WHAT WOULD YOU REPLACE SELECTION BY SENIORTY WITH

[baldrick]

I don't mind particularly, but 'dead wood' is rather derogatory, while newcomer, newie, newbie etc
are just descriptive terms of a newer employee, without any derogatory implications.
After all we were all 'newbies' once. Will you be 'dead wood' in a few years time?

OK I'll use "oldie" or "coffin dodger" then!

Well I intend to be a 'coffin dodger' for at least another 25 years,
to get my (reduced) money's worth out of the RM pension.

[andy2007]

Why not use the term Senior. After all. As we use a seniority system, it seems like the logical choice. It's also one that's used on a certain other site, to describe members who've been on there for a while. And no one (to my knowledge) has taken offence.

Besides. It's not so much the terms we use. But the way we use them, that matters. For example: If someone said "Hello old man, how're you doing?" That's not likley to cause offence. But if they said "Look at that old man over there", it could potentially cause offence.

[harmony]

So terms like "newcomers", "newbies" and "newies" are acceptable on this forum. Fine. So I don't expect to be challenged if I refer to 20 year plus senior men/women as "dead wood" then.

Suppose you have tried that around your office then??

[Pompey Boy]

This is really like talking to a brick wall! Anyway, if you guys feel the need to have a special name for new starters, which I haven't come across at any other employer, do you also have special names for people who are not of your race, nationality,who are disabled, are underweight/overweight, wear glasses etc?

[andy2007]

This is really like talking to a brick wall! Anyway, if you guys feel the need to have a special name for new starters, which I haven't come across at any other employer, do you also have special names for people who are not of your race, nationality,who are disabled, are underweight/overweight, wear glasses etc?

Why?
As far as I'm aware, the only time we've used "special names". Has been when we've been discussing our places on the seniority list. I don't know what it's like where you are. But the only time length of service comes into it where I am, is when a vacancy is advertised, or we have a repick/resign. How else would you expect us to discuss this topic, without distinguishing between those at the bottom of the list, and those at the top?

[andy2007]

I've been looking back through this, and the "really really p****d off" thread. To try to find out why you were so sensitive about terms like newbie, and I found this:
Re: really really pissed off
by Pompey Boy » 18 Jul 2009, 23:36

TrueBlueTerrier,

OK I guess due to the nature of our job it would be difficult to replace length of service with anything else when it comes to repicks, although with certain duties like keys and tabs there is an interview as well, but then this can and has led to management favourites getting the duty. In an ideal world the drivers who do business collections should have some assessment for their customer/people skills. I know this wont happen, but sending the wrong people to deal with customers has lost business to DHL etc.

I guess my main beef about seniority is all the f****** s*** that goes with it - senior men, senior man's duty, their table in the canteen, how you should treat and respect them etc. Crazy. Worst of this seems to be on nights. Perhaps I work at a bad mail center.

BP

So I suppose I can understand why you're so sensitive about it now. But why are you tarring us all with the same brush?
We're trying to have a discussion about the system RM use to allocate our Duties. We're not trying to put down people with less seniority. Although it looks like you've had the misfortune to end up working with some people who seem to think that seniority makes them superior in some way. Whereas, the only advantage to more seniority, is that you have a higher priority, when it comes to getting the Duties you want, when they become available.

[Pompey Boy]

Thanks Andy2007. I suppose I am a bit sensitive after 10+ years of hearing and seeing the same old stuff. I have only ever worked at Portsmouth Mail Centre (for the Royal Mail) and so can't really judge what other Mail Centres or Delivery Offices are like. Even people with 20 years service are called "newies" by the 30 year service bridgade!

The latest rumour is that Portsmouth Mail Centre will close in 2 years time. Perhaps when that happens things might change.

[kwf166]

I would leave it as is, even though I have only been a postie for 15 months and it is a real pain to be on different duties every week, but respect to the guys who been there for years, I know some of them been at my office for over 20 years,so surely all the years they have serve, they are entitle to things like seniorty, I know I would feel really annoyed say after 5 years, only to learn they have done away with it I reckon you would also lose a lot of senior staff if this happen, and no doubt pleasing the rm management, we would be playing into their evil hands


PS! I have my own duty for a while, and although it only temp, I am loving it, it give me a chance to get to know my round and my customers and what it like to have a duty of your own

[Lounge Lizard]

Simple. Go for the walks that nobody else wants. That's how I got a 40 hour contract within six months of starting with Royal Mail not so long ago.

[DGP1]

Simple. Go for the walks that nobody else wants. That's how I got a 40 hour contract within six months of starting with Royal Mail not so long ago.

There have been no duties put up in the past 4 years in my office, all we've had is duties taken out or made PT 20 hours so none of us can get a duty.

[Lounge Lizard]

Simple. Go for the walks that nobody else wants. That's how I got a 40 hour contract within six months of starting with Royal Mail not so long ago.

There have been no duties put up in the past 4 years in my office, all we've had is duties taken out or made PT 20 hours so none of us can get a duty.

I sympathise with you then, but I've not much patience with those part part timers that keep saying they want to be full time but don't want that walk because it's too long, don't want that walk because the estate's as rough as a bear's arse, don't want ... etc.

[k979aaa]

But we have all been their and done that some are too soft these days it is about time they had their arse smacked and learned some hard lessons nothing comes easy you have to work for it and in time it will come too you with and through your efforts!.

[Pat Ostman]

i have over 30 years service, but now find myself back as a reserve, spare or whatever you want to call it.some people in my office seem to have been "Appointed". they start of as a casual ,but after a few months get put on a walk which is vacant and just keep on it. this vacancy is never advertised, and when you ask why not, you just get blank stares.

same here

[DGP1]

i have over 30 years service, but now find myself back as a reserve, spare or whatever you want to call it.some people in my office seem to have been "Appointed". they start of as a casual ,but after a few months get put on a walk which is vacant and just keep on it. this vacancy is never advertised, and when you ask why not, you just get blank stares.

same here

same here

[Stormproof]

i have over 30 years service, but now find myself back as a reserve, spare or whatever you want to call it.some people in my office seem to have been "Appointed". they start of as a casual ,but after a few months get put on a walk which is vacant and just keep on it. this vacancy is never advertised, and when you ask why not, you just get blank stares.

same here

same here

same