Mediation Scheme hearing in HoC - Mistaken Identity

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Till I read the guest list I thought the older guy in the middle was a POL twonk defending his company, and he was doing a pretty good job of it, but then I found it was George Thomson, General Secretary of the National Federation of SubPostmasters and he was on there "defending" his members.

But by backing the POLs position 99.9%, and even blaming his members for making mistakes and staff nicking stuff. It was frankly embarrassing, yes defend the POL if thats what your members wants, but don't throw your members under the bus at the same time.

PS in the 2nd session they did explain, at least to this layman, why there isn't the same problem in Crown Offices. Well apparently there is the POL wrote of £2 million in losses in one year and apparently one of the witnesses (bloke from second sight) said that whilst subbies have to account for every penny and make good any shortfall, Crowns have to do the same, but can write off up to a certain amount. So a subbie is £100 down due to human error he has to make good that and the £100 rolls over and mounts up, whereas a Crownie in the same situation writes if off and thats it the end if the matter - Horizon wise.

Does that sound plausible to both subbies and counters.

[CAPO]

If you have not seen the video transmission below is the link for the commons select committee hearing on Post Office Mediation.

http://data.parliament.uk/writteneviden ... 17926.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's well worth reading.

[CAPO]

Re losses the difference is that Crown office staff have a union that looks after then.
Post masters have the NFSP need I say more?

Those in the Postmasters Branch of the CWU have some help but they need POL to recognize it as a union.

[subbie]

You got it True Blue. The biggest difference is though that the CWU have negotiated a losses and gains policy for Crown workers and POL have the burden of proof to prove that the clerk took or lost the money, if they can't do this then its written off, Subbies have been left on their own with the burden of proof placed on them to prove their innocence.

That Thomson bloke shouldn't throw stones in the glass house, his own son is a convicted armed PO robber who injured a CVIT driver in the robbery, it was his Dad's own PO he robbed as well !!

Wonder what happened to the money?

Subbie

[Snaggletooth]

Re losses the difference is that Crown office staff have a union that looks after then.

I can understand you wanting to throw stones at the NFSP but in this case it's a simple legal issue. Employees have certain protections under the law regarding losses at work but sub postmasters are not regarded as employees of the Post Office for this purpose. The Post Office applies the law pretty much as tightly as it can, leading to very different outcomes for Crown Employees and franchisees.

As an aside, there is a much tighter law for retail staff than for non-retail staff, and people who work primarily behind PO counters are counted as non-retail. So if you have a PO in a shop, with separate staff, you can sack the retail staff for a much lower level of losses than the PO counter staff. I have no idea how this works in offices with the new combi tills...

[CAPO]

It's not throwing stones but highlights that the NFSP have never had the right to Negotiate this was proved not so long ago by a Fredom of Information Request.