Postman 'forced out of job in row over bicycle'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... cycle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

William Blight, an award-winning postman, claims that he was forced out of his job when he was ordered to abandon his bicycle and deliver mail by “high capacity” trolley instead.

Mr Blight, 42, had become a familiar face in the picturesque village of Corfe Castle, in Dorset, where he delivered the post for 14 years.

But when Royal Mail insisted he start using one its new trolleys, designed to make it easier to carry heavy parcels, he felt “bullied” and “intimidated”, he told an employment tribunal.

The company refused to heed his warnings that the pavements were too narrow for a trolley and would prove “dangerous”, he said.

Mr Blight even measured the pavements in the village to prove his point, but was still told that he had to forsake the bicycle.

The postman told the Southampton tribunal that the problems began when he asked for the faulty gears to be repaired on his bike.

After sending back a replacement which he said was equally defective, he was visited at home in April 2010, by manager, John Cresswell.

Mr Blight, who is claiming unfair constructive dismissal, told the hearing: "He told me of changes to Royal Mail which included removing my cycle and replacing it with a high capacity trolley.

"I told him that would clearly be slow and inappropriate for use in a village with pavements that are very narrow and sometimes non existent.

"But before leaving he said there was no point repairing the bike and it would be replaced with a trolley.

"I felt I was being bullied into accepting the conditions and I felt he had succeeded in intimidating me.”

Mr Blight said that he had always prided himself on the effort he put into serving the community and felt that his views were being dismissed.

"I even measured the trolley and did a walk of my round, measuring the pavement,” he said.

"My concerns about it were confirmed - it was unsafe and dangerous.

"I'm happy to compromise but I object to being subjected to poor working procedures and dangerous conditions.”

Mr Blight, who was given an award by Royal Mail in 2006 after cycling more than 5,000 miles in six months for charity, launched a series of grievance procedures and was signed off work with workplace stress.

But he said that his trust in the company dwindled and in March 2011, gave notice of his intention to leave.

"They told me that I could work in another branch, but that would mean I was losing money through petrol, or that I could do my round by van, but I only have an automatic driving licence, and the vans are manual,” he said.

"I had lost considerable faith in my employers and had no reason to believe that working there would not be any more shambolic.”

Mr Blight said he felt that he had “found his niche” when he took the job in Corfe Castle and that felt useful to the community and the customers liked him.

"Change should be looked at to make sure it is progress but this change was completely unnecessary,” he added.

"I had expected to work there until my retirement but was forced to leave in March 2011 on the grounds of constructive dismissal."

Royal Mail introduced high capacity trolleys across the country in response to an increase in the number of packages the company is delivering.

The hearing continues.

[TeeferTiger]

If they wanted him to use the trolley, he should've used the trolley, and then when he got killed his point would've been proved

[heapsy]

Mmm We were told they have come in on health and safety grounds. It is true however that as well as HCTs and vans we have also retained 2 cycles..... on Health and Safety grounds.

[REDLETTER]

Did any managers go out and do a Risk Assessment?

Had the same problem at my old DO, a Firms duty was told to use a trolley, but you couldn't get passed all the parked cars on the pavement and had to go on the road, where is the health and safety of the employee in that!

Royal Mail are complete muppets when it comes to working out practical solutions. The computer say it can be done, so it HAS to be done!

[fishtank]

Did any managers go out and do a Risk Assessment?

And the rep?

[REDLETTER]

Did any managers go out and do a Risk Assessment?

And the rep?

The Area H & S Rep got involved, compromise was made, then ignored by DOM, Bullying etc, got change back to a van duty, still not fully resolved!
Other issues have now come into play!

[Wessex]

God I hope he wins his case

[Sergeant Blast]

God I hope he wins his case

If common sense prevails he should win.....but I don't think he will...

[heapsy]

Did any managers go out and do a Risk Assessment?

Had the same problem at my old DO, a Firms duty was told to use a trolley, but you couldn't get passed all the parked cars on the pavement and had to go on the road, where is the health and safety of the employee in that!

Royal Mail are complete muppets when it comes to working out practical solutions. The computer say it can be done, so it HAS to be done!

Similar situation on my walk with little or no pavement in parts and an HCT for delivery. Did a quick count this morning and there appears to be 4 maybe 5 cycles which are still in use for delivery despite the supposed ban.

[Godric]

God I hope he wins his case

what i would like to know is how a HCT is a better H&S option when you are having to push 110 kilos compared to pushing/cycling a 50 kilo bike including a full pouch of mail ... if these guys were serious about the health and Safety of postmen/women they would check fatigue levels after completing your duty one day using a bike and the following day using a HCT

[brothermagrew]

I think the term of reducing over the shoulder problems applies. Being of the older generation if you can successfully negotiate a silver cross pram with the usual accoutrements an HCT shouldn't really present any problems as long as it is not over the maximum weight limits.

[Godric]

I think the term of reducing over the shoulder problems applies. Being of the older generation if you can successfully negotiate a silver cross pram with the usual accoutrements an HCT shouldn't really present any problems as long as it is not over the maximum weight limits.

that is the problem it's causing more pain in your lower back and on your feet ... having tried using a HCT loaded with 45 kilos of mail after completing my walk i could hardly walk due to the pain on my feet and lower back and i used the HCT for a week

[heapsy]

I think the term of reducing over the shoulder problems applies. Being of the older generation if you can successfully negotiate a silver cross pram with the usual accoutrements an HCT shouldn't really present any problems as long as it is not over the maximum weight limits.

that is the problem it's causing more pain in your lower back and on your feet ... having tried using a HCT loaded with 45 kilos of mail after completing my walk i could hardly walk due to the pain on my feet and lower back and i used the HCT for a week

I think the biggest problem is that the walks are not designed for the HCT. The best way to use them is park and loop in small stretches. Not many walks are like that and the amount of walking is tremendous in some cases. They are best suited to areas where you have street after street of terraced housing and flat pavements. How many towns are like this, not many and ours certainly isn't. We only have a few streets like that. They are often deployed too far from the office and there are problems with areas of dead walking, which RM are obsessed with.