Postal workers struggling to make deliveries:GU

[Martin Walsh]

Just to add to the confusion , Terry Jackson is a divisional rep for south central and Guildford comes under the South East Division so it would not come up to him in the first place.

Now in terms of the union not doing anything well it depends who you speak to , certainly it has been raised at National and Regional level . The revisons which took place in Maidenhead , Dundee and Crewe were disasters and that is no understatement. The intregrated revisions including park and loop failed . Intresting enough all of these revisons were agreed by the local rep and delivery office manager and these saved some managers jobs as they were being grilled and taken to task.

Depending who you speak to now , some believe the CWU have now got some postive changes in Dundee and in further revisons. In addition Royal Mail now have to go through the following tasks before the revision can be introduced.

1. A signed agreement
2. That all duties must be covered and not by overtime even if it is an FTC
3. Only 3 revisons are allowed per region per week ( Last year the Thames Valley were averaging over 20 )
4. That the revison must be phased in if there are more than 20 walks in an office and the next phase is not working they can not move on till it is.
5. That no walk can be left out for overtime when a revison goes live.

It is likely that even with those measures in place that the level of change which is being introduced will mean some revisons will not go well and certainly some will need some to be adjusted.

[andy2007]

At least one of the problems quoted in that article, can be proved/disproved very easily. They say that the overweight vans are a regular problem, so they just need to tip off the Department for Transport. Who will come in, and check the vans. If they are indeed overweight, then they will take the appropriate action against the Management. Just make sure that no-one takes an overweight van out that day, until they've been. So none of the Posties gets into trouble.

As I'm sure you're all aware: They conduct spot checks from time to time on Motorways. To ensure that vehicles are safe, the Tachos and Log Books are ok, vehicles aren't overloaded, etc.. It's normally for larger Commercial Vechicles. But if you tipped them off, that there's overweight vehicles being habitually used. I'm sure they wouldn't pass up the chance to put a stop to it.

[fishtank]

Just to add to the confusion , Terry Jackson is a divisional rep for south central and Guildford comes under the South East Division so it would not come up to him in the first place.

If that is the case then it may have been crossed wires or a communication problem.

The intregrated revisions including park and loop failed . Intresting enough all of these revisons were agreed by the local rep and delivery office manager

Without input at Area or Divisional level?...i find that hard to believe...in fact i just plain don't believe it.

[Lincox]

It appears that local representatives are making decisions without the will or agreement of the members. We are getting regular weekly updates, and agreements signed by our Lino and Local Rep, without any contact prior to signing by the rep. Included in these are suggestions that our main DO will have a revision over the next 8 to 9 weeks and once this has gone through, subject to implementing later start dates in the subs, we will be paid the £800 bonus pro rata. If this isnt a bribe for the bird to catch the early worm, I dont know what is. Disgraceful

[Martin Walsh]

Fishtank I am in agreement with you in some of what you say. The area rep should have a understanding of whats been agreed , the divisional rep should be aware of the revision but not neccessary the details of everything. Unless it has gone to disagreement.

Even then to some degree I always rely on the call of the unit rep on whether he thinks the revision will work. Of course you always ensure that all the aspects have been done properly (sid and sarah , welfare breaks etc ) Then I would ensure that any revision goes to the members for their vote.

Now in the above cases Maidenhead , Dundee and Crewe the revisons were agreed by the members. However the change was to big for the members to cope all at once and it collasped. Some of those offices gained concessions since and Royal Mail"s plan could take now 5 years rather than the 3 years they orginally wanted.

However Royal Mail is in a crisis of losing revenue faster that ever , hence why VRs in delivery offices are reducing as you front load the costs. Royal Mail have annouced the government that they will not be able to afford to pay the defcit payments next year for our pensions. Some of that is undoubtly politcal posturing but I think your find an announcement over the next month or so which will reveal Royal Mail"s financial postion. By the way downstream access competitors have now gained over 51percent of what Royal Mail used to have in total.

[Bongos]

it the same every were bud someone needs to come in and save us

They tried to raise the Titanic but that didn't work

[Judgee]

"The Royal Mail did not respond to queries about if and when residents could expect a normal service."

The silence speaks volumes doesn't it!

[ruins3696]

Just to add to the confusion , Terry Jackson is a divisional rep for south central and Guildford comes under the South East Division so it would not come up to him in the first place.

Now in terms of the union not doing anything well it depends who you speak to , certainly it has been raised at National and Regional level . The revisons which took place in Maidenhead , Dundee and Crewe were disasters and that is no understatement. The intregrated revisions including park and loop failed . Intresting enough all of these revisons were agreed by the local rep and delivery office manager and these saved some managers jobs as they were being grilled and taken to task.

Depending who you speak to now , some believe the CWU have now got some postive changes in Dundee and in further revisons. In addition Royal Mail now have to go through the following tasks before the revision can be introduced.

1. A signed agreement
2. That all duties must be covered and not by overtime even if it is an FTC
3. Only 3 revisons are allowed per region per week ( Last year the Thames Valley were averaging over 20 )
4. That the revison must be phased in if there are more than 20 walks in an office and the next phase is not working they can not move on till it is.
5. That no walk can be left out for overtime when a revison goes live.

It is likely that even with those measures in place that the level of change which is being introduced will mean some revisons will not go well and certainly some will need some to be adjusted.

phase one failed phase two implemented phase two failing phase three implemented phase three failing and phase four about to go live and no agreement signed that i am aware and terry jackson aware of problems before phase two implemented

[fishtank]

phase one failed phase two implemented phase two failing phase three implemented phase three failing and phase four about to go live and no agreement signed that i am aware and terry jackson aware of problems before phase two implemented

Thanks for the heads up from the horse's mouth.
Why is Terry Jackson involved if he isn't even your divisional rep?

[ruins3696]

phase one failed phase two implemented phase two failing phase three implemented phase three failing and phase four about to go live and no agreement signed that i am aware and terry jackson aware of problems before phase two implemented

Thanks for the heads up from the horse's mouth.
Why is Terry Jackson involved if he isn't even your divisional rep?

All I know is that he was at a meeting concerning the implementation of phase 2

[POSTMAN]

Is the van sharing actually working anywhere? 2/3 of our office has now got it, the last 3rd starts Monday, and so far its been a complete disaster, on average only one of the two rounds is being completed as they've made them so big! Driving around the two rounds (I was told I'm the driver, no choice in the matter) with large packets, tracked and special deliveries takes well over an hour taking into account having to write P739's out! Its got to the stage most pairs are doing the rounds on alternate days, so customers are getting post every other day. This is without doing our ASAP, the back log building up is horrendous. Managers are now telling the first 3rd that went "live" they don't have to use their trolleys if they don't want to, so people are just leaving their trolleys behind and carrying bags the whole way round! Also the new walk sequencing machines have broken down twice this week already so we're having to sort "coded bundles as per usual! Thank goodness its my day off today, away from the madness. (This is at Guildford office by the way)

[sloggy]

Yep, I'm a Guildford Postie, its chaos, only one of the two rounds is being delivered on average, so every other day post for the customers, if they're lucky! The back log of mail building up is horrendous! Heath and Safety made my van share partner and I weigh our Yorks one day last week and we were overweight for the Combi van, so DOM told us to leave one round behind! Union here is a waste of time. GU1 region goes "live" next week to complete the farce, then something may be done.