Postman sacked after van stolen from Burnley street

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/loca ... -1-5747250" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A postman of 19 years service has said he feels harshly treated after being sacked following the theft of his post van.

Mr Alan Clarkson (55) has now had to declare himself bankrupt following his dismissal on December 15th last year.

The father-of-one, whose wife was also made redundant around the same time, admitted that he had left the keys in the ignition of the van, which was stolen while he was delivering parcels in Carter Street, in the Gannow area of Burnley on November 19th.

Despite appealing against his sacking, Royal Mail recently upheld its decision to dismiss him.

Mr Clarkson said: “I feel very harshly treated. I accept that I made a mistake in leaving the keys in the ignition, but I think a suspension or a warning would have been a fairer punishment. I was the victim of a crime at the end of the day.”

Mr Clarkson said he had been under a great deal of stress in his private life at the time of the theft and “had not been thinking straight”.

The van was later recovered by police but the packages inside had been interfered with.

“I have worked for Royal Mail for 19 years and never had a complaint. I normally covered Nelson and Brierfield and was helping out in Burnley when the theft took place,” he added.

“A lot of residents contacted me to say they are shocked that I had been sacked.”

Mr Clarkson has now taken a job at Crow Wood Leisure Centre, but his wife Janet is still out of work.

Burnley Coun. Andy Tatchell, who is the assistant secretary of the Communication Workers’ Union for North Lancashire and Cumbria, said: “Unfortunately, in this sort of world, employers do not look at mitigating factors.

“The Royal Mail code of conduct procedure is supposed to be corrective, not punitive. I think in this instance a penalty short of dismissal would have been the most appropriate course of action.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We can confirm that a postman from the Burnley area has been dismissed following a recent appeal. The safety and security of mail is of the utmost importance to this business.”

[Judgee]

"The father-of-one, whose wife was also made redundant around the same time, admitted that he had left the keys in the ignition of the van, which was stolen while he was delivering parcels in Carter Street, in the Gannow area of Burnley on November 19th."

[combo_king]

my mates just been sacked after an auditor saw the van runing whilst he done a packet, clean record no warning straight out the door gross misconduct, now thats harsh

[UnhappyGremlin]

Hate anyone to lose their job.
But, leaving the keys in the ignition is a big . And very stupid, we all know RM want rid of FT staff, now it seems plenty are making it easy for them.
RM will no longer accept mitigating circumstances, they only see the chance to sack you and take it.
Feel sorry for him, but he was basically to blame for his own dismissal.

[newtimes]

leaving keys in van, an error yes, taking us into an illegal war, war criminals. Think http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22793193" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[north london driver]

Why do people keep getting caught doing this? Would you leave your own car running while you nipped into the shop for a paper?

i think a lot of people are getting the wrong idea here. most streets i deliver to there is no parking due to the
amount of cars and vans outside there houses.if i double park i normally get abuse by other drivers waiting so where
do i park.it is a shame when a driver is sacked over this and it wont be the last time it happens,it could be a good idea
to get the union to have a national guideline to follow.sercurity is a must in our job but to park 100 yrds away is a sercurity risk as the van is unattended. managers know what goes on but while it works they turn a blind eye when it goes wrong its just another sacking offence.most drivers would bring back an extra 40%-60% items back each day if they could not park + the 739,s would not be delivered till the next day.
as for parking your car with the keys in outside a shop why do you think so many small shops have shut due to people
not being able to park anywhere near the shops parking restrictions,yellow lines,red routes.

[UnhappyGremlin]

Why do people keep getting caught doing this? Would you leave your own car running while you nipped into the shop for a paper?

i think a lot of people are getting the wrong idea here. most streets i deliver to there is no parking due to the
amount of cars and vans outside there houses.if i double park i normally get abuse by other drivers waiting so where
do i park.it is a shame when a driver is sacked over this and it wont be the last time it happens,it could be a good idea
to get the union to have a national guideline to follow.sercurity is a must in our job but to park 100 yrds away is a sercurity risk as the van is unattended. managers know what goes on but while it works they turn a blind eye when it goes wrong its just another sacking offence.most drivers would bring back an extra 40%-60% items back each day if they could not park + the 739,s would not be delivered till the next day.
as for parking your car with the keys in outside a shop why do you think so many small shops have shut due to people
not being able to park anywhere near the shops parking restrictions,yellow lines,red routes.

I don't think where you park is the issue here. In this case the driver, who admitted to it as well so there is no ambiguity, stated that he left the van with the keys in the ignition. You just don't do it.
Difficulty parking, whether there is no space near (100 yards away in your example), or you double park, it is a separate problem entirely.
If there are areas, and there will be nationwide, not just in London, where parking is an issue, for example a specific street, then you should inform the manager and ask for advice/instruction, with the Rep in tow. If they are not forthcoming, see the DOM, the DSM etc. until you get an answer. Preferably in writing.( )
Basically, it isn't your problem, it's RM's and the manager. The fact that you would be required to break the security rules to park in the nearest available space should spur the manager into some sort of action, after all, if they fail to do something about it, and there is a paper trail of the issue, they are more culpable for any resulting issues than you are.

[fishtank]

The problem with the "keys in the ignition" issue is that it's impossible for even decent managers to use any discretion.

When you get caught it's usually either because something has been stolen and the police/RM security have to be involved or RM security catch you themselves.

Once IB are involved your manager's hands are tied and it's "by the book" and out the door even if your manager doesn't really want to because at the end of the day a manager won't put themselves in the firing line to protect you.

[DB1100]

leaving keys in van, an error yes, taking us into an illegal war, war criminals. Think http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22793193" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What has this got to do with the o.p?

[bexhil palace]

Although i can see the reason for the dismisal( sadly). I do find it a bit rich, when RM trot out the usual guff about mail integrity.
Then are more than happy to ignore doorstepping when there is a chance of the delivery not being completed.

[UnhappyGremlin]

Although i can see the reason for the dismisal( sadly). I do find it a bit rich, when RM trot out the usual guff about mail integrity.
Then are more than happy to ignore doorstepping when there is a chance of the delivery not being completed.

But they will only ignore it when it goes well. When it goes wrong, it won't be ignored, and it will be one of us that gets the bullet, as a manager won't defend us anymore.

[Lance Jack]

Christmas 2011 we had somebody do this. Left the keys in the van, and running, and went into a block of flats in Gravesend. Came back out to find the van missing. they got the van back within half an hour but was empty. He was doing town packets at the time and there was a lot in it. All he got was a two year serious.

[rottenredrooster]

Should be prosecuted if the post goes missing as a result of him leaving the keys in the van.

Disgraceful.

[newtimes]

Should be prosecuted if the post goes missing as a result of him leaving the keys in the van.

Disgraceful.

To take this a stage further, then anyone who aids this practice should also be prosecuted.