Revisions: The view from Walsall

[POSTMAN]

https://www.myroyalmail.com/news/nation ... ew-walsall" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As we pass the 1,000th delivery revision milestone, colleagues in Walsall tell us what they think of the modernisation programme


We’ve now carried out more than 1,000 delivery revisions across the country and the goal of completing all of our 1,356 units by spring 2014 isn’t far away!

We asked postmen from Walsall to share their thoughts on the modernisation programme. Here’s what they said.

Postman Steven Griffiths was impressed with the staff engagement.

Suggestions for improvement

‘People could have as much involvement as they wanted,’ he says. ‘Some were happy just to be given their duties at the end of the process, but lots of people put forward suggestions for improvement, and they were acted on.

‘I suggested some better places for us to park the shared vans out on delivery, and these were changed without any problem.

‘My loop has worked exactly as it should; so far, so good. But if people do need to make changes now we are on the new routes, they can – you can look at a map all you like, but until you are out there doing the route you won’t know if it’s exactly right.’

Alan Lees has been a postman at Walsall for eight years. He says: ‘It’s a big change, but it’s got to happen. Not everyone was behind it, but we’re going to give it a good go, and it will become second nature before long.

Shared vans

‘I really like going out in the shared vans. This can be a lonely job, so it’s great to have someone with you to gee you along.

‘On the first day, we realised that my delivery partner’s walk would need amending as there was too much dead time spent walking. The planners are still in the office to carry out tweaks like this, so it won’t be an issue to get it changed.’

Postman Dominic Aston likes both the indoor and outdoor new ways of working. He says: ‘We have backless sorting frames and designated porters who collect the mail and bring it to us, so we don’t have to keep going back and forth.

‘It’s much more efficient. We had plenty of training beforehand, such as the Big Picture training and the Tortoise and Hare game that helps you get to grips with the changes out on deliveries.

Lots of benefits

‘There are a lot of benefits. We don’t have the weight on our backs any more, which could cause back problems or injury, and we can take out bigger parcels.

‘I was worried about the extra time it might take, but I got back to the office on time on the first day, so it’s even quicker than it used to be.’

[mandelsons_toenail]

‘I was worried about the extra time it might take, but I got back to the office on time on the first day, so it’s even quicker than it used to be.’

What a complete cock end

View from real postie...

The jobs are really s**t now, they take longer yet our Dom blames us for "poor performance"

Mail is later delivered, cut offs are rife and we can't wait for the strikes to show these bastards how pissed off we are being treat like s**t.

More from my http://www.myroyalmail.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; next week.

[daveallum]

Has anyone noticed that they don't ask offices their opinion when it's all gone tits up.If Walsall had plenty of input,then good for them because in my old office we had virtually no input at all.

[fishtank]

This can be a lonely job, so it’s great to have someone with you to gee you along.

[Lounge Lizard]

This can be a lonely job, so it’s great to have someone with you to gee you along.

but across the country there's not many that mind it being "a lonely job" judging by all those clamouring for the 'lonely' rural duties rather than staying in town and giving up the bike for a shared van.

[forrester79]

All I can say is don't believe everything what's written in the courier as gospel

[Sidley]

How dare you cast aspersions on the journalistic integrity of that most august organ which I rate very highly.

[Dorset Plodder]

Is that a picture of an earlier version of a High Capacity Trolley FT? Give it a few years and they may reintroduce them claiming back those "Green Credentials" that they lost by getting rid of the bikes.

Imagine the advantages, they look like they could carry a lot of parcels. You might even be able to train the horse to follow you around or meet you at the end of your loop. No fuel costs, apart from a bit of hay & some oats. I expect the Vet's bills are probably comparable with running costs, repairs & servicing to a van. When they get too old you could recoup some costs by selling them to any Supermarket for inclusion in their Beef products. Manure to be bagged up for resale! This is definitely a winner.

[Darren Bent]

Thanks for this :)

[DiamondSmiles]

Oh I am so glad I don't get the Courier delivered to me anymore. Where do they find these people from? No more injuries now they state, utter crap, my back is worse now pushing an HCT than carrying pouches. Good luck 'geeing' each other along lads, I hear horse sh*t is great for your roses.

[k979aaa]

The only people in the courier are failed postmen/women ie managers actors and shysters!

[harrybass]

All I can say is don't believe everything what's written in the courier as gospel

It's funny that Courier, everything thats going on and someone writes in the "Letters page" that they want a pocket in the polo shirt or "we recycle our elastic bands"