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So...two years to the day.

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
Terry Butcher
Posts: 107
Joined: 05 Jun 2010, 19:07
Gender: Male

So...two years to the day.

Post by Terry Butcher »

Like most of us, I remember my first proper day as a postie. That day was exactly two years ago. It was fairly easy, i remember being let in the office by the lino and being palmed off on an unsuspecting postie prepping his walk. I was initially amazed at his ability to quickly find one address on a frame of so many. We tied up and went out together, he would give me a little bundle and we would each do one side of the road each. I finished at about 12:30 and went straight home.

Two years on and i let myself into the office we moved into in January, i go to my two frames (park and loop) to find a few boxes of flats on the frames and piles of envelopes piled on top too. On the floor surrounding the frames were SIX packet bags and a scattering of larger packets. I started to prep the mess and every 5 minutes or so a member of the night staff would bring over a new packet bag and dump it down, shrug their shoulders and walk off. Finally a Yorkie with about 4 more packet bags arrived - bringing the total for the day to FOURTEEN. I half expected Noel Edmunds and the cameras to jump out on me! I only had to mutter "cut off" and the bags were quickly whisked away, leaving only a couple to do for the day. God knows what I'm gunna face tomorrow :cry

Is the packet bag mountain an omen? After two years is it time to move on? :hmmmm
kingofmcr
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 197
Joined: 13 Jun 2010, 10:02
Gender: Male

Re: So...two years to the day.

Post by kingofmcr »

im 2 and half years ..and its got to the point now ..where its just silly ..piling more and more work on ..need 6 hours a day to complete ..not the 4.48 royal mail think
THIS SHOULD BE ROYAL MAILS LOGO
"You may pronounce us guilty a thousand times over, but the goddess of the eternal court of history will smile and tear to tatters the verdict of this court - for she acquits us.
rhino49
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1644
Joined: 04 Jun 2007, 21:50
Gender: Male
Location: At home with my feet up

Re: So...two years to the day.

Post by rhino49 »

I remember my first day on delivery also sharing a walk with the regular postie who trained me - home with a smile on my face by 09:30 - nearly sixteen years later and I am not even contemplating leaving the office at 09:30, and there is no smile on my face - just a fixed manic stare of someone resigned to working in constant chaos that's progress for you.
We wish to serve - but we will not be servile
moondustprince
Posts: 8
Joined: 24 Nov 2010, 19:14
Gender: Male

Re: So...two years to the day.

Post by moondustprince »

rhino49 wrote:I remember my first day on delivery also sharing a walk with the regular postie who trained me - home with a smile on my face by 09:30 - nearly sixteen years later and I am not even contemplating leaving the office at 09:30, and there is no smile on my face - just a fixed manic stare of someone resigned to working in constant chaos that's progress for you.
I remember.............30 years ago when I first started. Nothing much has changed over the years regarding being put with an unsuspecting member of staff to train you on a walk. But alas they were better days, when you only had 1 bag a day, yes you did read this correct, 1 bag of mail a day to deliver. And yes the first delivery had to be completed by 09.30, then all the delivery staff came back to the delivery office, emptying collection box’s on their way back to the office All the staff had a drink together, as a team, then we would sort the second delivery mail, including the “LOCAL” posted mail that was brought in from the box collections. We would then go out and do the second delivery, which were 2 walks. This would be completed by 12.30pm, then back to the office, again emptying letter box’s that were on your walks. Then it was just a matter of depositing the collection mail in the sorting office, and then signing off duty.
Staff were better treated in those days, and we respected our Inspectors [ now called managers] Our Inspectors knew the job inside out, and had done every duty. So you could not pull the wool over their eyes. Unlike the Managers of today, fresh from an office desk or outside industry. Never done a day’s work as a postman, so what can you expect?
As for today, I still remain dumb struck at the antics of our so called managers, and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
To summarise all of this, when I started my career it was a SERVICE today it’s a BUSINESS
youwot!!!!!
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 582
Joined: 12 Mar 2010, 14:45
Gender: Male
Location: oop north

Re: So...two years to the day.

Post by youwot!!!!! »

moondustprince wrote:
rhino49 wrote:I remember my first day on delivery also sharing a walk with the regular postie who trained me - home with a smile on my face by 09:30 - nearly sixteen years later and I am not even contemplating leaving the office at 09:30, and there is no smile on my face - just a fixed manic stare of someone resigned to working in constant chaos that's progress for you.
I remember.............30 years ago when I first started. Nothing much has changed over the years regarding being put with an unsuspecting member of staff to train you on a walk. But alas they were better days, when you only had 1 bag a day, yes you did read this correct, 1 bag of mail a day to deliver. And yes the first delivery had to be completed by 09.30, then all the delivery staff came back to the delivery office, emptying collection box’s on their way back to the office All the staff had a drink together, as a team, then we would sort the second delivery mail, including the “LOCAL” posted mail that was brought in from the box collections. We would then go out and do the second delivery, which were 2 walks. This would be completed by 12.30pm, then back to the office, again emptying letter box’s that were on your walks. Then it was just a matter of depositing the collection mail in the sorting office, and then signing off duty.
Staff were better treated in those days, and we respected our Inspectors [ now called managers] Our Inspectors knew the job inside out, and had done every duty. So you could not pull the wool over their eyes. Unlike the Managers of today, fresh from an office desk or outside industry. Never done a day’s work as a postman, so what can you expect?
As for today, I still remain dumb struck at the antics of our so called managers, and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
To summarise all of this, when I started my career it was a SERVICE today it’s a BUSINESS

happy days.
who the hell invests £2 billion into a servic and makes it worse?????????????
you really couldn't make it up!!!!!!!!!!!
dohnut
Posts: 658
Joined: 28 Sep 2007, 17:15
Gender: Male

Re: So...two years to the day.

Post by dohnut »

Terry Butcher wrote:Like most of us, I remember my first proper day as a postie. That day was exactly two years ago. It was fairly easy, i remember being let in the office by the lino and being palmed off on an unsuspecting postie prepping his walk. I was initially amazed at his ability to quickly find one address on a frame of so many. We tied up and went out together, he would give me a little bundle and we would each do one side of the road each. I finished at about 12:30 and went straight home.

Two years on and i let myself into the office we moved into in January, i go to my two frames (park and loop) to find a few boxes of flats on the frames and piles of envelopes piled on top too. On the floor surrounding the frames were SIX packet bags and a scattering of larger packets. I started to prep the mess and every 5 minutes or so a member of the night staff would bring over a new packet bag and dump it down, shrug their shoulders and walk off. Finally a Yorkie with about 4 more packet bags arrived - bringing the total for the day to FOURTEEN. I half expected Noel Edmunds and the cameras to jump out on me! I only had to mutter "cut off" and the bags were quickly whisked away, leaving only a couple to do for the day. God knows what I'm gunna face tomorrow :cry

Is the packet bag mountain an omen? After two years is it time to move on? :hmmmm
14 packet bags?, :shock: surely that cant be right even with 2 walks and all the packets?
countyboy
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 121
Joined: 03 Dec 2009, 17:48
Gender: Male

Re: So...two years to the day.

Post by countyboy »

Almost a year to my first day,,,:-

Sent out three days before Christmas, given three quarters of a walk to do on my own, no training, no help, no guidance..Did not leave the office till one o clock with a load of mail sacks and a pouch..Slid around haplessly in the snow until I finished at 8.30 in the evening (wasnt sent out till one o clock) Maybe it was for the best,,it couldnt have got any worse, although looking at the P and L lads in the other sectors I am now thinking it might :crazy:

Oh,,and I still never got any training !! :crazy:
Terry Butcher
Posts: 107
Joined: 05 Jun 2010, 19:07
Gender: Male

Re: So...two years to the day.

Post by Terry Butcher »

donut wrote:14 packet bags?, :shock: surely that cant be right even with 2 walks and all the packets?
Hand on heart. Most were about three quarters full, a couple only half full. In real terms it was about 10 full grey sacks of packets. Worse to come, apparently...can't wait ;liar
NewPostieUK
Posts: 2104
Joined: 06 Jan 2008, 21:38
Gender: Male
Location: SickAsAChipLand

Re: So...two years to the day.

Post by NewPostieUK »

Terry Butcher wrote:
donut wrote:14 packet bags?, :shock: surely that cant be right even with 2 walks and all the packets?
Hand on heart. Most were about three quarters full, a couple only half full. In real terms it was about 10 full grey sacks of packets. Worse to come, apparently...can't wait ;liar
I panic when I get 14 packets, never mind bags!