30 hour contract, non sorting duty - do you have to sort?

stressed · Post by **stressed** » 06 Sep 2007, 12:28

If you are on a 30 hour contract and sorting is not part of that duty, then when asked to sort by the DOM on the IPS (even though you are still throwing in to your fitting).... are you within your rights to say that you can not help, as you are too busy?

I don't mind helping out if I am up-to-date, but the knock on effect is that I don't get out when I should if I am still behind preping my own duty.

When I go up and sort I am always asked by my colleagues why am I sorting as I don't get paid for it.

Postmanplug · Post by **Postmanplug** » 06 Sep 2007, 12:45

Northyorks
You are contracted for 30 hours and your duty as OPG covers all aspects of the job.
If you are asked to go on the sorting you could refuse on the grounds that you will be late out on delivery.
This would mean you would have to cut off or they will have to pay overtime in order for you to complete your delivery.
But all jobs are (as diercted) meaning if the Manager give a reasonble request you are expected to carry out that request.
Hope this helps
Postman Plug

robd · Post by **robd** » 06 Sep 2007, 14:22

The only difference between an OPG and an AG is,an AG is not expected to go on IPS.
However,if the manager is asking you to help out,then clearly there is a lack of manpower(full-time workers)
so the best course of action is,make a note of how long you've spent helping out,and book that time as overtime,even
if it's only 10mins.
As we enter autumn pressure,and management have cut back on staffing levels,i fear you'll be asked a lot more,it really
annoys me because no new entrants learn the stack anymore and so don't have the opportunity to come in on overtime
sorting.
Yet if it's busy,suddenly you're capable of doing it,and for nothing at that.
get it booked!!!

Post by **POSTMAN** » 06 Sep 2007, 15:06

Do as he says,take your time,dont use your car and all that shite then cut off!

ROCKY · Post by **ROCKY** » 06 Sep 2007, 16:08

this is one of the big problems for part timers starting early,you get prepped in your own time so by the time you are getting paid you are standing around with nothing to do so are a easy target,if you dont like it,dont come in early then if you have to sort you either book docket or cut off if you go over your time

AndyK · Post by **AndyK** » 06 Sep 2007, 16:38

you could refuse to do the work on grounds of not being trained, you should be trained before being asked to carry out a task you would not normally do also it may be interesting to put an individual grivence, at any rate see your CWU rep.

johnnyp · Post by **johnnyp** » 06 Sep 2007, 17:17

AndyK wrote:you could refuse to do the work on grounds of not being trained, you should be trained before being asked to carry out a task you would not normally do also it may be interesting to put an individual grivence, at any rate see your CWU rep.

I.P.S. is a skilled job and you should be trained on cards.
3days ,500 cards,20 mins on test 5 mistakes,is what used to be the norm

a bit different now me thinks.
In our office we dont have cards,none were made up at our last revision,so we put them on normal mail and use the idiot boards.

stressed · Post by **stressed** » 06 Sep 2007, 18:55

ROCKY wrote:this is one of the big problems for part timers starting early,you get prepped in your own time so by the time you are getting paid you are standing around with nothing to do so are a easy target,if you dont like it,dont come in early then if you have to sort you either book docket or cut off if you go over your time

Who said anything about coming in early? I come in on time and do not use my car. Just wondering what is the point in having none sorting duties when you are constantly asked to sort then?

Post by **dvbuk55** » 06 Sep 2007, 19:04

northyorks wrote:
ROCKY wrote:this is one of the big problems for part timers starting early,you get prepped in your own time so by the time you are getting paid you are standing around with nothing to do so are a easy target,if you dont like it,dont come in early then if you have to sort you either book docket or cut off if you go over your time
Who said anything about coming in early? I come in on time and do not use my car. Just wondering what is the point in having none sorting duties when you are constantly asked to sort then?

See your unit Rep, explain the position to him and ask him to discuss additional hours for your duty at the next liaison meeting in view of the constant request for assistance on IPS.

If you aren't interested in extra hours decline the IPS - it won't be on your 318 - if he insists - explain that you will be deducting the IPS time from your delivery time and cutting off accordingly.

robd · Post by **robd** » 06 Sep 2007, 19:20

ROCKY wrote:this is one of the big problems for part timers starting early,you get prepped in your own time so by the time you are getting paid you are standing around with nothing to do

This is a good point,although not unique to part-timers,infact in our D.O. some of the worst offenders are the full-timers.
No, i think the problem is priority will always be given to inward mail,so you could turn up on your duty time,be it 7.00am/
7.30am and the manager could request you go straight on ips,before you've even thrown a letter in!
It's creating a bit of anomosity actually,because we're stretched already on stack,taking people off to throw in AG walks who end up going on delivery before you do!
But ultimately after you,ve been on ips for 1hour and a half,you've had enough and naturally slow down,so if it means
the AG's go on stack for 10 mins to save 20 people cutting off,it's inevitable i'm afraid.

Wild Cat · Post by **Wild Cat** » 06 Sep 2007, 19:23

North Yorks if you are asked to go on the IPS and you are only paid 30 hours is your walk a part time walk ie less than 3.5 hours on an average day?

Post by **dvbuk55** » 06 Sep 2007, 19:32

robd wrote:
ROCKY wrote:this is one of the big problems for part timers starting early,you get prepped in your own time so by the time you are getting paid you are standing around with nothing to do
This is a good point,although not unique to part-timers,infact in our D.O. some of the worst offenders are the full-timers.
No, i think the problem is priority will always be given to inward mail,so you could turn up on your duty time,be it 7.00am/
7.30am and the manager could request you go straight on ips,before you've even thrown a letter in!
It's creating a bit of anomosity actually,because we're stretched already on stack,taking people off to throw in AG walks who end up going on delivery before you do!
But ultimately after you,ve been on ips for 1hour and a half,you've had enough and naturally slow down,so if it means
the AG's go on stack for 10 mins to save 20 people cutting off,it's inevitable i'm afraid.

No it isn't inevitable -it's negotiable - never ever accept bad practise always ask for clarification and always try to get what is right and due. Allowing Managers to institute local changes to suit their purpose to the detriment of the work plan AS AGREED is wrong.

ROCKY · Post by **ROCKY** » 06 Sep 2007, 19:44

i dont know your individual position i was only speaking from experience but if you can do the full job in your hours then ADSO comes in and yes if asked you will be expected to go on ips,if it takes you over your time then as i said its down to docket or cut off

stressed · Post by **stressed** » 06 Sep 2007, 19:57

Wild Cat wrote:North Yorks if you are asked to go on the IPS and you are only paid 30 hours is your walk a part time walk ie less than 3.5 hours on an average day?

The walk is part time and as far as I am aware the hours for that duty are to throw all the mail in, bag up and deliver it. But its becoming more common practise to be asked to help out for 10-20 minutes towards the end of IPS sorting as they are always behind due to changes made within the office and having less people on nights.