MGV role thoughts(7.5T delivering the mail to DO's)

[postiewhite]

We have had a number of Delivery Posties come across to Distribution, not one of them regrets it.
You will probably come across as a reserve covering all shifts but if you have plans for a certain wkend they can have chat with office PHG & things can be changed.
My advice is go for it, your body will thank you for it.

Hi. Had a call from Admin. He says there are 33hour duties available now Tuesday to Saturday 4am til 10am which I suppose I would get best part of a 3 day weekend off every week. He says the pay would be better than my current 35 hour contract as a postie but I'm not sure how much more. He also said there are always lots of jobs advertised for more hours.

Second option is 38 hours on reserve but I would get to pick my shifts up to 4 weeks in advance (some are 3 long days, some 4 days and some 5 days). 90% of the time I'd get what I want so I would work "odd" Sundays, that wage I think is over £600 a week less tax, more with Sunday allowance.

Surely this is better than being a postie the way things are going in the DO's

If you take the full time option as a reserve you'll be on a different duty/ shift every week. Probably have to do some night shifts as reserve picks are usually on a rotational basis. I. E. if there are 10 drivers on reserve duties you may be number 10 on your first pick, but will be number nine on the second pick, number eight on the third pic etc etc.
If you take the part time duty, you'll be on a fixed shift & can up your wages by doing overtime at your discretion. As an overtime volunteer you have some control as you pick the days you're available. I used to volunteer only on days I worked, never on my days off. As an example you may want to do that but not do any overtime on a Saturday, so you'd simply email them & say " I'm available as an overtime volunteer, Tuesday to Friday only" . You can do this as a one off or change your availability at any time.
Looking at the current wage it's approximately £15.85ph plus any allowances.

That sounds pretty much what I was told. I do have something planned Thursday and Sunday evenings and have done for 10 years between the times of 8pm til 11pm and am flexible anytime but just not on these hours.
Would you think that would be an issue if I took the job either part time or full time?

In a word, yes. As a reserve you'll end up doing plenty of lates & twilights, which means finishes between 8pm & midnight.

It's not worth it then to be doing them type of shifts on full time reserve.
He did say the 33hr one was Tuesday to Saturday duty from 4am which ideally that would be a great shift but would that be permanent if I was offered that or do they have repicks like in the DO's where I could lose that at some stage?

I'll come back later & edit this with more detail but basically repicks in distribution are covered by MTSF, which keeps you on the same shift when you pick.

Thank you that's brill
I've just called the admin and that 33hr duty has been picked. There is a 30 and a 31 HR duty left, both earlies and are Tuesday to Saturday from 4 am but the Saturday is a longer day til 3pm.
In hindsight I'd be dropping my current OPG 35hr contract to 30/31 so the money would probably be the same as what I'm on now but I'd have to work every single Saturday til 3pm where as at the minute I have 1 in 6 off. Even them duties are not forced to be available once I start.

It's all confusing, it's lovely jumping from postie to driver on more money but I suppose I have to consider the earlies and nights I would be on. The pool of reserves is at 40 people so I may be on various shifts for a long time. I have 11 years seniority so I'm probably a little down the pecking order too.

I think I need to be convinced really that it's a good move

Take it & pick a part time duty before they all go, you can give backword if you change your mind.

- is there a driver's supplement for starting at 4am as it would be a new 30/31 hr contract. I currently get a £27 delivery supplement so my current 35 HR wage pays £504 before tax?!

A 31 HR MGV contract pays £491.60 plus any allowances. I can't remember if you get anything for 4am starts.

So I'm guessing roughly the same give or take £13.
Im presuming the work would be a lot better than being a postie though and would be more morning work rather than shifts as I heard the shifts would be more for the 38hr full timers who would be a reserve??

This is all I could find re shift allowance, it's on here but from 2013. Your union rep should be able to confirm if this is still the case ( with updated figures maybe)

Dawn: Starts between 0201-0400 £25.21
Early 1: Starts between 0401-0500 £13.25
Early 2: Starts between 0501-0530 £6.61
Evening: Finished between 2000-2139 £18.91
Late: Finishes between 2140-0159 £39.98
Night: Three hours across 2300-0500 £75.65
Split shift span over 10 hours £10.71
Split shift span over 12.5 hours £21.42

So that would bring the wage up to another £70-80 a week with today's rate making a 31 hour wage around the £550 mark is that right do you think?

[NWpostie]

Crossing over would only be a good thing as you get paid more, your body gets less hammered, once you got your feet under the table you can get your pick of duties that will suit your work life pattern depending on seniority either a vacancy or a repick.

My advice: if you don't make the move you'll regret it, delivery is only going to get worse.

I've just made the crossover, best move ever.

[postiewhite]

Crossing over would only be a good thing as you get paid more, your body gets less hammered, once you got your feet under the table you can get your pick of duties that will suit your work life pattern depending on seniority either a vacancy or a repick.

My advice: if you don't make the move you'll regret it, delivery is only going to get worse.

I've just made the crossover, best move ever.

Thank you. I've only heard positives and this chance may never come up again. I've 11 years seniority and I'm happy to take the 30/31 HR contract instead of the 38 advertised as it will be the same money basic as my 35 HR contract but I think there are shift allowances of about £18 as that would be a 4am start ,(unless I got that wrong)

[ihatedogs]

We have had a number of Delivery Posties come across to Distribution, not one of them regrets it.
You will probably come across as a reserve covering all shifts but if you have plans for a certain wkend they can have chat with office PHG & things can be changed.
My advice is go for it, your body will thank you for it.

Hi. Had a call from Admin. He says there are 33hour duties available now Tuesday to Saturday 4am til 10am which I suppose I would get best part of a 3 day weekend off every week. He says the pay would be better than my current 35 hour contract as a postie but I'm not sure how much more. He also said there are always lots of jobs advertised for more hours.

Second option is 38 hours on reserve but I would get to pick my shifts up to 4 weeks in advance (some are 3 long days, some 4 days and some 5 days). 90% of the time I'd get what I want so I would work "odd" Sundays, that wage I think is over £600 a week less tax, more with Sunday allowance.

Surely this is better than being a postie the way things are going in the DO's

If you take the full time option as a reserve you'll be on a different duty/ shift every week. Probably have to do some night shifts as reserve picks are usually on a rotational basis. I. E. if there are 10 drivers on reserve duties you may be number 10 on your first pick, but will be number nine on the second pick, number eight on the third pic etc etc.
If you take the part time duty, you'll be on a fixed shift & can up your wages by doing overtime at your discretion. As an overtime volunteer you have some control as you pick the days you're available. I used to volunteer only on days I worked, never on my days off. As an example you may want to do that but not do any overtime on a Saturday, so you'd simply email them & say " I'm available as an overtime volunteer, Tuesday to Friday only" . You can do this as a one off or change your availability at any time.
Looking at the current wage it's approximately £15.85ph plus any allowances.

That sounds pretty much what I was told. I do have something planned Thursday and Sunday evenings and have done for 10 years between the times of 8pm til 11pm and am flexible anytime but just not on these hours.
Would you think that would be an issue if I took the job either part time or full time?

In a word, yes. As a reserve you'll end up doing plenty of lates & twilights, which means finishes between 8pm & midnight.

It's not worth it then to be doing them type of shifts on full time reserve.
He did say the 33hr one was Tuesday to Saturday duty from 4am which ideally that would be a great shift but would that be permanent if I was offered that or do they have repicks like in the DO's where I could lose that at some stage?

I'll come back later & edit this with more detail but basically repicks in distribution are covered by MTSF, which keeps you on the same shift when you pick.

Thank you that's brill
I've just called the admin and that 33hr duty has been picked. There is a 30 and a 31 HR duty left, both earlies and are Tuesday to Saturday from 4 am but the Saturday is a longer day til 3pm.
In hindsight I'd be dropping my current OPG 35hr contract to 30/31 so the money would probably be the same as what I'm on now but I'd have to work every single Saturday til 3pm where as at the minute I have 1 in 6 off. Even them duties are not forced to be available once I start.

It's all confusing, it's lovely jumping from postie to driver on more money but I suppose I have to consider the earlies and nights I would be on. The pool of reserves is at 40 people so I may be on various shifts for a long time. I have 11 years seniority so I'm probably a little down the pecking order too.

I think I need to be convinced really that it's a good move

Take it & pick a part time duty before they all go, you can give backword if you change your mind.

- is there a driver's supplement for starting at 4am as it would be a new 30/31 hr contract. I currently get a £27 delivery supplement so my current 35 HR wage pays £504 before tax?!

A 31 HR MGV contract pays £491.60 plus any allowances. I can't remember if you get anything for 4am starts.

So I'm guessing roughly the same give or take £13.
Im presuming the work would be a lot better than being a postie though and would be more morning work rather than shifts as I heard the shifts would be more for the 38hr full timers who would be a reserve??

This is all I could find re shift allowance, it's on here but from 2013. Your union rep should be able to confirm if this is still the case ( with updated figures maybe)

Dawn: Starts between 0201-0400 £25.21
Early 1: Starts between 0401-0500 £13.25
Early 2: Starts between 0501-0530 £6.61
Evening: Finished between 2000-2139 £18.91
Late: Finishes between 2140-0159 £39.98
Night: Three hours across 2300-0500 £75.65
Split shift span over 10 hours £10.71
Split shift span over 12.5 hours £21.42

So that would bring the wage up to another £70-80 a week with today's rate making a 31 hour wage around the £550 mark is that right do you think?

No, those are weekly shift allowances, although out of date. Accounting for inflation & pay increases that 4am start should now attract £30+.

[postiewhite]

We have had a number of Delivery Posties come across to Distribution, not one of them regrets it.
You will probably come across as a reserve covering all shifts but if you have plans for a certain wkend they can have chat with office PHG & things can be changed.
My advice is go for it, your body will thank you for it.

Hi. Had a call from Admin. He says there are 33hour duties available now Tuesday to Saturday 4am til 10am which I suppose I would get best part of a 3 day weekend off every week. He says the pay would be better than my current 35 hour contract as a postie but I'm not sure how much more. He also said there are always lots of jobs advertised for more hours.

Second option is 38 hours on reserve but I would get to pick my shifts up to 4 weeks in advance (some are 3 long days, some 4 days and some 5 days). 90% of the time I'd get what I want so I would work "odd" Sundays, that wage I think is over £600 a week less tax, more with Sunday allowance.

Surely this is better than being a postie the way things are going in the DO's

If you take the full time option as a reserve you'll be on a different duty/ shift every week. Probably have to do some night shifts as reserve picks are usually on a rotational basis. I. E. if there are 10 drivers on reserve duties you may be number 10 on your first pick, but will be number nine on the second pick, number eight on the third pic etc etc.
If you take the part time duty, you'll be on a fixed shift & can up your wages by doing overtime at your discretion. As an overtime volunteer you have some control as you pick the days you're available. I used to volunteer only on days I worked, never on my days off. As an example you may want to do that but not do any overtime on a Saturday, so you'd simply email them & say " I'm available as an overtime volunteer, Tuesday to Friday only" . You can do this as a one off or change your availability at any time.
Looking at the current wage it's approximately £15.85ph plus any allowances.

That sounds pretty much what I was told. I do have something planned Thursday and Sunday evenings and have done for 10 years between the times of 8pm til 11pm and am flexible anytime but just not on these hours.
Would you think that would be an issue if I took the job either part time or full time?

In a word, yes. As a reserve you'll end up doing plenty of lates & twilights, which means finishes between 8pm & midnight.

It's not worth it then to be doing them type of shifts on full time reserve.
He did say the 33hr one was Tuesday to Saturday duty from 4am which ideally that would be a great shift but would that be permanent if I was offered that or do they have repicks like in the DO's where I could lose that at some stage?

I'll come back later & edit this with more detail but basically repicks in distribution are covered by MTSF, which keeps you on the same shift when you pick.

Thank you that's brill
I've just called the admin and that 33hr duty has been picked. There is a 30 and a 31 HR duty left, both earlies and are Tuesday to Saturday from 4 am but the Saturday is a longer day til 3pm.
In hindsight I'd be dropping my current OPG 35hr contract to 30/31 so the money would probably be the same as what I'm on now but I'd have to work every single Saturday til 3pm where as at the minute I have 1 in 6 off. Even them duties are not forced to be available once I start.

It's all confusing, it's lovely jumping from postie to driver on more money but I suppose I have to consider the earlies and nights I would be on. The pool of reserves is at 40 people so I may be on various shifts for a long time. I have 11 years seniority so I'm probably a little down the pecking order too.

I think I need to be convinced really that it's a good move

Take it & pick a part time duty before they all go, you can give backword if you change your mind.

- is there a driver's supplement for starting at 4am as it would be a new 30/31 hr contract. I currently get a £27 delivery supplement so my current 35 HR wage pays £504 before tax?!

A 31 HR MGV contract pays £491.60 plus any allowances. I can't remember if you get anything for 4am starts.

So I'm guessing roughly the same give or take £13.
Im presuming the work would be a lot better than being a postie though and would be more morning work rather than shifts as I heard the shifts would be more for the 38hr full timers who would be a reserve??

This is all I could find re shift allowance, it's on here but from 2013. Your union rep should be able to confirm if this is still the case ( with updated figures maybe)

Dawn: Starts between 0201-0400 £25.21
Early 1: Starts between 0401-0500 £13.25
Early 2: Starts between 0501-0530 £6.61
Evening: Finished between 2000-2139 £18.91
Late: Finishes between 2140-0159 £39.98
Night: Three hours across 2300-0500 £75.65
Split shift span over 10 hours £10.71
Split shift span over 12.5 hours £21.42

So that would bring the wage up to another £70-80 a week with today's rate making a 31 hour wage around the £550 mark is that right do you think?

No, those are weekly shift allowances, although out of date. Accounting for inflation & pay increases that 4am start should now attract £30+.

AHH ok I wasn't sure.
If I drop and take the 30/31 HR contract then could I still pick a 38hr duty in the future or do they favour 38 reserves over seniority or is it still based purely on seniority?

[ihatedogs]

Duties are advertised on a seniority basis so you've as much chance as anyone else. As senior men shift about it's normal for a part timer to move to full time on the worst duty in the office, but that becomes a personal choice if you decide to or not.

[postiewhite]

Duties are advertised on a seniority basis so you've as much chance as anyone else. As senior men shift about it's normal for a part timer to move to full time on the worst duty in the office, but that becomes a personal choice if you decide to or not.

I eventually declined the offer. I'm 51 and I know the position is better on the body but I could realistically be a reserve for a long time and at my age I don't want to be on earlies, mids and lates as my duty structure. I went in blind thinking it was probably earlies but I was told I would be on a variety of shifts and that itself is not great for the body especially for an extra £100 a week especially as I'd be on their "new" contract.