The Future: Saturday 25th Nov 2023

[k979aaa]

Take for example a postman 'woman doing a delivery in August 2023 and you get told or you tell them not working in 40.C and you don't do half an hour and make it back by not claiming overtime ok with that. That is inessence of the deal we or managers cannot enforce this it has to be a mutual agreement ie you both agree to it.

[FilthyBloke]

It's Saturday 25th Nov 2023 around 4:30pm, I've been on delivery since around 10:15am so just over 6 hrs, I should have finished half an hour ago but my COM informed me this morning that due to heavier than expected traffic that he was 'asking me' to flex up by half an hour. It has hardly stopped raining since I started and I'm soaked to the skin. It is dark and I'm not familiar with the area. I've been provided with a torch, but no batteries (was told I have to buy these myself) so I'm struggling to see some of the house numbers. The PDA has given up the ghost being so wet so I'm trying to write down the tracking numbers as I deliver them but due to the rain my pen has stopped working too. I was trying to take photos on my mobile phone but it's raining so hard that I dare not use it. I have just knocked on a customer’s door to pick up a customer collection but they said it wasn't ready and could I come back later, I said No. I’m just trying to get over a heavy cold so unable to go at a decent pace, the last couple of weeks of bad weather are taking their toll on me but can’t go sick because I had a four day absence around eight months ago when I twisted my ankle on delivery. I have three packets left that were attempted yesterday but they weren’t in so I have to re-deliver today, unfortunately due to the rain one of the address labels has got so damp the address has become unreadable, earlier, before the PDA died I was struggling to scan tracked so was putting them in manually, it was hard though because my hands were so cold. Because my hands are frozen I'm using the otherwise useless PDA to knock on the doors. A close call with a dog roaming around the street with no owner, I had to wait in someone’s garden until it got bored and run off. It is completely dark now and I'm struggling to get anyone to answer when I have packets, customers are not keen to open the door in the dark, the conversation is always the same "KNOCK, KNOCK" "who is it?" " the Postman, I have a packet for you!" nothing happens for a few minutes, lots of whispering behind the door, then see someone looking out of the living room window, then after some time the security chain is removed and a little old lady looks out of the crack of the door before taking the packet. Then onto the next house. The rain coming down harder now which is a blessing because a little earlier there was a couple of dodgy looking guys in hoodies who were following me, I was keeping my trolly as close to me as possible. My shoes are full of water due to the constant rain so not bothering avoiding the puddles, my feet couldn’t get any wetter. I still have around 100 calls left but I'm going to stop delivering the mail and just do the last tracked as instructed by my COM and I'm going to call it a day. I can’t write out any cards either because of my useless pen and my P739 cards are soaking wet so I hope they are all in and answer the door. I would have called my manager but he finished and went home at 10am this morning, I saw him getting in his car to leave as I pulled out of the yard to go out on delivery. Obviously my union rep wasn't in today either as he doesn't work Saturdays. It’s going to take me around 40 mins to drive back through the Saturday pre-Christmas traffic, a journey of 2 miles, so anticipate getting back to the office around 5:15pm, ten mins to pouch off and hopefully I can be leaving to clock off around 5:30pm, So I should be home around 6:15pm. I'm lucky I only live around 3 miles away and shouldn't take me too long in this traffic. Looking forward to my Sunday off tomorrow, it’s been a long week, Monday will soon be here again and expect a grilling off my COM as to why I brought back the hundred calls.

Sounds bleak….
But if you twisted your ankle at work and it’s work related it shouldn’t (unless the policy has changed) be added on to your sick allowance (if it’s a pot hole or whatever make sure you take a photo and inform your manager right away), and remember if it happened in someone’s driveway in the dark you could actually go down the route of legal action.
Don’t use your phone for any parcel/letter issues.
If your place of work are not providing you with proper equipment for you to perform your job (batteries for torch or padlock for trolley) then don’t do it. Health and safety is protected.
As for the dog roaming the street, take a photo, and then leave that entire street as inaccessible. You are just following protocol after all….
And if you can’t get hold of the manager (and only use the pda to call the office, don’t use your own phone) then again you can use that as evidence to back you up. PDA call history will show you tried calling several times and left numerous messages.

But you’re right…. There could be some really lousy shifts ahead…

Wow that speech could have come straight from the mouth of a manager, that’s uncanny.

Nothing like a manager. It’s called covering yourself. Know your rights.

[k979aaa]

That is why agreements help no agreement no leg to stand on!

[thefox]

They can’t ask u to flex up on a Saturday because it has to be paid back in the same week unless that changes

don't think so. in the blurb somewhere it states paid back with next 10 days as far as I remember

No this is all still up for review, so nobody knows what they are voting for regarding flexi time.

That is a huge concern

[k979aaa]

OK copied and pasted it for you all:
2. 30 Minutes Flexibility Agreement, meeting customers’ need
In parallel with the Seasonal Variation approach, we will also jointly review the approach to
the use of 30 minutes’ flexibility previously agreed in the 2007 Pay & Modernisation
Agreement and in line with the 2013 Joint Statement covering Fairness, Dignity & Respect in
Delivery. This joint review will be to understand how this approach can address workload
changes at a route level on a daily basis and develop a revised agreement which will support
the efficient delivery of the USO.
The review will gather information relating to how the existing policy is being applied and
what arrangements are in place in units, particularly where this approach has been
formalised and adopted. The review will also consider and determine how SI/SO data can be
used with applying this flexible arrangement. The review will conclude by the end of July
2023, and there will be a joint launch of a revised formalised approach to the 30 minutes’
flexibility agreement.

[scotchy1962]

Back to the future part 2

Mon June 10th 2024


Started work at 10;15am, Theres next to no mail in so the flats have already been sorted by the full time staff, and they are doing the last packets.
Everyone gets out by 11am and its a wonderful sunny day about 21oc.
The mails that light im missing out every 10 houses as we dont cold call d2ds anymore. Most of the customers have twigged on that to get parcels they need to be in or arrange a redelivery or safeplace so theres only 5 redelivers to do and we are now charging for collection so no ones intrested.

Break time half way in at around 12;30pm for 30 mins at a loverly country pub, then on to do the last side of the village, but its only parcels as most of the mail has fallen off a cliff since its £1;50 per stamp.
Due to seasonal flex finish time is 3;30pm so theres plenty of daylight left to take the wife and kids out later.

Really getting a bit sad now 2yr, we all get you want a yes vote but a bit more constructive reasoning might help, like how exactly RM are going to honour everything they are promising in the agreement etc, its the little things need fixing then you might have a chance.

[k979aaa]

OK copied and pasted it for you all:
2. 30 Minutes Flexibility Agreement, meeting customers’ need
In parallel with the Seasonal Variation approach, we will also jointly review the approach to
the use of 30 minutes’ flexibility previously agreed in the 2007 Pay & Modernisation
Agreement and in line with the 2013 Joint Statement covering Fairness, Dignity & Respect in
Delivery. This joint review will be to understand how this approach can address workload
changes at a route level on a daily basis and develop a revised agreement which will support
the efficient delivery of the USO.
The review will gather information relating to how the existing policy is being applied and
what arrangements are in place in units, particularly where this approach has been
formalised and adopted. The review will also consider and determine how SI/SO data can be
used with applying this flexible arrangement. The review will conclude by the end of July
2023, and there will be a joint launch of a revised formalised approach to the 30 minutes’
flexibility agreement.

So take your time!

[scotchy1962]

OK copied and pasted it for you all:
2. 30 Minutes Flexibility Agreement, meeting customers’ need
In parallel with the Seasonal Variation approach, we will also jointly review the approach to
the use of 30 minutes’ flexibility previously agreed in the 2007 Pay & Modernisation
Agreement and in line with the 2013 Joint Statement covering Fairness, Dignity & Respect in
Delivery. This joint review will be to understand how this approach can address workload
changes at a route level on a daily basis and develop a revised agreement which will support
the efficient delivery of the USO.
The review will gather information relating to how the existing policy is being applied and
what arrangements are in place in units, particularly where this approach has been
formalised and adopted. The review will also consider and determine how SI/SO data can be
used with applying this flexible arrangement. The review will conclude by the end of July
2023, and there will be a joint launch of a revised formalised approach to the 30 minutes’
flexibility agreement.

Thought Royal Fail chucked all the agreements out last year, or do they just agree to them when it suits?? Doesnt bode well for any future agreements!

[Acca Dacca]

Back to the future part 2

Mon June 10th 2024


Started work at 10;15am, Theres next to no mail in so the flats have already been sorted by the full time staff, and they are doing the last packets.
Everyone gets out by 11am and its a wonderful sunny day about 21oc.
The mails that light im missing out every 10 houses as we dont cold call d2ds anymore. Most of the customers have twigged on that to get parcels they need to be in or arrange a redelivery or safeplace so theres only 5 redelivers to do and we are now charging for collection so no ones intrested.

Break time half way in at around 12;30pm for 30 mins at a loverly country pub, then on to do the last side of the village, but its only parcels as most of the mail has fallen off a cliff since its £1;50 per stamp.
Due to seasonal flex finish time is 3;30pm so theres plenty of daylight left to take the wife and kids out later.

Really getting a bit sad now 2yr, we all get you want a yes vote but a bit more constructive reasoning might help, like how exactly RM are going to honour everything they are promising in the agreement etc, its the little things need fixing then you might have a chance.

A shame that he isnt actually in the CWU to vote 'Yes'

He'll just insist everyone else does for him

[chickenwittle]

They can’t ask u to flex up on a Saturday because it has to be paid back in the same week unless that changes

don't think so. in the blurb somewhere it states paid back with next 10 days as far as I remember

No this is all still up for review, so nobody knows what they are voting for regarding flexi time.

That is a huge concern

It certainly is and the union needs to be held to account and give some answers.

[Nickvilla20]

Back to the future part 2

Mon June 10th 2024


Started work at 10;15am, Theres next to no mail in so the flats have already been sorted by the full time staff, and they are doing the last packets.
Everyone gets out by 11am and its a wonderful sunny day about 21oc.
The mails that light im missing out every 10 houses as we dont cold call d2ds anymore. Most of the customers have twigged on that to get parcels they need to be in or arrange a redelivery or safeplace so theres only 5 redelivers to do and we are now charging for collection so no ones intrested.

Break time half way in at around 12;30pm for 30 mins at a loverly country pub, then on to do the last side of the village, but its only parcels as most of the mail has fallen off a cliff since its £1;50 per stamp.
Due to seasonal flex finish time is 3;30pm so theres plenty of daylight left to take the wife and kids out later.

Really getting a bit sad now 2yr, we all get you want a yes vote but a bit more constructive reasoning might help, like how exactly RM are going to honour everything they are promising in the agreement etc, its the little things need fixing then you might have a chance.

No country pub on my 750 call council estate delivery. For me to have that easy of a day I would need a below 40% call rate.

[GlassDoor]

What happens if they keep asking you to flex up every day, how do you get it back. Due to workload being higher due to larger walks from the revisions

[k979aaa]

OK copied and pasted it for you all:
2. 30 Minutes Flexibility Agreement, meeting customers’ need
In parallel with the Seasonal Variation approach, we will also jointly review the approach to
the use of 30 minutes’ flexibility previously agreed in the 2007 Pay & Modernisation
Agreement and in line with the 2013 Joint Statement covering Fairness, Dignity & Respect in
Delivery. This joint review will be to understand how this approach can address workload
changes at a route level on a daily basis and develop a revised agreement which will support
the efficient delivery of the USO.
The review will gather information relating to how the existing policy is being applied and
what arrangements are in place in units, particularly where this approach has been
formalised and adopted. The review will also consider and determine how SI/SO data can be
used with applying this flexible arrangement. The review will conclude by the end of July
2023, and there will be a joint launch of a revised formalised approach to the 30 minutes’
flexibility agreement.

Thought Royal Fail chucked all the agreements out last year, or do they just agree to them when it suits?? Doesnt bode well for any future agreements!

ACTUALLY they are committed in this agreement here: 4.2 Shorter working week
The priority in this agreement is to make progress in current circumstances on overall pay.
This does not remove the shared vision in previous Agreements to make further progress on
the shorter working week.

[scotchy1962]

OK copied and pasted it for you all:
2. 30 Minutes Flexibility Agreement, meeting customers’ need
In parallel with the Seasonal Variation approach, we will also jointly review the approach to
the use of 30 minutes’ flexibility previously agreed in the 2007 Pay & Modernisation
Agreement and in line with the 2013 Joint Statement covering Fairness, Dignity & Respect in
Delivery. This joint review will be to understand how this approach can address workload
changes at a route level on a daily basis and develop a revised agreement which will support
the efficient delivery of the USO.
The review will gather information relating to how the existing policy is being applied and
what arrangements are in place in units, particularly where this approach has been
formalised and adopted. The review will also consider and determine how SI/SO data can be
used with applying this flexible arrangement. The review will conclude by the end of July
2023, and there will be a joint launch of a revised formalised approach to the 30 minutes’
flexibility agreement.

Thought Royal Fail chucked all the agreements out last year, or do they just agree to them when it suits?? Doesnt bode well for any future agreements!

ACTUALLY they are committed in this agreement here: 4.2 Shorter working week
The priority in this agreement is to make progress in current circumstances on overall pay.
This does not remove the shared vision in previous Agreements to make further progress on
the shorter working week.

Let me get this right, what agreement is this part of and is it something RM threw out/partially threw out or not?

[funkflex55]

Absolute nonsense about using flexibility to maintain the USO. BS revisions, lapsing, large parcels back on walks, absences not covered and putting one postie on 2 walks to do tracked and specials shows RM do not care about USO one bit.
Until they stop with the nonsense and make the walks actually achievable I'm voting no.