LTB:Illegal Agency workers

Post by **POSTMAN** » 31 Jul 2007, 16:09

It has been brought to our attention that Royal Mail may be infringing Regulation 7 of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2003 during the course of the current dispute.

The Regulation places restriction on the use of work seekers in industrial disputes and in particular the prohibition extends to the introduction or supply of work seekers, both to perform the duties normally performed by workers taking part in a strike and to perform duties normally performed by any other employee of the hirer, who is covering the duties normally performed by a striking worker.

Where Branches believe these Regulations have been infringed they should inform the DGS (P) Department in writing and provide the following information:

a.) Name of the Employment Agency

b.) Site or Unit where they were employed

c.) The number of agency workers employed

d.) Dates when they were used

e.) What duties they were employed to perform

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » 31 Jul 2007, 16:39

About time, we should be monitoring every single infringement these people are making,particularly driving.

somerset · Post by **somerset** » 31 Jul 2007, 16:53

On the front page of Bristol evening post yesterday said that MC could be taking action on using agency staff during strike. Sorry but i havn't a clue as to how to download said article

Me computer thick. Any help?

Post by **POSTMAN** » 31 Jul 2007, 17:15

brisomerset wrote:On the front page of Bristol evening post yesterday said that MC could be taking action on using agency staff during strike. Sorry but i havn't a clue as to how to download said article Me computer thick. Any help?

Gis the link,we'll have a shuftie.

somerset · Post by **somerset** » 31 Jul 2007, 17:21

www.thisisbristol.co.uk

Post by **POSTMAN** » 31 Jul 2007, 17:41

Up to 1,200 postal workers could strike over the use of agency staff at the Bristol Mail Centre in Filton.

The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) will ballot members next week after becoming locked in a dispute with Royal Mail.

The union claims the company has been acting illegally by bringing in extra agency staff to cover positions left open when permanent staff have been on strike during recent national disputes.

It also believes the agency staff brought in at the last minute are not properly vetted before they start work.

Mike Wilshire, spokesman for the CWU, says any action would cause significant disruption to postal services in Bristol because the centre in Gloucester Road North handles six million items of post every day.

He said: "We think they are in breach of the law because they are using unlimited numbers of casual workers to come into work when people are on strike.

"The law says they shouldn't bring in agency people when there's a dispute."

Mr Wilshire said extra agency staff were called in to the centre during the national strike on Thursday.

He said staff would now vote on taking strike action and working to rule.

The centre is the biggest postal processing centre in the South West.

Jane Thomas, spokeswoman for Royal Mail, said the organisation was not acting illegally over agency staff in Filton.

She said: "Royal Mail has not had formal notification from the Communication Workers' Union of a ballot for industrial action in Bristol.

"Our use of temporary workers is entirely lawful and everyone working for us has been fully vetted including criminal record checks.

"We can legally use agency workers as we are not introducing them to do work that would otherwise have been done by people taking part in a lawful strike."

Meanwhile, Mr Wilshire said an agreement had still not been reached with Royal Mail after a row over shift patterns and sick pay with staff at the North Delivery Office in Montpelier.

Workers held a 24-hour strike earlier this month.

Royal Mail workers will march through Bristol city centre tomorrow to oppose sweeping cuts to the postal service nationally.

LINK

somerset · Post by **somerset** » 31 Jul 2007, 17:55

Postman =topman.Thanks mate.And i hope others read this? Especially the paragraph that says "We can legally use agency workers as we our not intruducing them to do work etc etc"

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 31 Jul 2007, 18:08

"We can legally use agency workers as we are not introducing them to do work that would otherwise have been done by people taking part in a lawful strike."

So what are they doing then painting the walls, cleaning the bosses boots, washing his car. The fact they are working before or after a strike in a RM place of work IMO means they are doing work that would otherwise have been done by people taking part in a lawful strike.

pinstripe · Post by **pinstripe** » 31 Jul 2007, 18:15

"We can legally use agency workers as we are not introducing them to do work that would otherwise have been done by people taking part in a lawful strike."

I don't understand this statement. What exactly were they paying agency workers for then? What work are they doing in a mail center that isn't already being carried out by RM employees? (Maybe they've created some new posts, tea-boys, fetch the stick boys, sit-up, roll over, play dead. Good boy, not like them nasty union members.) They can afford Â£15 per hour for them, but want to cut 40,000 jobs. And how long does it take to carry out a police check and vetting? If they have only 7 days notice of a strike they must be pretty fast on their feet, or could they just be lying to us and the public. (Like that's never happened)

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 02 Aug 2007, 17:36

it is not illiegal for rm to employ agency staff.IT IS illegal for an y agency to supply staff to do work of strikers. See DTI site,employment law.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 02 Aug 2007, 18:20

BELIAL wrote:it is not illiegal for rm to employ agency staff.IT IS illegal for an y agency to supply staff to do work of strikers. See DTI site,employment law.

RM have said this

"We can legally use agency workers as we are not introducing them to do work that would otherwise have been done by people taking part in a lawful strike."

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 02 Aug 2007, 18:39

Yep, rm cant be prosecuted but any agency supplying them with scab labour can be fined and prohibited from carrying out thier trade for 10 years. Not too sure how vigourously NEW TORIES will enforce this LAW.