RM Delivery office in Rochester High St on verge of Strike

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Staff at the Royal Mail sorting office in Rochester High Street on the verge of strike action

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news ... -of-40911/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

About 150 Medway postal workers are considering strike action over claims four of their colleagues were unfairly dismissed.

Staff at the Royal Mail sorting office in Rochester High Street are considering a ballot to take industrial action after a breakdown with management.

One worker, who did not wish to be named, said: “Feelings are running high and there is a lot of dissent. This not about money – it’s about people.”

It is alleged the workers, who have been described as long-term employees, were suspended for leaving parcels on doorsteps or outhouses if there was no reply.

The proposed action, which could affect deliveries across the ME postcode area, is being organised by the Kent Invicta Branch of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents staff in the postal and communications industry.

Before any action is taken, a ballot has to be carried and an employer must be given one month’s notice of the start of the vote.

David Banbury, CWU branch secretary, said: “The CWU members in the Royal Mail delivery office in Rochester have requested a ballot for strike action due to the dismissal of a number of members of staff at the office.

“The CWU and Royal Mail management are working hard to try and resolve the issues in line with the internal procedures without the recourse to strike action.

“At this point, no decision has been made on whether or not a strike ballot will be actioned.”

Royal Mail spokesman Sally Hopkins said: “Royal Mail is fully committed to resolving the concerns of postal workers in Rochester to avoid any industrial action, which only hurts our customers and our business.

“We are working with CWU representatives and are hopeful we will be able to achieve this.”

[Surreypostie]

Everybody is aware doorstepping is a sackable offence. Trouble is, if people get caught doorstepping, in my office anyway, nothing happens so it continues. If these guys did do it and have been sacked I don't see how they can be helped. Suppose long term employees have a target on their backs, sacking is far cheaper than redundancy. For gods sake people, do it properly.

[deltaforce]

No one is disputing that doorsteping is not the right way. It's the severity of the punishment that is being disputed. Prior to this it was generally a severe warning. Now a much harder line is being taken without prior warning of a change of stance.

[ted_e_bear]

Thing is at the moment we're being put under lots of undue pressure to deliver tracked items, I really suspect that most these alleged offences were for trackeds.

[motherhubbard]

Thing is at the moment we're being put under lots of undue pressure to deliver tracked items, I really suspect that most these alleged offences were for trackeds.

How is anyone put under undue pressure?
Ultimately your responsibility is the security of the mail. Either you can deliver the item securely, or you can't.
Sheds, doorsteps, recycling bins etc are not secure and never have been.

There seems to be an unbelievable unwillingness on the part of so many of our colleagues to just do the job properly.
There hasn't been any change in stance. If you put the security of the mail at risk, you may lose your job.
I don't see that that is so hard to understand.

[deltaforce]

If historically the punishment for this offence was a severe warning, then it was changed to sacking without prior warning. You could argue that it was unfair dismissal compared with what went on historically in this office before. Also I thought that the conduct code was now used to correct bad practise rather than punishment.

[motherhubbard]

If historically the punishment for this offence was a severe warning, then it was changed to sacking without prior warning. You could argue that it was unfair dismissal compared with what went on historically in this office before. Also I thought that the conduct code was now used to correct bad practise rather than punishment.

By that logic, nobody could ever be dismissed for the offence.
And then ultimately what you are arguing for is a total lack of leniency. If the first ones had been dismissed, then these sackings would be fair?
Is that what we want? Sacking at the first offence so there is never any precedent.

At some point people have to learn to take responsibility for their own actions.
The conduct code was being used to try and correct bad practice. But nobody wanted to listen.
Will they listen now?

[trythat]

Thing is at the moment we're being put under lots of undue pressure to deliver tracked items, I really suspect that most these alleged offences were for trackeds.

How is anyone put under undue pressure?
Ultimately your responsibility is the security of the mail. Either you can deliver the item securely, or you can't.
Sheds, doorsteps, recycling bins etc are not secure and never have been.

There seems to be an unbelievable unwillingness on the part of so many of our colleagues to just do the job properly.
There hasn't been any change in stance. If you put the security of the mail at risk, you may lose your job.
I don't see that that is so hard to understand.

I don't agree with you on this, I do see from WTL to Courier that RM will do almost anything for 'deliver first time' to be the norm, most opg who do a delivery on a regular basis will be told by householders to leave packets in all sorts of places, who wants to travel for an hour or more to get a packet, that ideally the would like delivered yesterday?

You only got to see some of the threads on here to see how much pressure DSMs are putting on DOMs who then question opg on why they bought a packet back.

I'd be surprised if on any given day most opg do something that could get them the sack according to RM rules, but generally RM don't as they know if everything was done to the book, stacks of deliveries wouldn't get done, which is why it's so hard to get duties tested.

I'd like to think if this happened in my DO, then we would ballet as well.

[motherhubbard]

I don't agree with you on this, I do see from WTL to Courier that RM will do almost anything for 'deliver first time' to be the norm, most opg who do a delivery on a regular basis will be told by householders to leave packets in all sorts of places,

I'd like to think if this happened in my DO, then we would ballet as well.

And that is the operative word - almost.
Everything but jeopardise the security of the mail.
And any customer who requests alternatives to this (just leave it round the back, just sign for it yourself and pop it through) is met with a polite refusal as I do not want to lose my job, lose their item or for them to be the victim of identity fraud. What are they going to do - complain?
Anyone who doorsteps etc does it for themselves - not for the customer and not because of the DOM.
That is their decision and theirs alone.

I actually wish this union would stand up as vocally for the hardworking posties who do the job properly.
I like the idea of your office performing Swan Lake though in response to management taking a hard line on mail security.

[happynel]

Deliver first time has now become the tool for Royal Mail to sack postman.
Please be aware.

[daveyeff]

Deliver first time has now become the tool for Royal Mail to sack postman.
Please be aware.

if you cant get rid of it...you cant get rid of it. how the hell can they sack you if you cant get rid of it?

[Gilly856]

Motherhubbard as an older employee, but a relative new start you speak total sense. Vey wise and true.

[scoobydo79]

Deliver first time has now become the tool for Royal Mail to sack postman.
Please be aware.

Nonsense.Its Your call if You docket left it.They can whinge if they want but its Your call.Stick to Your guns if You need to red card.

[dodger71]

you cant leave it outside....with a neighbour yes...but shed /garage/greenhouse /box in garden ...a big no no no anymore my friends...them days have gone ...how ever we love our customers and wish to do them a favour .....we are the the one who are held responsible in the end

[matthew68]

you cant leave it outside....with a neighbour yes...but shed /garage/greenhouse /box in garden ...a big no no no anymore my friends...them days have gone ...how ever we love our customers and wish to do them a favour .....we are the the one who are held responsible in the end

If a customer wants you to leave it as far as I am aware they have to put it in writing and send to do if they don't then I try neighbour and if not in card them although I do leave in porch if that's where I leave mail I am presuming this is ok?