3 day week part timers being asked/told to go to 5 days

[Crowseer]

As per the subject heading. Anyone here on a 3 day week (day off cover) being told that they're going to be working over 5 days? Its early days yet and we have no dates but it seems our office is about to undergo a lot of change after Christmas but very little actual info. They often default to a 5 hour day on the basis "the walk will be prepped, you just deliver it" but it never happens. I was wondering if this is a national policy to remove 3 day duties or just something someone in our office has plucked out of the air? Whatever it is, it sounds like its ready to go in January. Maybe I've been working for RM too long but I smell a rat.

[Sir Henry]

Vhat does your rep say about it?

[Ricardo44]

For me, the obvious thing to do in this situation would be to speak to the union rep, who in turn could contact the area rep. Other than that its hard to give advice on something like this.

[Crowseer]

I haven't seen the rep for a while but I'm definitely going to take it up with him but wanted to put feelers out here to try and gauge if this is a national thing or something just particular to our office which often seems to come up with their own interpretation of things.

[theotherone]

When I was p/t I done a 3 day shift then went to 5.I know it's my own opinion but 3 day Vs 5 day is a no brainer.
Like has previously been said things should be prepped etc but it never works like that.A 3 day week p/t is worth is a perfect life/work balance if you can keep it.

[Grumpyoldmailman]

They did this at ours about 18 months ago. No increase in hours but spread over 5 days rather than 3, proper crap deal. I think a couple went along with it, some got stressed out with it and left and the rest dug their heals in (without any help from the union) and are still 3 day contracts.

[k979aaa]

Anything more than a 3 hour delivery span will result in non completion of delivery if less than 25 hour contract if you take meal relief and do van checks and WTL

[Kesknight]

If they've been doing three eight hour days i assume they've been covering full timers days off. If that's the case, how can they suddenly cover a full time duty working less than 5 hours a day?

[kevbo]

Its sounds like an issue for your own office. As stated above they may try to move you onto 5 days if it now suits them but if you have other responsibilities (ie chid care etc) and you have been working this pattern of hours for a while then stand your ground. They should allow a work life balance. Don't know your personal circumstances but there are always reasons why you can't work over 5 days if you don't want to. Speak to the DOM to let them know you are worried about it to give some notice of your concerns.

[Crowseer]

If they've been doing three eight hour days i assume they've been covering full timers days off. If that's the case, how can they suddenly cover a full time duty working less than 5 hours a day?

I guess it would be a 10am start and delivery only. The walk is prepped and bagged up. Never works but it doesn’t stop them bringing it in now and then.

[Kesknight]

If they've been doing three eight hour days i assume they've been covering full timers days off. If that's the case, how can they suddenly cover a full time duty working less than 5 hours a day?

I guess it would be a 10am start and delivery only. The walk is prepped and bagged up. Never works but it doesn’t stop them bringing it in now and then.

It's upto the postman to make sure he does everything by the book and they'll see it doesn't work

[stodgy88]

Not sure if my situation is different to most ,but around 10 years ago,i was asked by royal mail if i was interested in a job share ,which i took them up on,around 5 years later a new DOM ,decided he wanted to do away with them ,and offered us either 4 days or 5 for the 23.5 contract,which we declined ,eventually getting the union involved at a national level, and ultimatly the ruling was that because royal mail had offered the job share and we hadnt asked for it,that the three day had to stay.

[Crowseer]

Not sure if my situation is different to most ,but around 10 years ago,i was asked by royal mail if i was interested in a job share ,which i took them up on,around 5 years later a new DOM ,decided he wanted to do away with them ,and offered us either 4 days or 5 for the 23.5 contract,which we declined ,eventually getting the union involved at a national level, and ultimatly the ruling was that because royal mail had offered the job share and we hadnt asked for it,that the three day had to stay.

That’s good to know. Thanks for posting this. If the union got involved nationally it sounds like we might be ok if they do try and spring this on us. I’m waiting to hear back from the union rep about it so I’ll update this if/when I get some concrete information.