Hello fellow Posties!

[PostmanAndy]

Hi everyone, I'm Andy. Been working as an "OPG" for 20 and a half years, based in London. Been on the night shift for 18 years.
All the cut backs and "modernisation" has meant that we have seen a huge reduction in our staff level over the last couple of years, particularly on nights. In fact the shift has been cut by around 50% and they want another 26 duties to go in April. When that happens it's highly likely that I won't have the seniority to sign for a night duty despite 20 and a half year's service. My current domestic situation makes it impossible to work days as I look after my elderly Dad, so it's worrying to say the least! I'd be interested to hear if anyone else is or has been in this kind of situation and what help they have had from Royal Mail or CWU?

Cheers everyone, have a great day!

Andy.

[baldrick]

Hi and welcome Andy
Can't help you with your problem, but there's a lot of people on here,
and perhaps someone else can. Have you spoken to a Rep?

[PostmanAndy]

Hi there!

Our rep says that as part of the MTSF agreement, personal circumstances would be considered for those unable to work certain hours. Trouble is, we all know how goalposts can be moved in this job. He also made a point of mentioning that if people are bumped onto days because they don't have the seniority to sign for a night job, they would qualify to get their night duty allowance paid for 3 years, which is all well and good but it's the attendance that's the problem for me.

Andy.

[POSTMAN]

Welcome,moved to union room,others will be able to help you.

[k979aaa]

While i am in no position to answer your question i am in the same boat so to speak as job's go we find our-self's bumped out of our job's while i agree with seniority if our job has been removed am i entitled to redundancy under the MTFS agreement!.

[darth]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSo ... eavingWork" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

there is some useful information here.i dont know your circumstances but it covers the whole spectrum of caring.

[PostmanAndy]

Hi. Thanks for the info guys, very much appreciated.

Andy.

[coxie]

Hi andy, you might be able to come into the family friendly scheme, upon which if a family member is dependant on you then the royal mail will try to help you find a shift which is suitable to you, look into this, they dont have to if it doesnt benefit the business but you should get priority over other people if you present your case well enough. If they wont listen to you when it starts take 6 months off sick with stress while you look for another job.

1 more tip andy if i were you i'd edit your name or probably the office you work at because you get managers sniffing around here and if 1 of them knows you they might keep an eye on you for future dodgy comments.

[PostmanAndy]

Thanks Coxie, that advice is very much appreciated, I'll most certainly make enquiries into that scheme when (or if) the time comes. Also thanks for the tip re the name, it's something I hadn't thought of and I will fix it right now.

Thanks again!