Royal Mail management accused of bullying and harassing

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Royal Mail management accused of bullying and harassing postal workers

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The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has accused Royal Mail management of bullying and harassing postal workers as the war of words ahead of next week's strikes heats up.

In a letter to Royal Mail chief Mark Higson, CWU leader Dave Ward claimed "unagreed HR procedures" were being used in an attempt to bully employees into agreeing to changes to working practices. The CWU said these referred to the firm ignoring pre-determined steps that any employee must go through when being disciplined.

Norman Candy, policy adviser to the deputy general secretary at CWU, argued: "At Royal Mail, the [pre-agreed] procedures are being ignored, so if someone is accused of not working properly, instead of going through the right and agreed procedures, Royal Mail just writes to the individual to tell them they are taking them off pay. No right to appeal and no representation."

Candy added that this was a tactic by management to coerce staff into accepting any changes that management wanted to enforce. "There is a method behind this. It is to pressurise people into accepting changes that are brought in. It is a form of bullying. People must have a right to put their case forward before they are punished," he said.

Royal Mail denied the accusation. In its reply to the CWU letter, Higson asked the union to come forward with any examples of bullying or deviation from pre-agreed terms around disciplining staff.

Higson said: "I reject any suggestion that there is widespread bullying and harassment of our people, and we have asked you many times to let us have any examples or evidence that you may have on this important subject so we can thoroughly investigate them through our established process."

Meanwhile, the BBC has obtained what appears to be a Royal Mail document showing the company is set for a battle with union members. The 'Strategic Overview' outlines plans to fight strikes and achieve reform "with or without union engagement"

[mandelsons_toenail]

ill put my name forward

ill spill the beans on these bullying bastards

[Fred B]

Surely any allegation of bullying would be confidential whether they were reported to Royal Mail or the CWU. What Higson wants is names of those making the allegations, which he should not be given. I certainly know five postmen who have been intimidated into starting work before the official time rather than book extended delivery and a couple of people who start at the proper time and regularly finish late, but who never book extended delivery because they're new and have been 'leaned on' by managers. I know three people who have reported B&H to the RM Help Line including one who has also reported it to the Branch. B&H by managers has been a regular feature of 'Have Your Say' surveys for the last couple of years. Higson should get off his backside and meet the staff face to face.

[stokes11eg]

It would also be helpful if the press pointed out that a lot of people who are now being intimidated seem to have worked for many years with an unblemished record, and good reports--so how come according to the Bosses they are no good?

[Stormproof]

I've already had a case against a LM which I won, nothing happened to him, did'nt even get the apology which was meant to be forthcoming. The little p***k has started again, one more word from him now and I WILL take it further, I've had enough of it

[brothermagrew]

How to spot a bullying employer:

You may be dazzled by corporate visions, mission statements, or by impressive badges on glossy paper, and whilst in some cases these may be deserved, some quality and people awards can be used by unscrupulous employers to hide what's really going on. The best guide to what it's really like to work for an employer is to obtain the following information covering at least the last 12 months. A good employer will be happy to divulge this information. (Apart from stress breakdowns, some employers, especially the larger ones, may have a small number of these for genuine or unrelated reasons):

* rate of staff turnover
* amount of sick leave
* number of stress breakdowns
* number of deaths in service
* number of ill-health retirements
* number of early retirements
* number of uses of disciplinary procedures
* number of grievances initiated
* number of suspensions
* number of dismissals
* number of uses of private security firms to snoop on employees
* number of times the employer is involved in industrial tribunals or legal action against employees

All employers should be required by law to divulge these figures (both absolute numbers and relative numbers, i.e. as a pecrcentage of employees) on an annual basis. Shareholders (of private companies), taxpayers (of public sector bodies) and donors (to charities) can use these figures to determine how wisely their money is being spent or invested.

Stormproof genuine apologies are rarely forthcoming, as in your instance LM probably still smarting from losing the case against him. He should have been removed from your location to another area.

[Debbie]

I Think the press should do some secret filming in some of our offices, then they will soon have the proof of bullying.

[flaminmoses]

greivances are being swept under the carpet.
they dont want to know about them.

make note on incidents in case you have to go to a tribunal.