Storm Ophelia

gand · Post by **gand** » 17 Oct 2017, 13:58

I work in northern Ireland and as you may know wee got hit by the tale end of a hurricane yesterday, and our mail center staff got sent home early, this is after delivery staff all went out on delivery without even a safety brief about the weather!
so then this morning our manager called a huddle not to tell us thanks for risking yourself and doing your delivery but to tell us that because the mail center was closed that it was very light today and that wee would have to work over our time the rest of the week,
when wee all complained about it and said wee don't have to do overtime wee were told that it was agreed with the union to which wee said then get the rep to explain, when he came down he told us that it was part on the national agreement and wee had to work 30 mins over as wee would finish early today. what i need to know is this the case and which agreement is this from? and can wee be made to work overtime?

Post by **POSTMAN** » 17 Oct 2017, 14:17

It's bollox, just looking for the severe weather policy now.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 17 Oct 2017, 14:19

POSTMAN wrote:SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS – PAY & MODERNISATION AGREEMENT

Dear Colleague

SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS – PAY & MODERNISATION AGREEMENT

CWU HQ are receiving numerous reports and enquiries that as a result of the severe weather conditions, Royal Mail Managers are attempting to insist that in cases where our members are being sent home early from work due to unsafe conditions for delivery, collections, road services etc, the Pay & Modernisation Agreement and in particular the flexibility clause within that agreement, is applicable.

There is no provision within the Pay & Modernisation Agreement for the clawback of any time as a result of what is tantamount to an 'act of God' i.e. the severe weather conditions that the UK is currently experiencing.

We have had further reports that some Managers are attempting to have our members take annual leave, make good the time, or even in some cases Special Leave 'C' (unpaid) where they could not attend work through no fault of their own. Once again, our representatives should be clear that this has not been agreed with the Postal Department at CWU HQ.

Any enquiries should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department quoting reference number 60000.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)

Dear Colleague,

RE: Severe Weather Conditions – Pay & Modernisation Agreement

Since the publication of LtB 95/2009, the Postal Department has received a number of enquiries.

It appears that in some areas management are attempting to introduce unagreed adjustments to hours or forcing individuals to take unpaid or annual leave when they were unable to attend work due to the weather conditions. Some managers are claiming to justify this approach by quoting from a document entitled “Severe Weather Operating Manual for use in Royal Mail”. This is an unagreed management document. Furthermore there is no provision within the Pay and Modernisation Agreement for clawback of hours as a result of what is tantamount to an ‘act of God’.

Each individual case should be looked at according to its merits and the local weather conditions. Any problems should be taken through the Industrial Relations Framework. During this time the status quo should remain.

Any enquiries regarding this LtB please contact the DGS (P) Department quoting reference number 60000.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)

https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 36&t=23255" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

gand · Post by **gand** » 17 Oct 2017, 14:20

Nice one postman. also were does this 30 mins flex up come from as i thought it was voluntary?

Post by **osgoody1970** » 17 Oct 2017, 14:26

it is, 30 mins flex should only occur if there is a unexpected problem, such as a lorry breakdown or something similar!!! and it can only happen with the co-operation of the individual or people concerned, it is NOT MANDATORY!!!

Post by **POSTMAN** » 17 Oct 2017, 14:38

Apart from some threads from 2013, are there any updates on the latest on the severe weather policy?
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... her+policy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CWU IN 2011! wrote:Additionally, the CWU/HQ Postal Dept are in discussions with RM regarding a Severe Weather Policy dealing with all the HR/IR issues of attendance in severe weather etc which is a separate issue.

Downeagle · Post by **Downeagle** » 17 Oct 2017, 15:11

We were out in it yesterday too, we were expected to do our normal delivery and received no word from management regarding going home early whilst the rest of Northern Ireland was either at home or away home early.

gand · Post by **gand** » 17 Oct 2017, 19:45

Downeagle wrote:We were out in it yesterday too, we were expected to do our normal delivery and received no word from management regarding going home early whilst the rest of Northern Ireland was either at home or away home early.

That's the best part all delivery staff worked a full day it was mail center staff who work indoors they sent home

gand · Post by **gand** » 18 Oct 2017, 10:36

Also who in the cwu can I email about this rep who is more interested in keeping management happy than helping his members?

Post by **Lincox** » 18 Oct 2017, 22:20

This is a dereliction of duty on behalf of Royal Mail. They are responsible for the health, SAFETY and welfare of their employees. To give you no directions on whether it is safe for you to go out is an unbelievable disregard to their responsibilities in respect of The Severe Weather Warning Agreement and ultimately responsible is the Chief Executive, Moya Greene.

Although your local representative should have contacted the Area Representative to seek advice in this respect, I also believe that the CWU should have been all over this and made contact with Royal Mail to make sure that proper guidelines were being adhered to.

In respect of the following day when I assume that the weather conditions had abated, effectively there are no longer weather warnings on that day, and therefore no need for severe weather conditions to apply. It is therefore for Royal Mail to provide you with sufficient work to do during your contracted hours. If they are unable to do so then they do not have the right to extend your contracted hours on another day of the week. It is illegal in law and there is certainly no agreement between Royal Mail and the CWU that would allow them to instigate this.

My question to the DOM would be for him to show me the agreement that allows him to extend my contracted hours on any particular day. Un less he was able to do this I would inform him that I would be working to my time and it was for him to provide me with sufficient work for that day.