Annual leave

[yetibaboon]

Can anyone advise me on how to resolve an annual leave problem? I am owed 25 days annual leave (along with my usual annual entitlement). These days have been carried over and over since 2009 and I am fed up not being able to take them. My manager has told me that there are no more leave vacancies available until next year. I have contacted the union about the issue and whether I could be paid out for the days, but was told that they don't do that anymore. So the answer is, obviously, that I can't have the owed leave days or be paid for them either. How do I resolve this?

[UnhappyGremlin]

First off, RM's own policy (and it's in the Way Forward agreement), clearly states that they expect all leave to be taken within the year it is allotted.
There is the clause of carrying it over to the next year, but it is a maximum of 5 days. It can be more, but you and your manager have to agree to it.

Speak to the manager/DOM, with the Rep in tow(who quite frankly, should have taken some action long BEFORE now), asking for the days to be scheduled for you to take.
If they give you this crap again, tell them you will be filing a grievance against them. Ask for their managers name/address so you know where to send it.

Ask your Rep for the name/phone number of the Area Rep/Branch Secretary so you can get this issue resolved. That may give them a poke and persuade them into action.
You could also e-mail Moya, justsayit@royalmail.com.

At the end of the day, you're not making an unreasonable request.
Nor are the staffing issues/leave availability your problems, they are the managers/DOM's.
If there are others in the same boat(and I expect there will be), it may be of use for you to encourage them to follow suit, as then it would be harder for the manager to target you. Strength in numbers.

[yetibaboon]

Thanks for the advice. I'll follow it up and see where I get.