Xmas Eve - No Jobs Offered - Strung Along

[mcd1959]

Have just finished 8/9 week short term contract with Parcelforce today Xmas Eve. On starting we ( about 35 recruits ) were told by the depot manager - work hard guys ive 9 definite positions and can go upto 15/16 permanent contracts to offer at end of this contract. Several of us have asked whats happening as got nearer to 24/12 - told not sure by line manaager - never heard anything more. Today went in at 6.45am loaded up and told to clean out vans when returned. On return at 2.30pm all managers gone - handed in keys and paperwork and given a letter advising no extension of contract or job offer. It appears that everyone got the same - no jobs offered - seems a pretty heartless and gutless way to treat people on Xmas eve - all just been strung along with no intention of any real jobs - Happy Christmas Parcelforce ....

[1969tonka]

They do it every year , keep you waiting till the last minute to make sure you turn up (especially for Christmas eve). Our depot had approx 35 drivers taken on (mix of stc and agency) and I think they kept on 5 people. It is unfair to keep dangling the carrot of a full time contract but like I say they always do it as do so many companies at this time of year. You should find out what agency your depot uses and register with them and that may be another way to get back in.

[cantonkid1955]

read my post about the Parcelforce management in ALL depots lying to agency drivers and putting them under severe pressure,its probably against the law what they are doing.

[cantonkid1955]

Its that time of year again when all the depots will be flooded with agency drivers some good,some bad,and the Delivery managers will be putting crucifying pressure on these temp drivers to perform with the usual lies and bullshit that there MAY be a job in the pipeline IF they perform.These temp drivers must have the same protection as those of us in the union to stop this blatant and illegal exploitation of agency workers by members of the management team who have absolutely NO scruples and will lie through their very teeth just to get the depots cleared in the mornings.A fair days pay for a fair days work,,thats all anyone asks and for the management team to stop LYING to these drivers desperate for a full time contract.

[cantonkid1955]

It would be very interesting to know how many depots actually offered STCs to agency drives and of those drivers that were offered contracts,how many were friends and family of the depot management teams.
The unofficial policy is for the management to fill any vacancies with their own people to cause friction in the depot because they know that whatever instructions they put out then this wilL be carried out without question because the new guys feel they owe it to the mamagement who are their mates and family members..Its called,,divide and conquer,,its the division of the workforce into family members and non family members and it can cause severe problems because if other drivers are moaning about things going on to someone,,that someone will then go and report to their mate in management,
It actually runs contrary to the Royal Mail,CODE OF BUSINESS STANDARDS where it clearly states that..YOU MUST NOT USE YOUR OFFICIAL POSITION TO GAIN ADVANTAGE,,and,,RELATIVES CANNOT WORK IN ROLES WHERE EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION WOULD BE COMPROMISED OR WOULD CREATE A PERCEPTION OF COMPROMISE.THIS EXTENDS TO ANY RELATIONSHIPS OF A PERSONAL NATURE..In essence,anyone who uses their official position as a depot manager/delivery/collection manager to offer employment to friend and family members is in serious breach of the code of conduct and should be reported to HR.

[postiewhite]

Sorry to bring an old thread up but this happened to me about 4 years ago. I started in around September on an agency wage of £6.50ph and was given 3 different areas per day so I couldn't get to learn any one area. My work load wasn't as much as the normal drivers, maybe 60-70 deliveries but I found myself working til about 7pm some evenings. Anyway the manager kept telling me he was "ear marking" me for my own duty and even wrote it on the white board in his office as proof, this was around early November time, every week I kept asking if this was going to materialise and he said yes but I knew I was having a carrot being dangled in front of me. The day I quit I was given the middle of the city to deliver, no where to park, couldnt find any shops and it was manic with the xmas shoppers and around 100 drops to boot. It got to about 6.30pm and I still had about 30 drops left on my van and refused to work any later so I went back to the depot, handed in my in delivered parcels with my keys and told them I wasn't returning the next day...id had enough. This was 3 weeks before Xmas!!