Somebody please help- vacant duty stolen.

[Wiggins79]

I'm really hoping someone on here can help me and give me some advice with a problem I've got. Bear with me as it's going to be a long explanation- sorry!
Currently, I'm on a 28 hour contract, for four days a week covering days off in an spdo. When I first started over 7 years ago, I was on a 15 hour contract (back when we were on 6 days a week) in the same office, but normally averaged 40hrs a week. When the 5 day week came in, the round I was doing got absorbed, and I was given the option of either 3 days a week cover for days off, or 4 days a week cover for days off. As at the time I wasn't long out of university, and was still kidding myself that I wasn't going to be in the job for long, I accepted the 4 day on 28hrs. My intention was to use my days off to further my career in film and television production, which I studied at university. Without going into details, 6 years later, I never managed to do any good with film work. I didn't mind the 4 day week as often enough, there was plenty extra to do as there was nearly always long periods of people being off sick, or I could cover extra days owed to people from Bank Holidays, or when 2 peoples weeks off clashed. Then last year, whe were told that one of the rounds in the office was going to be collapsed. The round they chose was a 35hr one, done by a lady who had already wroked 2 years past her retirement age, and which she constantly told me I could apply for when she left. This round was one of the days off I covered. The manager said that she would have to look into the "options" for me as I was going to be losing a day. She said they could either offer me a redundancy package for the one day (or a buyback or whatver the hell they call these things) or else I would have to work another day in another office. I particularly didn't want do do that as I knew it wouldn't be a single day in the same office every week. As no doubt goes on across the countries, floaters in our area are sent to all the worst offices at the furthest reaches of the county code we cover, and left to fend for themselves with no help. And before you say well, just cut-off, you can't do that in our subs as somebody from the union agreed on our behalf without discussing it with anybody, that we would carry hours over each day, until the end of the week before being able to claim OT or cut-off.

Anyway, the woman who's round was getting collapsed promptly took herself to the doctor's who then decided she needed a knee operation, so instead of being sent to another office to do another round, she spent the next 6 months on sick leave before eventually being given a lump-sum pay-off (and yes, she got the full value of the shares as well). All this despite being actually over retirement age, but that's another discussion for another time. In the meantime, intially as I awaited a verdict on what was going to happen with my spare day, I either covered spare duties (due to our holiday relief going of on long-term sick- another person who spent the next 6 months paid sick-leave before being paid-off an retired) or else, came in and helped others sort/ do packets etc. before taking the round out that had been collapsed by taking the sections off the others who had being given them. Then we got into Xmas, so again, there was plenty of other work.
This year, I knew that another person was due to retire, and this bloke had no intention of working beyond 65. His is a 40hr duty, and as there had still been no decision or even discussion from our manager about my spare day (she never comes near our office- we haven't had a wtl session for over 2 years) I said that I would want to put in for the 40hr round. As I have seniority in the office out of all those who would be likely to want the round, it was basically understood by everyone in the office that the round would be mine, and they would have to find some other poor sod to cover the 3 days off.

The bloke retired in the second week of March. Since then nobody has been out to the office, every spare person has been sent out to cover the vacant duty ( and have covered days on it when I haven't been doing to other 3 day cover). I phond up the manager the week the bloke retired to let them know I wanted to put in for the job. As usual there was no answer, so I left a message. Then the following day, knowing that they might claim they never got the message as someone wiped it and didn't pass on the details (as is another manager custom in our neck of the woods), I kept phoning the following days until actually got to speak to someone. The person I spoke to wasn't our manager (she always manages to be away somewhere), so I asked if they I had got my message, and they said yes, and just to be certain I repeated it just to be sure. I was told it would have to advertised anyway, which I already knew, but wanted to make sure they didn't "accidentally" forget to let us know when the job was being advertised.

Up until yesterday, 16/5/2011 I still hadn't heard anything and we were still having to cover the vacant duty peicemeal. A bloke who had been out a few times to our office to cover vacant duties due to sickness came and and said he would be doing the vacant round that week. When I got back from my duty, the postmistress came through to see me. She said that this new bloke had come back from finishing the round and asked her if town (the code for management) had phoned her up. She said no, they hadn't and asked why would they? He then said, they were phoning to tell her that he had decided that he was going to have the 40hr round himself as he had been offered it. She was gobsmacked, and I was furious. She said there must have been some mistake because the job had never been advertised, but said there wasn't and the job was now his. And with that, off he went home. He obviously thought he was onto a winner as he didn't do any primary sorting in the morning or half-prep another round which is all part of the 40hr duty. When the postmistress said that if she'd have know that he was here permanent she'd have made him do the duty fully. As it was, there was no point as when people are only in for a few days and there is a chance they may never be seen again, generally, others, including myself end up picking up the slack and doing the primary sorting and throwing in on the delivery only duty (or else the duty holder comes in and throws in on OT). No wonder he wanted the job, as he out of the office and back before everyone else, being paid 40hrs for beggar all, whilst those on lesser contracts were still out on delivery. When she told him he would have to do the primary and the prep, he said nobody had told him that was part of the job, she informed him otherwise. He then reckoned he couldn't do it as he didn't know the other frame or the other rounds for primary sorting, so said he would have to learn and do it. Sorry, getting a bit side-tracked with all that.

The following day, my intention was to quiz him about the exact details of how he came to be given the job when it wasn't even advertised. Without being confrontational (even though I was enraged by the whole affair) I asked him where his office was before and how come he had changed jobs. He said he was from an office 20 miles away (I don't want to give place names for fear of giving too much info away) and that he had been the holiday relief. When his office had been told they must collapse a walk, instead they elected to get rid of the holiday relief and cover whichever rounds duty holder was on annual leave amongst themselves, leaving him out of a job at that office. He was then told by the manager that there was a 40hr round going to be vacant soon due to retirement and if he wanted it, it was his. Obviously he came out, thought he liked the round as it was a doddle on 40hrs with no primary or prep, and accepted. All without the job being advertised. He also said that for the past few weeks since his old job had been finished, he had been sent to other offices to cover vacant rounds and had got sick of it, wanting to come back to round in our office, so phoned our local rep up, who said "what, haven't they given you that job yet?" Meaning he already knew what the exact situation was, several weeks ago, despite claiming ignorance of the issue every time I phoned him up about it- I gave up in the end as it was getting pointless, as all he ever said, was I'd have to wait for the job to be advertised. Once he had left (another hour before the rest of us), the postmistress phoned town up to get an explanation as to why no one had bothered to come out to explan to us just what the hell was going off. Naturally, the manager wasn't there, but the person who she spoke to claimed that as this new bloke had been "dispersed" from his previous job, he got to pick where he wanted to go. When the postmistress asked what about my situation, and how they had now dispersed me, they claimed ignorance and said hadn't the manager been out to talk to us? When she said she hadn't, the reply was "oh, well she should have." I could half understand it if there were no other vacant duties, but only the previous week a list came out advertising at least 10 vacant duties, of which several were 40hrs all within 20 mile radius of our office, and the new blokes old office. Notedly, the vacant duty in our office wasn't on that list.

I know this has turned into an epic by now, but I needed to explain the details as much as possible. I'd like to know if anyone has heard of this "dispersal" ruling before? And is this how it works? Someone can just pick any vacant job they want regardless of the situation regarding seniority in the office they pick and without even advertising the vacant job first? Basically, what I want to know is, is what they have done legal? And where the hell do I stand now, as to present I've still had nobody explain or even give me any options regarding the spare day I now have. Fortunately (are you sensing a pattern here) another duty holder has gone on sick leave for an operation, so there is enough work to cover my spare day at the moment, but that person is due to return in 2 weeks time. I'm tearing my hair out at the moment. I'm getting no sleep twisiting it all over in my mind. I feel there is no point in involving the union as my local rep has effectively stiched me up, and there is no point in phoning up the management either as they simply couldn't give toss. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Lounge Lizard]

That sounds very wrong to me.
Are you in the CWU and if so have you contacted your rep about this ?

[Wiggins79]

Hi Lizard, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I'm not in the union. I used to be, but because of the forced carrying over of hours, agreed to by our rep without our input, and also the shambles that is the 2010 agreement, I got fed up of paying £100+ a year in subs and came out of it. As I said in my post though, i had tried to talk to our rep about it before, but he reckoned he knew nothing. Then as it transpires he knew what was going on all along, so certainly feel there is no point in contacting him. Would it do any good to try higher than him? Not sure how I'd go about getting the number though. Thing is, in spdo's you are generally left to fend for yourselves. Whenever anyone has had need of union involvement in our office they have never been any use or even very interested.

[stokes11eg]

-Gosh--it's a bit of a saga! Can you be-sure however that this 40 hour duty is permenant for this guy? If so, and I'm being a little cynical here, are you sure he is not related to any of your Managers ,or Mangers in other offices? I have often found getting favourable positions is down to nepotism!
As to the 'legalities' R/M do what they want, but as I say often, WRITE to your Manager, and ask her to explain exactly how you werre bypassed for this position.

[Wiggins79]

-Gosh--it's a bit of a saga! Can you be-sure however that this 40 hour duty is permenant for this guy? If so, and I'm being a little cynical here, are you sure he is not related to any of your Managers ,or Mangers in other offices? I have often found getting favourable positions is down to nepotism!
As to the 'legalities' R/M do what they want, but as I say often, WRITE to your Manager, and ask her to explain exactly how you werre bypassed for this position.

No, I don't doubt your cynicsm is unfounded, but it would have to be some real digging to get to the bottom of it. 'm currently trying to get hold of the manager, but as I said she is generally "unavailable." No point now until tomorrow again as she will have frigged off home after lunch.

[Broxi51]

You need to join the CWU asap as you may be needing them.
HOWEVER
You need to see your Dom asap along with a witness. You need to find out why this has occurred
and then you can register in person with the Dom that you should have been notified.
Is the new guy senior to you? If not then you should be filling in a grievance against the Dom.

[stokes11eg]

-Gosh--it's a bit of a saga! Can you be-sure however that this 40 hour duty is permenant for this guy? If so, and I'm being a little cynical here, are you sure he is not related to any of your Managers ,or Mangers in other offices? I have often found getting favourable positions is down to nepotism!
As to the 'legalities' R/M do what they want, but as I say often, WRITE to your Manager, and ask her to explain exactly how you werre bypassed for this position.

No, I don't doubt your cynicsm is unfounded, but it would have to be some real digging to get to the bottom of it. 'm currently trying to get hold of the manager, but as I said she is generally "unavailable." No point now until tomorrow again as she will have frigged off home after lunch.

Yes, but if you put your concerns in writing (Doesn't have at t his point to be an official grievance)--she HAS to reply in writing! Always infer at the end of the letter you expect a WRITTEN response within say 28 days or so!

[Wiggins79]

Yeah, Broxi, it does look like I'm gonna have to join the CWU once again. I think another thread on here had a bloke mention that it was asking for it coming out of the union. Looks like it's coming true for me. Good advice about taking a witness, thanks. And yes, I forgot to add I have seniority over him (I've got nearly 8 years, he said he had 5).

[fishtank]

It sounds like MTSF Redeployment Process to me.
One surplus 40hr bod....one surplus 40hr duty.
A match made in heaven or hell depending on where you are standing at the time.

http://www.cwumerseyamal.org.uk/MTSF%202010.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Wiggins79]

-Gosh--it's a bit of a saga! Can you be-sure however that this 40 hour duty is permenant for this guy? If so, and I'm being a little cynical here, are you sure he is not related to any of your Managers ,or Mangers in other offices? I have often found getting favourable positions is down to nepotism!
As to the 'legalities' R/M do what they want, but as I say often, WRITE to your Manager, and ask her to explain exactly how you werre bypassed for this position.

No, I don't doubt your cynicsm is unfounded, but it would have to be some real digging to get to the bottom of it. 'm currently trying to get hold of the manager, but as I said she is generally "unavailable." No point now until tomorrow again as she will have frigged off home after lunch.

Yes, but if you put your concerns in writing (Doesn't have at t his point to be an official grievance)--she HAS to reply in writing! Always infer at the end of the letter you expect a WRITTEN response within say 28 days or so!

Sorry Stokes- meant to say it was also good advice to write as well. Thanks. Probably some of these suggestions seem a bit obvious, but my heads all over the place at the moment with all this.

[dvbuk55]

Are you frightened of the mangeress? You get days off, go to the "town" complete with your letter of grievance, email the manageress outlining your problem and cc the area manager with a request for a personal interview. Advertising posts had been let go by and large in our office too until we had the repick last November.............some people who had waltzed into "vacant" positions and held them for sometimes years, were displaced on seniority and quite rightly so. There are still vacant duties now which have been created by the repick and which again have been filled by a little nepotibut that will change quite soon.

[Dorset Plodder]

There's greater minds than mine on here that can probably advise you on the "Legal" side of this cock-up! It sounds a familiar story though and smells a bit of "Favouritism".

You sound like you're out in the sticks, and this guy has obviously had more contact with the Manager and the Rep so they know his face! Are you what management might consider "Militant or a Trouble-Maker?" Sometimes they like nothing better than to wind you up until you leave. IMO it looks like you're going to end up filling in a grievance form and going above the heads of both your Manager and Rep. At least then they can't hush it up quietly. Might be an idea to rejoin the CWU, at least you might get some help from the Area Rep.( Explain your problems with the Local Rep.)

There's a lot of Posties getting dumped on nowadays and I doubt if it's personal. Management just taking an easy way out without having to give it much thought! One way or another I expect this problem is going to boil down to how hard you want to fight it. You've nothing to loose and if you don't say anything they'll just let it go. Good luck Mate.

[stokes11eg]

-Gosh--it's a bit of a saga! Can you be-sure however that this 40 hour duty is permenant for this guy? If so, and I'm being a little cynical here, are you sure he is not related to any of your Managers ,or Mangers in other offices? I have often found getting favourable positions is down to nepotism!
As to the 'legalities' R/M do what they want, but as I say often, WRITE to your Manager, and ask her to explain exactly how you werre bypassed for this position.

No, I don't doubt your cynicsm is unfounded, but it would have to be some real digging to get to the bottom of it. 'm currently trying to get hold of the manager, but as I said she is generally "unavailable." No point now until tomorrow again as she will have frigged off home after lunch.

Yes, but if you put your concerns in writing (Doesn't have at t his point to be an official grievance)--she HAS to reply in writing! Always infer at the end of the letter you expect a WRITTEN response within say 28 days or so!

Sorry Stokes- meant to say it was also good advice to write as well. Thanks. Probably some of these suggestions seem a bit obvious, but my heads all over the place at the moment with all this.

As she sems to be constantly unavailable, writing's your best option--(If it was me, I'd send it recorded!) Good luck!

[Wiggins79]

Are you frightened of the mangeress? You get days off, go to the "town" complete with your letter of grievance, email the manageress outlining your problem and cc the area manager with a request for a personal interview. Advertising posts had been let go by and large in our office too until we had the repick last November.............some people who had waltzed into "vacant" positions and held them for sometimes years, were displaced on seniority and quite rightly so. There are still vacant duties now which have been created by the repick and which again have been filled by a little nepotibut that will change quite soon.

Cheers DV, good advice again. I wanted to gather as much info and advice before I got to see the manager face to face as she has a habit of simply riding roughshod over whatever people say to her with claims that everything has "been agreed locally with the union" or citing obscure rules from 2010 agreement etc. I'll also have to be careful as I can see myself going off on one and saying stuff to her that could get me in aggro.

Thanks for all your replies everyone. I didn't really expect you all to storm on so quickly with you advice, but it is really appreciated and just what I needed to give me a clear idea of just what to do next. I know I'm not the most regular poster on here, so that makes all your help even more appreciated. I always tend to go here first for any info regarding the job, as was said we are out in the sticks and hard, factual info is hard to some by.

[pants123]

welcome to hell,, its a real shame it's come to this but,,,,, ROYAL MAIL employees are now condemed to hell,,, my office is suffering big time,,,,,,,,,,, i'm at the end off the road,,,,,,, i've realized i'm just a nothing anymore..... delivery and all posties including myself is doomed......... end off.