Pre-booked shifts cancelled

One Voice · Post by **One Voice** » 30 Nov 2016, 22:39

On the threshold of December 2016 Angard have confirmed to me by phone that all over the country shifts are being cancelled due to low volumes of mail.

Angard employees are the workers who give flexibility to Royal Mail throughout the year, working uncertain hours and shifts often at short notice. At this time of year one could hope that this availability and flexibility were "repaid" with a little more employment security. After all, Royal Mail have taken on up to hundreds of their own Christmas casuals in each Mail Centre. There is work available, but loyal employees contracted with Angard are yet again those who take the hit when volumes are down.

Myself and other colleagues have, by phone been told that they have work "up till January" or "until 23rd December". Zero hours contract aside, that is a verbal contract, and by law a verbal contract has legal protection.

Aah, but how can you prove that you had a "verbal contract". Much more difficult to prove a breach in a court of law if you don't have something in writing.

That's true, but do you, like me and other colleagues have texts on your phone saying that your shift today/ tonight has been cancelled? Is that not written confirmation that there was already some sort of agreement between you and Royal Mail with Angard as the intermediary?

My advice is not to delete these messages. As of yet, I cannot find any court case which has ruled over cancelled verbal agreements in relation to zero hours contracts. But these things have to have a beginning somewhere. Someone, or a collective has the right to challenge broken promises. Royal Mail, hiding behind Angard Staffing may be a private company, and have the right to make profits, but if they operate in an unethical way, those who suffer have a right to make their feelings known without fear of losing even more work.

If you, like me, are feeling rejected and dejected tonight or tomorrow over the way you are being treated, please register with Royal Mail Chat and add to this post. Or you can mail survivingangard@gmail.com with the complete certainty that your details will be kept completely secure.

One Voice, collective action. The limit is only what we decide to do or not to do.

tabact · Post by **tabact** » 01 Dec 2016, 09:22

When I was block booked up to 30th December I was told 'subject to cancellation' (only 3 x 4 hours per week anyway). The practice of booking then cancelling has been more common this year than previously. The trouble with angard is they were created to service RM needs and couldn't care less about the people who work for them. There are always more people applying for the continuously advertised jobs to replace anybody who leaves. The use of other agencies in addition to angard doesn't help.

One Voice · Post by **One Voice** » 01 Dec 2016, 13:24

They never told me that the shifts could be cancelled but I guess that's part of the game.

The people who've really lost out are the Christmas Casuals from last year who were told they would need to register with Angard and took the advice. If they had come back employed directly with Royal Mail they wouldn't be losing the shifts.

beechwood · Post by **beechwood** » 01 Dec 2016, 17:12

correction need there, one voice, they'd still be losing shifts even if they'd gone with royal mail recruitment.

I'm a royal mail xmas casual, not only has the Royal mail cancelled this weeks late shifts, they have been putting the start dates back by up to 2 weeks.

tabact · Post by **tabact** » 02 Dec 2016, 09:41

It's been that bad for cancellations I got a call from angard apologising for the number of cancelled shifts.

One Voice · Post by **One Voice** » 02 Dec 2016, 16:58

Sorry to hear Royal Mail casuals are losing shifts as well. That's a whole week cancelled for us now; they're doing it day by day which is pretty frustrating.

beechwood · Post by **beechwood** » 02 Dec 2016, 17:52

One Voice wrote:Sorry to hear Royal Mail casuals are losing shifts as well. That's a whole week cancelled for us now; they're doing it day by day which is pretty frustrating.

i'll have missed 4 shifts this week out of a total of 12 booked so far this xmas, some of the other casuals will have done just 2 out of a booked 18, 16 shifts down is pretty pooh especially knowing everyone has bills to pay and its an expensive time of year, this is my first time doing an xmas casual job with Royal Mail, fortunately for me, I'm just doing it for extra cash.

The 2 nights I worked this week will be £100 minus the usual Tax and national Insurance, I can't imagine how dejected some people will be having only earned that amount from 2 out of the possible 18 shifts they'd been expecting, shame on Royal Mail 16 out of 18 being cancelled is ludicrous planning, even then those 2 shifts worked this week won't be paid until 9th Dec.

i had a conversation with a group of managers, they said they found the whole cancelling of shifts so far this xmas as an

beechwood · Post by **beechwood** » 05 Dec 2016, 16:38

due to start at 23:00 tonight just received a phone call 16:30 shift cancelled

Royal Fail

beechwood · Post by **beechwood** » 06 Dec 2016, 14:18

Just received a text due to the decline in mail shifts 22:00-06:00 have been cancelled 6th-9th shifts will resume on 12th sorry if this causes any inconvenience

Royal Fail.

One Voice · Post by **One Voice** » 06 Dec 2016, 15:37

Angard staff at the mail centre where I work have all just received a text cancelling shifts for the rest of the week as well.

At least they didn't put "Sorry for any inconvenience" like with the previous post. Royal Mail have screwed up big time and are treating temp workers like a throw-away commodity.

PauloC · Post by **PauloC** » 06 Dec 2016, 20:32

I was getting plenty of work from Angard first 2 weeks of November before most of my pre-booked shifts were cancelled. I am not sure why it's all gone quiet but I have the feeling they will be desperate for us to work the week before Xmas, even ringing me up at short notice. Fortunately for me I can afford to tell them where to go, as I am sick of it - I am not prepared to say I can work all week and put off other commitments.

ddeelacky · Post by **ddeelacky** » 07 Dec 2016, 20:26

my hours are down to about 12 , from an average of 35 for the rest of the year , had my shift cancelled as i was getting ready to leave for work then found out the office i was meant to be working in are using xmas temps , we have 3 angard and 1 manpower that are all in the same boat . we are asked to make our own way to rural offices for shifts and pay our own fairs .we used to get money back from petty cash but this was stopped . we have worked in dundee and surrounding area for about 2 years now and never had as little work . i know they are failing deliveries as well and we have had no mail delivered to my house all week.

Bazza01 · Post by **Bazza01** » 09 Dec 2016, 12:26

All shifts up to the 23rd December have now been cancelled this is a deliberate policy of Royal Mail to prevent trained staff from seeking other work in December just in case we are needed. I would urge all Angard staff to contact Alan Johnson MP who as an ex postie will be interested in what is happening and best placed to investigate tell him of the treatment we receive not just right now but all year round. Also flood justsayit@royalmail.com with complaints demanding compensation also if you are a union member contact them. Don't Let The Incompetent Lying Bastards At Royal Mail Grind You Down.

Britvic55 · Post by **Britvic55** » 10 Dec 2016, 00:02

This Christmas, RM have fcuked up again & some people have actually lost jobs. They have taken on too many people! Usually x get jobs, then if there are "no shows"/ people drop out, then people on the waiting list get jobs. Not this year!

CharlieJames · Post by **CharlieJames** » 10 Dec 2016, 04:56

Just received my id and a letter in the post today, after almost 6 weeks of waiting. What i found is that the payrate advertised when you apply for the job is different than the one stated on the back of the letter. Basically the payrates for the 06:00-22:00 shifts is 0.60p less and £1.65 less for the 22:00-06:00. That's false job advertising and most of the people have applied hoping they will get the rate posted in the advert. My online application status shows "hired and start date agreed", however I haven't received any sms/email/phone call confirming any dates whatsoever. Anyone else encountered this?