annual leave at xmas

[the old girl]

The leave list is being circulated for 2011/12. I noticed w/c 19 Dec week is blocked off. The COSA agreement surely states the 4 weeks prior to the week with xmas day in it should be blocked off. As xmas day is on a sunday, shouldn't the week of the 19th be open? My union rep says he is unable to get an answer on this. Meanwhile the list is going around. Is this just another issue to grind us all down i ask myself?

[PO1]

If we're still here for Dec 2011 you are quite right.

COSA 5.2 clearly states "The only blocking off of annual leave will be during the Christmas period when the FOUR COMPLETE WEEKS PRIOR to the week containg Christmas day will be blocked off."

As Christmas day falls on the Sunday and our weeks commence on a Monday when you pick your leave, it follows that the four weeks in question will be from 21st November to 18th December.

To be honest though, I've never understood why they do this as usually we're falling over each other. Come the mutualisation this is one of the many things that's on the list for scrapping.

[counter man]

Always thought this was a silly agreement.
Surely every year should be looked on differently, depending when Christmas day falls. We will be hammered wc 19th Dec, as all the inland last posting dates will be in this week, as will special cut off.....does it make sense to have people off, ( admittedly im sure BM's will be told to only allow one person off, which they are allowed to do)
But right at the other end....why block wc 21st November. The days of the Christmas rush starting in November are long gone. Its not till people wake up on the 1st and think...oh December...Christmas. Then of course they will leave it till a few days after last posting to come in to post mail overseas.....and we have the same conversation every year....ITS TOO LATE!!!!

[The BFO]

If Christmas Day falls on Monday then I assume there would be no debate – we would not have Annual Leave during the previous week?
Would we further agree that during said week customer arrivals would be identical?
Is this not why some people want to get rid of us?

[Lounge Lizard]

Take leave week commencing 19th December and lose out on about £300 of tips
It's only the thought of those £5, £10 and £20 notes that keeps some of us going through the dismal November and December days.

[PO1]

Tips. We wish, the only thing we get on the counter is the odd tin of biscuits.

[PostalOfficer]

. Then of course they will leave it till a few days after last posting to come in to post mail overseas.....and we have the same conversation every year....ITS TOO LATE!!!!

"Yes, but will it still get there?"
"Yes it'll get there, possibly a bit after Christmas"
"Yes but it'll still get there won't it?
"How can I say it will definitely get there before Christmas when you are 10 days after the last Guaranteed date?"

It's almost as much a part of Christmas as:
"97p! HOW MUCH? I could get a ticket and take it there myself!"
"Please buy me a ticket to Australia while you're booking if you can get it for 97p".
"Why does it cost so much?"
"'Cos Australia is 8000 miles away and your card is handled by about 100 people".
"Isn't there a cheaper way?"
"Send it 58p surface, but you're 3 weeks after the last date".
"How long will that take?"
"12 weeks, it goes by cargo ship doing 20mph."
"Ooh, I'll have to pay the 97p, but it's ridiculous".
NO! What's ridiculous is that I've had this conversation with you for all of my 29 years service and you still don't get the cards written and posted in October and save some cash. If you're so tight, why do you even buy the cards?

Sorry, I digress from the original thread, but I've already had a substantial part of this conversation with one customer.

[baldrick]

Tell them it'll cost a lot more than 97p after Royal Mail is privatised.

[The BFO]

The leave list is being circulated for 2011/12. I noticed w/c 19 Dec week is blocked off. The COSA agreement surely states the 4 weeks prior to the week with xmas day in it should be blocked off. As xmas day is on a sunday, shouldn't the week of the 19th be open? My union rep says he is unable to get an answer on this. Meanwhile the list is going around. Is this just another issue to grind us all down i ask myself?

I have a copy of the Annual Leave List for my office in front of me, and week commencing 19 December 2011 has not been 'blocked' - indeed two people have booked it.

[the old girl]

Anyone have any suggestions how i can battle this one with my manager then? The union rep can't get a difinitive answer and meanwhile the list is being circulated

[The BFO]

Assuming you actually want this week, manually amend the Leave List yourself noting in the margin 'altered in accordance with the Crown Office Staffing Agreement', and book it.

[PO1]

I can't understand why your union rep is having a problem with this as it is clearly stated in the COSA agreement.

[onlyanother30years]

I don't know why all the fuss regarding next years leave, as we will all be out of jobs or working for smiffs.

[billyhayes]

I don't know why all the fuss regarding next years leave, as we will all be out of jobs or working for smiffs.

Amen to that.

[the old girl]

yeah, but we've been saying we wont worry about the next year cos we wont be around then, but we have somehow managed to hang in there. Anyway, its principle, if its in COSA then surely.....