Seniority

[Lightweight andy]

Hi there has been a walk come up due to a postie taking evr, I am a reserve and next in line to take a walk, but my line manager has put me on a different walk, and I have asked to be put on the free walk and he is saying he wants to keep people who are lower down the list together on it, even tho I have requested to be put on it, what can I do as I want to get on that walk so I can plan my holidays.

[rehabron]

Hi there has been a walk come up due to a postie taking evr, I am a reserve and next in line to take a walk, but my line manager has put me on a different walk, and I have asked to be put on the free walk and he is saying he wants to keep people who are lower down the list together on it, even tho I have requested to be put on it, what can I do as I want to get on that walk so I can plan my holidays.

The walk previously occupied by the postie who has now left the business has now become a vacant duty.
This can remain vacant for 6 months and covered by reserves unless manager sees fit to advertise the post.
Remember that this duty will be available to others who may have a higher seniority than yourself who have fulfilled the tour of duty requirement in their present posts.
From a business aspect to have the same postie on this walk as opposed to having different posties would be more beneficial as they would eventually be made familiar with the round and get to know the customers.
Put the matter to the manager with consultation with your local union rep.

[chrisj]

Sorry to disagree with last post. Some managers do not want Reserves being put on the same round - regardless of seniority or so-called familiarity or customer satisfaction...

Putting this Reserve postie on a vacant walk effectively reduces flexibility within the office and for the manager. I do not agree with it but that is what is going on these days n some offices - managers want flexibility and the ability to chop and change; and the easiest way is through Reserves.

The OP is somewhat right (?) to expect to be put on a vacant post as the most senior Reserve... He was not asking to be assigned the duty permanently as this can only be done through advertisement of and application for the vacant post...

He should try and get the Rep to get this duty advertised as soon as possible...

[postslippete]

This can remain vacant for 6 months and covered by reserves unless manager sees fit to advertise the post.

This used to happen years ago in our CDO when vacant duties used to be advertised on the noticeboards every 6 months. They stopped doing it years ago....and ended up with less senior guys on cushy duties

Remember that this duty will be available to others who may have a higher seniority than yourself who have fulfilled the tour of duty requirement in their present posts.

Still not happening at our depot and every time I speak to managers about it, they accuse me of whinging

From a business aspect to have the same postie on this walk as opposed to having different posties would be more beneficial as they would eventually be made familiar with the round and get to know the customers.

A fair point to have some ammunition with although with lapsed duties and different posties doing the duties everyday, do managers really care anyway?

Put the matter to the manager with consultation with your local union rep.

Both reps are not that bothered. To be fair, they have got enough on their plate with all these changes that are happening in the office; their duties seem to be OK though.


So.......brush up on your brown-nosing skills. Be available for overtime whenever and wherever. You better be working all your days off and taking the collapse; otherwise the gaffer might not look at you as favourable as someone else...Oh and another thing....don't complain, let the other minions do that

[Lightweight andy]

I'm not asking for a lot just to be assigned to a duty until the repick is done, which has happened 3 times now and still not finalised as we have to now have another repick due to all the Evr's that has just gone through. So now waiting for another repick to start and I just want to stay on there until this is all done.

[arnold cheshire]

I'm not asking for a lot just to be assigned to a duty until the repick is done, which has happened 3 times now and still not finalised as we have to now have another repick due to all the Evr's that has just gone through. So now waiting for another repick to start and I just want to stay on there until this is all done.

sorry the duty is vacant any reserve can do it

[35wayno]

If the full time postman has left on evr then by employment law that full time post cannot be filled with another full time person for two years. This is the law of the land. The reason the person has been made redundant is because your manager has stated that this position no longer requires filling as it did previously.
Sorry to be a killjoy but there is a way around it if your Union rep agrees to making the equivalent saving elsewhere in the office.

Good look but tread carefully

Cheers

[dave72]

Is the 6 months before it is advertised set in stone or is it just a regional thing?

We are in an office of 4 and one has just taken VR and we are having different posties on it for a couple of days then they go cover something else and another posties comes in for another two day and rinse and repeat, the walk is a right mess now with complaints all over it. We've asked if they are putting it up or if somebody is going to cover it long-term, the DOM shrugged his shoulders and said don't know