ANNOUNCEMENT : ALL OF ROYAL MAIL'S EMPLOYMENT POLICIES (AGREEMENTS) AT A GLANCE (Updated 2021)... HERE

ANNOUNCEMENT : PLEASE BE AWARE WE ARE NOT ON FACEBOOK AT ALL!

A savings mess.....

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
RetroJunkie
Posts: 165
Joined: 11 Apr 2010, 16:06
Gender: Female

A savings mess.....

Post by RetroJunkie »

Ok wow where do i start with this, i took the callers office duty that was advertised as a fulltime 8-4 everyday job in order to what i thought would give me a fulltime role within the company, the duty went up on the board for everyone in the office to apply for, it was based on suited you were to the job and how senior you are, a few people pulled out with more seniority to me due to the fact of being there til 4pm everyday. so i got the job, what i ended up with was something worse than when i was on delivery for 30hrs a week, they basically told me they was not looking to make anyone fulltime, anyone who is senior to me could take the job if they decided they wanted to go in there, they was reluctant to pay me the hours even though they needed a second locker worker, anyway after along back n for they decided to pay me on overtime for 2 hours a day. So without signing for this duty as i have never been asked ive carried on with the overtime as a means to extra income each week. now while this is going on i seem to end up being a reserve for any problems within the office aswell as when they decide to absorb at any given time, ive covered a walk at once for a month solid, ive covered walks for 2 weeks at a time, covering long term sickness, general sickness and people on rehab, but this week has seen a new low as they have turned around and now slashed my overtime due to someone who is pregnant and is covering my own job, to top it off they have collapsed a duty also this week, monday i took a street, yesterday i took a street, today i was asked to take more as the office apparently couldnt absorb it i took a third then went back to the office and then was approached to take more of it i ended up delivering half a walk all the while earning less money, i really want to go on the sick as its made me feel quite ill, but dont know whats best to do.
Postie45
Posts: 2160
Joined: 21 Aug 2012, 23:05
Gender: Male

Re: A savings mess.....

Post by Postie45 »

have you any evidence, or can you get the DOM or a manager to agree that it was advertised as a full time position, maybe also speak to your union rep who should know what was put up for signing, If it was in fact agreed that it advertised as a full time position then Id put in a grievance, again speak to your union rep who should be able to help you more than anyone on this forum.
wacko74
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1572
Joined: 04 Apr 2009, 20:35
Gender: Male

Re: A savings mess.....

Post by wacko74 »

Seems to me like you've got 2 different issues here... the hours and the job description.

Regarding the hours, if it was advertised as a full-time position and that's what you signed up for then you're entitled to be paid full-time hours from now on.

A less clear area is the job description, as your DOM can play the good old 'operational needs' card whenever he wants to pull you out of the locker and send you out on delivery, and I doubt there's much you can do about that.
enskied
Posts: 1877
Joined: 16 Aug 2013, 17:14
Gender: Male

Re: A savings mess.....

Post by enskied »

Firstly you should have signed for the duty by now if it was advertised.

It looks like your DOM has kept the duty as vacant and is using you to fill in.

Secondly if that is the case you are still signed to the duty you had before, simply go back on it.
Dorset Plodder
Posts: 4351
Joined: 29 Apr 2009, 20:05
Gender: Male

Re: A savings mess.....

Post by Dorset Plodder »

You seem to have several problems Retro:
Your story is not uncommon though. You have a 30 hr contract (which is in itself not too bad) and I've know worse (Try 20 hrs....4 hrs a day) :mad Did you use to have a designated duty? If you did you were lucky and I can understand your anger at being moved to what is basically a "Floater".

However you did appear to be getting Overtime, to top your hours up, so that's a good point. And all hours worked are pensionable, so that's good. :thumbup The fact that they've cut those hours at short notice is a bugger, but that's the way they work, and they'll simply say "You're on a 30 hour contract". :thumbdown In my experience it's not long before someone's off sick or on holiday and they'll ask you work again. That's your choice. :hmmmm

I would accept the fact that you've basically become a "Floater" and take the work where ever it is. At least you're in the same office, some Posties are having to move to other offices to make their hours up. BUT at the same time I would be gathering evidence and keeping a log with a view to raising your concerns firstly with your local Rep. Often they seem ineffective and if this is the case I'd contact your Area Rep. Good Luck.
Like all Wage Slaves, he had two crosses to bear: The people he worked for and the people he worked with! (Stephen Vizinczey.)