Walk sequencing machine operators?

[Judgee]

Just be notified that a few full and part time positions have come up at my office.

Would it be worth going for? Is working on these machines better than plodding about for hours on delivery?

The only two downsides I can see is they are night shift and I'm guessing it's boring as hell?

On the plus side a shift bonus, no idea how much that is? and the chance for my dodgy knees, back, and wrists to mend?

Any thoughts?

[clashcityrocker]

If you intend staying with RM for the foreseeable I would jump at a chance of getting off delivery.
It will not be able to sustain this for decades.
I am sure there are a lot of drawbacks to working nights and working on the machines but I doubt they compare to the physical demands of delivery.

[Tman]

CSS operator is one of the most physically-demanding jobs in RM. Totally unlike plodding around the streets for a couple of hours, you'd need to be fit and stay alert through the night.

[clashcityrocker]

Totally unlike plodding around the streets for a couple of hours,

[Judgee]

Well if it was only plodding for the streets for a couple of hours I wouldn't consider getting off deliveries. Unfortunately the plodding tends to be between 4 and 5 hours now!

I guess the loading and unloading on the ws machines must be quite strenuous but is it constant? or just an hour here and there with a bit of mooching about in between?

[Indy]

Totally unlike plodding around the streets for a couple of hours.

"Plodding" Words fail me

[col456xyz]

been on machines for a month now.do 4x 10 hours,find it more draining than delivery.
2 hours on -2 hours off machine,for those two hours you are constantly on the go especially on small batch sizes.
if you dont like working under pressure or get flustered easy its not for you,you need to hit targets and are constantly monitered.
the plus side ,money,more days off,no bad weather or late finishes.
i am glad i made the change after 28 years on delivery and collection.

[DB1100]

CSS operator is one of the most physically-demanding jobs in RM. Totally unlike plodding around the streets for a couple of hours, you'd need to be fit and stay alert through the night.

Wow,It must be really hard,you poor thing imagine having to stay alert and not having the benefit of getting soaked or boiled by the sun,not having to avoid rabid dogs,getting regular breaks,not getting your fingers tangled in gates made by people who have trouble remembering how to breathe,dodging cyclists who think they own the pavement,trying to get past obese parents as they waddle to school dragging fat redfaced kids whilst juggling 6 lots of door to doors and endless crap about cruise liners and exotic holidays to poor sods who have been unemployed for years.I'm really glad I don't have to work indoors

[TrueBlueTerrier]

CSS operator is one of the most physically-demanding jobs in RM. Totally unlike plodding around the streets for a couple of hours, you'd need to be fit and stay alert through the night.

Wow,It must be really hard,you poor thing imagine having to stay alert and not having the benefit of getting soaked or boiled by the sun,not having to avoid rabid dogs,getting regular breaks,not getting your fingers tangled in gates made by people who have trouble remembering how to breathe,dodging cyclists who think they own the pavement,trying to get past obese parents as they waddle to school dragging fat redfaced kids whilst juggling 6 lots of door to doors and endless crap about cruise liners and exotic holidays to poor sods who have been unemployed for years.I'm really glad I don't have to work indoors

TMan is not a CSS operator. He is also not a Postman so he has only a cursory idea what its like on delivery which is why most people let his post pass them by without comment.

[Tman]

You can play that old game if you like, but CSS operators who've done both duties seem to think the CSS job is more demanding.
But there you go, far be it of me to point that those poor delivery blokes aren't the only RM staff who find work hard, and spoil all the "we've got it tough" endless droning of delivery staff on here...

[24601]

You can play that old game if you like, but CSS operators who've done both duties seem to think the CSS job is more demanding.
But there you go, far be it of me to point that those poor delivery blokes aren't the only RM staff who find work hard, and spoil all the "we've got it tough" endless droning of delivery staff on here...

I've worked for Royal Mail for 24 years.Been on delivery,lates,nights,driver and non driver.We were one of the first offices with CSS machines and I've been an operator for 4 years.

Its definately the hardest I've worked since I joined the company.2nd wave especially with small batches which are a lot harder to run than big ones is pretty demanding.Up to 3 hours of non stop physical activity that leaves you with aches and pains in places you didn't even know you had.

On the plus side its got to be the lesser of the 2 evils and I certainly wouldn't choose to go back on delivery with all the pressure and bulls**t from so called managers.Also the money is pretty good and on a personal note I've only got 2 years to go beforeI can kiss goodbye to the farce that Royal mail has become.

[fishtank]

Most of the CSS operators are senior members of staff.
Very few would have come straight from a walking delivery.
Even fewer would have experienced 4hr+ walking deliveries.
None of them will have experienced post BTA revision deliveries.
Your argument Tman,that operators have experienced both sides of the coin doesn't really hold water.
How many did you interview in this "study" of yours?

[DGP1]

It would kill me to be inside all day, I just couldn't cope with the constant breaks, the constant environment, the coffee that needs to be consumed. Outside for 5 or 6 hours is preferable to 3 hours inside (but that's just me).

[dvbuk55]

It would kill me to be inside all day, I just couldn't cope with the constant breaks, the constant environment, the coffee that needs to be consumed. Outside for 5 or 6 hours is preferable to 3 hours inside (but that's just me).

I did the CSS training. I am I suppose a senior member of staff...........too senior! The first wave can and usually does take 5 hours, the second wave less BUT the smaller the wave the harder the work and it is relentless. The one plus factor is that the time goes very fast, but it is tiring. Had I been younger I may have continued but it impinged too much on my work/life schedule because it seemed if I wasn't at work I was eating or sleeping.

[DB1100]

CSS operator is one of the most physically-demanding jobs in RM. Totally unlike plodding around the streets for a couple of hours, you'd need to be fit and stay alert through the night.

Wow,It must be really hard,you poor thing imagine having to stay alert and not having the benefit of getting soaked or boiled by the sun,not having to avoid rabid dogs,getting regular breaks,not getting your fingers tangled in gates made by people who have trouble remembering how to breathe,dodging cyclists who think they own the pavement,trying to get past obese parents as they waddle to school dragging fat redfaced kids whilst juggling 6 lots of door to doors and endless crap about cruise liners and exotic holidays to poor sods who have been unemployed for years.I'm really glad I don't have to work indoors

TMan is not a CSS operator. He is also not a Postman so he has only a cursory idea what its like on delivery which is why most people let his post pass them by without comment.

I didn't know so I responded to his drivel,I shall try to be more physic or words to that effect.