Undercover at Royal Mail: parcel basketball, strike breakers … and yo

[terrace]

Guardian reporter goes undercover
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/2 ... tal-strike" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
so much for checking criminal record!

[norbert]

You may be able to get the job stopped because of the cold and no hot water ? - all it takes is a phone call / email to either HSE or the Council Environmental Health

The Factory Act - minimum temperatures for set periods etc ??

[mucker]

very damming indeed.
Getting the job was simple. I Googled Royal Mail and Manpower – one of the employment agencies in charge of the recruiting – and the email address of one of their staff popped up.

He responded to my message within five minutes and told me to report for an interview the next day. I had to bring a passport, proof of address, my national insurance number and two photos for an identity card.

My interviewer told me that, really, all I needed to get the job was the ability to speak English and to be able-bodied. He told me that once I was security-checked – they needed to establish I was who I said I was and was not a criminal – they would be back in touch. The wage was £5.80 an hour, the minimum wage. There was the chance of overtime and weekend working, but at the same rate of pay.

Nobody rang my referees and, 24 hours later, they told me to report to the Western Approach Distribution Park in Severn Beach, close to Bristol. I chose to work the 6am-2pm rather than the 2pm-10pm shift.

[britwrit]

Isn't this the same place where they sent the Daily Mail reporter a few days ago? Would have been interesting if he included that bit...

"Now and then, I would see another freelancer taking notes on the sly. One afternoon, I came across a writer I knew on assignment from the Independent. Gleefully, when the managers weren't looking, we high-fived each other.

New money for old rope! we cried.

I did this same article at Christmas 2007 and 2003!, he added.

Unfortunately, I learned later that we had been filmed by an undercover team from the BBC. The resulting expose - Work-shy Hacks Rip Off the Royal Mail.... And Their Employers! - will be screened on Panorama next weekend."

[DGP1]

Unfortunately, I learned later that we had been filmed by an undercover team from the BBC. The resulting expose - Work-shy Hacks Rip Off the Royal Mail.... And Their Employers! - will be screened on Panorama next weekend."

On making me laugh until I nearly wet myself

[bandit650]

Unfortunately, I learned later that we had been filmed by an undercover team from the BBC. The resulting expose - Work-shy Hacks Rip Off the Royal Mail.... And Their Employers! - will be screened on Panorama next weekend."

On making me laugh until I nearly wet myself

Tener Ladie anybody

[DGP1]

Unfortunately, I learned later that we had been filmed by an undercover team from the BBC. The resulting expose - Work-shy Hacks Rip Off the Royal Mail.... And Their Employers! - will be screened on Panorama next weekend."

On making me laugh until I nearly wet myself

Tener Ladie anybody

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Unfortunately, I learned later that we had been filmed by an undercover team from the BBC. The resulting expose - Work-shy Hacks Rip Off the Royal Mail.... And Their Employers! - will be screened on Panorama next weekend."

On making me laugh until I nearly wet myself

Tener Ladie anybody

DGPs regular charges more than that

[DGP1]

Unfortunately, I learned later that we had been filmed by an undercover team from the BBC. The resulting expose - Work-shy Hacks Rip Off the Royal Mail.... And Their Employers! - will be screened on Panorama next weekend."

On making me laugh until I nearly wet myself

Tener Ladie anybody

DGPs regular charges more than that

I still give you a discount

[bandit650]

Can u work out a discount for all of us