 3.5hr delivery span when the walks were combined.

5. It was decided on the day with no warning given. Staff were threatened with being told they no longer worked for Royal Mail if they refused to to the lapsing, no matter the reason.

6. We attempted to contact the Area Rep at the time to sort out the situation and were unable to. The lads then voted but with the threat decided not to refuse the lapsing. When the Area rep commented on the situation he backed up the managers assurances, however when the Divisional Rep became involved he advised that the information given by the Area rep was wrong and against national policy.

7. All rounds that were lapsed did claim OT.

8. Bullying and harassment procedures are currently being taken by the affected staff - all of them.

I hope that clarifies the situation for you. However your comments do highlight two grey areas. Reasonable request - who decides what is reasonable the manager or the staff member. Bullying individuals - who decides what is bullying and what happens when a group/section of employees all believe that they have a case for B&H.

[dvbuk55]

For all the arguments about sticking to national agreements - this situation highlights how EA and B&H ride roughshed over the staff and completely negate any consultation process and if the staff try to stick to agreements they are threatened with dismissal - all the facts should be forwarded to HQ and some action should be taken.

[IWW Fellow Worker]

That old communist outlook of solidarity with the workers may be outdated to some but it certainly worked here, and the SWP members were at the forefront of the action as well.

While I don't agree with much the Central Commitee of the SWP do, their rank and file are a good bunch. Bloody good anti-fascists too.

[ldsposti]

well done huddersfield we are going to be told next week in our office about phase3 and lapsing duties from what we hear our area rep is backing the management where can i get a copy of phase3 aggreement and am i right in saying the cannot make you work past your time.

[johnsouthwales]

We attempted to contact the Area Rep at the time to sort out the situation and were unable to. hmmm.

The lads then voted but with the threat decided not to refuse the lapsing.

When the Area rep commented on the situation he backed up the managers assurances,

however when the Divisional Rep became involved he advised that the information given by the Area rep was wrong and against national policy. - shakes head -
unbelievable