Signing for job.

[LaggyBand]

It’s almost like a different job, in terms of mindset - being a never-gets-moved duty holder and a thrown-about reserve.

Took me seventeen years to get a fixed duty.

People with fixed jobs that moan at our place really have no idea what it’s like being a reserve. (A) Yeah, they say “I was a reserve once you know” - and they say it genuinely thinking being a reserve twenty years ago was the same as it is now.


(B)It’s ok giving it the “just do what you’re told and finish on time”, which, on paper, sounds like it should make no difference. But it’s largely make-believe on the floor. Try doing it day in day out, advocating your side, being challenged constantly, whilst your fixed duty work mates look around from their frame with a hint of “I’m glad I’m safe” across their face.

(C)My advice: the better reserve you are, the more your talents will be put to work. Never, ever, think if you be good today you’ll be left alone tomorrow. Never think that.

A fellow cynic... well said LB (A) I never pay any attention to the old gits going on about how hard they "Used" to have it 20 years ago. Yeah right you were a Reserve when we had bikes... had three bags of mail.... could finish your own duty AND complete another duty and STILL finish before your contracted end time!


(B) I think some people underestimate just how stressful it is to get messed about on a daily basis, not knowing which duty you're on until you turn up at the DO. Having to argue with Incompetent Managers that couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery, and are only interested in their own Bonuses instead of trying to sort their DO out! I really do sympathise with Reserves when they get messed about and try to help out, even if it's just emptying their IPS frames out. How many times do you see "The Chosen Few" sitting on their frames gassing to their mates when someone's been switched at the last minute and is really struggling.

(C) IMO they should pay Reserves for the ammount of Duties they can cover (I know RM wanted (and succedded) in doing away with lots of different payscales). In all honesty a well trained Reserve is a lot more of an Assett to the Business than a Postie that's only ever done the same Duty for the last 15 years (we've got a few).

Ha yes it’s true, a good reserve cover ought to be seen as more valuable than a guy who can do one duty and one duty only, but unfortunately it seems to be the case that instead of rewarding that good reserve he gets more grief by getting moved even more. The more awkward you are, the less grief you get. It really does work that way in practice.

Oh, and what do you mean “when” we had bikes.. Some of us are still on them you know!

[Dorset Plodder]

Ha yes it’s true, a good reserve cover ought to be seen as more valuable than a guy who can do one duty and one duty only, but unfortunately it seems to be the case that instead of rewarding that good reserve he gets more grief by getting moved even more. The more awkward you are, the less grief you get. It really does work that way in practice.

Oh, and what do you mean “when” we had bikes.. Some of us are still on them you know!

Strange that isn't it? The Moaning Whingeing gits always seem to be left alone. You'd think that even the Simpletons that they employee as Managers would realise it's a really simple childish trick to use. Do they let their kids get away with everything at home simply because they moan every time they're told to tidy their bedrooms? Perhaps they do.


I didn't realise that the use of bikes was still that widespread. We had ALL ours removed and it was only later that the Area CWU Rep told us, "Well you could have kept some IF you'd been able to prove the duty would still work using them". Different to what we were told by the Lazy, Incompetent, Work Shy DOM who said, "It's a company wide policy that ALL bikes are being withdrawn"! Fancy that a lying Manager. Some duties simply swapped a bike for a LWT which on a light day, with loads of gaps in the mail, makes no bloody sense at all.