Christmas wishes come true thanks to Dundee's posties

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... s-1.717048" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/polopoly_fs/1.717100.1417607722!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_620/image.jpgThey are an essential part of our community — and never more so than at Christmas.

As loved ones send heartfelt cards to one another and packages containing that perfect festive gift, mailbags at Dundee’s Central Delivery Office can almost double.

So the team has this year brought on an extra 40 temporary staff to help with the workload.

Delivering Christmas wishes is hard work — and it’s something that Gordon McFawns — who is working through his 32nd festive period with the Royal Mail, knows only too well.

Over his career the 48-year-old has dealt with everything from internet-obsessed teenagers to tragically discovering a dead body on his rounds.

Starting off from his base at the Central Delivery Office, Gordon makes his way around the city centre including Union Street, Whitehall Crescent and the Belmont student flats.

Gordon, from Ardler, said: “Changes in technology have helped with sorting and keeping track of what’s going where. The Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) in our vans are great.

“Although we deliver more parcels, the number of Christmas cards has dropped compared to 30 years ago, because of the internet. It’s a shame, Christmas cards are a big tradition.”

To help deal with the huge increase in the volume of mail, temporary workers are brought in to work a variety of shifts.

Most posties begin their shifts at 6am or 7am and finish at lunchtime.

But, to deal with the rise in the number of parcels as shoppers increasingly turn to online sites, many temps start their shift and work into the evening.

Not only does this help free up posties from having to physically carry the packages, it increases the chance of homeowners being at home to receive their packages.

Gordon, who followed in his father’s footsteps in joining Royal Mail, said: “Things have changed a lot since I first started. Nowadays you get a lot more parcels what with Internet shopping. Students also get a lot of advent calendars sent from home.”

Royal Mail has hired 19,000 additional staff across the UK to help with the Christmas workload, which peaks in the middle of December — with Monday 12 traditionally the busiest day of the year.

And Dundee Central is one delivery office that never really sleeps. Manager Derek McKenzie, said: “The posties do the same postcode areas as always at Christmas, although at this time of year they have more in their bags.

“Throughout December we work 24/7.”

[taxi4leighton]

LUNCH TIME

[rhino49]

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... s-1.717048?

Royal Mail has hired 19,000 additional staff across the UK to help with the Christmas workload, which peaks in the middle of December — with Monday 12 traditionally the busiest day of the year.

Unfortunately Monday 12 this year will fall on the 15th giving us three days less to deliver the Christmas workload

[interesting]

How did they get extra staff

[Mr_Pink]

The Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) in our vans are great.

[P13]

How did they get extra staff

The only have about 50 regular staff so I think it highly unlikely they have 40 temps

[gazzer]

How did they get extra staff

Newspapers eh!!!! They are so funny!!!