Ive been refused a 39 hour contract because...

jamitin · Post by **jamitin** » 30 Jun 2017, 17:58

My dom manager refused to let me apply for a 39 hour contract because I don't drive, are they allowed to do that? The duties that were up were only for reserves.

hans solo · Post by **hans solo** » 30 Jun 2017, 18:56

no discrimination, would have to go through all workforce who couldnt drive

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 01 Jul 2017, 13:44

jamitin wrote:My dom manager refused to let me apply for a 39 hour contract because I don't drive, are they allowed to do that? The duties that were up were only for reserves.

RM advertised a career pathway within the business on how employees will be given training and ample opportunities to improve their employment conditions so your DOM refusing you the right to apply for a driving duty is discriminatory. Some duties are advertised with certain criteria conditions that the applicant must hold within the professional drivers agreement but others should show on the advertisement that training will be given. I would have thought it would have benefitted his operation to have employees trained especially reserves to cover most duties. You need to reapply for the duty and inform your union that you have submitted an application and for union rep to oversee the applicants.

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 01 Jul 2017, 13:55

How is it discrimination?
Is being able to drive (or not) a protected characteristic now?
Given that virtually every RM advert is for postman/woman with occasional driving are you seriously suggesting that those job adverts are unlawful?

If the job advertised may entail the need to drive and you can't drive then you can't apply for it.
If anyone thinks that RM are going to hold the vacancy open for you while they put you through your driving test then they are living in cloud cuckoo land.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 01 Jul 2017, 14:01

jamitin wrote:My dom manager refused to let me apply for a 39 hour contract because I don't drive, are they allowed to do that? The duties that were up were only for reserves.

The Union answer would be no he is not allowed to do that without first getting their agreement at local level.

But if the advert said that the OPG needs to have been "converted" then he is allowed to restrict only to drivers who have been converted.

Pragmatically, it is easier if a reserve can drive as they are by being a driver able to cover more duties without causing disruption. Only this week, one of our few pairs of CDVs had 2 non-drivers. They didn't get very far.

Question is can you drive if you can and if you want, make the Manager aware you are open to being converted.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 01 Jul 2017, 14:14

Maybe it's because Royal Mail will be phasing out the non-diving jobs and they know that fewer weekly hours will mean lower redundancy payments.

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 01 Jul 2017, 19:23

clashcityrocker wrote:How is it discrimination?
Is being able to drive (or not) a protected characteristic now?
Given that virtually every RM advert is for postman/woman with occasional driving are you seriously suggesting that those job adverts are unlawful?

If the job advertised may entail the need to drive and you can't drive then you can't apply for it.
If anyone thinks that RM are going to hold the vacancy open for you while they put you through your driving test then they are living in cloud cuckoo land.

Where did you get that the ability to drive( or not) is a protected characteristic from ?
Wouldn't the duty advertisement have clearly stated that the applicant must hold a clean driving license or there would be no point in applying in the first place and be refused.
Isn't the career pathway no longer in existence where RM is supposed to pride itself in offering increased opportunities to staff by internal training?
What's stopping the poster from putting his name forward for driver training. Priority will be given to applicants holding the relevant license first but what if there is no takers they would then have to increase their training programme.
What happens when you are suspended from driving for a blameworthy then the action is for the driving to be reassessed and paid for by RM Then they can put their staff through driver training so that they are not limited to applying for certain duties where others have an advantage.

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 01 Jul 2017, 19:34

Further to my post " Jamitin" joined 2011 which estimated would be 6 years service. Probably at that time his contract of employment may not have had the ability to drive as a requirement but due to the operational changes since then most new starters will have written into their contract some occasional driving necessary and therefore a driving licence is essential. Then we now have the scenario that this new starter could apply for this 39 hour contract above " Jamitin" and be considered without a refusal. What price seniority?

Creditshampoo · Post by **Creditshampoo** » 02 Jul 2017, 12:20

How about a mpu SA where the advertisement states staff applying MUST be a driver on the off chance they might need to be sent out but chances are slim

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 02 Jul 2017, 15:53

rehabron wrote: Where did you get that the ability to drive( or not) is a protected characteristic from ?

You were the one that started talking about discrimination.

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 02 Jul 2017, 15:56

rehabron wrote: What price seniority?

I think you will find that someone with a driving licence has always been considered before a more senior person without a driving licence for a job that entails driving.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 02 Jul 2017, 20:08

clashcityrocker wrote:
rehabron wrote: What price seniority?
I think you will find that someone with a driving licence has always been considered before a more senior person without a driving licence for a job that entails driving.

- and how could it realistically be other than that ?

Non drivers should just accept that they're not as versatile and so not as useful as drivers.

I learnt to drive, in my own time and at my own expense, in case it would be useful at work and that is how it has proved during my years with Royal Mail.

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 02 Jul 2017, 21:40

clashcityrocker wrote:
rehabron wrote: Where did you get that the ability to drive( or not) is a protected characteristic from ?
You were the one that started talking about discrimination.

That does not answer my question. You were the one that mentioned driving (or not) was a protected characteristic

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 02 Jul 2017, 21:53

Lounge Lizard wrote:
clashcityrocker wrote:
rehabron wrote: What price seniority?
I think you will find that someone with a driving licence has always been considered before a more senior person without a driving licence for a job that entails driving.
- and how could it realistically be other than that ?
Non drivers should just accept that they're not as versatile and so not as useful as drivers.
I learnt to drive, in my own time and at my own expense, in case it would be useful at work and that is how it has proved during my years with Royal Mail.

Rm in my experience on the driving function of the business provided training for upgrading to different classes of vehicles because they were required. Again I come to career improvement within RM which again has not been answered. Probably will find that "Jimatin" woks in the processing function but the point I am making rather than refuse him for applying for an increased in his contracted hours for the duty that required a licence his DOM should have advised him of any opportunities that was available to him to further his career development within the business. Even if it means that he takes his driving test in his own time. To write him off without giving him alternatives to further his duty applications does not correspond with their statement of improving yourself within RM.

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 03 Jul 2017, 07:47

We still have not had it established if the vacancies advertised clearly stated that a current driving licence was a requirement or the writer forgot to include this important criteria in the vacancy advert or assumed that nowadays everybody holds a driving licence. If the advert has stipulated applicants must have a driving licence before applying then I fail to understand why " Jamitin" a non driving licence holder would be applying for the reserve vacancies. Only " Jamitin" can clear this matter up.