North Wiltshire Mail reshuffle hits deliveries

[POSTMAN]

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/9 ... eliveries/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some residents in North Wiltshire are facing later deliveries because of new Royal Mail policies – just days after it was announced that the price of stamps is to rise.

Those living in postcodes SN13, 14 and 15, which includes Chippenham, Calne, Corsham and some surrounding villages, may be affected by the company’s drive to modernise in the face of plummeting numbers of letters being sent.

The traditional postie’s bicycle is also facing a threat, as new high-capacity trolleys are brought in to handle heavy packages sent through the mail.


Postmen and women will continue to deliver in the morning and for a longer period during the day, although the service said not all customers will continue to get their mail by lunchtime.

Royal Mail press officer Valerie Antoine said: “Royal Mail is making a number of changes in delivery methods as part of a £2bn modernisation of its entire operation.

“This is part of one of the biggest transformations undertaken in UK industry. These changes do not involve a straightforward switch to vans for those postmen and women who have previously used bicycles.

“We will not be getting rid of all bicycles and they will remain part of our delivery operation.

“However, removing bicycles from parts of our operation will result in a number of benefits.

“As we deliver fewer letters but more packets and parcels than we did in the past, the switch to vans and trolleys will enable us to take the weight off staff’s backs. In addition, this move, as supported by the union, will help reduce cycling accidents involving our staff.”

She added that it is not yet known who will be affected by the changes.

“It depends where the residents live on the round,” she said. “Some people who live at the beginning of the new round will have their post delivered earlier. Some people won’t notice any difference at all.

“Unfortunately, some people may receive their post slightly later. Somebody has to live at the end of the round.”

Each household will have received a letter about the changes, but for more information, visit http://www.royalmail.com/modernisation" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or call 0845 601 1399.

Area delivery rep Chris Rye said: “This is a good move for us – there are 10-plus part-time jobs that have now become full-time.

“The idea is that Royal Mail are trying to stop injuries or claims against them. The new trolleys take the weight off your shoulders. There will be one van per two postmen or women, and one trolley each, so it should take the strain and the possibility of injury away.”

He said the service would be aiming to keep up with national targets. “We’re certainly aiming to have all town post delivered by 3pm and all rural post by 4pm,” he said.

[Lincox]

Dream on

[CORTINA]

The rounds now have to be walked every step every day..... no biking along past some house with no delivery to make up time..

The job has been made even more labour intensive and bad on the legs.... and you cannot robotise a human being.

Remember ...No other employment requires you to walk 4 to 8 miles a day in all weathers...... without bikes.

So legs WILL SUFFER... THAT IS BLATANTLY OBVIOUS......

[DirtyHarry]

Remember ...No other employment requires you to walk 4 to 8 miles a day in all weathers...... without bikes.

So legs WILL SUFFER... THAT IS BLATANTLY OBVIOUS......

Obvious to anyone with an ounce of humanity. Unfortunately though, we slave for inhuman scum.

[Knackered]

"“The idea is that Royal Mail are trying to stop injuries or claims against them. The new trolleys take the weight off your shoulders. There will be one van per two postmen or women, and one trolley each, so it should take the strain and the possibility of injury away.”


The new trolley adds time to your duty, a terraced street takes three times as long to do. It also damages your shoulder muscles dragging it along, it topples over, dragging it up kerbs can be akward espercially when they are full at the start, it wrenches your shoulder from the socket.

It also compromises the security of the mail..You are told to take it down every path with you..Try that with 2/3 or 4 cars per drive! no choice but to leave it by the gate. The entire new system stinks,

[DirtyHarry]

Very little thought has been put into these awful revisions. Royal Mail bosses, and the lick-spittles who serve them, are handicapped with tunnel vision, they see nothing, look for nothing, but savings, savings, savings.

There is little room now for cuts, either in staff, or duties.

Only Saturday deliveries constitute what could be called a major cost saving today.