New Royal Mail shared van plan is 'reckless' and will see coronavirus spread, say CWU

[POSTMAN]

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The CWU have criticised a “reckless” Royal Mail decision to bring back shared delivery vans, saying that their first priority is to “protect postal workers’ lives”.

Speaking to around 20,000 CWU members on a Facebook session, Deputy General Secretary (Postal) Terry Pullinger spoke with CWU head of communications Chris Webb over Royal Mail’s latest move to reintroduce shared vans on Monday on a voluntary basis.

Terry accused Royal Mail management of basing workplace health and safety on economic worries in the build-up to Christmas, saying that the decision had “operational overtones”.

He clarified that the union’s executive opposes the plans, and said he found out about the plans earlier this afternoon.

Terry also added that the company is “going against everything they supported at the start of this pandemic”, and criticised the “timing” of the decision, saying: “In the last couple of weeks, the landscape has drastically changed.

It’s getting worse, with areas of this country getting shut down. To now make the move to put two people back in the van is reckless.”

Terry also claimed that while another meeting between Royal Mail management and the union was scheduled this week, management are already briefing the press that shared vans are starting on Monday.

“They’re asking us to put their name on it. We will not do that. Our priority is to protect postal workers’ lives.

“We want to keep you safe, your workplace safe and your family safe. Every single person should be at high alert to make sure this virus does not spread to postal workers.

“If we drop our guard, and it spreads through our membership, people would soon have something to say about their trade union, wouldn’t they?”

Terry urged all members to watch out for letters to branches going out, asked all reps to engage and deliver the union’s message to members, and said that people should stick with their union throughout this.

Meanwhile, thousands of members were commenting: “no to shared vans”.

[mags999]

another ploy by royal mail to gain more leverage on the uso

[Yamr1]

Stick there vans

Stay safe everyone

[chickenwittle]

My office will be against it mainly because nobody likes van share and they can whizz round and get home quicker working on their own .

[cpsteve]

My office will be against it mainly because nobody likes van share and they can whizz round and get home quicker working on their own .

Thats good they can do more work perfect for Christmas

[mags999]

another conspiracy theory is that it coincides with there ill timed parcel collections next week surely not

[Sir Henry]

So can we refuse? Do we walk out and make the union earn our subs? Area would fall out of their hammock.

[seaside]

How many of us are proud to work for royal mail, have gone the extra mile, feel their wellbeing is being looked after by a caring company. maybe a poll could be done, cannot say I am anymore, Just hope I can last 3 more years, still cannot believe that they want us back sharing a van.

[postslippete]

Only reason why Royal Mail want shared vans back is so that they don't have to pay out for any extra hire vans. Coming up to Xmas they might not have any alternative if they want the workload to get delivered

[Yamr1]

It's voluntary
They can't do nothing ain't backed by the cwu

[Ralph Wiggum]

Correct, it is voluntary.

However, what the managers will then do is threaten to take you off your duty (operational needs) and some of the more brutal managers will even threaten you with 28days notice to change your contracted hours.

This is Royal Mail. Posties who refuse to van share will unfortunatley become targets for management to shoot down by ANY means neccesary.

What a great company we all work for.

Sad times.

[Acca Dacca]

Correct, it is voluntary.

However, what the managers will then do is threaten to take you off your duty (operational needs) and some of the more brutal managers will even threaten you with 28days notice to change your contracted hours.

This is Royal Mail. Posties who refuse to van share will unfortunatley become targets for management to shoot down by ANY means neccesary.

What a great company we all work for.

Sad times.

Would a manager put it in writing that they want an employee to share a van and that it is safer or as safe as walking to duty or working alone?

[General Mannerheim]

It's voluntary
They can't do nothing ain't backed by the cwu

Screws at ours today confirmed it's voluntary...for two weeks... then it's mandatory.
Still I'm expecting the usual arselickers and sychophantics (and that includes the union rep and his own Dominic Cumming's arsehole) to make it a great success.