National Ballot - Part-timers just don't care

grumpazoid · Post by **grumpazoid** » 05 Sep 2019, 16:50

Part-timer here. Came in half an hour early today for our CWU Gate Meeting, arranged specifically for a time at which part-timers could attend. Unfortunately, I was unaware of the fact that the meeting had been re-scheduled for next week!

I arrived at my DO at the same time as one of my part-time colleagues, who reacted as though I was speaking Martian when I asked if she was attending the Gate Meeting. Clearly uninterested when I attempted to explain the purpose of the meeting, she went inside to start work. A few minutes later, another of my PT colleagues turned up and I asked if he was there for the meeting. A look of bewilderment on his face, he replied "You're not going to THAT, are you?!". I said "Yes, aren't you?". His response? "F**k that!". He then also went into the DO to start work.

I wonder if this sense of apathy is typical of the attitude of part-timers throughout the organisation. And why on earth are they routinely turning up to start work half an hour before the beginning of their shift? Only today I heard from another PT reserve that they had been chastised by management for refusing to drive their own vehicle to another DO when sent there at short notice and for cutting off when unable to complete a walk with which they were completely unfamiliar.

It seems that a lot of part-timers are giving management the idea that they can do whatever they want to their staff. Does anyone else get that impression?

FirstPost · Post by **FirstPost** » 05 Sep 2019, 16:56

PTers in my office do not care about the ballet either, as long as they can come in early (unpaid) and finish by 1 they're happy.

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 05 Sep 2019, 16:58

FirstPost wrote:PTers in my office do not care about the ballet either, as long as they can come in early (unpaid) and finish by 1 they're happy.

It is completely the opposite here.
While the full timers went out for a curry, all the part time staff went to watch Swan Lake.

Gasman11 · Post by **Gasman11** » 05 Sep 2019, 17:25

Hmm, smacks of Cambridge Analytica this. I'm a part timer and i am 100% behind the CWU on this issue. All posties regardless of contract need to stick together here otherwise the future does not bear thinking about.

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 05 Sep 2019, 17:51

grumpazoid wrote:It seems that a lot of part-timers are giving management the idea that they can do whatever they want to their staff. Does anyone else get that impression?

I don't know of any Part-Timers coming in early in my office. Though I know many Full-timers start an hour early for free.

twoloops · Post by **twoloops** » 05 Sep 2019, 17:55

Our office had two gate meetings with the CWU rep, one for the full timers & one for part timers, which I found quite strange?
I was under the impression the union was stronger together?

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 05 Sep 2019, 18:01

clashcityrocker wrote:
FirstPost wrote:PTers in my office do not care about the ballet either, as long as they can come in early (unpaid) and finish by 1 they're happy.
It is completely the opposite here.
While the full timers went out for a curry, all the part time staff went to watch Swan Lake.

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

grumpazoid · Post by **grumpazoid** » 05 Sep 2019, 18:19

twoloops wrote:Our office had two gate meetings with the CWU rep, one for the full timers & one for part timers, which I found quite strange?
I was under the impression the union was stronger together?

Our DO had a gate meeting at 0615, so that people could attend before starting work. In recognition of the fact that any part-timers who attended would be left waiting for two hours for their shift to start, a second meeting was scheduled for 0800.

leolion855 · Post by **leolion855** » 05 Sep 2019, 18:24

FirstPost wrote:PTers in my office do not care about the ballet either, as long as they can come in early (unpaid) and finish by 1 they're happy.

Same here

Walking boots · Post by **Walking boots** » 05 Sep 2019, 18:57

I'm a part timer, I think for alot of us this isnt a forever job, more of a stopgap, I like being a postman but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I got laid off, I will do this job for as long as it works for me, if changes get made I will decide if I still want the job.
Having said that I will vote yes in support of the union and my colleagues, if it goes to a strike I will enjoy the time off and not be anywhere near the picket line.

GRS · Post by **GRS** » 05 Sep 2019, 19:08

Walking boots wrote:I'm a part timer, I think for alot of us this isnt a forever job, more of a stopgap, I like being a postman but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I got laid off, I will do this job for as long as it works for me, if changes get made I will decide if I still want the job.
Having said that I will vote yes in support of the union and my colleagues, if it goes to a strike I will enjoy the time off and not be anywhere near the picket line.

Funnily enough I was having this conversation with my P&L partner yesterday. I get the feeling that most people who have come into the business in roughly the last 5 or so years don’t really see RM as a long term job. Unlike longer serving FT who (even though many won’t admit it) are probably in for the long haul the PT see it more as a stop gap job. This obviously suits RM as the one one thing they detest is long serving staff - they want a high turnover of people where the employee stays for maybe a year or two at most. As has been mentioned in other comments, under these circumstances most recent recruits who will be PT are not going to feel the same anger towards RM as they don’t have such a long term investment in the company.

Cedar_Room · Post by **Cedar_Room** » 05 Sep 2019, 19:26

crimson king wrote:
clashcityrocker wrote:
FirstPost wrote:PTers in my office do not care about the ballet either, as long as they can come in early (unpaid) and finish by 1 they're happy.
It is completely the opposite here.
While the full timers went out for a curry, all the part time staff went to watch Swan Lake.
Brilliant. Just brilliant.

danterossetti · Post by **danterossetti** » 05 Sep 2019, 20:07

I wonder if this sense of apathy is typical of the attitude of part-timers throughout the organisation

Well you need wonder no more because the answer is no.

Yamr1 · Post by **Yamr1** » 05 Sep 2019, 20:11

Gasman11 wrote:Hmm, smacks of Cambridge Analytica this. I'm a part timer and i am 100% behind the CWU on this issue. All posties regardless of contract need to stick together here otherwise the future does not bear thinking about.

Well said

Route1 · Post by **Route1** » 05 Sep 2019, 22:03

PTer here & do care but probably wouldnt come early for any meeting as I struggle to get to work in time. I just put a x where i'm told to and let the details be sorted by union.

This has been stopgap job for me for nearly 15 years. Maybe the next 15 too.