Thousands of Postmen and women to lose their jobs!

[BoltonPostie]

Just got a text from my ADR - all members of the Union who are temps (in any form) and have been told they are no longer needed, or their hours have dropped are to contact their reps, and ADRs as soon as possible. The Union has not agreed it and some areas may be up for a fight.

What can the union do now,oh lets send in the mediators!!!! We are all saved.

[raikky]

Welcome to privatisation.

Royal mail has moaned and moaned to Ofcom about tnt. Ofcom say its fine. so royal mail are doing the only thing they know and that's cut cut cut.

Why are they laying off all the temps?

Maybe its because of tnt, probably.
Maybe its because moya has just been given a nice bonus
Royal mail is facing a massive fine cause of some stuff going down in france
and of course its shareholders want more more more.

I don't mean to sound selfish here because I feel for everyone who is going to be affected by these cuts, but I have been over 4 years on a temp full time contract. will this affect people like me or is it people with less than 4 or 2 years on a temp contract?

[bustedflush]

Just got a text from my ADR - all members of the Union who are temps (in any form) and have been told they are no longer needed, or their hours have dropped are to contact their reps, and ADRs as soon as possible.

How many FTCs are likely to be union members?
And are those who are not union members going to be left unprotected, even though their dismissals will surely impact on the union members?

Two good points here.

AFAIK (I'm still 32.5 hours) I am being made 'permanent' but reduced to walking-only (24-hours per week = minimum wage 4.40 hours per day) sometime in early September after the holiday period and summer lapsing ends. I joined the union after about 8 months (when I was in my second 6-month FTC) as the general consensus was "if you're OK you'll never be terminated, look at those around you who have been here years and were FTC's..." therefore I considered it a long-term opportunity and signed-up. So have about half my FTC colleagues that have served over 12 months. I spoke to my area rep and he was adamant he will be checking thoroughly the hours actually worked if this occurs as I pointed out the obvious that they would reduce our fixed costs viz-a-viz holiday pay/pension/bonus but still have us working over 24 per-week.

Now the F/T posties have already said that we're stretched now without losing more IPS sorters etc. to throwing jobs off that were previously done by us 32.5 FTC's and they can't see how we'll manage. For the record, we FTC's have spoken unofficially and insist that IF we are 24-hours then there will be NO early starting, helping to throw-off/bundle/bag-up etc. We come in, if it ain't ready the waiting time comes off of the start of our walks and we bring it back if can't complete to our time.

At the moment we have ONE 24-hour who has been here years. As he starts at 09:20 it already pisses many F/Timers off having to wait in the van when they are ready to leave at 08:45 on some days, even though the bloke is quick. The managers are surely aware that whoever is paired with the chap is always waiting in the compound and last to leave. Multiply this 8 times and there will be more aggro and stress for the F/Timers and pressure on their finishing times. It will do nobody any good. Except the DIMs' wallets.

[dvbuk55]

TBH I think saying thousands of postmen/women was a bit inflammatory even if there was to be a large cull it won't be anything like that under the present agreement - however should the USO change - who knows? Someone within RM has probably done the math and realised the potential and I think the union should do the same and reach a strategy to combat wholesale job losses. Thinking logically if we go to lose the USO what could follow is a 3 day a week delivery and we would just pass it over to TNT like they do to us

[Dalelad]

My DO, in the north, has just employed 10 new temps on 26 hour contracts. Theres been no mention of any lay offs what so ever. Though now all the O/T has pretty much dried up and myself and several other part timers are actively seeking new jobs due to this. Theres even been a new job created now. 18.5 hour contracts just prepping walks in morning. Eventually this will account for all the full timers leaving or retiring. The thing is, most of the part timers are happy to come in early and prep but RM don't care. As ive always said, this is a dead end job. Treat it as such and save Job Centre to your favourites. Nowt wrong with looking and applying for jobs while you are still employed. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

I've been scouring job sites for two years plus as a sort of hobby/habit. Honestly, no better unskilled job, paying £10 per hour exists. The only way is down.

You're right, the hourly rate for an unskilled job is second to none. I know tradesmen that don't get as much as us. But the hourly rate means nothing without the hours. Its ok for people that just want part time hours, but for people like me with a wife and 2 young kids to support, Its no good. I'm looking at bus driving for next career move. Hourly rates better and its perm full time with plenty of O/T. Luckily ive got a family member on the inside who is going to vouch for me.

[Barbel]

Yikes that sucks, I guess I was lucky then getting a perm contract a few weeks ago after just 16 months. Feel so sorry for anyone losing their job.

[Lounge Lizard]

My DO, in the north, has just employed 10 new temps on 26 hour contracts. Theres been no mention of any lay offs what so ever. Though now all the O/T has pretty much dried up and myself and several other part timers are actively seeking new jobs due to this. Theres even been a new job created now. 18.5 hour contracts just prepping walks in morning. Eventually this will account for all the full timers leaving or retiring. The thing is, most of the part timers are happy to come in early and prep but RM don't care. As ive always said, this is a dead end job. Treat it as such and save Job Centre to your favourites. Nowt wrong with looking and applying for jobs while you are still employed. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

I've been scouring job sites for two years plus as a sort of hobby/habit. Honestly, no better unskilled job, paying £10 per hour exists. The only way is down.

You're right, the hourly rate for an unskilled job is second to none. I know tradesmen that don't get as much as us. But the hourly rate means nothing without the hours. Its ok for people that just want part time hours, but for people like me with a wife and 2 young kids to support, Its no good. I'm looking at bus driving for next career move. Hourly rates better and its perm full time with plenty of O/T. Luckily ive got a family member on the inside who is going to vouch for me.

You must have heard of the bus driver that pulled out to avoid a pram. You can't afford a third young kid.

[bustedflush]

Welcome to privatisation.

Royal mail has moaned and moaned to Ofcom about tnt. Ofcom say its fine. so royal mail are doing the only thing they know and that's cut cut cut.

Why are they laying off all the temps?

Maybe its because of tnt, probably.
Maybe its because moya has just been given a nice bonus
Royal mail is facing a massive fine cause of some stuff going down in france
and of course its shareholders want more more more.

I don't mean to sound selfish here because I feel for everyone who is going to be affected by these cuts, but I have been over 4 years on a temp full time contract. will this affect people like me or is it people with less than 4 or 2 years on a temp contract?

You can't have. It is ILLEGAL! After 4 years' continuous employment you must be made permanent. You cannot be FTC longer than 4 years.
Secondly, the CWU (supposedly) struck a deal that FTC's will be made permanent after 2 years.

[raikky]

Welcome to privatisation.

Royal mail has moaned and moaned to Ofcom about tnt. Ofcom say its fine. so royal mail are doing the only thing they know and that's cut cut cut.

Why are they laying off all the temps?

Maybe its because of tnt, probably.
Maybe its because moya has just been given a nice bonus
Royal mail is facing a massive fine cause of some stuff going down in france
and of course its shareholders want more more more.

I don't mean to sound selfish here because I feel for everyone who is going to be affected by these cuts, but I have been over 4 years on a temp full time contract. will this affect people like me or is it people with less than 4 or 2 years on a temp contract?

You can't have. It is ILLEGAL! After 4 years' continuous employment you must be made permanent. You cannot be FTC longer than 4 years.
Secondly, the CWU (supposedly) struck a deal that FTC's will be made permanent after 2 years.

sorry to say its true. all the temps in our office have more than 3 years on it. royal mail is not stickiung to the agreement and not even the law. they do what they want. my manager and union rep don't care though :s

[k979aaa]

maybe we've just got to work smarter whatever that means as our dom kept telling us on saturday

Yes come in on time
Take your break
Don't do your D2D the weekend before
Don't go over your hours for nothing
Don't door step or not get items signed for
It's your job you defend it I am sure the managers will defend theirs so don't lose yours by cutting it up!

[Jpro747]

Lol, Royal Mail breaking the law? Never

What should an employee do if they know royal mail have kept them on a temp contract for longer than 4 years? Phone the police??

[bustedflush]

Lol, Royal Mail breaking the law? Never

What should an employee do if they know royal mail have kept them on a temp contract for longer than 4 years? Phone the police??

Go to the rep, ask to see the DIM and point it out to him. If no action write to Head Office then appeal to an ET. You can't lose as statute is on your side. Maybe this would shake them up and ensure DIMs are told nationally to ensure this doesn't happen.

[Rory]

Welcome to privatisation.

Royal mail has moaned and moaned to Ofcom about tnt. Ofcom say its fine. so royal mail are doing the only thing they know and that's cut cut cut.

Why are they laying off all the temps?

Maybe its because of tnt, probably.
Maybe its because moya has just been given a nice bonus
Royal mail is facing a massive fine cause of some stuff going down in france
and of course its shareholders want more more more.

I don't mean to sound selfish here because I feel for everyone who is going to be affected by these cuts, but I have been over 4 years on a temp full time contract. will this affect people like me or is it people with less than 4 or 2 years on a temp contract?

You can't have. It is ILLEGAL! After 4 years' continuous employment you must be made permanent. You cannot be FTC longer than 4 years.
Secondly, the CWU (supposedly) struck a deal that FTC's will be made permanent after 2 years.

I'm guessing she's permanent. She has had a temporary HOUR increase from P/T to F/T and has been working as such for 4 years plus.

[chrisj]

I think the last example has more than a case. I doubt there will be an office that has not had a full time vacancy in 4 years or have not had a revision... I know there are still a few out there but being a temporary full time for 4 years is almost unheard of and should have been dealt with.

As for being on FTC for 4 years, there is a bit of a loophole in that the employment should be continuous, I think. If we are talking Agency staff then the simply lay them off for a few months here and there so that they do not have to employ them on a on a permanent basis.

Either way, there are some loopholes depending on local conditions and business/operational reasons.

RM might still employ the odd 20+ hours here and there but they are now sharing them between offices - so you now have Reserves that are not just confined to one office and the odd move here and there but continuous movement from office to office.

[korky]

not heard/read anything from the CWU yet on this matter yet (surprise)
is it widespread across regions or just scattered delivery offices & mail centres that the powers above are gambling on coping,

also is it RM trying to force the issue with the regulator by axing all the staff who they know they can without too much hassle & employ them back at an hours notice
our union should be all over this before it escalates.