This time next year...

[Straight4ward]

I'll be sitting in my chair drooling down my geriatric chin whilst my dog fetches me a newspaper

So no change then.

[Straight4ward]

Where will we be ? - - - - - - Up sh*t creek without a paddle.

Following Parcelforce being absorbed (RM’s favourite word) into our operation, fitness testing of posties will require us to carry a 200kg upright fridge/freezer standing 2 metres tall up 40 flights of stairs within 4 minutes.
Billy and Dave will point out that 4 minutes, is in fact, a whopping whole 240 seconds which is a much bigger number than 4 and therefore sounds much more achievable to them.


The BBC will broadcast a program in which a commando is subjected to this test and fails abjectly, concluding in his own words “f*ck that, for a game of soldiers” (and who would know better about soldiering than him).

However, the CWU will readily accept this proposal as it mean more full time jobs (in A&E units and defibrillator manufacturing).
They will also suggest that if we don’t do it someone else will. They warn us that TNT/Whistl have employed a troupe of circus strongmen on zero hour contracts on the minimum wage who will piss all over us if we didn’t accept these new targets. They will also claim this a victory “that stops the race to the bottom” and protects full-time jobs.

Yes, 2015 will be a wonderful year for us all.

[clashcityrocker]

The BBC will broadcast a program in which a commando is subjected to this test and fails abjectly, concluding in his own words “f*ck that, for a game of soldiers” (and who would know better about soldering than him).

A plumber?

[Straight4ward]

The BBC will broadcast a program in which a commando is subjected to this test and fails abjectly, concluding in his own words “f*ck that, for a game of soldiers” (and who would know better about soldering than him).

A plumber?

Thank you friend,- - - - - duly amended.

[trythat]

I'm not sure the CWU can get any more like Royal mail, to me they seem just like RM's little brother.

[daveyeff]

I'll be sitting in my chair drooling down my geriatric chin whilst my dog fetches me a newspaper

happy retirement you lucky LUCKY barstool.

[daveyeff]

eeeeee,,,, am wishing me years away I am.

[dvbuk55]

eeeeee,,,, am wishing me years away I am.

Thanks Davey but you don't want to be wishing your time away my friend, it goes all too quickly. My advice is give plenty of thought about retiring before you reach that stage. I hadn't given it a thought until I got a letter from the DWP asking me what I wanted to do with my Old Age Pension I didn't think I was that old but I was 65, it was then I decided to drop hours and days until my leisure time was much greater than my work time, it took a little over 3 years but I'm comfortable in the realisation that I have now retired.

[Puppetmaster]

I would like to see Royal mail successfully sued for the damage it has done to our bodies with Park and loop,obviously not all offices have had crazy revisions (London) but from what I hear and talking to other postal workers when I go on courses it seems a lot have.

You are quite right ,but whilst the CWU agrees to it nothing can be done .!

[BarnsleyLackey]

The health amd safety should be called in now..... making walks 5-6 hours every day is killing people... its got to be illigal what royal mail are doing to the workers...

Urgent action is needed... posties have been broken...

Start on time, take your breaks, do your van checks, use your trollies, don't look at your bundles while walking, close every gate, drive to a toilet when you need it, finish on time by arrangement or cut-off; and you won't be walking for 5-6 hours a day, I guarantee you that.

[clashcityrocker]

Start on time, take your breaks, do your van checks, use your trollies, don't look at your bundles while walking, close every gate, drive to a toilet when you need it, finish on time by arrangement or cut-off; and you won't be walking for 5-6 hours a day, I guarantee you that.

This is nonsense.
If the duty span has been set at 5-6 hours then people will be walking for 5-6 hours.
If it hasn't then people are walking for 5-6 hours by choice.
It has sod all to do with starting on time etc.

[DB1100]

I would like to see Royal mail successfully sued for the damage it has done to our bodies with Park and loop,obviously not all offices have had crazy revisions (London) but from what I hear and talking to other postal workers when I go on courses it seems a lot have.

You are quite right ,but whilst the CWU agrees to it nothing can be done .!

Look how things have changed for the mineworkers,all those thing's they said were *wear and tear* they have been able to get compensation for i.e deafness and vibration white finger,so I should think thing's might go the same way for us for thing's like ,Knackered knee's,hip joints plantar facilitis,bunions and other injuries associated with excessive walking.

[dvbuk55]

I would like to see Royal mail successfully sued for the damage it has done to our bodies with Park and loop,obviously not all offices have had crazy revisions (London) but from what I hear and talking to other postal workers when I go on courses it seems a lot have.

You are quite right ,but whilst the CWU agrees to it nothing can be done .!

Look how things have changed for the mineworkers,all those thing's they said were *wear and tear* they have been able to get compensation for i.e deafness and vibration white finger,so I should think thing's might go the same way for us for thing's like ,Knackered knee's,hip joints plantar facilitis,bunions and other injuries associated with excessive walking.

Well I think that's most unlikely. It would be extremely difficult to say whether the injury to hips, knees, ankles etc was attributable to walking as a postman or a more leisurely pursuit such as walking the dog, playing sport or some other physical pursuit and whether or not it was normal wear and tear over a long period. Miners could claim for lung disease attributable to coal dust, deafness attributable to noisy machinery and white finger for the use of pneumatic drills but walking is an everyday activity.

[BarnsleyLackey]

Start on time, take your breaks, do your van checks, use your trollies, don't look at your bundles while walking, close every gate, drive to a toilet when you need it, finish on time by arrangement or cut-off; and you won't be walking for 5-6 hours a day, I guarantee you that.

This is nonsense.
If the duty span has been set at 5-6 hours then people will be walking for 5-6 hours.
If it hasn't then people are walking for 5-6 hours by choice.
It has sod all to do with starting on time etc.

If the management plan the duties on improper working methods, like they did in our office, as soon as someone tries it working properly they can't do it in time.
As things stood before our recent time changes, we had to be back in the yard for 14:25, to make sure everything's signed off. That means getting out of the office just after 09:00 and getting on duty at 09:25. And that's only 5 hours. One of the ways many achieve this is by starting early and getting out early.

For what you say to work - setting the duty at 5-6 hours, we'd have to have a complete restructure. Instead of what management are doing now, which is trying to shove you out asap for more time outdoors.

If they use my list as a guide, then plan the duty, then I'll accept the 5-6 hour walk.

[fishtank]

If it hasn't then people are walking for 5-6 hours by choice.

Define choice in a working environment with little support from the union or colleagues, bullying managers, family financial pressures, fragile employment security and an external economic situation of zero hour contracts and minimum wage...and that's without the added pressure of a less than full time contract and the need to stay "on side" with management to secure enough overtime to take home a decent wage.

In my humble opinion, not a lot of choice there really...