Im a postie....GET ME OUT OF HERE!

[viking]

have been watching IM A CELEBRITY ...GET ME OUT OF HERE. Has anyone else noticed that the programme organisers have actually taken into account the age and health issues for George Hamilton and Kim Woodburn. They havent been expected to compete with the younger ones on certain trials. Its a pity Royal Mail bosses dont consider their workers in the same way.and show a bit of consideration when expecting us to run round like 20 year olds who have not yet acquired the expected bad knees, backs, hips,feet,and shoulder syndrome.Mmmmm.wonder if ITV have any vacancies.

[krussel]

They simply don’t care as they expect a 50 yr old to work at the same pace as a 20 yr old. Which is why you start to struggle once you hit your 40’s.

[Lincox]

At least doing a round on your bike when you get older, takes some of the wear and tear, but I cant imagine what it is going to be like in the middle of summer, walking for five hours if they bring in CDV on a park and loop system. At least on a bike you can get a bit of breeze. I hope but very much doubt that the CWU will take these and other problems that all ages of posties incurr, when they negotiate the new delivery methods. On bikes, did anyone see the bike that the TNT delivery lady had in the picture in the Courier. While we have to struggle by with fold down stands (where they are fitted), that within a day or two need replacing because they cannot take the weight of the bike, and the bike falls over in the slightest of winds, TNT come up with a simple device. They have bogies fitted to the front of the bike, coming down from the bag cage that makes the bike much steadier, and the wheels can be raised when cycling longer distances. They have had this idea in Ireland for some years, yet RM prefer to spend millions on CDVs rather than something simple like this. They could have had all the latest bicycles modified to this system, with a much better pannier system as shown in the photograph attached to the back. Millions saved, a greener delivery system rather than having thousands of vans on the road. Whoever put these people into management. Why does someone not ask us the people who do the job at the sharp end, what is the best delivery method. I know that everyone will not like cycling, but I would have thought for most rounds, this is still the easiest way to get around, and less wearing on the body.

[cyclemech1]

Totally agree, Lincox.

I always use a bike (and repair them as well) and all the heavy bags stay on the bike whilst I do my own 'park and loop' system.

All thats on my back is a bag of packets that doesn't weigh much.

I'm in my mid 50's and don't suffer from bad back, knees etc. that a lot of my workmates seem to have who use their cars and rush around like headless chickens!

[lekker]

The Royal Mail attendance procedure clearly states that the age of a person should be taken into account. At all stage meetings with people of advancing years I always point this fact out to managers who seem to be blissfully unaware of this fact and then blithely ignore it anyway. However it is important to have that minuted because if they are looking to dismiss at any time the fact that they have ignored their own procedure will be crucial in a tribunal.

Lately i have had people issued stage warnings after contracting swine flu - it seems that posties are supposed to be immune from epidemics of this sort - another example of our caring employer ?