Angard:Christmas chaos at the post office

[POSTMAN]

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news ... st_office/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TEMPORARY staff at Royal Mail have gone postal over claims of poor organisation by its recruitment agent, while two Christmas workers have been arrested on suspicion of stealing.

Staff brought in over the busy Christmas period for Royal Mail by Angard Staffing have told the Adver that many were turned away on their first day, some were originally given the wrong shift times and others have not been paid.

The claims come as two temporary workers were arrested on suspicion of theft on Thursday, after allegedly being caught opening packages and attempting to steal the contents, believed to be mobile phones.

The 19-year-old and 20-year-old, both of Swindon, were arrested at the Groundwell Industrial Estate depot at 5.19am before being release pending further enquiries.

In response to the complaints by temps, the company said: “We are, of course, very sorry if anyone feels the recruitment process has not met the high standards Royal Mail always seeks to achieve – we are very confident that would be the view of a very small minority.”

Mike Webster, 21, of Park North is one of the temporary staff, who said there was confusion due to the service from Angard Staffing, which is part of Royal Mail.

The father-of-one said: “I’ve was told to start at three different times – first it was nights, then it was 11am to 7pm and also on different dates.

“I started on November 28 and I haven’t been paid yet. It is supposed to be a week in arrears and I’ve told my manager, but it hasn’t been sorted.

“It’s so hard to get hold of them – even Royal Mail managers have problems getting hold of them. There’s no answerphone and they don’t reply to emails.”

Sarah Thomas, 21, of Lawn, said there had also been confusion over her shift patterns, while her sister Holly, 25, was turned away on her first day.

“I am appalled by the treatment we have received during the recruitment process and all the problems that have occurred,” she said.

“At my initial interview at the beginning of November we were confirmed to be working the 7.30am to 2pm shift from December 5 to December 24.

“Eventually we received an email from Angard, to confirm our 10pm to 6am shifts. We immediately emailed to inform them we had been put on the wrong shifts, but received no reply.

“Someone from the agency called and suggested I turn up at the previously agreed shift with the paperwork from the interview confirming the actual shift time.

“Around half the people, including me, who had turned up were not on the list of names provided to Royal Mail and almost all had had issues with the recruitment process.”

Royal Mail spokesperson Sally Hopkins said: “Royal Mail’s Christmas recruitment campaign is the biggest of its kind in the country. We have had a tremendous response to the 18,000 temporary roles Royal Mail has been seeking to fill this Christmas, with more than 110,000 applications.

“As well as its unique size, Royal Mail’s recruitment of temporary workers differs from other large companies in that it conducts a criminal records security check.

“We do this because of the paramount importance of protecting our customers’ mail.

“The vetting procedure does mean, however, that it can take a few weeks before the provisional offers of jobs we make to applicants can be confirmed. We explain this carefully to applicants. We are sorry if any applicant has found the process frustrating.

“Our approach throughout the recruitment campaign has been to treat all applicants fairly and with respect – and that includes ensuring they get an answer to their inquiries, including when their application has been unsuccessful “We are very confident the majority of applicants will feel they have been treated fairly.”

In relation to reports seasonal workers have not been paid, she said: “The vast majority of temporary staff have been paid. We are aware of some seasonal workers who have not been paid.

“We have taken this up with the various agencies we work with to resolve the problem. As many seasonal workers in this position as possible have been contacted to reassure them plans are in place to pay them within the next few days.”

She said she could not comment on whether any arrests had been made, but ‘Royal Mail’s policy is a zero tolerance stance to any form of dishonesty’.

[madcyril71]

talk about talking out your arse sally

[markadam1962]

P45 for Sally Hopkins!

er can Sally explain the Canterbury Job ad posted earlier this week. Weeks of "Security checks" eh.

[Emzay]

Can she explain why when Royal Mail HR did it every year before this everything ran smooth as, with no hiccups with said security checks? AND everyone got paid. Vast majority my bum. NOBODY at the York depot had been paid by the time I left at 10pm tonight. LIARS.

[markadam1962]

Perhaps whilst silly Sally still has a job before the press tear her apart she can explain how the setting up of Angard in the first place was done and why? Was it to get around the Agency Working rule changes?

I love these RM spokes people..give em a shovel eh!

[Nina88]

In all fairness Sally is just doing her job by bullshiting with every word that comes out of her mouth. If your okay with that moral attitude Sal then you may as well be a prostitute aka f**k everyone at least I have money. If only I had the opportunity to meet these people down a back ally with no camera!

[Verging]

Perhaps whilst silly Sally still has a job before the press tear her apart she can explain how the setting up of Angard in the first place was done and why? Was it to get around the Agency Working rule changes?

I love these RM spokes people..give em a shovel eh!

I have heard 4 possible reasons which would all be possible by setting up Angard:

To 'technically' not breach the AWR (i.e a technical avoidance method of the AWR)

Tax benefits for RM by employing via an Agency

To move RM casuals to Angard (pay them less than they were being paid by RM - particular for night work and Sunday work). Plus harsher Terms & Conditions for the regular casuals.

Once RM do not have casuals on their own books (i.e. moved to Angard) it is easier to slim down the rest of the RM operation and make it much more attractive to a potential buyer when it is sold off.

[markadam1962]

Well said Verging I think your onto something there!

[johnabosotck]

Emzay: Can she explain why when Royal Mail HR did it every year before this everything ran smooth as, with no hiccups with said security checks? AND everyone got paid. Vast majority my bum. NOBODY at the York depot had been paid by the time I left at 10pm tonight. LIARS.

Emzay at least you have a job at York. After I wrote to Moya Greene (found her email address) complaining with various emails between us, I had a phone call from someone at Angard (name given with his telephone number), saying that as I have an excellent work record with Royal Mail from 2000 (when I began doing this Christmas work) I was to be fast-tracked, as I should have started on the 2nd December, 6am shift. He said I would be receiving the necessary email, contract, shift details identification by email either on Thursday (8th) or Friday (9th) - I`m still waiting and have now given up and written again to Moya Greene about Angard - no reply this time!!

[ndevr]

when i registered for the position at York MC i was talking to two people who i knew from previous years (One did the late shift (the same i put in for) the other the early shift). All three of us were saying it was a shambles even at registration. It seemed that out of the three of us i was the only (Un)lucky one to get an offer albeit a week late. So whether or not you've done it before meant sweet FA to these lot.

[POSTMAN]

I have heard 4 possible reasons which would all be possible by setting up Angard:

To 'technically' not breach the AWR (i.e a technical avoidance method of the AWR)

Tax benefits for RM by employing via an Agency

To move RM casuals to Angard (pay them less than they were being paid by RM - particular for night work and Sunday work). Plus harsher Terms & Conditions for the regular casuals.

Once RM do not have casuals on their own books (i.e. moved to Angard) it is easier to slim down the rest of the RM operation and make it much more attractive to a potential buyer when it is sold off.

Spot on.

See the CWU LTB stickie,and the any journo on the site stickie in this forum as well.

[johnabosotck]

ndevr, when did you register and what time. I owe some money to the person who said he was going to register for the night shift because Angard sent about a dozen of us away for a 2nd photo?

[madcyril71]

I have heard 4 possible reasons which would all be possible by setting up Angard:

To 'technically' not breach the AWR (i.e a technical avoidance method of the AWR)

Tax benefits for RM by employing via an Agency

To move RM casuals to Angard (pay them less than they were being paid by RM - particular for night work and Sunday work). Plus harsher Terms & Conditions for the regular casuals.

Once RM do not have casuals on their own books (i.e. moved to Angard) it is easier to slim down the rest of the RM operation and make it much more attractive to a potential buyer when it is sold off.

Spot on.

See the CWU LTB stickie,and the any journo on the site stickie in this forum as well.

this is just the start of it