Bullying and Harrassment

[hans solo]

does dingo go out in the pissing rain with a trolley for over 5 forced hours i dont fcukin think so

[fishtank]

does dingo go out in the pissing rain with a trolley for over 5 forced hours i dont fcukin think so

To be fair hans I wouldn't expect him to,its not his job.
However I would expect him to at least take on board the opinions of those that do.

I think the union is taking a big risk if it refuses to fully understand the methods used by managers and the underlying reasons behind the vast increase in bullying and harassment in deliveries.
It's only my opinion but i believe the members will see a joint statement as an insult,perhaps the final insult for a lot of members.

[Lincox]

If a joint statement categorically states that both Royal Mail and CWU acknowledge that bullying and harassment is endemic in Royal Mail and an external investigation is to be carried out to route out the causes and the perpetrators then there may be a starting point for further discussions and a route towards a better relationship between management and the staff.
Sorry, I know, not even a smidgeon of a chance and I have just come round from dreaming that somewhere in UK there is some good in people, and realise that tomorrow morning is just another day in the mismanaged hell hole that is Royal Mail.

[tommyrep]

If a joint statement categorically states that both Royal Mail and CWU acknowledge that bullying and harassment is endemic in Royal Mail and an external investigation is to be carried out to route out the causes and the perpetrators then there may be a starting point for further discussions and a route towards a better relationship between management and the staff.
Sorry, I know, not even a smidgeon of a chance and I have just come round from dreaming that somewhere in UK there is some good in people, and realise that tomorrow morning is just another day in the mismanaged hell hole that is Royal Mail.

Lincox
I agree with your sentiments, a joint statement which addresses the B&H problems at DO's is long overdue, especially one that binds RM to put a stop to the behavior of some managers. It is the MAIN topic of discussion every day within DO's. It is a massive barrier to any possible future co-operation and genuine working relationships between RM and it's staff. This situation will never go away until RM accept that there IS a massive problem that exists in delivery. RM must face up to the problem and our Union should not rest until a satisfactory outcome is secured, cleaning up this mess is vital before venturing into any further discussions, especially when RM sit back picking the bones out of the poor 2010 agreement to their advantage while blatantley being allowed to flaunt/ignore any benefit for the staff. Our Union need to toughen up or we face oblivion !!!!

[parcelboy]

Shame on Greene and co when u sign policys claiming 'Zero Tolerance'you should be held responsible for the B+H no one else hypocrites

[Dee Plish]

The debate has been had and it is beyond question. Bullying and harrasment by management to staff , especially on deliveries, happens many times on a daily basis. If our Union is adopting the ostrich stance or ignores the reality, (which, I feel (maybe wrongly) that it is ) then it is not worth a light - the most blatant abuse of its members I have seen in 30 + years of service MUST be killed off. The best opportunity CWU has to take on the grossest excesses of Royal Mail is on this issue. Wimping out or coming out with a softy statement of intent is no good. Absolute unequivocal action is needed by our Union. THIS is the most important issue for our members. If you ignore it to keep a comfy life on a national officer's salary then you are worse than strike breakers IMHO.

[Budfrog]

The debate has been had and it is beyond question. Bullying and harrasment by management to staff , especially on deliveries, happens many times on a daily basis. If our Union is adopting the ostrich stance or ignores the reality, (which, I feel (maybe wrongly) that it is ) then it is not worth a light - the most blatant abuse of its members I have seen in 30 + years of service MUST be killed off. The best opportunity CWU has to take on the grossest excesses of Royal Mail is on this issue. Wimping out or coming out with a softy statement of intent is no good. Absolute unequivocal action is needed by our Union. THIS is the most important issue for our members. If you ignore it to keep a comfy life on a national officer's salary then you are worse than strike breakers IMHO.

Good post.

Those who have not suffered or witnessed bullying and harassment are probably not aware of what a damaging effect it has on the individual. I have a former colleague who spent 6 months on sick leave with stress as a direct result of this type of behaviour. He is a highly capable guy whose character has been totally changed by these events - his wife wanted him to resign as she could no longer see him constantly worrying about work and what his line manager would have in store for him next but he has refused to throw away a 25yrs+ job that he used to enjoy. I speak to him from time to time socially and whilst he used to love to talk about his family and his football team he just tells me issue after issue. His line manager does everything to needle him and when there was the opportunity of a move to another unit which would have brought about some relief - she blocked it saying that *** was an essential team member.

It's not an isolated case and it's not as if a lot of people up to DSM level don't know precisely what is going on ... and to be brutally honest it stinks.

[mandelsons_toenail]

For years it was mainly just me cutting off regularly.

Now as the screw is turned way too tight more and more of my comrades cut off despite pressure from management.

This will only get worse but we need to stand together and say no I won't be intimidated into working for free and coming in early

Isn't it about time area managers came into wtl sessions and faced the wrath of staff, instead of sending in linos who can't cope with the pressure and lose it most weeks, then threaten staff with such classics as " do you want a job here" and " you signed a contract saying you'd work overtime "

[LinChong]

"All employers have legal responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to ensure the health safety and welfare at work of their employees. This includes minimising the risk of stress-related illness or injury to employees."

http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/furtheradv ... bility.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Get the Health and Safety Executive involved.

[minimumstandard]

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?artic ... Q.facebook" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
good site for definitions on BH

[tommyrep]

The debate has been had and it is beyond question. Bullying and harrasment by management to staff , especially on deliveries, happens many times on a daily basis. If our Union is adopting the ostrich stance or ignores the reality, (which, I feel (maybe wrongly) that it is ) then it is not worth a light - the most blatant abuse of its members I have seen in 30 + years of service MUST be killed off. The best opportunity CWU has to take on the grossest excesses of Royal Mail is on this issue. Wimping out or coming out with a softy statement of intent is no good. Absolute unequivocal action is needed by our Union. THIS is the most important issue for our members. If you ignore it to keep a comfy life on a national officer's salary then you are worse than strike breakers IMHO.

Good post that is hard to argue against !
If our union leadereship cannot take up this issue - (with all the evidence at their disposal and the numerous cases highlighted on these forums ) - and present a solid comprehensive case to RM senior management and ACAS, they should be asking themselves if they are in the right job. How can they sit back in the knowledge that this type of attitude is presented to delivery staff on a daily basis and has been for months, years even in some instances, yet still continue to fail in having it stopped or at the very least investigated by an independant body. There are endless talks producing joint statements that seem to only add more power to RM's armoury on topics that mainly suit RM while their own members are continually been intimidated/bullied and harassed with NO advice or support given to the DO staff. Any future dealings or talks with RM should be put on hold until the shambles of the 2010 agreement are put right and the managements behaviour is stopped, the general membership is getting fed up with the direction our union is heading. Or is it too late now to " grow a pair"

[LinChong]

The CWU should set up a squad of highly trained Health and Safety inspectors. If there is any indication that there is bullying and harassment going on in a unit, a Health and Safety inspection will be triggered.

This will be a deep look and every single breach of Health and Safety will be witnessed. The local council will be called in and the unit will be closed down until all the breaches have been rectified. Dismissal for gross misconduct will apply to all managers in the line of the front line manager who is responsible for an area where it can be shown that the monthly Health and Safety checks have not been carried out or have been signed off wrongly.

"And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come."
Jeremiah 49:36

[Cyclopz]

There is also the protection from harassment Act:

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (c 40) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which, among other things, criminalises and creates a right to protection from stalking and persistent bullying in the workplace.

Employers have vicarious liability for harassment by their employees under section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protection ... t_Act_1997

I'm no expert in law and I don't know how hard it would be to apply the above Act in the workplace for protection from bullying.

[spoodoo]

Reg the WTl meetings should we all not be grilling the bosses upstairs a lot more . Nothing happens at ours art from a cpl of us asking stuff

[Lincox]

Part of the Bt2010 was that each unit was entitled to 30 minutes WTL per week. We have not had a WTL in the last two years so therefore have been unable to discuss problems in the workplace. This is even after this was placed in the reparation notes from a Appeals Manager following on from a Grievance taken out in the office. The DSM who was supposed to invoke these changes has done absolutely nothing to carry out the instructions of the Appeals Manager.