Is breaking off wilful delay?

[first_class_stamp]

Can anyone tell me if breaking off wilful delay?

I felt very aggrieved today because when I approached my manager to explain to him that I felt I would not have time to complete my delivery, I was told that I would have time. Three other people who broke off did not experience the same uncooperative response that I did.

When I challenged this assumption I was repeatedly told that I would have time to complete my delivery. When I asked, “what do you want me to do if i do not complete my delivery within the allocated time,” my manager did not reply. I then informed him that if I did not complete my delivery in time I would, “bring it back.” Again there was no reply. So at 12:10, my finishing time, I bought back 20 minutes worth of mail.

I was then invited into my managers office for a fact finding interview to find out why I dint complete my delivery in time and to find out if I was guilty of wilful delay of mail. I feel aggrieved by being invited to a fact finding interview because nobody else in our delivery office was invited to attend a fact finding interview even though I estimate over 50% of the office worked overtime, therefore they didn't complete their delivery in time, and three other people broke off. During the fact finding interview I was informed that at 7:45 I approached my manager to tell him I didn't think I would have time complete my delivery and at 8 o'clock he approached me to inform me that if I left the office at 8:40 I would have time to finish. My finish time is 12:10 so that would leave 3 ½ hours, take off my break of 30 minuets would leave 3 hours. In my opinion it would just be impossible to complete town 11 within 3 hours especially taking into account that I had 1 ½ sacks of packets. My manager then proceeded to inform me that at 8:25 i had tied up my mail and it was on the frame ready to be put in bags and at 8:30 my bags were packed and I was ready to start my round. ????????? If all my mail was on my frame bundled up and ready to be bagged up, how the hell could I have bagged it up in 5 minuets. It would take at least 10 to 20 minutes to put it all in bags I then would have had to load the bags into my car and collect my specials. He then pointed out that I went for a cigarette. I'm not the only person who smokes in our office and nobody else who smokes was invited to attend a fact finding interview. I do not take my 30 minuet break in one stretch. During the course of a day I will take sections of my break in 5 minute durations, weather to have a cigarette, have a sandwich or have a drink. He then pointed out I asked him for some P739 cards, suggesting I wasted time. There were no P739 cards left how could that possibly be my fault? He then pointed out that I spent time looking for my mail. I wheeled my mail onto the deck in a york then went to move my car, when I came back somebody had moved the york and had not informed me where they had moved it, so I spent some time looking for it, how was that my fault? I would like to point out that during the period of 8:25 and 8:50 my manager and I spent a considerable amount of time discussing what I should do if I did not have time to complete my delivery, to no end.

I work very hard at work and I always try my very best to complete a given delivery, often working overtime. I often come in early to give myself a head start because I am annual leave cover and I cannot prep. a round as quickly as a regular postman. I got into work at the same time as another postman (5:40 I do not start till 5:50) who works on duty 2, a duty which is very similar to walk 11 (the delivery I was on today) the other postman has a 33 hour contract so does not go on the IPS, I have a 35 hour contract so I have to go on the IPS for ½ an hour. I left the office at the same time as the other postman so if i was on the IPS for 30 minutes (he stayed on his frame) and left at the same time a the other postman, who is a regular on walk 2 and should be able to prep quicker than me, how the hell can my attitude / work rate / ability be bought into question via a fact finding interview in order to determine weather I was guilty of wilful delay of mail. the other postman booked half an hour overtime so he did not have time to complete his delivery, yet he was not invited to attend a fact finding interview.

To stress a point, the manager obviously logged times of the various stages of my prep. In his opinion 8:25 bundled up 8:30 bagged up and 8:50 I left the office. I would like to know if he also logged the times of the various stages of prep. of the other three people who broke off. If he has not then this is clearly a case of victimisation.

I feel what happened today is very relevant to the recent industrial action. Put simply we have too much work and not enough time. We are bullied into completing our delivery. Although what happened today is an extreme example this is the kind of treatment CWU members experience on a weekly basis. I feel many duties have an unfair/unreasonable workload. What we need is a framework designed to deal with duties which have an unfair workload. Is there a procedure in place where we can get the duties independently timed, if so how could one initiate such a procedure?

[Johnny_Rad]

I think you will find a lot of people working for Royal Mail share your pain.........

[coxie]

its a bully tactic to scare you into not cutting off again, you can play them at that game and put in a griveance on the grounds that you were the only 1 taken into the office when other people also cut off so you feel you are being singled out and harrassed.

[first_class_stamp]

I strongly feel that we have to put a stop to this because I have a contract for 35 hours a week. If I can not break off then I am FORCED into doing overtime which I believe must be illegal because the employer is breaking the terms of the contract I signed. I agreed to work 35 hours a week not 35 hours and 20 minuets. Is forced overtime under the threat of discipline which could result in dismissal illegal?

Overtime has always been optional. Is overtime now compulsory? Does anyone know any employment laws which can defend my position?

[k979aaa]

I strongly feel that we have to put a stop to this because I have a contract for 35 hours a week. If I can not break off then I am FORCED into doing overtime which I believe must be illegal because the employer is breaking the terms of the contract I signed. I agreed to work 35 hours a week not 35 hours and 20 minuets. Is forced overtime under the threat of discipline which could result in dismissal illegal?

Overtime has always been optional. Is overtime now compulsory? Does anyone know any employment laws which can defend my position?

1 do not go in to an office with a manager for a fact finding interview or any other matter that can be held against you!. 2 have witness's to the fact you told the manager and his responce or lack their of!. 3 join the CWU if you are not already in it!.

[Stumpy]

If anyone is guilty of delaying the mail then it is your manager, in my opinion, for failing in his duty to manage the situation and get that mail delivered once that you had informed him that your load was too heavy to deliver in your alloted time.

If he thinks that such a workload as the one you informed him about was achievable i n the time you had then where is his evidence?

[Geezer]

Why are you using your car, The CWU has asked everyone to stop this so why are you still doing it. Will you now ask your Rep to support you in your fight against this bully boy manager, yet not support them when asked.
I'm sorry, but even though i feel for you, it's people like you that come in early, use your car ect that f^%k everyone's job up. Yet now you expect support when it all goes pear-shaped for you.

[hantsman]

I strongly feel that we have to put a stop to this because I have a contract for 35 hours a week. If I can not break off then I am FORCED into doing overtime which I believe must be illegal because the employer is breaking the terms of the contract I signed. I agreed to work 35 hours a week not 35 hours and 20 minuets. Is forced overtime under the threat of discipline which could result in dismissal illegal?

Overtime has always been optional. Is overtime now compulsory? Does anyone know any employment laws which can defend my position?

Your post is correct, An ET would considered this is a breach of contract as would ACAS, both of whom you can go through! Although RM may take a dim view of this, ie vindictive.

[first_class_stamp]

k979aaa I did refuse to answer his questions based on the fact I felt intimidated and bullied :)

Stumpy you have raised a very good point. Is there a procedure I can go through so that disciplinary action can be taken against my manager for wilful delay?

Geezer In respect to using my car on delivery, I can get my job done quicker if I use my car so I can spend more time with my family. If in future I feel confident I can work till my finish time regardless of weather I deliver all the mail or not without consequence I will not use my car. Also we need more pouch drops on many of the rounds, we waste loads of time cycling to and from pouch drops.

Hantsman Thanks for the advise m8

[k979aaa]

k979aaa I did refuse to answer his questions based on the fact I felt intimidated and bullied :)

Stumpy you have raised a very good point. Is there a procedure I can go through so that disciplinary action can be taken against my manager for wilful delay?

Geezer In respect to using my car on delivery, I can get my job done quicker if I use my car so I can spend more time with my family. If in future I feel confident I can work till my finish time regardless of weather I deliver all the mail or not without consequence I will not use my car.

Hantsman Thanks for the advise m8

Who else is their to back up your story Which is why i said WITNESS'S and a union rep for representation you may feel you can handle these managers but i thought that too once!.

[first_class_stamp]

K979aaa Our union rep was working right next me and witnessed the whole thing. He is good friends with the manager though. The manager fixed his xbox360 yesterday, it had the red ring of death. I have been in contact with the area rep. I'll request to have the area rep. represent me on Monday!

[Geezer]

k979aaa I did refuse to answer his questions based on the fact I felt intimidated and bullied :)

Stumpy you have raised a very good point. Is there a procedure I can go through so that disciplinary action can be taken against my manager for wilful delay?

Geezer In respect to using my car on delivery, I can get my job done quicker if I use my car so I can spend more time with my family. If in future I feel confident I can work till my finish time regardless of weather I deliver all the mail or not without consequence I will not use my car. Also we need more pouch drops on many of the rounds in Droitwich, we waste loads of time cycling to and from pouch drops.

Hantsman Thanks for the advise m8

First Class

i mean no disrespect to you and agree with others that bullying managers should be kicked out of RM. But we have to take some of the responsibility for some of what is going on.
We cannot complain about RM not following the rules when we break them ourselves, Be Honest in your office i bet people come in early, rush around, don't follow H&S, carry overweight bags,use unsafe drops, use their cars ect ect ect.
If everyone just excepted they are there for x amount of hours and did their job properly ( and i don't mean take the piss and go slow but at a reasonable pace ) then all their stress would just fly out the window and land on the managers lap for him to sort out.The only reason RM can take out rounds in offices is because we do break the rules and finish early, so the only people we can honestly blame for that is ourselves.I also think your in the right about breaking off, but i just find it a bit hypocritical for us to moan about managers not following the rules when we don't.

[first_class_stamp]

Geezer I totally agree with you in principle. But if I get done for wilful delay on Monday your argument holds no weight cos the more time it takes me to complete my delivery the less time I can spend with my family. I don't usually break off and the one time I do I get threatened with wilful delay which is a dismissal offence. I am finding my job too hard m8, if i can make my life a little easier I will. To be honest m8 I can't take much more of this stress. Think I'll just quit and go on the rock and roll (dole)

[POSTMAN]

I think the fact you used your car,and i dont like to say it SHOULD work for you in this instance.


Back to the car thing,you have done RM a favour by using your car,you would of cut off more if you did not,this is something to point out to the scumbag,plus you say you started early as well.


Moving on ,when this is sorted i strongly suggest you stop coming in early and stop using your car,pouch boxes are NOT your problem,fag breaks are grey area,at times RM can be petty with it,but at the same time our colleagues can take the piss with them,so be careful.

You need your rep and others in your office on your side.

I read so much stuff on the site that grates me and i would love to work in some of the offices mentioned on RMC,i would have a field day with management.

[first_class_stamp]

Postman : so can they do me for wilful delay then? What do I do if they do. Can they suspend me? Can they take me off pay? What can happen?