UNION 'FORCES OUT' POSTMAN

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/297 ... ut-postman" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ANGRY villagers have vowed to fight to keep their popular postman they say has been replaced because he is not a union member.

Andy Bainborough, 53, is being moved at the end of next month due to “operational changes” agreed by Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union.

But villagers claim he is being replaced to allow long-serving union members to pick the best rounds and have launched a campaign to force Royal Mail to reverse the decision.

The 130 residents of the village of Ide, near Exeter in Devon, have signed a petition demand- ing Andy keeps his round.

Dawn Chapman, who started the campaign, has written to Royal Mail, stating: “Andy has been very clear that he does not wish to leave us and the irony that he doesn’t even belong to the CWU only adds to the sense of frustration amongst the Ide residents. We desperately do not want to lose him and he doesn’t want to go. He has become a key member of our community.

“He knows everyone by name and keeps an eye on elderly residents. We accept that change is sometimes necessary but this appears to be for no good reason.” Another said: “If it is not broken, why fix it? The Royal Mail are acting like Postman Pratts. This is penalising an excellent postman because he is not in the union and giving the round to one of their union band of brothers. Andy is not just a postman, he is like a social worker who keeps a close eye on folk. The guy is a legend and this change is the worst politically-motivated nonsense.”

Andy, who lives in Exeter, has been banned from commenting on the move by his bosses. But he wrote to his local newspaper: “As a result of Post Office reorganisation I will be reluctantly moving on to another delivery back in Exeter.

“This has been the most enjoy- able job I have ever had. You, the residents and my customers, have been the most kind, friendly and generous people anyone could ever wish to meet.”

Royal Mail said: “The operational changes we are making in the Exeter area and all over the UK are based on a national agreement between Royal Mail and our union. We can assure customers that quality of service will be maintained.”

Last night a union spokeswoman said the allegation was “complete rubbish”, adding: “The CWU is here to protect all postmen, whether union members or not.”

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Dear Daily Express

The most incorrect Anti-Union story ever ?

The reason he is being moved is not because he is not in the Union, that has no bearing on Operational matters. What happens when Royal Mail change how they do their deliveries is all rounds are changed and then everyone, Union and non Union, take turns by seniority (length of time working for Royal Mail) in picking their preferred duty if its available. Therefore there are 2 possible reasons why this postman is moving 1. He has selected another round or 2. A more senior Postie has selected the round.

The reason why seniority (not age), is used is because all rounds are meant to take exactly the same amount of time, and lets be honest the level of skill between one postie and another is hard to measure without bringing some bias into the selection procedure. This village looks likely to get a more experienced worker, who will probably get on with the residents just as much as the old one. Having done the job longer they are probably of "Old school" anyway.

I wonder though if the current postman as he dislikes collective agreements so much, is he going to give up his Delivery Supplement - This is an extra allowance the Union negotiated to reward the front line staff who go out in all weathers to deliver mail. Other functions within Royal Mail also get extra allowances dependent on their function but none are as high as the Delivery one.

Sometimes at work you win - sometimes you lose, but we all have to take the rough with the smooth, and part of the contract of employment with Royal Mail is that Collective agreements are used and you recognise that when you accept the offer of employment.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

DELIVER JUSTICE FOR POSTIE

http://www.express.co.uk/ourcomments/vi ... for-postie" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sunday January 22,2012
By Daily Express reporter



IT IS many years since the unions could be said to represent the average worker but the news that they are forcing a postman out of his job, as part of “operational changes”, wrecking his life and career in the process, is shocking indeed.

It is a disgrace that the Communication Workers Union has been allowed to hound Andy Bainborough out of the round he loves and which he does so well. No wonder the villagers of Ide, Devon, are up in arms.

Andy harks back to a bygone era, one of civility and looking after your neighbours, providing a lifeline to the elderly in case anything should go wrong.

The unions are totally out of touch, not only with reality but common decency. The Royal Mail should also feel ashamed of itself for this appalling breach of trust with both its customers and employees.

Andy must be moved back to Ide at once.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Dear Daily Express reporter

Dont the Express do fact checking any more.

The Union do not select which Postal Worker does which round.

It does not matter if you are a CWU member or not - everyone takes turns in selecting rounds, when there has been a change, based on how long they have worked for ROYAL MAIL.

When we start working for Royal Mail the contract warns you that they operate with collective agreements with their staff. Will this postman give up his delivery supplement which came out of such a collective agreement.

It is illegal to operate a closed shop, so if the Union did have a direct influence on this postman being "hounded" of this duty, both Royal Mail and the CWU should quite rightly face a judge in a court of law, or at least a tribunal.

See the original article for more comments by me.

[Straight4ward]

Richard Desmond's stable.

Would you expect anything less?

[taxi4leighton]

wish i had only 130 residents on my walk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i had a longer paper-round when i was 11 years old
poor andy my heart bleeds for you

[weirdo]

I'm a Union member, and I'd give up my delivery supplement, if I was paid for the D2D's I do. Oh no. thats right, they're (D2D) now classed as live mail, therefor, I get an extra £18 a week for doing the same job I did. what a RESULT!

I wish I was clever enough to think up a deal like that.

Alas......

[Militantdave]

I wonder though if the current postman as he dislikes collective agreements so much, is he going to give up his Delivery Supplement - This is an extra allowance the Union negotiated to reward the front line staff who go out in all weathers to deliver mail. Other functions within Royal Mail also get extra allowances dependent on their function but none are as high as the Delivery one

Amazing,i cannot see anywhere it says the postie does not like collective agreements,so why bother slagging him off like a school yard bully

i guess like the rest of us he would give it back,it was effectivly a pay cut for everyone i know.

[MinisterofCucumber]

If seniority was replaced by picking out of a hat, nobody could blame anyone else.

If all the rounds are equal, who would complain?

[DGP1]

I'm just surprised that the CWU didn't get blamed for killing Diana

[TeeferTiger]

I'm just surprised that the CWU didn't get blamed for killing Diana

http://youtu.be/uoZ71sj3Kn0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kawoxux]

"Is cast-iron Dave supposed to be a Conservative? How can he allow things like this to happen. No wonder the post office is so inefficient and is having to put up the price of stamps yet again. It is dominated by the Trade Union."

GOOD ONE.

[DGP1]

I'm just surprised that the CWU didn't get blamed for killing Diana

http://youtu.be/uoZ71sj3Kn0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[POSTMAN]

These stories are f***ing boring,all it needs is for the posties involved to tell how it is and stop them being run,or at least the truth to be told.
Some even get their photo done for it ffs.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I wonder though if the current postman as he dislikes collective agreements so much, is he going to give up his Delivery Supplement - This is an extra allowance the Union negotiated to reward the front line staff who go out in all weathers to deliver mail. Other functions within Royal Mail also get extra allowances dependent on their function but none are as high as the Delivery one

Amazing,i cannot see anywhere it says the postie does not like collective agreements,so why bother slagging him off like a school yard bully

i guess like the rest of us he would give it back,it was effectivly a pay cut for everyone i know.

I am sorry if you saw my comment as bullying, all I was trying to point out to anyone not in the Union or working for Royal Mail that he can't pick and chose what agreements he can accept or refuse. By his failing to point out the seniority is used (not age) by Royal Mail because of a collective agreement and that he pointedly tries to blames the Union for loosing his duty, when he WILL KNOW that's not the case, he is, although not specifically, is certainly all but saying he does not agree with collective agreements.

The reason I used the delivery supplement as a point is because at the time of posting I could not think of anything else that showed TO THE PUBLIC that there are good and bad things about collective agreements. With over 600 delivery point I am a loser with the Delivery Supplement, but a fair few gained from it, it was more of a debating point than anything else.