Staffing Issues

[GT750rider]

Last week a former colleague of mine (DOM) was asked to undergo some 'Root Cause Analysis' and write a report on why his unit is failing so many of it's KPIs. His reply was that it wasn't really necessary to write a report as nearly all of the KPIs were being failed due to manpower shortages. He went on to suggest that in the interim his unit required some casuals to cover indoor and outdoor workload but that in the long term his Vacs need filling and he needs Reserves as a contingency for sickness etc. His managers first and only reply was ... 'But that would mean going over budget !!, you will need to come up with a better solution'

Is it like this EVERYWHERE ??

I believe it probably is the same up and down the country. Your former colleague should contact the other DOM's in his area, and if the they are experiencing the same bull, why don't they make a stand as one ? It would be nice to listen in on the conference call one morning and hear each DOM demand more staff. A shame it'll never happen. Your guy seems to care about his staff ( at least that's how it comes over ).

[DGH]

I've spoken to many people at my office and ALL say they pay their subs just in case they need legal advice. They certainly don't expect the Union to help them.

My house contents insurance covers legal advice and costs, including for work-related matters. I've opted out of the union because the way they conduct themselves in our office has, sadly, varied from lackadaisical to contemptible over the past few years and have never felt the lack, despite some 'robust' encounters with managers in that time.

[postslippete]

All ive heard are lame excuses for staffing shortages


Its got little to do with the non-existent Whistl/TNT in our area or a lack of managerial personnel to recruit new posties; and much more to do with Royal Mail's slash and burn approach

They let full-timers leave on VR terms and made the rounds bigger. So the question was always how do you suddenly get the existing staff to do all that extra indoor and outdoor work?? The only Indoor Workplace Tools I know are the ones planning the work for us!! Because if staff did not want the overtime then thats when managers have been almost forced to step up and do the deliveries. After all, it looks really bad for a manager when a delivery has failed. Though I don't understand why the Managers Union are not involved because managers are doing the posties work?? And this is in spite of what Royal Mail promised a year ago.

Its just a case of bullying all the way down the chain from Moya's sacred circle to DSMs to DOMs to Lino's and then us.

[trythat]

I've spoken to many people at my office and ALL say they pay their subs just in case they need legal advice. They certainly don't expect the Union to help them.

My house contents insurance covers legal advice and costs, including for work-related matters. I've opted out of the union because the way they conduct themselves in our office has, sadly, varied from lackadaisical to contemptible over the past few years and have never felt the lack, despite some 'robust' encounters with managers in that time.

Can I ask why you didn't put yourself forward for office rep? People have either got to back the rep directly, or offer to help by putting name forward for example sub rep, ask if a committee will help, or just ask if there is anything you can do. Reps can't do it all on there own, I was really grateful to my sub, also when we've had CoD revision, delivery revision, I've had people jump in because they are better experts at things I'm not.

It also makes for a stronger office. I'm glad you've come through a few managerial encounters, but what about your colleagues, are they as strong as you, you could help them as well.

[Martin Walsh]

I don't want to sound like I know I really don't ! I am sometimes a lone voice with knowledge what is really happening internally ! There is a recuimrng crisis in the business not on vacancies which you clear on a weekly basis but on a quality of service crisis to the fact 300 managers centrally have been put on delivery as their job from now until they have got the recruitment in

[Budfrog]

I don't want to sound like I know I really don't ! I am sometimes a lone voice with knowledge what is really happening internally ! There is a recuimrng crisis in the business not on vacancies which you clear on a weekly basis but on a quality of service crisis to the fact 300 managers centrally have been put on delivery as their job from now until they have got the recruitment in

They should offer enhanced FTCs to experienced OPGs that have left on VR until recruitment sort themselves out - not sure what the takeup would be but worth a punt at least for Christmas pressure period. Seasonal workers are fine in MCs but deliveries area different kettle of fish altogether, it is a more skilled job with more responsibility (though some Mech or PS OPGs may beg to differ).

[chrisj]

I still maintain that the negative staffing issues is not just based on recruiting problems as highlighted by dingo.

Our manager has told us that any vacant post in the office will have to be filled by a 27 hour part timer. This is regardless of what the contract of the previous holder was and this is regardless of the fact that the office is being run on overtime from the same said 27 hour part timers and another 32 hours AG. We now have at last 3 and 3 being lapsed on an on-going basis - not a big office! Posties applied internally advertised for jobs but were not allowed to upgrade hours from 27 to 32... And certainly no FT will be employed or upgraded.

The manager has not even filled the post with 27 hours posties that we now have because someone has to throw out the walks for them? So the Revision we had has now being cast aside, the pairings of duties and pairing of FT/PT combo is being cast aside; they are now ready to put two 27 hours part timers together or 32 and 27 hours part timer...

What I do not understand is that they are not really saving that much money except for holiday pay because people are being asked to come in to do OT on the IPS, PTers are virtually working more than 39 hours in some cases and managers are having to go out and deliver.

Lastly, the manager is worried about pairing two part timers (27) together so has not done anything about vacant posts. Just fill the damn posts and get FT staff to double prep - and it does not have to be the same Reserves that cup it all the time - any FT should be asked to double prep or moved around in terms of additional duties. The managers are totally useless and so fearful of established staff!

And then you wonder about QOS! Managers are a shambles and we as a Union are now passengers (or as they say partners) in the cabal.

[Elm1984]

Is it true if you have, for example, a 10 hour contract but consistently work 35 hours a week for 2 years your contract HAS to be made up to the hours you have been working?

Sure I was told this on my induction but a lot of people in my office want more contracted hours but keep being refused, they have been there 4 years with 20 hour contracts but consistently doing 40+

[chrisj]

That is the reality! Its less about recruiting issues, it is more about RM keeping their options open in case the mail volume actually drops. It is also a way of keeping most of the staff part time thereby reducing some associated costs... In addition, RM might be buying time till our negotiated terms and conditions expires, then they can really drive through the sort of practices you see in other courier or delivery companies.

The 2 years rule is not set in stone!

[POSTMAN]

Is it true if you have, for example, a 10 hour contract but consistently work 35 hours a week for 2 years your contract HAS to be made up to the hours you have been working?

Sure I was told this on my induction but a lot of people in my office want more contracted hours but keep being refused, they have been there 4 years with 20 hour contracts but consistently doing 40+

2.7.7 The level of part time Employees’ contracted hours will be reviewed by the
Employer and the CWU locally on a six monthly basis. Where appropriate,
increased contracted hours will be offered to reflect the hours actually
worked and planned.

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 53&t=59294" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Budfrog]

That is the reality! Its less about recruiting issues, it is more about RM keeping their options open in case the mail volume actually drops. It is also a way of keeping most of the staff part time thereby reducing some associated costs... In addition, RM might be buying time till our negotiated terms and conditions expires, then they can really drive through the sort of practices you see in other courier or delivery companies.

The 2 years rule is not set in stone!

Totally agree ... it's not the same but is does for precisely the same reasons as Zero Hr Contracts, a Lite version.

[antcpfc]

There is a strong rumour that Croydon cwu are going to push for a overtime ban.Hopefully it would make managers take notice.

[GT750rider]

There is a strong rumour that Croydon cwu are going to push for a overtime ban.Hopefully it would make managers take notice.

I can only hope the workforce support any overtime ban. If they do, then perhaps there may be some changes made.

[aiden01]

There is a strong rumour that Croydon cwu are going to push for a overtime ban.Hopefully it would make managers take notice.

I can only hope the workforce support any overtime ban. If they do, then perhaps there may be some changes made.

can hardly get o/t in our mc due to amount of agency staff that are being used. please don't ask what cwu are doing about it as the simple is eff all. some agency staff are actually earning more than most fulltimers.

[Budfrog]

I do not believe that RM cannot fill it's Vacs within a reasonable time frame - T&Cs/Wages compare very favourably with to other employers in this sector of the industry and I simply do not believe that RM's HR/recruitment department is that incompetent. It is more likely to be a policy decision to deliberately under-staff units as a means of improving productivity levels at minimum cost and without any agreement with CWU or it's membership.