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What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
hotxbun
Posts: 67
Joined: 30 Dec 2010, 12:24
Gender: Female

What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by hotxbun »

Apologies if this is covered elsewhere.
Back to my own DO today since joining RM, after less than 2 weeks on a "familar" walk / weeks off sick / rehab at another DO / spare at a 3rd DO / enforced annual leave. Checked earlier in the week what (inevitably new) walk I was assigned to so I could get a proper map, get my bearings, etc. beforehand. Prepped there for a bit then was inexplicably moved to another walk I've never done (which also, by the way, had hardly been prepped at all).

Long story short, I told Line Manager it was unlikely I'd get it completed, was told that wasn't an option. Asked if overtime'd be paid then, to be told "how long's it going to take ?" :d'oh! Realised I wasn't going to get paid, wasn't going to "be allowed" to cut off, had "words" ...

What should I have done, and is there something in the Union agreement about cutting off that I can quote in my resignation letter ?
DiamondSmiles
Posts: 498
Joined: 05 Feb 2009, 20:03
Gender: Male

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by DiamondSmiles »

You did the right thing saying to your idiot manager you were unlikely to complete. He cannot say that it's 'not an option'. It is if you want to work your hours and no more.

After telling him your unlikely to complete go out on delivery and do what you can in your duty time. Work out how long you need to come back to the office and dispose of Sd's etc and give your manager a ring (reversing the charges of course) and ask him whether he wants you to bring back the mail you don't have time to deliver or leave it out in your pouch drop off location for someone else to collect/deliver. It's then his problem. If he says your not working hard enough, tell him to test your delivery and watch him squirm.

Bottom line you don't have to work over your alloted duty time and they cannot bully/harrass you into doing so.
hotxbun
Posts: 67
Joined: 30 Dec 2010, 12:24
Gender: Female

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by hotxbun »

He cannot say that it's 'not an option'. It is if you want to work your hours and no more.
He did say that's not an option though. And he kept "harrassing" me, delaying my bagging 'til I could take no more, so I wasn't able to go out, do what I could, ring him, etc. And he made a point of saying he didn't want me ringing him later to tell him I couldn't do any more.
Bottom line you don't have to work over your alloted duty time and they cannot bully/harrass you into doing so.
Is that documented anywhere, officially ? My (part time) contract states " it is a condition of your employment that you are liable to work overtime".
clashcityrocker
Posts: 16685
Joined: 22 Sep 2009, 13:50
Gender: Male
Location: strummerville

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by clashcityrocker »

3 DELIVERY

3.1 PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT

a) Where an employee feels that on completion of preparation he/she may experience difficulty in completing his/her delivery within the authorised time allotted, he/she should approach his/her manager as soon as possible before setting out on delivery. It will be for the manager to discuss any problem and advise the employee what particular action should be taken.

b) When an individual has requested assistance on delivery, but the manager feels that assistance is not required, this decision along with the advice given to the employee will be recorded and associated with the daily traffic volume records. The employee can have access to this record and may ask to see it prior to commencement of his/her delivery. In addition to recording the employee’s request, the employee will be instructed to ring his/her local manager prior to a specified time or as soon as possible if full completion of delivery workload within the time allotted proves not to be possible.
3.2 AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF DELIVERY

a) If an individual is prevented from completing their delivery for any reason, it is essential that this is reported immediately either by returning to the office or by telephone (telephone costs will be refunded). A written record will be kept.

b) All employees should be informed of the local authorised arrangements, in writing, preferably in plastic card form if available.
The societies of consumption and squandering of material resources are incompatible with the idea of economic growth and a clean planet.
hotxbun
Posts: 67
Joined: 30 Dec 2010, 12:24
Gender: Female

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by hotxbun »

Thanks, clashcityrocker, I'll quote some of that in my letter. When I've calmed down. Meantime
clashcityrocker wrote:3 DELIVERY

3.1 PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT

a) Where an employee feels that on completion of preparation he/she may experience difficulty in completing his/her delivery within the authorised time allotted, he/she should approach his/her manager as soon as possible before setting out on delivery.
Yup, did that as soon as I realised I had no pouches, no bike and no helmet, and how fast the clock was ticking.
clashcityrocker wrote:It will be for the manager to discuss any problem and advise the employee what particular action should be taken.
"Do it".
clashcityrocker wrote:b) When an individual has requested assistance on delivery, but the manager feels that assistance is not required, this decision along with the advice given to the employee will be recorded and associated with the daily traffic volume records. The employee can have access to this record and may ask to see it prior to commencement of his/her delivery.

Right-e-o - NOT !
clashcityrocker wrote:In addition to recording the employee’s request, the employee will be instructed to ring his/her local manager prior to a specified time or as soon as possible if full completion of delivery workload within the time allotted proves not to be possible.
Was specifically told not to ring later.
clashcityrocker wrote:b) All employees should be informed of the local authorised arrangements, in writing, preferably in plastic card form if available.
Errr, what ??
clashcityrocker
Posts: 16685
Joined: 22 Sep 2009, 13:50
Gender: Male
Location: strummerville

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by clashcityrocker »

The only other advice would be

1. Always have a witness present
2. Download one of these stage 1 grievance forms.
http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... rm#p230728" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The societies of consumption and squandering of material resources are incompatible with the idea of economic growth and a clean planet.
postman11
Posts: 4
Joined: 15 Jul 2010, 18:09
Gender: Male

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by postman11 »

hotxbun wrote:Apologies if this is covered elsewhere.
Back to my own DO today since joining RM, after less than 2 weeks on a "familar" walk / weeks off sick / rehab at another DO / spare at a 3rd DO / enforced annual leave. Checked earlier in the week what (inevitably new) walk I was assigned to so I could get a proper map, get my bearings, etc. beforehand. Prepped there for a bit then was inexplicably moved to another walk I've never done (which also, by the way, had hardly been prepped at all).

Long story short, I told Line Manager it was unlikely I'd get it completed, was told that wasn't an option. Asked if overtime'd be paid then, to be told "how long's it going to take ?" :d'oh! Realised I wasn't going to get paid, wasn't going to "be allowed" to cut off, had "words" ...

What should I have done, and is there something in the Union agreement about cutting off that I can quote in my resignation letter ?
having same trouble in my office, having put up with it for 6 weeks , now had enought, told manager will be cutting off from now on,
hes not very happy, says i am not meeting indoor prep rate been told 20/25/27 items a minute, counted my mail yesterday says i was 14 items a minute
i worked it out to 17 items a minute. today brought 10 bags of mail and parcels back { about 2hours work for me and my work partner. been to union told do your
job properly they cant touch you} you can only do your best. prop be the same tomorrow. job s**t now getting worse each day....
spoodoo
Posts: 829
Joined: 06 Sep 2009, 18:07
Gender: Male

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by spoodoo »

We were told mail was over by a bit today,,,its an average for the whole office .Now there are a lot of jobs in the office who dont get half the mail of some jobs . I do one of these bigger jobs ,and we know the mail was horrendous the day . I had something on after work( its wrong to have a life i know) so told them the minute i came in i was just gonna do my hours . Well of course was hauled into the office later ,confronted by two managers ,who tore into me ,saying i cant leave anything ,stating the mail volume was normal . We know it wasnt hence 10 jobs were still in the office at 11 am instead of getting out at the 930 stated.!!!!! Bullying and harrasment is worse than ever ,if you come in on time ,the jobs near impossible now ,and staff levels are right down. Whos the best guy to see about all this harrasment , unions no interested so who then?
Planemadpostie
Posts: 17
Joined: 19 Dec 2008, 17:30
Gender: Male

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by Planemadpostie »

My walk has had another 60 houses put on it,and is now a 5 hour walk.While i was on holiday,they had a lad half my age who came in an hour before his time,did no ips and ran round to get finished, Now my manager will not pay overtime and insists i take everything without cutting off.Our rep who signed the agreement has got a transfer to another office and the area rep seems to hve just left the office when i ring. Who is looking after us now?
thewayforwardarse
Posts: 12
Joined: 05 Nov 2010, 17:53
Gender: Male

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by thewayforwardarse »

been told not flexable enough. had a bad day, regular partner off, polling cards, sky council letters. Informed him unable to work due to child care issues. They came out 1pm on partrol still on the 1st duty . took back 4 bags they paid 2hrs overtime out. 15-20 minutes over is one thing, not 1 and a half hours unpaid and forced overtime.Where is the UNION.
islfor
Posts: 380
Joined: 26 Aug 2008, 19:27
Gender: Male
Location: Scotland

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by islfor »

Fellow posties, please read and download the Appendix 3 of the conduct Code, have it with you at all times and when the DIM try's to force O/T, read it out in front of him........remember to tell him prior to pulling down after prepping letters, packets, missorts, dead letters, re-directions and 1/6th D2D (as the agreement).
If no joy, have a witness present and note the conversation with DIM, if then no joy, fill in a Grievance and pass it onto stage 2 immediately because stage 1 is for your own line manager to deal with, I can see no point in this as he clearly does not know any agreements !!
It always helps to ask your DIM for a H1 form (B&H form) watch him panic !!
The prep test is only agreed for 1 minute during IPS & frame prep and you should be told when it starts, you should have enough work in front of you on the table. If you pass, that's it for 6 months.
DIM's cannot invent their own prep rates (that's intimadating) Contact your area rep ASAP if your office rep does not do his job properly.
Which area are you ?
Let me know by private message please.
DON'T BE SCARED OF THESE USELESS BAFFOONS
belle smith
Posts: 1557
Joined: 26 Aug 2008, 17:41
Gender: Male
Location: scotland

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by belle smith »

Probably worth pointing out, that in your walk log it says
"if you return any mail to the office, you must infrom your manager failure to do so is willfull delay."
Please note it does not say you cannot return mail to your office, which is often what managers will tell you.
piranha
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 496
Joined: 01 Aug 2007, 09:30
Gender: Male

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by piranha »

Fellow posties, please read and download the Appendix 3 of the conduct Code, have it with you at all times and when the DIM try's to force O/T, read it out in front of him........
Can anyone point me in the direction of the conduct code download? Would be very interesting to see....
Also what's the rules regarding cutting off in an emergency? :hmmmm
Listonosz
Posts: 49
Joined: 11 Feb 2009, 20:21
Gender: Male

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by Listonosz »

Yesterday morning I cut off, informed manager after prepping mail and left what I was unable to deliver. Once out on delivery I realised I'd taken too much so I returned with a couple of bundles at end of my duty, and informed manager by leaving a note on his desk as there was no-one in office. today I was taken 'upstairs' for a chat, as soon as he mentioned conduct code I pulled out my copy and read to him the paragraphs that say before delivery inform your manager, and the important one that says after commencement of delivery if 'for any reason' you cant complete you must inform manager either by telephone or returning to the office. I'd informed them both before and after delivery. He then used the phrase 'unexcused delay'. I don't know what this means but phoned union rep and he's coming in on Monday.
I think everyone should have a copy of the conduct code because they are quick to use it against us but don't like it when the tables are turned.

My question is what can I do when I want to take managers down the conduct code?
hotxbun
Posts: 67
Joined: 30 Dec 2010, 12:24
Gender: Female

Re: What's the OFFICIAL line on cutting off ?

Post by hotxbun »

piranha wrote:
Fellow posties, please read and download the Appendix 3 of the conduct Code, have it with you at all times and when the DIM try's to force O/T, read it out in front of him........
Can anyone point me in the direction of the conduct code download? Would be very interesting to see....
Also what's the rules regarding cutting off in an emergency? :hmmmm
I don't have a copy of the conduct code. :roll: