Southport postal worker claims she was injured delivering ma

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Southport postal worker claims she was injured delivering mail after having surgery

http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/south ... -29417164/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A POSTAL worker injured herself after being forced to deliver mail days after undergoing invasive surgery, a tribunal heard.
Royal Mail employee Pauline McCallion suffered an internal rupture and needed a fallopian tube removing after being placed on full delivery duties as soon as she returned to work after IVF treatment.
The tribunal heard she was made to lift mailbags weighing up to 16kg.

Ms McCallion, of Southport, who is suing Royal Mail for constructive unfair dismissal, told the Liverpool hearing that mail bosses had ignored concerns about her physical wellbeing.

She was taken to hospital with acute abdominal pain three days after returning to work.

Ms McCallion was based at Southport’s Wight Moss delivery office. She returned to work on November 6, 2008, 13 days after she had keyhole surgery as part of IVF treatment.

She said: “During the delivery I felt strained, found it difficult and was struggling.

“My only thoughts were that there was no way I could do a full delivery and how I wanted to complete the delivery to return to the safety of the office.

“I was still taking painkillers at the time.

“Delivery bags are to weigh no more than 16kg and delivery entails a lot of bending, depending on where letterboxes are placed.”

Giving evidence, Ms McCallion added: “On November 9, I was back in hospital with acute abdominal pain. I had been on delivery work for three days. I was admitted as an emergency for four days.”

Ms McCallion claimed upon her arrival back at work on November 17, Royal Mail botched return-to-work procedures and lost a report recommending she undertook light duties to aid her rehabilitation.

She told the tribunal how after working a week on partial duties, she was again instructed to take on a full postal round.


She said: “I obeyed because I could see no other option. [Manager] Sharon Forsyth continued to claim my report had been lost and was only for one week.
“Once again I hurt myself while delivering.”

Ms McCallion said after being reprimanded by mail bosses for her absence, she was diagnosed with stress and submitted a grievance against the company.

She said she was left with no option but to resign.

Royal Mail, which was due to give evidence today, was expected to point to “abusive” emails sent by Ms McCallion to her superiors in 2009 as proof she wilfully handed in her notice.

She put the emails down to stress which revived her dependance on alcohol.

Ms McCallion said: “It was something I did while intoxicated because I did not think I was being taken seriously.”

The alleged treatment of Ms McCallion, who started her job in 2007, was raised in Parliament by Southport MP John Pugh last year.

He accused postmasters of a “reign of terror”.

[NWpostie]

Theres been a lot of problems in that Delivery Office, I have heard horror stories in there, as to the Postwomen I would have recommended staying of on sick for a lot longer to ensure recovery, the Rep should have advised that she should and also to ensure that she is on light duties, it sounded that she has been coerced with no consideration for her health and in my mind that is a form of bullying, likely to affect her state of mind, hence the abusive emails which is quite understandable given her treatment and could be used as a defence, I hope she wins her case.

It should be remembered that you come first not Royal Mail, you are just a number and you won't get any thanks for putting yourself out, with that in mind much of this could have been prevented for everybody concerned, most importantly Ms McCallion.

[Lounge Lizard]

Theres been a lot of problems in that Delivery Office, I have heard horror stories in there, as to the Postwomen I would have recommended staying of on sick for a lot longer to ensure recovery, the Rep should have advised that she should and also to ensure that she is on light duties, it sounded that she has been coerced with no consideration for her health and in my mind that is a form of bullying, likely to affect her state of mind, hence the abusive emails which is quite understandable given her treatment and could be used as a defence, I hope she wins her case.

It should be remembered that you come first not Royal Mail, you are just a number and you won't get any thanks for putting yourself out, with that in mind much of this could have been prevented for everybody concerned, most importantly Ms McCallion.

"Theres been a lot of problems in that Delivery Office" - like postmen sacked for not wearing a cycle helmet, first offence, if I remember correctly.

[brothermagrew]

Think you will find LL that the particular postman from that delivery office was reinstated after a 22 months battle.

CWU website LTB 192/11 refers

[NWpostie]

Correct, in need never to happened in the first place, such is the management culture within Southport DO, there will be more cases like this.