CWU:Concerns over Angard agency work

[POSTMAN]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/concern ... ml?mid=553" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Royal Mail was today called on to "shape up and get a grip" as complaints mounted about the company's new recruitment agency Angard.

With less than a fortnight until Christmas, the CWU is receiving reports of casual staff not being paid, being turned away when they turn up as requested for their shifts, problems with security clearance, being left in the dark about their contract and employment rights, and being unable to contact the agency.

"We've had complaints from around the country about some serious problems for agency staff employed by Angard," said CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward. "Most worrying are the reports of people being turned away or not being paid. These are vulnerable people who took casual work in the hope of making some cash for Christmas and who have bills to pay."

Dave explains that at the busiest time of the year for Royal Mail, post deliveries and collections are going well. "While operations are going well across the country, there's a small group of people who are being treated poorly by Angard and that is unacceptable. We expressed serious concerns about this agency right back in September, but Royal Mail assured us they had full confidence in them - it seems this confidence may have been misplaced.

"I've contacted Royal Mail at the highest level and the CWU is urging them to get a grip on this right now," Dave continued, adding: "We're urging all agency workers at Royal Mail to join the CWU so that we can help protect their pay and conditions at work.

"This is the first year that Angard has been in operation. It is owned by Royal Mail and run by Reeds. Other agencies are also supplying casual staff for Royal Mail over the Christmas period.

[POSTMAN]

The article started so well an all...

there's a small group of people who are being treated poorly by Angard

[demon]

union should look after proper postman first

[TrueBlueTerrier]

union should look after proper postman first

How are they not proper posties - they are doing the same job, at less wage, with more uncertainty and a lot more grief at the moment.

Although to be fair if you are not Union member the question may be understandable, but not the feelings behind it.

If you are a member then perhaps your approach is a little short sighted, atypical of Union values, in poor taste and very worrying.
"An injury to one, is an injury to all" is not just a glib quote.

[markadam1962]

Hope DEMON was joking?

Like to know how many regulars who are currently employed by RM started life as Casuals, be interesting to know.

I see the "Them and Us" debate continuing for a while yet

[billbagley135]

DEMONS comments speak for themselves, what a PLONKER!!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Like to know how many regulars who are currently employed by RM started life as Casuals, be interesting to know.

To be clear and above board - I was a Christmas Casual in deliveries.

[fishtank]

DEMONS comments speak for themselves, what a PLONKER!!

demon's comment speaks only for herself.
I would doubt that any reasonably intelligent CWU member would agree with her.

[pyphon]

i was a casual once too

[TeeferTiger]

Whilst I no longer work for RM, I was a member of the CWU and don't share the "them and us" opinion. If anything I gave a lot of support to the Xmas casuals as I felt it must have been very daunting for them to come in to a place to basically be used as a dogsbody for a few weeks. Then again, I was the workplace coach and I used to look after the new starters so maybe I was just used to being the mother hen?!

[BELIAL]

Rest easy Angard employees , the CWU has "urged"and that is scary and unresistable .Code for you are left to hang out and dry

[TeeferTiger]

Rest easy Angard employees , the CWU has "urged"and that is scary and unresistable .Code for you are left to hang out and dry

A bit like when the Prime Minister says he's giving someone his full support

[Bob Worth]

I do not know why Angard claims to be an agency. It is run by Royal Mail HR bosses (at least they were until recently) and it is owned by the Royal Mail.

Its only customer is the Royal Mail. It is not really an agency. It is a subsiduary or Royal Mail.

[bandit650]

As a CWU member i believe that we should support these members of Temporary staff( all be it they may only be with us for a short while) they are supporting us as a business, without them we could not do it and all should remember that,the staff deserve to be payed and i have made sure that i have been vocal about the situation,These people have come off benefits in a hope to feel that they once again can come and join us in the work force with their heads held high,valued again feeling that they have a reason to be out in the work place gaining a pay packet and what happens ANGARD with no pay,i hope that what i read earlier was a joke i am a real postie but i started as a casual a long time ago on delivery's we were never treated like we didn't matter!

[TeeferTiger]

As a CWU member i believe that we should support these members of Temporary staff( all be it they may only be with us for a short while) they are supporting us as a business, without them we could not do it and all should remember that,the staff deserve to be payed and i have made sure that i have been vocal about the situation,These people have come off benefits in a hope to feel that they once again can come and join us in the work force with their heads held high,valued again feeling that they have a reason to be out in the work place gaining a pay packet and what happens ANGARD with no pay,i hope that what i read earlier was a joke i am a real postie but i started as a casual a long time ago on delivery's we were never treated like we didn't matter!