Sacked Postman who left his van to help Woman.

[Eric Cantona]

A postman who left his van unlocked as he went to help a woman has been sacked – after one of his post bags was stolen.
Derek Mellor, 51, got out of his van in Bury town centre after a woman flagged him down to ask for directions – and the thief struck.
He was suspended for four weeks and then fired for failing to secure the van.
Mr Mellor, who worked for the Royal Mail Bury Delivery Office, spoke of his ‘shock’ at being dismissed after 19 years in the job.
He said: “I thought that considering I have had a long service with the Royal Mail and this was my first mistake I would get at worst a slap on the wrist.
“Instead I got suspended for four weeks and then told I was sacked. I have had 19 years without a scratch on my record and then this happens.
“I’ve been made to feel like I was the one who pinched the bag. They've treated me like a convict.
“It’s just been a really awful last couple of weeks. My wife was absolutely in bits. I had to sign on last week which was very strange as I've never been out of work. I am completely shocked this has happened.”
Mr Mellor, of Catterick Drive, Little Lever, Bolton, is due to have an appeal hearing with Royal Mail tomorrow and will represented by the Communication Workers Union. The theft is being investigated internally by Royal Mail and the incident was not reported to the police. Since his sacking, Mr Mellor has been working part-time as a freelance delivery driver.
People on Mr Mellor’s round in Irwell Vale, Rossendale, have organised a petition demanding he is re-instated.
One of them, Phil Naylor, said
He said: “It seems very harsh to treat someone like this who is very highly regarded around here just for one mistake.
“He has made sure we always got our mail and parcels whatever the weather or extra work he has to do. He always has a smile and a caring word for everyone.
“In his own time he will shop for elderly residents who have difficulty getting out. We are a small community and don’t find many people as good as Derek.”
Royal Mail declined to comment.

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[mojothefishmo]

Absolutely disgraseful ,typical royal mail management nice excuse to get rid of another full timer

[DirtyHarry]

Nice bastards we slave for, eh?

[TeeferTiger]

According to the rules for delivery drivers, you're not meant to stop if someone flags you down. But, if you don't stop, you run the risk of having a big complaint and bad press against you and RM because you didn't stop to help someone in need.

You're damned if you do and damned if you don't eh?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=30616" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[coxie]

Another reason why I refuse to be a driver for these tossers

[pokos27]

drivers always get treated like crap

[NWpostie]

can you withdraw your driving licence if the van shares comes in ? imagine checking everybodies driving licence every 6 months, if you rack up enough point to lose your Licence, what can they do as they can't force you to drive illegally.

[kimski1976]

im a driver, all the bags, mail parcels arew alwasy kept in the back and if im ever away from the van ill lock it. but if i was flagged down i cant see there being any difference. i would stop and help someone. i would feel abit proud to help someone and hope they feel abit more confident of royal mail. but then these DSMs just wanna sack everyone for the slightest little thing. would they sack him if he was in a CDV?

[not me]

can you withdraw your driving licence if the van shares comes in ? imagine checking everybodies driving licence every 6 months, if you rack up enough point to lose your Licence, what can they do as they can't force you to drive illegally.

i didnt renew my photo licence when it expired (10 years)
they werent happy

[steven100]

I think its a disgrace, What is our union top brass doing!!!!!! NOTHING. Another reason to leave the cwu. C'mon Hayes and Ward and round table followers get involved and sort this problem out.