BUY DOWN SCAM!!!!

[POSTMAN]

Awaiting more news,but got wind today that some guys took a buy down to 30hrs,were then put on 3 monthly contracts,then contracts not renewed,result they're out of a job.

Will give more detail when i get it.

BEWARE!!!

Post edited with more info.


Royal Mail are disgustingly scamming postal workers who go for buy downs by trying to sneak in 3 month rolling contracts when our guys sign up for it.

Sharp eyed posties in Sussex have refused to sign up for buy downs as 1st they were offered the 3 month rolling contracts,which were then upped to 6 months and then 1 year.

How low can they get

Nothing amazes us here on royalmailchat anymore,but this really takes the biscuit.

We are urging all those who are looking for buy downs to be very careful what they sign,check and double check the small print.

If you are unsure,see your rep or higher.

Not checking properly could cost you your job,especially in the current Royal Mail climate.

[ashtoninho]

2 lads at our place took the buy down and went on a job share 3days on each then swap to different days the next week,both seemed happy with it untill the 2grand didnt turn up ever,asked to go back full time but told there old jobs were now gone and if they didnt like it they could try the job centre,you couldnt make this s**t up,god only knows how RM get away with it

[tommythreesheds]

I know it sounds sad, but i wanted to go down to 32 hours, a 4 day week instead of a 5 day doing 35 hours. I have a medical condition that is not major, but it would help me manage it easier doing the 4 days. Got told that i had to drop by 10hrs! Gutted because if i do get ill again i will get into trouble, but i just cannot afford that much of a drop. I thought i would be not only helping myself, but RM too.

[dvbuk55]

The buy down is not a catch all cure for any ills, it actually has to fit into an overall work plan and that is decided BEFORE buy down takes place. You, the union rep and the manager sit down and decide what role will be fulfilled on buy down - which is fair, if you don't agree with the revised hour work plan you don't sign. It is definitely not for everyone, but quite a number of people like the option of working a 3 day week, 3 on, 3 off which of course can easily be converted to 6 on and 6 off. Personally I work 5 hours a day for 5 days and rarely work overtime, but some choose to work.

As for losing their job after going on buy down I don't see how because you sign a new contract with your hours of work which is a part time permanent contract. Payment was actually made immediately, although because it was on the bottom of the pay slip and I don't usually check them because it's the same every week, it had been paid 10 weeks before I noticed.

[Fluke]

A couple of muppets in my place took a buy down despite no agreement from the Rep. They have been bragging that they got about £11,000 is that a correct figure for giving up 10 hrs?

[Big Daz]

A couple of muppets in my place took a buy down despite no agreement from the Rep. They have been bragging that they got about £11,000 is that a correct figure for giving up 10 hrs?

Depends on length of service and possibly other factors, I got just under 4,900 on 16 years service to go to 30 hours from 40 hours.

[dvbuk55]

A couple of muppets in my place took a buy down despite no agreement from the Rep. They have been bragging that they got about £11,000 is that a correct figure for giving up 10 hrs?

I don't know what other people got but the figure you quote is very similar to the one I received, but that was for 15 hours down to 25. Before I even discussed it with the manager I approached the rep to find out what the union position was and he said that it was acceptable to the union and we then went to see the manager on what the workplan would be - as I was within weeks of 60 anyway and may have even retired then - it was a welcome relief to enable me to continue working part time without leaving. But it truly is horses for courses and had I been younger I doubt I would have taken that option.

[stodgy88]

40 to 30 .22 years service £8000

[shadow]

I take that peoples weekly pensions will go down as well when they come to claim them.

[pinstripe]

I've mentioned this on another post.
In my office we were all given a preference exercise EVR and Buy Downs. "It is just an exercise, nothing will come of it, we just need to know, blah blah blah"
The closing date was 30/06/07, less than 2 week later we are informed that RM plan to remove 400 hours. When our rep goes to disagreement over this, what will he be told...."Oh there are x number wanting EVR, there are y number wanting to go part time" it doesn't take a genius to work it out.
Remember even if you get £10,000 to go from 40 down to 30 hours, you'll lose that in wages in just over 2 years, your holiday and sick pay will be reduced, although the amount of work you are expected to do will increase (well it is RM we are talking about).
Just think about it, if it does suit you, then go for it, but if, as most likely it suits RM, don't.

[POSTMAN]

1st post edited and this thread now in the News forum and on the main site.

Royal Mail are disgustingly scamming postal workers who go for buy downs by trying to sneak in 3 month rolling contracts when our guys sign up for it.

Sharp eyed posties in Sussex have refused to sign up for buy downs as 1st they were offered the 3 month rolling contracts,which were then upped to 6 months and then 1 year.

How low can they get

Nothing amazes us here on royalmailchat anymore,but this really takes the biscuit.

We are urging all those who are looking for buy downs to be very careful what they sign,check and double check the small print.

If you are unsure,see your rep or higher.

Not checking properly could cost you your job,especially in the current Royal Mail climate.

[NWpostie]

I don't say I was ever surprised, I have been in this Job 21 years I have seen it all, the Managment will ALWAYS try to screw you.

[NWpostie]

bump, need to bring this to the fore in case RM is tempted to try this again.

I much prefer my PERMANENT FULL TIME contract, I know where I stand with it.