Jasmine wrote:Can I ask something about seniority - maybe for the people who have worked for royal mail for longer times. When you started, how long did it take to get your own walk? I'm assuming turn over of staff was less when people were happier at work, so did it take a long time even then before you had your own duty? I have found since joining royal mail, a couple of years ago, that although staff have left at my office, due to the reduction in hours they don't get replaced and therefore I haven't moved up the seniority rankings at all. I don't think I will ever get to a position of having my own duty, which although I don't mind swapping walks a lot, the thought of never having a proper rota which is done in advance is depressing to say the least. I know everyone has to do their time in the reserves team, just wondered how long and whether it is a longer or shorter time now than in previous times.
Thanks.
i started for rm in the early 80s, i had to wait over 2 years for my own walk, doing lots of others in between, and also being sent to the mlo on the times there were none for me.
seniority must prevail. i assume the people against it havnt been working for rm for very long. bide your time and you will see why this is so important
Jasmine wrote:Can I ask something about seniority - maybe for the people who have worked for royal mail for longer times. When you started, how long did it take to get your own walk? I'm assuming turn over of staff was less when people were happier at work, so did it take a long time even then before you had your own duty? I have found since joining royal mail, a couple of years ago, that although staff have left at my office, due to the reduction in hours they don't get replaced and therefore I haven't moved up the seniority rankings at all. I don't think I will ever get to a position of having my own duty, which although I don't mind swapping walks a lot, the thought of never having a proper rota which is done in advance is depressing to say the least. I know everyone has to do their time in the reserves team, just wondered how long and whether it is a longer or shorter time now than in previous times.
Thanks.
i started for rm in the early 80s, i had to wait over 2 years for my own walk, doing lots of others in between, and also being sent to the mlo on the times there were none for me.
seniority must prevail. i assume the people against it havnt been working for rm for very long. bide your time and you will see why this is so important
Wrong assumption I'm senior,I have my own walk but i can still see the flaws.
Seniority does not work in the same way it used to.
There are too many part-time walks in my D/O now and obviously they become vacant more often.
That means that a part-time member may only have 1-2 years service before they get there own walk.
Meanwhile we have F/T reserves waiting 7/8 years for a duty.
Another flaw is it tends to keep some of the senior men quiet when there are issues in the office.The "I'm alright Jack" mentality.
But i will say i see no viable alternative.
Jasmine wrote:Can I ask something about seniority - maybe for the people who have worked for royal mail for longer times. When you started, how long did it take to get your own walk? I'm assuming turn over of staff was less when people were happier at work, so did it take a long time even then before you had your own duty? I have found since joining royal mail, a couple of years ago, that although staff have left at my office, due to the reduction in hours they don't get replaced and therefore I haven't moved up the seniority rankings at all. I don't think I will ever get to a position of having my own duty, which although I don't mind swapping walks a lot, the thought of never having a proper rota which is done in advance is depressing to say the least. I know everyone has to do their time in the reserves team, just wondered how long and whether it is a longer or shorter time now than in previous times.
Thanks.
i started for rm in the early 80s, i had to wait over 2 years for my own walk, doing lots of others in between, and also being sent to the mlo on the times there were none for me.
seniority must prevail. i assume the people against it havnt been working for rm for very long. bide your time and you will see why this is so important
Wrong assumption I'm senior,I have my own walk but i can still see the flaws.
Seniority does not work in the same way it used to.
There are too many part-time walks in my D/O now and obviously they become vacant more often.
That means that a part-time member may only have 1-2 years service before they get there own walk.
Meanwhile we have F/T reserves waiting 7/8 years for a duty.
Another flaw is it tends to keep some of the senior men quiet when there are issues in the office.The "I'm alright Jack" mentality.
But i will say i see no viable alternative.
Yes I have seen this posted before but what I don't understand and have argued against is that it should be immaterial in most cases as to whether the incumbent is full or part time because the delivery time is the same. That element of work not on delivery merely moves with the full timer to what would be a part time delivery but the delivery would still be 3.5 hours - well according to protocol.
Totally agree dvb but it would seem this is too complex a solution for RM.
Too many of the reserves don't help themselves either.
They are quite happy to be reserves when it means delivering packets or dropping of bags etc.
The moaning only starts when thrown on a shift they don't like.
It took me around 6 years before I got enough seniority to pick my own walk. And there are a couple of FT staff at my office with 8-9 years service who haven't got a permanent duty.
As for seniority being out of date or wrong, you'd probably think differently if you had 30 years service and got chucked on the worst walk in the office. Seniority is all you get for working for RM for a long period, it's not a lot really.
It is strange that when they reward loyalty at the workers level its questioned and even made illegal in some circumstances, but when it can be measured in £millions and is aimed at bankers who have only been in position for one year the government hardly bat an eye lid and leave it too individuals to complain.
What Democracy
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TrueBlueTerrier wrote:It is strange that when they reward loyalty at the workers level its questioned and even made illegal in some circumstances, but when it can be measured in £millions and is aimed at bankers who have only been in position for one year the government hardly bat an eye lid and leave it too individuals to complain.
What Democracy
Seniority's OK TBT but if you can reward loyalty in cash I'll take it!
TBH I think there should be a financial reward for loyalty. One firm one of my brothers worked for actually did pay what was called a "Loyalty Bonus" which was repeated anually by increments. That was in the 70s of course when a worker was valued - eventually they paid a single once only payment to buy them out.
Yes thank you I can see your points and that it varies greatly between offices. Another question then - how long till anyone on 25 hour or less contract got their own duty and were you still on 25 hours? In our office all of us on 25 hour contract are in reserves team, so the walks that require prepping by someone else vary every day according to whose round we are covering. I wonder how well it would work if one of the walks needed permanently prepping by somebody else or will they make our hours up then to do it ourself? ( I hope!!!)
Jasmine wrote:Yes thank you I can see your points and that it varies greatly between offices. Another question then - how long till anyone on 25 hour or less contract got their own duty and were you still on 25 hours? In our office all of us on 25 hour contract are in reserves team, so the walks that require prepping by someone else vary every day according to whose round we are covering. I wonder how well it would work if one of the walks needed permanently prepping by somebody else or will they make our hours up then to do it ourself? ( I hope!!!)
Thanks.
Well presently many of our sorters also prep a delivery for a 25 hour contract duty because in theory we are oversubscribed for IPS, however it doesn't work quite like that every day - yesterday they were still on IPS at 0925 but according to RM there is going to be a 40% saving is it? which means there will in most offices be excess hours.
mailman71 wrote:seniority is the only way forward otherwise the office manager picks all his favourites to get positions they should'nt get.
Or alternatively some lazy old tosser lands an easier walk purely on the basis that he's worked there longer.
The poor old tossers earned it in my book
Rows of houses all bearing down on me........I can feel their blue hands touching me.......All these things in all positions.........All these things will one day take control..........
