Casual to proper postie contract time period?

[IdentityMatrix]

My first post!

I've been a casual worker for 5 months now, I say casual, but what's casual about working from 7am until 2-3pm, six days per week? ;)

I get into work, place the mech into the frame, get some manually sorted mail and flats and start placing that in, then you guys/girls arrive back at your frames after sorting.. we sort, prepare, bundle.. get ready to go, get in the van and then the fun starts.. until end of day.

I'm struggling to survive on a casual wage of £5.95/hour if I go as fast as you people do, as I get paid for the hours I do and more speed equals less pay.

When I started this job, I struggled with the whole thing (I was seroiusly unfit!) but after 4 months, I felt I could do it (almost) as fast as you people can, so I decided to try to "walk" as fast as possible to make it back to the van in time for pickup back to the DO.
I have become addicted to energy drinks, but during those two weeks, I managed to do my walk, wait for a bus, get the bus back into town, walk from town to the DO, turn in my "non-delivered" stuff, sign out and as I start walking out of the place, would see the proper postmen arriving in the van.. I could do it! I'm fast enough! Woohoo! (Albeit totally knackered and depleted of energy and getting home and going to bed at 8pm)

After the first week, feeling all satisified with myself that my body could finally take the strain with dealing with the full on pace and weight of everything, I received my pay slip through the post, "£210".. I thought "Meh, must've been a light week (it was around October).. I did a second week of "going for it!" ... then again £200.32p... I can not afford to live with this income.

So I've decided to "go slow", take it easy, take it CASUALLY"... otherwise I won't be able to afford to eat (literally).

Now, I've heard that the fulltime posties get around £330/week?
That'd be fantasic! That's over 50% increase in income and I'd totally be willing to work my butt off, making my legs, feet, back and for some reason my right knee feel pain for this kind of income per week.
But at present, I feel that "working my butt off" to get done the same time as the fulltime people do, isn't "fair" as they get paid 50% more than I do. (Not taking into consideration that they start at 6am instead of my lame 7am)

So I'm wondering two things...

1. Is it OK for a casual to "go slow" and the management not be bothered that I'm, perhaps adding an extra 45minutes - 1hour to my walk and therefore costing them an extra £5.95?

And for the reason of this post...

2. How long before RM have to "convert" a casual from casual, to a proper, fulltime postman with a most deserved wage when working at proper speeds?

[krussel]

Welcome to the forum mate

Sorry your finding it tough on the money At £200 a week i would struggle as well. Any chance of getting overtime or extended at your place

[Jimmcguinn]

Never ever walk at a pace you are uncomfortable with or affects your health or quality of life! Even though RM would absolutely love you for it!
On the other hand don't drag your heels.
Anyway I think its disgraceful that RM has had you on a casual contract for so long.This is the National Postal service of the UK employing casual labour on a huge scale ,just so that they can run down the service just that little bit more,and certain people can fill their pockets just that little bit more.
Sadly I wouldn't hold out to much hope for a fulltime Contract,seems you're doing the same amount of work for half the pay.

[pike23]

I've been on a temp contract since Feb, every 3 months it keeps getting renewed, i asked about how many times they can extend it before making it permament but no one seems to know.

[POSTMAN]

I've been on a temp contract since Feb, every 3 months it keeps getting renewed, i asked about how many times they can extend it before making it permament but no one seems to know.

Should be 2 years which is in our agreement,but RM have been abuseing it and have tried to make it 4 years,it has all kicked off lately regarding it but tbh the outcome doesn't help you a lot.

[POSTMAN]

1. Is it OK for a casual to "go slow" and the management not be bothered that I'm, perhaps adding an extra 45minutes - 1hour to my walk and therefore costing them an extra £5.95?

And for the reason of this post...

2. How long before RM have to "convert" a casual from casual, to a proper, fulltime postman with a most deserved wage when working at proper speeds?

Really sorry mate but you are a casual and if you do '1' they can just get rid of you and bring another one in so you have to be really really careful.
And '2' depends on your office revision and if they need extra staff although that is a bit unlikely,but if they do need extra and you're a gooden then they could keep you on.

[numberone]

I've been temp since March 2009. 25hr contract. But doing up to 47hrs per week now. Double prep etc. My latest 3 mth contract runs out on 24th Dec. If my contract is renewed and takes me to March 2011 that means I have worked two years. Should I get a perm contract? Just a little worried that I could be disposed of as the reviewed working practice comes in the new year. Have started my pension and feel quite settled.

[POSTMAN]

I've been temp since March 2009. 25hr contract. But doing up to 47hrs per week now. Double prep etc. My latest 3 mth contract runs out on 24th Dec. If my contract is renewed and takes me to March 2011 that means I have worked two years. Should I get a perm contract? Just a little worried that I could be disposed of as the reviewed working practice comes in the new year. Have started my pension and feel quite settled.

Tbh mate a lot depends on how your office revision goes.
This temp contract thing is still up in the air at the moment,latest news is here...
http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... =1&t=31607" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Keep an eye on the site for the next update...

A range of issues remain to be resolved in respect of use of fixed term contracts and discussions with the business are continuing,

[savo]

casual to proper postie ?

As Donny Osmond sang - The 12th of Never

[REDLETTER]

You can't live on £200 a week AND drink energy drinks!

For the minimum wage of £5.93 I wouldn't work for RM!

As our Linos say you can always work in Tescos

I'm part time and I don't come out with much more than that!

AND Full Time? What's that, it's a dirty word in our DO

[IdentityMatrix]

Thanks for all the information people.

I went into work today and asked a manager something along the lines of "How long does Royal mail keep casuals on their current casual contract, before giving them a full contract?" and he replied with something along the lines of "If I told you, I'd be lying, asI don't actually know", I then asked which manager should I ask? he said, "I don't think any of them know, as this guy over at that frame" ... he then directed me to a normal postie who might know. I approached him and then asked him and he stated 2 years (as far as I know), I then stated about the whole possible 4 year thing mentioned above and he hadn't heard of it.

It's as if either none of the managers actually know and that if ANYONE at all, whoever they are (perhaps the cleaners know!), then it's all "Well, I'm not sure, but I think it's this long, maybe"... OR (bring on the X-files music, trust no one!) they are hiding something and are told not to give this dreaded news of (at least two years, maybe four!)

I mean, shiite... 4 yours of working my butt off just as hard as all the real postmen around me, but getting 50% less money... it doesn't seem fair. Sure, they are more experienced and more fit, but still, it's really hard work and I feell that after 5 months, I've gotten the hang of things and I'm capable of doing this job (not without pain!) ...

If I was to hold out for perhaps 1.5f years, in the knowledge that I'd get a deserved wage for the HARD work that I currently do, I could just about take it.. but possibly 4 years.... I'm not sure.
Not only that, but the sorting/delivery office that I'm currently working in is to be demolished in the next few years and everyone is moving to a new "mega office, yet to be built" in the next few towns (probably to save money or something)... which also makes everyone "fear" for their future.

I did on one hand hear that if a full time postie leaves and a job vacancy becomes available... that I could take that job and become full time.. is this true?

If so, maybe I should "go postal" and kill someone ;p

[Darren Bent]

Just apply for any part time permanent job if there is any in your delivery office. Have a word with office Union Rep to see if he can help you to upgrade your job.

[Indy]

My first post!

£210/week for doing all that work is just plain criminal :cfo

It used to be 2 years but I've now heard mention of 4 years but theres nothing to stop them 'churning' casuals to prevent them gaining F/T contracts.

[hantsman]

Its 4 years under employment law, thats to stop this exact same situation. RM are suppose to take you on after 2 but its a bit of a grey area IMHO