Worst snow I have ever seen.

[krussel]

worked at my local office last 2 days and everything been good. still dont want to chance riding motorbike 24 miles in these conditions but am pretty sure manager is going to try and make me tomorrow. am i still within my rights to say no??? not prepared to kill myself for this job

Yes of course you can say no, you have a real reason as you cannot ride a motor bike on frozen roads. If he's that desperate ask for him to book you a cab in and a cab home

[norbert]

Hit on the Internet - this lot in their car in Paignton skidded on black ice and decided to bail out as you do

http://uk.video.yahoo.com/watch/6741269/17522929" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Paignton Ice Skating for Cars - set to Bolero - check the comments out
http://uk.video.yahoo.com/watch/6741223" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Car Pinball Snow & Ice Chicago
http://uk.video.yahoo.com/watch/6681017/17353081" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[citypostie]

That is one of the craziest things i've ever seen they were lucky not to get crushed by the car - maybe someone at the bottom of the road wasn't so lucky becuase it was moving at a fair pace when they jumped out!

[rhino49]

The last three days were exhausting and my DM boots finally refused to dry out in time for work this morning, so Scarpa mountain boots on and off to work full of trepidation about another long and tiring day. Hey presto, the boss says everyone stream their mail and take enough to see you up to your duty finish time, don't take any risks on dodgy areas and thank you all for doing such a great job in the difficult conditions. So I went out knowing what time I would finish, with a load that was easy to walk with and for a change had an exhilarating experience rather than a soul destroying one. No sign of the snow going from round here and it's still deep in places - the customers have been fantastic and one lady even walked across the road through the snow in her slippers to give me a couple of gingerbread men she had just baked - others have put garden chairs out for me to have a sit down if the struggle through the snow is proving tiring. Pity that with no toilet facilities I can't accept all the hot drinks I've been offered. I know I'm going to have to deal with the streamed mail at some point - but for today I have really enjoyed this job and feel as though the effort to get the mail out was worthwhile.

[wacko74]

Our DOM got somebody to go out in a van and bring them into work this morning cos they couldnt manage the 10 minute walk to the office from their house.... then after getting chauffered in to work tried telling us we could do our whole walks today! Once again, you couldnt make it up.

[NWpostie]

That is one of the craziest things i've ever seen they were lucky not to get crushed by the car - maybe someone at the bottom of the road wasn't so lucky becuase it was moving at a fair pace when they jumped out!

where about was that in Paignton I wonder, google map should show if there is anything at the bottom.

Would have been better to stay in the Car, try to control it, the wheels locked , so releasing and braking gently repeatedly could have helped and well as steering into the skid, they might have salvaged the situation.

[NWpostie]

found out what happened to the car, hit a wall and looks like nobody was hurt.

http://img705.imageshack.us/i/damage2.jpg/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Stormproof]

We stayed in yesterday morning, I think we've sorted up enough MS/DSA rubbish for the next fortnight, it has all been prepped in the frames and we are expected to take the lot when we go out next. The MC staff got sent home early on pay whilst we were told to go and do their work after completing ours, to say there was nearly a riot is an understatement. We were told if we wanted to go early we were to write a letter stating that we agree for our pay to be docked. No goodwill in my office from now on and if they think we are all going to stay out and complete next week they had better think again!

[goldenknut]

I deliver in the south , we went out on Wednesday the first day of snow , but been inside since then, apart from the reg and tracked items, done by two people in a van.
So mail is building up, have 5 bags to do whenever we are allowed to go out, with 3 days of mail in the frame yes paths are like glass, and the Dom does not want us to risk it....fair play to him, but most of us wanted to go out go slow and try to do some on Saturday ,, but still no,
conditions will not change here for many more days, as no thaw. and more snow just arrived today. CONDITIONS will be just as bad

what a difference from office to office from what i have seen on here
he made it clear he did not want any H&S COMEBACKS ON HIM, but I feel he will have to make us go out on Monday.

[Darren Bent]

+I would like Royal Mail to stop unnecessary junk mail until snow clear up ie catalogues stuff.

[rhino49]

Lucky you !! We even have to do lapsing in this s**t. Anyone not completeling d2d will be disciplined. All rounds must be cleared. Blah blah blah blah

There should be no lapsing on the basis that unfamiliar routes are even more dangerous than your own regular one. We have been told to carry over DTD if necessary to reduce bag weights. The info on what we were asked to do that I gave earlier was based on a local agreement between area reps and RM - you MUST get your reps and H&S people involved - this is not just bad weather, it is a national emergency. As a result of a bit of common sense, we are moving mail regularly but relatively safely.

[Darren Bent]

Should Royal Mail be made to pay us extra for working in those conditions ? Like Cold Weather Paymemt.

[rhino49]

Should Royal Mail be made to pay us extra for working in those conditions ? Like Cold Weather Paymemt.

I think if they did, then you would be forced outdoors no matter how bad the conditions. And, would they make a "cold weather charge" to the customers to finance it ? I think not !!!

I would like to know whether the bin men who have seemingly now hibernated until the spring are being paid for not working and whether I am going to get a refund on my council tax for non collection of rubbish during the bad weather. I suppose by august we'll be getting excuses like " we can't expect council workers to go outdoors in these conditions as they might get too hot"

One of our PHG's rang RM customer services to be told they were not available due to adverse weather conditions - I wonder if they had all reported to their nearest DO to help out there instead ?

[krussel]

+I would like Royal Mail to stop unnecessary junk mail until snow clear up ie catalogues stuff.

I wish folks would get back to work and stop sitting at home getting bored and ordering stuff of the internet. My packet bag has been overloaded all week

[solcat]

Should Royal Mail be made to pay us extra for working in those conditions ? Like Cold Weather Paymemt.

Many moons ago when I worked down the Pit we had Wet Money and Heat money allowances even though it did have to be extreme, for the cold a Donkey Jacket I think that sums it up.