Bullying and harassment in delivery offices

[dwmc]

going print a few of the survey documents off for the lads / lasses at work , i like my job but sick of the s**t that comes out of managers mouths and then when you remind them of what they said that`s when selective memory comes in , it seems most of the managers are ex posties who couldn`t cope with longer rounds ect so took the easy option , i`m old school and believe in never ask someone to do owt unless you can do it yourself and i know half the managers can`t do what they are asking us to do , i used to be quiet and just get on with it but the time has come to stand up to the bullying tactics that they have been using and getting away with , coming upto 20 years service and feel it`s a shame it`s come to this but enough is enough , might even put me name down for union rep and health and safety officer , done the union rep job before so know it can be a thankless task at times but the way things are i`ll make sure the bullying tactics stops . in our office we`ve been too quiet for too long but not anymore . rant over

roll on monday

[fishtank]

A QUESTION are we certain that our names are not going to get back to our local reps

Yes.
The form promises confidentiality.
If the union does not uphold that it will open itself up to very expensive legal action.
These forms are being used to paint an overall picture of the problems facing members in delivery,they will not be used to resolve individual grievances.

[newtimes]

A QUESTION are we certain that our names are not going to get back to our local reps and as ours is very tight with our Dom will he mysteriously get to know who filled in the form ??? maybe after filling in 3 greaviance forms i am getting paranoid

Similar situation in my office, I have flaged up unauthoriesd management practice in the office which I feel very uncomfotable with via Justsayit, nothing to do with the local rep but my gut reaction tells me the manager has brought the local rep in to defend this practice. Sad day when local rep and manager work to undermind a worker.

[WHITEANT]

Its happening all over ,in our office our union rep is on this wct,doesnt go out much .Just gives us briefs on security,h/s ,nice little number When asked to go in office with a fellow worker he always sides with managment

[Sidley]

Sounds like our rep, he doesn't give a s**t especially about the p/ t crew. Twice I've heard him call someone lazy because they wouldn't work over or couldn't complete in time. Nice, coming from someone who hasnt delivered a letter in years and has a regular 2 day break each week from his back breaking office duty. I reckon he is just biding his time and not rocking the boat with management until retirement in a year or so. God help us come the revision.

[fishtank]

Unfortunately their are good,bad and ugly reps.
The damage that unprofessional reps do to the union is enormous.
On the one hand i would say get rid of him but i'm aware that is not as easy as it sounds in some offices.
I think if some area reps spent more time in delivery offices and less time playing Branch Treasurer/Political Officer/Whatever it would be easier to identify offices with poor representation...but then what?
There is no top down accountability in this union,as long as you protect your power base you're set for life.

[clashcityrocker]

Unfortunately there are good,bad and ugly reps.
The damage that unprofessional reps do to the union is enormous.
On the one hand i would say get rid of him but i'm aware that is not as easy as it sounds in some offices.

Withdrawal of subs and a letter explaining why will get the attention of Branch/Area Rep and HQ.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

If the power base is the cause of bad reps staying in position is it worth considering other voting systems.

How about electoral college voting - where the unit votes for relevant reps from Area and above and then that vote counts as 1 - similar to the American Presidential System. Then add together the unit votes and whoever gets the most unit votes gets the position.

The one BIG flaw is that smaller units have a disproportionate effect based on their size, but then the current system allows for the Larger units to concentrate power - I am sure we could come up with a workable system.

[fishtank]

I don't pretend to have the answers to poor representation but i do know that membership disengagement and apathy is the ideal breeding ground for these situations.
Perhaps compulsory voting in rep elections might be an answer but how do you enforce it?
I do know that Branches and HQ have to take a more hands on approach to organising and engaging members at local level.

The present system of leaving units to their own devices is clearly not working,nothing shows this up more than the thread we're actually posting in.
If the present communication chain of Unit to Branch to Division to HQ had been working there would have been no need for Bob to ask members directly for instances of Bullying and Harassment...he would already have all the evidence he needed.
Someone wasn't reporting issues,it could have been members,unit reps,branches,divisional reps or all of the above but somewhere the system is badly broken.

[dvbuk55]

In some cases I think that unit reps realise they aren't going to get much support from above and tend to try to mend the problem at unit level trying to keep a lid on it.

[newtimes]

"disengagement and apathy is the ideal breeding ground for these situations" this is happening in all areas of life, I too do not have an answer. Surely if you can trace the cause you could find a solution. I think we have all become wage slaves, try packing in your job and surviving without an income. You do need to work but look how much tax you pay. Not just in your wage packet but everything you buy is taxed.

[WornOutPosty]

A QUESTION are we certain that our names are not going to get back to our local reps and as ours is very tight with our Dom will he mysteriously get to know who filled in the form ??? maybe after filling in 3 greaviance forms i am getting paranoid

I was considering leaving my name off the form and just putting my office name down incase anything should get back. Do you this will be OK?

[newtimes]

A QUESTION are we certain that our names are not going to get back to our local reps and as ours is very tight with our Dom will he mysteriously get to know who filled in the form ??? maybe after filling in 3 greaviance forms i am getting paranoid

I was considering leaving my name off the form and just putting my office name down incase anything should get back. Do you this will be OK?

Its your form, do what you feel is right, if they can not understand that do you really want to give them your name.

[POSTMAN]

No. 910/12 Ref: 230.03 Date: 10th December 2012

To: Branches with POSTAL Members

Dear Colleague,

Voice Article - Delivery under Pressure - Bullying and Harassment Survey

Branches will wish to know that there has been an overwhelming response to the Voice article on Bullying and Harassment titled “Delivery under Pressure”.

Many emails have been received by the department and hundreds of surveys have also been received and are continuing to be received. This has been one of the most responded to campaigns, if not the most responded to campaign initiative that the department has ever conducted.

Whilst at this point in time it can be deemed a success in terms of the response, the worrying aspect of course is the scale of Bullying and Harassment being meted out to our members on a regular basis. We are determined that something will be done and we will be raising this formally with Royal Mail at a ‘Summit’ meeting on the 17th December 2012. This will be the start of the campaign to put an end to this obscene misconduct that many of our members have to endure on an all too frequent basis.

It is time for Royal Mail to put their money where their mouth is and ensure that Bullying and Harassment is eradicated from every workplace forthwith and our members are treated with dignity and respect at all times. We’ve had the words now we want to see the action.

In closing it would be appreciated if Branches and Representatives could ensure that a message of thanks is conveyed to all of our members who have taken the time and courage to come forward with their experiences and to let them know we will be doing all we can to bring their ordeal to an end. If there are more members out there who have yet to come forward please advise them that we have had a tremendous response, and that all replies received are being treated as confidential and that they will have the full support of the CWU.

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 230.03
Email address: hnutley@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary - Outdoor

[Budfrog]

Whilst I would say deliveries are at the sharp end of B&H it is far more widespread and so ingrained in managerial attitude I fear that it is impossible to erradicate under the present structure.