What Would You Have Done?

[Tuffers1875]

I went from working 6 days a week to working 3 days a week just under 18 months ago. We went through a revision and my duty got swallowed up. I have many years service in. Anyway, the lads that went for the 3 day week got to choose which 3 duties they would cover (a different duty every day to cover rest days), after a while all the part-timers had a meeting with the gaffer as we were getting messed around being asked to cover duties that weren't on our rotas. We did a re-pick and it was agreed that we wouldn't be asked to cover anything other than the duties we had agreed to, yeah yeah I hear you say..... Fast forward, the office was asked to absorb 1 duty during the summer and a full- timer came off his duty as it was central and the office absorbed it. Anyway, while I was on leave the full-timer went back on his own duty and another duty was chosen. The chosen duty is one where the holder has gone long term sick and it's one of the ones I cover. I was not consulted in any way about it. Last Saturday I was told I was to cover a duty I have done only once before and this Monday I was told I was on a different duty and I had to go out blind. Then today, they ask me to come off the one on my rota to do another different duty. That's 3 different duties over 3 days that I shouldn't have been on, oh I'm on another duty next Tuesday blind too. I explained to the manager on Saturday that I wasn't happy covering different walks and he said he would sort it for next week, of course he will The manager called me in the office and said that he was asking me to cover today for 'operational needs' he explained that it was a reasonable request and if I refused I would be disciplined to which I disagreed and got up and walked out as I was fuming. They ended up getting another lad to cover today's walk. Our negotiator on the floor rang the union and they said I should not be asked to come off my rota. The thing is, as long as the duty holder stays off sick, I'm going to get messed around. Nothing more has been said from management.

Did I do the right thing by standing my ground? And will they have to find another duty to absorb?

P.s. If you read any of my previous posts, you'll understand why I hate this company so much and I'm no trouble maker at work, I get on with it and graft. Then go home to civilisation.

[Postie45]

"Tuffers1875 wrote:
Until the gaffer starts enforcing you work till your finish time, then everyone at our office is going to still do job and finish, ghost overtime etc. I'd pack this job up if I actually had to work my hours. Stuff that for a game of soldiers, I have a life outside this shitehole :wink:"


>>so you`ll cut the job up and when the managers put a stop to it you`ll leave and let others deal with your mess, cheers for that


"Basically, yes.

'WE' we all do job and finish at our office apart from 2 who fcuk about all day and book half an hour extended. Why the fook would you want to work till 2:30/3:00 for £5 extra when you can p1ss off home 2/3 hours earlier?

Some of you who post on here really need to know what working for this shower is all about. You will only ever make time in this job, you will never make money :cuppa"


and NOW you want advice ?

[Tuffers1875]

Yes please

[Judgee]

It's not you duty it's RMs duty. They can move you about as much as they like. The only reason they leave people on duties that they have signed for is that it tends to be more efficient. But if they wanted they could draw duties out of a hat each morning and allocate them that way as long as it fitted peoples working hours.

[plaguelift]

Sorry tuffers, but you have to realise that Royal Mail are paying your wages. If they ask you to sweep the floor for 7 hours and 48 minutes a day (with a 40 minute break) you have to do it, like it or not. And if you don't like it, join the dole queue.

[Hitcher]

Time to leave then, bye.

[Tuffers1875]

^^^^ all obviously new to the job

[Judgee]

^^^^ all obviously new to the job

Far from it and unlike you I can accept some things for the way they are and not throw my rattle out of the pram just because I don't like it!

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

DOM can move you for operational needs at any time, there are some circumstances which could give you cause for grievance, but unfortunately all you can do if they dont apply is work to your time and then cut off(going by your previous posts i understand you want to finish a few hours early but you cant argue for that) he can reasonably expect you to work to your contracted finish time every day,

If he is constantly moving you and only you and there are other people who could do the other duty instead you would have grounds for a grievance
If there is something about the new route you have not had training for you could refuse on h+s grounds

[postslippete]

I think any manager has to weigh up the pro's and cons of either


i. keeping you on a duty that you are familiar with and that you can do well

ii. moving you on different duties where are not that familiar with; and accepting that you may not do any additional lapsing and/or bring mail back because of it


Surely, the other guys that picked the 3 day week are doing the same as you?? You said you had to come off your rota to do another duty, well why couldn't they have put someone else on it that knows the area? Something doesn't add up....

[rubberbond]

DOM can move you for operational needs at any time, there are some circumstances which could give you cause for grievance, but unfortunately all you can do if they dont apply is work to your time and then cut off(going by your previous posts i understand you want to finish a few hours early but you cant argue for that) he can reasonably expect you to work to your contracted finish time every day,

If he is constantly moving you and only you and there are other people who could do the other duty instead you would have grounds for a grievance
If there is something about the new route you have not had training for you could refuse on h+s grounds

I would like to see someone cut off from sweeping the floor! Now that would be something worth staying for

[thecompletepackage]

'Operational needs' pops up quite a lot at our place from the lino's, but so does a rhetorical 'Dignity & respect' 'Harrassment' and 'Victimisation'.