Postal workers, writing in an online forum

teddycares · Post by **teddycares** » 09 Dec 2007, 01:54

Royal Mail faces investigation over late letters

The investigation will focus on a practice known as "cutting off", where workers take undelivered mail back to the delivery office at the end of a shift, rather than finishing the round in overtime.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... ost109.xml

Post by **POSTMAN** » 09 Dec 2007, 09:33

Postal workers, writing in an online forum,

Post by **POSTMAN** » 09 Dec 2007, 09:45

Here's what's been happening at my place and no doubt at many others around the country as well.
Our Coaches that have been coming down the last few weeks have been seriously screwed.
We get 3 and the last one just before we have our break has more work on than the previous 2.
So for a while we are standing around doing nothing as we have already sorted and prepped the previous 2 Coaches.
We sort the 3rd Coach and the missorts then go for our break then we have to prep it all.
Because of this we are now going out up to an hour later than we have been previously so therefore the time has been very tight.
Most of us do not want docket as it is a long day anyway.
We are constantly fighting a battle with the management on this and it's like banging our heads against a brick wall.
At our place the packets have not been done for a week because of this!!!!

I'm f***ing sick and tired of the s**t thrown at us because of this!!
So any top bods looking in,why don't you sort it out ffs so we can give a decent service to the public!!!!

axeman · Post by **axeman** » 09 Dec 2007, 11:06

Got to agree with you there postman the service is suffering as a direct result of 'later starts' target finnishing times are now all but nigh impossible and it seems that 'working your hours' is going to become far more prevalant as a 'norm'. Posties are sick and tired of being pushed to the limit with no allowance to give the best levels of service to the public because of the direct actions taken by r.m. Which at best are farcical whilst our 'competitors' now start earlier to as a work around to the 56 mph restriction. Ours deemed it 'best practice' to go to later starts ignoring the public perception of the 'post office' the public who after all they have a right to expect a beter deal as it belongs to all of us not just the 'c.e.o and chairman'.The like of which seem to profit only if we achive failure. Postcomm who were employed by our government want r.m to fail so they can sell us off and earn big bucks in the proces for the fat cats friends of government

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 09 Dec 2007, 11:57

Friday and Saturday we were allowed to start a hour early and book it as overtime. Next 2 weeks the rurals are allowed to start at 5am on overtime as the DOM knows this will be more likely to be taken up than working a hour past the duty finish time. As many mbrs do SA in the afternoon it makes sense, mbrs want a break between delivery and SA and also want xmas overtime.

teddycares · Post by **teddycares** » 09 Dec 2007, 15:13

RM is treat people with contempt, so why should they do over time when RM are cutting the service and overworking people?

Before this dispute many in Del have not been taking there meal breaks, have been using there car, taking out there drop bags and saving RM a sack full of money.

Now RM has opened the Pandora box, No one can be forced to use there car or take there own drop bags or be forced to do overtime.

So they have left us with no choice but to do the job correctly and it will cost RM a sack full of money.

RM has scored an own goal!

Resulting in individual members withdrawing there good will.

ROYALMAILCHAT CAMPAIGN:SAVE YOUR JOBS!!!

GET ON THE VANS!

START AT YOUR OFFICIAL TIME!

WEIGH YOUR BAGS!

TAKE YOUR BREAK!

SAVE YOUR JOBS!!!

Wild Cat · Post by **Wild Cat** » 09 Dec 2007, 15:40

What the telegraph are saying is that we should be staying out there all afternoon to complete our walks.

If you keep going over your time as the work increases and through new building growth being added to walks you will be doing this more and more until the 9 10 and eventually 12 hour days will become the norm.

Previously we used to gain one to two hours per day and now we are more or less working to time,so does anybody think it will stop there?
Of course it won't,the government and management won't be happy until we are working 12 hour days every day until we are on the point of collapse so you have all been warned as the 8 hour day was fought for for a reason and who does crozier think he is by trying to take that away from us.

Spedley · Post by **Spedley** » 09 Dec 2007, 15:48

I'm cutting off on a daily basis for several reasons.

1) They deliberately banned overtime after the strikes so obviously delivering mail is not a priority but punishing staff is.
2) They will soon try to introduce 'optional' flexible working. If I cut off then I have a history of not being able to work after my time, hence they can't reasonably ask me to.
3) They pay me the minimum regular income they can and then expect me to beg for overtime for a decent wage.
4) Overtime is at a lower rate and does not include pension contributions.

I am not being awkward, I will agree to moderate 'longs and shorts' but they can forget me being on call for an hour each day and held to ransom by overtime.

norbet colon · Post by **norbet colon** » 09 Dec 2007, 16:20

Wild Cat wrote:What the telegraph are saying is that we should be staying out there all afternoon to complete our walks.

If you keep going over your time as the work increases and through new building growth being added to walks you will be doing this more and more until the 9 10 and eventually 12 hour days will become the norm.

Previously we used to gain one to two hours per day and now we are more or less working to time,so does anybody think it will stop there?
Of course it won't,the government and management won't be happy until we are working 12 hour days every day until we are on the point of collapse so you have all been warned as the 8 hour day was fought for for a reason and who does crozier think he is by trying to take that away from us.

most security firms have 12 hr shifts , it's cheaper .some railway companies do it in the name of flexibility , so the staff just join better companies . The Tory idea to break ASLEF & RMT backfired .

That's typical Resources Management it's a "development " of macho management , the idea is you show "loyalty & commitment " by working overtime and you report everything that the "dreadful union " are doing to management & reps get "managed" out of the door .

I've had " you CAN go home after 14 hrs " and all the verbal bullying to cover their sorry a*** when they cock up in Security . It got to the stage that I let the answering machine take all the calls and only intercepted calls from family & friends etc .

RM's "answer " is the it will & it must be 60/40 % with partimers , treat em mean & keep em keen for docket .

MickR · Post by **MickR** » 09 Dec 2007, 17:43

Ricky Bruch wrote:Roll on tomorrow and all the chaos it shall bring.......

Bet the plonkas who came up these new ideas on start times etc didn`t work in what`s going to happen at christmas time when DO`s are in undated with unsorted/pre preped mail

Then again they probably did and just expect all the t!ts to go in as per usual and do it for free by ghosting hrs

Well not this postie thats for sure

I welcome the Postwatch investigation,it may at last put to the sword the ridiculous "25% overpaid, 40% underworked" rubbish. Fact: posties are fed up with being expected to complete delivery whatever the volume of mail, weather etc, when following the laid down rules in the conduct code for "Cutting off" they are treated at best like nuisances, at worst like parasites!! Most management treat members like something they have found at the bottom of their shoe. We are sick and tired of being expected to do overlong deliveries(4hrs +) whilst waiting for management to stop pratting about with Pegasus and realign walks to realistic spans (What was that about 12th of never?!).One final point, whether working in the city or in a factory, the majority of workers have a set start and finish time after which they may work overtime if they wish (assuming there is any overtime available) but have the right to gome home at the scheduled finish time if they so wish, with no duress placed upon them if they exercise that right. Compare that with the "Cutting off" scenario portrayed above and in the Telegraph article, why should posties be treated differently? Because we provide an important service? Perhaps some should tell that to Leighton and Crozier, and for that matter Gordon Brown! Postwatch and Postcomm would do better to investgigate RM's real reasons for moving to later starts, I am convinced it has little to do with 56mph speed limits, after all this only applies when the vehicle is on a Motorway, and with traffic conditions on Motorways these days it would be lucky to reach 70mph!!! I believe RM's true reason for a move to later starts has more to do with the forthcoming walk sequencing machines and the lack of manual sorting this will cause, but if so why not be honest about it? Who knows? I like the majority of posties like to complete my round for my "customers" but I am not willing to be treated like s*^t for much longer and can see myself joining the ever growing band of "Cutter offers"!! Telegraph take note!

Stormproof · Post by **Stormproof** » 09 Dec 2007, 17:47

Very well said MickR

shelanda · Post by **shelanda** » 09 Dec 2007, 19:47

Big Daz wrote:Friday and Saturday we were allowed to start a hour early and book it as overtime. Next 2 weeks the rurals are allowed to start at 5am on overtime as the DOM knows this will be more likely to be taken up than working a hour past the duty finish time. As many mbrs do SA in the afternoon it makes sense, mbrs want a break between delivery and SA and also want xmas overtime.

Hope that you are getting SA rate for that hour in the morning as it is pre arranged...we are!

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 09 Dec 2007, 19:49

Spedley wrote:I'm cutting off on a daily basis for several reasons.

1) They deliberately banned overtime after the strikes so obviously delivering mail is not a priority but punishing staff is.
2) They will soon try to introduce 'optional' flexible working. If I cut off then I have a history of not being able to work after my time, hence they can't reasonably ask me to.
3) They pay me the minimum regular income they can and then expect me to beg for overtime for a decent wage.
4) Overtime is at a lower rate and does not include pension contributions.

I am not being awkward, I will agree to moderate 'longs and shorts' but they can forget me being on call for an hour each day and held to ransom by overtime.

30 Mins a day not 60 mins and the 40 hour week is still in place

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 09 Dec 2007, 20:16

shelanda wrote:
Big Daz wrote:Friday and Saturday we were allowed to start a hour early and book it as overtime. Next 2 weeks the rurals are allowed to start at 5am on overtime as the DOM knows this will be more likely to be taken up than working a hour past the duty finish time. As many mbrs do SA in the afternoon it makes sense, mbrs want a break between delivery and SA and also want xmas overtime.
Hope that you are getting SA rate for that hour in the morning as it is pre arranged...we are!

This how we are working it within my CWU branch area.

"The 18 workings days at which OT is payable at SA Rate will be determined locally between the DOM and the CWU Representative, the 18 working days must be placed in during the 10th December 2007 and 5th January 2008."

teddycares · Post by **teddycares** » 09 Dec 2007, 22:58

MickR wrote:
Ricky Bruch wrote:Roll on tomorrow and all the chaos it shall bring.......

Bet the plonkas who came up these new ideas on start times etc didn`t work in what`s going to happen at christmas time when DO`s are in undated with unsorted/pre preped mail

Then again they probably did and just expect all the t!ts to go in as per usual and do it for free by ghosting hrs

Well not this postie thats for sure

I welcome the Postwatch investigation,it may at last put to the sword the ridiculous "25% overpaid, 40% underworked" rubbish. Fact: posties are fed up with being expected to complete delivery whatever the volume of mail, weather etc, when following the laid down rules in the conduct code for "Cutting off" they are treated at best like nuisances, at worst like parasites!! Most management treat members like something they have found at the bottom of their shoe. We are sick and tired of being expected to do overlong deliveries(4hrs +) whilst waiting for management to stop pratting about with Pegasus and realign walks to realistic spans (What was that about 12th of never?!).One final point, whether working in the city or in a factory, the majority of workers have a set start and finish time after which they may work overtime if they wish (assuming there is any overtime available) but have the right to gome home at the scheduled finish time if they so wish, with no duress placed upon them if they exercise that right. Compare that with the "Cutting off" scenario portrayed above and in the Telegraph article, why should posties be treated differently? Because we provide an important service? Perhaps some should tell that to Leighton and Crozier, and for that matter Gordon Brown! Postwatch and Postcomm would do better to investgigate RM's real reasons for moving to later starts, I am convinced it has little to do with 56mph speed limits, after all this only applies when the vehicle is on a Motorway, and with traffic conditions on Motorways these days it would be lucky to reach 70mph!!! I believe RM's true reason for a move to later starts has more to do with the forthcoming walk sequencing machines and the lack of manual sorting this will cause, but if so why not be honest about it? Who knows? I like the majority of posties like to complete my round for my "customers" but I am not willing to be treated like s*^t for much longer and can see myself joining the ever growing band of "Cutter offers"!! Telegraph take note!

Well said!

Isn't the speed limit for HGV 60mph for the motorway Anyway?

ROYALMAILCHAT

Postal workers, writing in an online forum

Postal workers, writing in an online forum

The Telegraph

Re: The Telegraph