Was van sharing a policy before the DO closures?

south London postie · Post by **south London postie** » 23 Jun 2019, 20:46

I don't go back that far. Are the closures they've been doing and trying to do, have management always been trying to close DOs?

Is there more too it, like van sharing made sense in some locations before closures, etc ..

Just trying to understand when/how it made sense to management to pursue the van share idea?

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 24 Jun 2019, 07:04

Van share became "an idea" with the beginning of internet shopping and the increase in packets.
The policy of "once up the garden path" meant separate mail and parcel deliveries had to go.

Now of course ......

arnold cheshire · Post by **arnold cheshire** » 24 Jun 2019, 22:12

clashcityrocker wrote:Van share became "an idea" with the beginning of internet shopping and the increase in packets.
The policy of "once up the garden path" meant separate mail and parcel deliveries had to go.

Now of course ......

mainly for security of mail

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 27 Jun 2019, 22:18

It's also connected to the decision to get rid of the bikes which became a H&S issue as most posties were refusing to wear the cycle helmets & hi-vis.
Regarding amalgamation of DOs this has been a thing for quite a while ever since most sites were sold off then leased back. They got the short term boost in funds but then had to start paying rent. If the new parcel strategy is approved there will be a lot more closure/amalgamation of DOs as they will become uneconomic with so much of the business diverted to the LAT hubs. I think we are heading for a two tier workforce with, eventually, all current postie contracts going in favour of "Amazon style" jobs.

Seymour Buts · Post by **Seymour Buts** » 28 Jun 2019, 11:12

Celgar wrote:It's also connected to the decision to get rid of the bikes which became a H&S issue as most posties were refusing to wear the cycle helmets & hi-vis.
Regarding amalgamation of DOs this has been a thing for quite a while ever since most sites were sold off then leased back. They got the short term boost in funds but then had to start paying rent. If the new parcel strategy is approved there will be a lot more closure/amalgamation of DOs as they will become uneconomic with so much of the business diverted to the LAT hubs. I think we are heading for a two tier workforce with, eventually, all current postie contracts going in favour of "Amazon style" jobs.

I suspect you may well be right. We need to fight these changes. Ultimately the future is parcels, taking even a % of these away means they're taking away the growth part of the business from posties. Once these changes are done, what does that mean for us posties? Walks 30 or 40% bigger you suspect.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 28 Jun 2019, 12:50

postietom wrote:
Celgar wrote:It's also connected to the decision to get rid of the bikes which became a H&S issue as most posties were refusing to wear the cycle helmets & hi-vis.
Regarding amalgamation of DOs this has been a thing for quite a while ever since most sites were sold off then leased back. They got the short term boost in funds but then had to start paying rent. If the new parcel strategy is approved there will be a lot more closure/amalgamation of DOs as they will become uneconomic with so much of the business diverted to the LAT hubs. I think we are heading for a two tier workforce with, eventually, all current postie contracts going in favour of "Amazon style" jobs.
I suspect you may well be right. We need to fight these changes. Ultimately the future is parcels, taking even a % of these away means they're taking away the growth part of the business from posties. Once these changes are done, what does that mean for us posties? Walks 30 or 40% bigger you suspect.

The thing that needs to be kept an eye on (for DOs) is when the USO gets reviewed. Depending on how the review goes you could end up with normal mail going every other day, potentially one lot of staff preps it (new machines in MCs to sequence everything?) and then another lot deliver it where they're outdoors all of their shift

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 29 Jun 2019, 03:26

At one time they wanted STARBURST no it's not chocolate bar but a van with 8 posties in it and a driver who after drops all 8 out by parachute if necessary does the big parcels and meets up and replenish the troops on an on going basis it they drop dead or are relayed to medical assistance!