Seniority and precedent

[guf12]

Hi all,
I've tried to search the forum but couldn't find an answer to this specific question so your advice would be greatly appreciated please.
Due to family circumstances I left RM in 2019 after 11 years of service.
I was able to come back in 2021, kept my payroll number but lost my seniority. I know what 2000 The Way Forward Agreement says about it but there's a bit in it about exceptional circumstances and I wonder if family reasons could apply.
DOM as well as regional boss were happy to reinstate me but due to a few complaints from my junior colleagues some Union Rep single-handedly intervened and made sure I didn't get it.
Fair enough, but... there was a similar situation in the office in about 2007, where a bloke has left, came back after a few years and kept his seniority by a vote so my argument was that the precedent exists and it is discriminatory at least not to vote on it again. The Union Rep seems to be not interested in my side of the argument, giving impresion it is up to him to decide, is it??
Sorry for a long post I know it's tricky.
Let me know your thoughts please

[tomtallis]

Go above the reps head as high as you can.

[wrongturn]

!

[guf12]

tomtallis, thanks I might just do that.
wrongturn, I was expecting that coming too, but don't you think it's a bit unfair that an exeption has been made and we had to dealt with it but the same courtesy being denied to me now

[Acca Dacca]

tomtallis, thanks I might just do that.
wrongturn, I was expecting that coming too, but don't you think it's a bit unfair that an exeption has been made and we had to dealt with it but the same courtesy being denied to me now

It would be unfair for you to jump ahead of people who started last 10 years because of something that happened in 2007 tbh

[Jefferson Starfish]

I think, as far as holiday entitlement is concerned, your aggregated service counts. But for everything else, you start again from scratch.

It sounds like your rep was bending the rules for his mate.

[drfeelgood]

Union rep is correct, you leave, you start again on seniority, only fair.

[wrongturn]

!

[CLINTEASTWOOD]

Hi, As long as you have not had a job since leaving i think your seniority stands.In fact i'm positive i'm correct.

[Acca Dacca]

Hi, As long as you have not had a job since leaving i think your seniority stands.In fact i'm positive i'm correct.

No

Seniority is wiped except for allocation of holidays

What you are thinking of is a career break, in which case you keep your seniority minus the time you spent on career break

[guf12]

Hi
Thanks for all the replies.
I didn't get a different job, I served my notice with an immediate effect stating that family matters force me to leave.

Don't get me wrong, I've been there I can understand how some of you or my younger colleagues feel about it.
Back in the day we didn't have a massive problem with this bloke coming back and keeping seniority although it affected few of us, but it was quite normal to accept him back.

But it can't be right, in my mind, or legally, that precedent with this bloke occurred few years ago and and was positively resolved and now the same situation is looked at in a completely different manner.
So what is it different rules for different Postman/Postwoman even within the same office???

According to the way forward agreement exeptional circumstances could be considered and a local agreement ( read: your manager and office deciding not a random union rep who is not even my office rep as we haven't got one deciding on a case he hasn't even look at)

[Cucumber]

Hi
Thanks for all the replies.
I didn't get a different job, I served my notice with an immediate effect stating that family matters force me to leave.

Don't get me wrong, I've been there I can understand how some of you or my younger colleagues feel about it.
Back in the day we didn't have a massive problem with this bloke coming back and keeping seniority although it affected few of us, but it was quite normal to accept him back.

But it can't be right, in my mind, or legally, that precedent with this bloke occurred few years ago and and was positively resolved and now the same situation is looked at in a completely different manner.
So what is it different rules for different Postman/Postwoman even within the same office???

According to the way forward agreement exeptional circumstances could be considered and a local agreement ( read: your manager and office deciding not a random union rep who is not even my office rep as we haven't got one deciding on a case he hasn't even look at)

A lot has changed in 15 years. People might be less willing to give up their place, and chance of permanent full time employment than they were before.

For what it's worth, a local agreement vote on someone regaining their seniority sounds very murky.

[postslippete]

You mention about this bloke keeping his seniority but is that the actual truth or just a rumour?


And theres a very easy get out clause for a manager for someone on a cushy duty thats more junior than you. Confidentiality.

[CLINTEASTWOOD]

Hi, As long as you have not had a job since leaving i think your seniority stands.In fact i'm positive i'm correct.

No

Seniority is wiped except for allocation of holidays

What you are thinking of is a career break, in which case you keep your seniority minus the time you spent on career break

I stand corrected, your right that's what makes this chat fantastic we all guide each other and help.

[guf12]

Hi
Thanks, we're all on full time duties so that doesn't matter unlike giving up the place, although most of the fellas are relatively new, about 2-3 years of service, I still remember them just starting before I left, nevertheless it seems you all think is not right.

It's not a rumour I used to work with the fella before he left last year and everyone in the office remembers the situation, that's why it's bugging me that he was allowed and I'm not, despite both situations happening after 2000 New Way Forward CWU&RM agreement