Mail workers sacked before job starts

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 01 Dec 2007, 13:47

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Mail ... 3546653.jp

A JOBS fiasco left more than 50 new employees out in the cold â€“ before they had even started work.

Many were in tears after a staffing blunder at Sunderland's Royal Mail depot, Doxford Park, which saw workers' hopes of earning cash for Christmas dashed.

Royal Mail and job agency Reed Employment both denied responsibility for the bungle, which saw too many turning up for the 448 temporary jobs available.

People said they had to wait outside in the bitter cold while bosses frantically tried to sort out the mess.

Those dismissed before even starting included Leslie De Cruz and his sister Lindsay, 18, who fear they have little hope of getting alternative work in time to be paid before Christmas.

"I can't buy presents until I find a job," said Leslie, from Beechwood Terrace, Thornhill, who fears the financial burden of Christmas will now fall on his girlfriend Katrina Sidney.

The 20-year-old described the scene at Doxford Park on Wednesday night.
"It was utter chaos. There were hundreds of people hanging around in the cold.

"It looked like a refugee camp."

After waiting outside for 40 minutes, Leslie said he was ushered inside.

"After sitting for another 40 minutes, we started to notice that people were being taken to one end of the room and being sacked on the spot.
"We realised that we were destined for the same and 10 minutes later we were right."

The evening of misery was compounded for Leslie and up to 60 others
who were not able to get on the packed last bus and had to fork out for a taxi home.

Gary Stevens, who was also sent home before starting work, said those affected should be compensated for their troubles.

The 22-year-old, from South Hylton, said the "debacle" could have been avoided as Royal Mail knew how many people would turn up as they had all collected site passes last week.

The temporary work was arranged by agency Reed Employment, which said it was following its client's instructions.

Reed, which has an office in St Thomas Street, said it was calling everyone who missed out at Royal Mail and was confident of finding them alternative employment.

Royal Mail said it operates a Manual Data Entry Centre at Doxford at Christmas only, which is mostly manned by agency staff.

"We asked for 448 for Wednesday's night shift but more than 500 turned up," a spokesman added.

IWW Fellow Worker · Post by **IWW Fellow Worker** » 01 Dec 2007, 18:54

Brilliant! These bastards don't see human beings. They only see opportunities for profiteering.

hackedoff · Post by **hackedoff** » 01 Dec 2007, 18:55

and I thought we were just robots they switched on and off

IWW Fellow Worker · Post by **IWW Fellow Worker** » 01 Dec 2007, 19:13

hackedoff wrote:and I thought we were just robots they switched on and off

Oh aye! 'Human Resouces' as the saying goes.

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 01 Dec 2007, 19:42

I'm getting these strange visions, something about ,uhm ,dockers tanner

IWW Fellow Worker · Post by **IWW Fellow Worker** » 01 Dec 2007, 19:44

BELIAL wrote:I'm getting these strange visions, something about ,uhm ,dockers tanner

Jim Larkin led the dockers. Pop Larkin led the posties.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 01 Dec 2007, 21:55

While they are queueing up to join royalmail meny more are queueing up to leave royalmail!.

andy2007 · Post by **andy2007** » 01 Dec 2007, 23:21

Considering that they had already collected Passes in advance. The very LEAST that RM should have done, is provide transport home for those they sent away! And what they really SHOULD have done, is give them one nights work. That way, they could at least make the trip worth making.

It is yet another example of the heartless and arrogant attitude of RM towards the Workers.

Just because they were temporary staff, doesn't mean that they don't deserve to be treated properly. It's disgusting!

sparkx · Post by **sparkx** » 01 Dec 2007, 23:57

I had the unfortunate experience of working for a recruitment agency in the past, one of the big Nationals not just a small local one. The standard practice was to overbook the people required for every job by 10% just to make sure the client got the people they wanted as on average 10% of agency staff would not bother going in. If a couple more turned up than required then the client would normally use them anyway and that would mean extra money for the Agency.

This sounds like they have overbooked but they all turned up which is the agencies problem and it is up to them to pay them and make sure they have transport home, after all they are employed by the agency not RM.

As for them having passes, they probably all did but that doesn't mean that RM want them to attend every shift between now and Xmas, they may get 500 vetted and ready to work when required but then it is up to RM to phone the agency on a day to day basis and say how many they actually want.

yorkie · Post by **yorkie** » 02 Dec 2007, 09:55

WELL SAID ANDY!!!!!!!!!

TEMPORARY STAFF SHOULD BE TREADED WITH RESPECT !

drain · Post by **drain** » 02 Dec 2007, 21:47

I was one of them who signed up for the part time data entry clerk job by reed went for a interview did few idiot tests which they then basically said you got the job they then told me to turn up on the 28th Nov got there on Wednesday night it was a total shambles from start to finish the managers didn't seem to have a clue what they were doing did the whole night then got sacked went outside bus was full packed had to work all the way to the back of ahbrooke. I also never got paid for the work I did between 9pm to 6.30am. I have decided to put a complaint in what I have heard from a friend who's into law what they have done is illegal, recruiting more staff than they needed. I problys won't find any other job this close to xmas

L Tommo · Post by **L Tommo** » 02 Dec 2007, 22:01

DRAIN.... WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ROYAL MAIL......

a great place to work!!!

This is just about the strength of RM now mate... Now you know why we go out on strike... They treat us as just a number as they showed you the same... Never mind Come on here and find out all about the lovely BIG AL n lil adam... TOSSPOTS.. :cfo :lfo

This service after this last vote we had is only gonna get worse... Shame about the lack of work over xmas.... Just Tell RM that your a EX F,A. Exctv and you will be running a a delivery office all on your own. By DEC 3RD... Prob do it much better than most of the lame brains in charge!!!

out

sue baby sue!!!

drain · Post by **drain** » 03 Dec 2007, 14:07

Believe me I am gonna get every thing I can get out of them nice to meet you tommo

NickiKitten · Post by **NickiKitten** » 03 Dec 2007, 21:23

drain wrote:Believe me I am gonna get every thing I can get out of them nice to meet you tommo

Good luck!

sparkx · Post by **sparkx** » 03 Dec 2007, 22:59

drain wrote:I was one of them who signed up for the part time data entry clerk job by reed went for a interview did few idiot tests which they then basically said you got the job they then told me to turn up on the 28th Nov got there on Wednesday night it was a total shambles from start to finish the managers didn't seem to have a clue what they were doing did the whole night then got sacked went outside bus was full packed had to work all the way to the back of ahbrooke. I also never got paid for the work I did between 9pm to 6.30am. I have decided to put a complaint in what I have heard from a friend who's into law what they have done is illegal, recruiting more staff than they needed. I problys won't find any other job this close to xmas

You've got to remember that you were employed by Reed, if you did the work and are owed money then Reed being your employer should pay you and bill Royal Mail, the fact that too many people turned up is not your fault or problem and Reed are contactually obligated to pay you.

ROYALMAILCHAT

Mail workers sacked before job starts

Mail workers sacked before job starts

Such a caring employer eh?!?

TAKE EM TO THE FECKING CLEANERS MATE...