Everyone Should Read This:Phase 3

[POSTMAN]

Please find attached the guidance to RM managers with regards to dealing with absorption of work.

Bob Gibson is currently awaiting legal advice before giving a formal response to the business.

Please can you ensure this information is given to all Delivery Reps.

(Sorry Its A PDF but if anyone can copy and paste it feel free to do so.)

Absorption Advice.zip

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Please find attached and below the latest advice from CWU HQ with regards to absorption. This is now a massive issue in DOs and the attached should be used in all units.





Dear All

Please find attached some documents that we have pulled together to
hopefully assist representatives when having to deal with Absorption.
The Delivery Offices Phase 3 doc is the document that was agreed
nationally to deal with phase 3 and this should be used. If managers
choose to ignore this then we should still register disagreement over
the misapplication of Pay and Mod and in particular the annex covering
Phase 3. Some of the documents are actual Royal Mail docs used to brief
our members about flexibility etc which contradict what they are saying
now. There is also a letter that members can give to managers.

Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary - Outdoor

Absorption Advice.zip

[DGP1]

I'm no lawyer but they can't stop your pay without an investigation and they are really setting themselves up for a fall at any employment tribunal, if you work you will be paid and if they have a problem with your work then they can suspend you (on full pay) until they can fully investigate the allegation.
RM can't have it both ways.

[UNION IVOR]

I'm no lawyer but they can't stop your pay without an investigation and they are really setting themselves up for a fall at any employment tribunal, if you work you will be paid and if they have a problem with your work then they can suspend you (on full pay) until they can fully investigate the allegation.
RM can't have it both ways.

RM can't have it both ways. yes but they always think they can.

[dvbuk55]

I'm no lawyer but they can't stop your pay without an investigation and they are really setting themselves up for a fall at any employment tribunal, if you work you will be paid and if they have a problem with your work then they can suspend you (on full pay) until they can fully investigate the allegation.
RM can't have it both ways.

They're banking on the scare tactic and the financial hardship - and in truth they don't give a toss about tribunals - how many are defended with union assistance these days?

[DGP1]

I'm no lawyer but they can't stop your pay without an investigation and they are really setting themselves up for a fall at any employment tribunal, if you work you will be paid and if they have a problem with your work then they can suspend you (on full pay) until they can fully investigate the allegation.
RM can't have it both ways.

They're banking on the scare tactic and the financial hardship - and in truth they don't give a toss about tribunals - how many are defended with union assistance these days?

I don't care about the union defending me, I'll defend myself for that one (Illegal withholding of wages).

[shaunman]

Well if the whole office refuses then everyone can just sit in the canteen as no one is allowed to take mail out. Also it says that the manager will speak to you on a 1 2 1 basis, obviously you are going to take a rep in with you, also why would anyone sign the letter that they are giving you? Obviously in the offices that there is trouble, no one is going to do what is requested. I think royal mail will not be able to stop pay and i'm sure this idea won't take off.

Also just thought if everybody refuses to do it on the first day then there will be so much work on the next day that it won't be possable to lapse any work!

[Cut Off King]

1-First of all, don't panic
2 - MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET SOMEONE TO WITNESS THE WHOLE CONVERSATION, ITS YOUR LEGAL RIGHT
3 - DON'T REFUSE a reasonable request - However I you feel that your LM request is unreasonable register this both in writing and oral dissagreement . BUT Agree with the manager that you are happy to absorb extra work IF YOU HAVE THE TIME TO DO SO
4 - If you genuinly can't absorb extra work and he / she insist that you can then you can accept the extra work under protest and threat of sanction ( make sure that this protest with threat of sanction is in writing by keeping a diary of these events , ask your LM to counter sign it; if he/she refuses to sign, note this too ! )
5 - take out the extra workload on delivery if forced to under threat of sanction/ duress by your LM
6 -While on delivery, If it is clear that you genuinly cant complete your duty and extra workload CALL THE OFFICE about 20mins. before your turn around time and seek a managers advice on what you should now do.
7 - If your LM suggests that you are swinging the lead then suggest that he comes out with you to test the duty (if your following RM delivery rules to the letter, then I would suggest that you wouldn't even get around your normal duty in the alloted duty time - REMEMBER always lock your cycle or van every time you leave it , dont read your mail as you walk, look at the next address then walk there then read each address before you post them through. p719 everything that cant be delivered as the rules dictate. knock and wait 2 mins before writing a p719 etc. etc. etc. - ask on these forums for all the rules )
8 - Register a complaint if YOU FEEL that you are being unreasonably harrassed by the management team - (REMENBER HARASSMENT IS ANY ACTION THAT YOU FIND OFFENCIVE E.G. if You feel that someone is accusing you of lieing and you are being truthfull you MAY feel that your being harassed and bullied by these actions ) / call employee support ( HELP )Report your harassment/bullying and record the time / date you did this.
9 - If RM's action is causing you genuine stress, seek help from your GP, take time off to recover if needed

REMEMBER , always keep a written / oral recording of all events and if your forced to sign any letter by threat of sanction then add the words "signed under duress" and "without prejustice" at the top

PS if anyone can add / ammend this post to the good , then please do.

[piranha]

That can't be legal can it? Giving someone 10mins to change their position under blatant threats?
I did'nt think absorbing work had been agreed outside of the summer lapsing either. Obviously the union
busting legal team of RM are hard at work...

[k979aaa]

Listen they got us doing summer savings last year and soon after summer we were told we must absorb even after summer as PHASE 3 utilising all available hours!. And just if you can do it they will come back for more. WORK ALL YOUR HOURS and tell them you can do no more!.

[shadow]

It says we should be treated consistently and fairly. they're having a laugh. RM don't know the meaning.

[Pat Ostman]

Cut off King, I salute you!

Just a point, without Prejudice means that you can not use the evidence in court.

Without Prejudice
A legal phrase that allows parties to discuss and negotiate a settlement to a legal claim, without admitting liability. Any documents headed "without prejudice" cannot be used in evidence in any subsequent court case without the permission of both parties.

[UNION IVOR]

Cut off King, I salute you!

Just a point, without Prejudice means that you can not use the evidence in court.

Without Prejudice
A legal phrase that allows parties to discuss and negotiate a settlement to a legal claim, without admitting liability. Any documents headed "without prejudice" cannot be used in evidence in any subsequent court case without the permission of both parties.

The Without Prejudice rule provides that communications made in a genuine attempt to settle an actual or impending dispute may be privileged and therefore not admissible as evidence in court. In other words, if you say something in a genuine effort to settle a dispute ("I accept that I owe you some money, but let's discuss how much"), that statement cannot later be used against you to prejudice your case if the case does not settle and goes to court.

[Lounge Lizard]

The whole tone of the document suggests that Royal Mail expects refusals to absorb to be many and widespread.
Incidentally, what would be the inplication of an employee refusing to sign a copy of a letter as having read or received it ?

[Stormproof]

Incidentally, what would be the inplication of an employee refusing to sign a copy of a letter as having read or received it ?

Good question LL, I was thinking much the same.

[Sci_Dog]

Another step in Royal Mail's deadly regime, eh? Look what happened Hitler and Saddam Hussein when they forced their regimes onto people. Yes, they might have had the upper hand for a short while but they did come down from an almighty height! Who the hell do Royal Mail think they are? I'm pretty sure nobody has any problems giving Royal Mail a days work for a days pay. This document is bordering on slavery. How much do senior managers think a human body can take in a day? Most town walks are already at least 3.5 hours and I'm pretty sure there is some at 4 hours and above. There is only so much physical walking a postie can take day in, day out. It is not just the walking though. There are so many other factors the heavy bags, the weather etc. I have no problems if I finish 40 mins early and sorting to make my days work up. No way am I prepared to go out and walk another 40 mins in the blistering summer sun after maybe doing a 4 hour walk. No way! I'm no slave! I would absolutely love to see my DOM and some senior managers do our job not for one day but for a whole week. I'm pretty damn sure the majority of them quite simply couldn't. To be honest I think it is very unfair for a manager to ask someone to do do something which they probably aren't capable of. They really have no idea what we do day in, day out. With absolutely no thanks as this document clearly points out. Posties coming in early, using their car and not taking their breaks? I'm not suggesting for one minute they caused this situation but they sure as hell are not helping it. I just hope the union will have the support they so desperately need to show Royal Mail that we are indeed not slaves but we have absolutely no issues in doing a days work for a days pay.