With CWU members of the Royal Mail workforce looking to strike before Christmas and possibly over Christmas, I’ve got a couple of questions I’m hoping you RM drivers can answer
Do the Delivery Offices stay shut during the strike?
Do the Mail Centres, VOCs and Distribution centres shut down during the strike?
How does it work for Agency drivers that are not part of the CWU but are scheduled to drive for RM during the Christmas period?
Thanks
As Labour and therefore the unions don’t like to use the ultimate weapon (ensuring no deal is off the table while trying to negotiate a deal) then surely strike action must be removed before any talks take place.
Fairs fair, can’t have one rule for some and other rules for others.
When I was out it was everyone out from delivery office to mail centre. What did run was run by management.
I wouldn’t cross a picket line out of principle. Dont get me wrong I’m not saying unions should have swingeing powers but I’d feel morally numb if I was say agency covering - essentially profiting out of people willing to make a stand. Then again the MO therse days seems to be “I’m alright Jack” doesn’t it?
toonsy:
When I was out it was everyone out from delivery office to mail centre. What did run was run by management.I wouldn’t cross a picket line out of principle. Dont get me wrong I’m not saying unions should have swingeing powers but I’d feel morally numb if I was say agency covering - essentially profiting out of people willing to make a stand. Then again the MO therse days seems to be “I’m alright Jack” doesn’t it?
Never cropped up but if I was agency I’d be in there it wouldn’t be my battle.
Not sure there’s a lot of public support for this one too many people know someone who’s done door to door parcel work for Hermes or the like who’d give their right arm for the terms they’re already on, I reckon.
Own Account Driver:
toonsy:
When I was out it was everyone out from delivery office to mail centre. What did run was run by management.I wouldn’t cross a picket line out of principle. Dont get me wrong I’m not saying unions should have swingeing powers but I’d feel morally numb if I was say agency covering - essentially profiting out of people willing to make a stand. Then again the MO therse days seems to be “I’m alright Jack” doesn’t it?
Never cropped up but if I was agency I’d be in there it wouldn’t be my battle.
Not sure there’s a lot of public support for this one too many people know someone who’s done door to door parcel work for Hermes or the like who’d give their right arm for the terms they’re already on, I reckon.
That’s a good point, even if you are lucky enough to find another company who will take you on as PAYE, they certainly aren’t paying you £11.50 ph as a Van driver.
Few years ago my mate was on an agency did some work for royal mail when they were on strike. He did.it as like us all he needed the money.
He did 1 day never again…there were picket lines at most depots and he got lots of abuse from all the staff he encountered along the way . Along with the strikers as well.
Thank you for the responses.
Hermes used to pay their “couriers” per parcel that got delivered. I believe the temp “couriers” get £14 an hour ish, Ltd Co or that’s what the radio ad said last month. That might be for the heavy/oversized items though…
It is going to be interesting to see how these “Poachers-■■■-gamekeepers” can both break their own strike as “acting managers” whilst standing on the picket lines, turning away any agency drivers that turn up to do their jobs - putting them on “Do Not Pay” the moment they get turned back?
£19.48ph is great when you get paid it like any other job - but when you factor in “having to jump through all the hoops” like 90minutes unpaid on every 12hr+ shift, “not to be paid” on compulsory assessments that must be done every season, and little say on what duties you can pick and choose…
…and of course relentless scrutiny on the Isotrac… Spanish Inquisition if you’re running more than 9minutes late anywhere… Debrief every damned day… Bollockings for going off-route, or woe betide - taking a break actually on the highway rather than where your 318 told you to…
…Suddenly the prospect of a more “laid back” approach where you’re given a job to do, the keys to a vehicle, and then get left to your own devices to get on with it, unmolested… Elsewhere.
I don’t envy anyone who’s going to be working @ RM over THIS particular Christmas…
No worries now with the royal mail strike that was planned …management took the case to court, and it was deemed an illegal strike, management won…breathe a sigh of relief…does ■■■■ me off when i read that royal mail are struggling financially…yet its workers deem it ok to back strike action…next thing theyre all out of work with no wages…negotiation is the only way…but if Corbyn gets his way, he wants more unity with the unions than ever before…Len McClusky is waiting in the wings.
truckyboy:
No worries now with the royal mail strike that was planned …management took the case to court, and it was deemed an illegal strike, management won…breathe a sigh of relief…does ■■■■ me off when i read that royal mail are struggling financially…yet its workers deem it ok to back strike action…next thing theyre all out of work with no wages…negotiation is the only way…but if Corbyn gets his way, he wants more unity with the unions than ever before…Len McClusky is waiting in the wings.
“Breath a sign of relief”?
Do you reckon they’ll just forget about their grievances now? Or will they have another ballot?
Will the union go into negotiations with current management, with a smile and a “fair play” attitude?
The original ballot was 97% for strike action on a 76% turnout.
Franglais:
truckyboy:
No worries now with the royal mail strike that was planned …management took the case to court, and it was deemed an illegal strike, management won…breathe a sigh of relief…does ■■■■ me off when i read that royal mail are struggling financially…yet its workers deem it ok to back strike action…next thing theyre all out of work with no wages…negotiation is the only way…but if Corbyn gets his way, he wants more unity with the unions than ever before…Len McClusky is waiting in the wings.“Breath a sign of relief”?
Do you reckon they’ll just forget about their grievances now? Or will they have another ballot?
Will the union go into negotiations with current management, with a smile and a “fair play” attitude?
The original ballot was 97% for strike action on a 76% turnout.
The Court judgement was on the grounds that ballot papers had (in some cases) been filled in at work, and therefore not free from pressure from others. If true, the percentages may not be representative of the free opinions of the members.
Buckstones:
Franglais:
truckyboy:
No worries now with the royal mail strike that was planned …management took the case to court, and it was deemed an illegal strike, management won…breathe a sigh of relief…does ■■■■ me off when i read that royal mail are struggling financially…yet its workers deem it ok to back strike action…next thing theyre all out of work with no wages…negotiation is the only way…but if Corbyn gets his way, he wants more unity with the unions than ever before…Len McClusky is waiting in the wings.“Breath a sign of relief”?
Do you reckon they’ll just forget about their grievances now? Or will they have another ballot?
Will the union go into negotiations with current management, with a smile and a “fair play” attitude?
The original ballot was 97% for strike action on a 76% turnout.The Court judgement was on the grounds that ballot papers had (in some cases) been filled in at work, and therefore not free from pressure from others. If true, the percentages may not be representative of the free opinions of the members.
That is of course true.
I’m not defending any real or perceived coertion.
Time will tell if any following ballot will be significantly different. My guess is that Truckyboy’s “sigh of relief” is premature.
You read a lot of complaints from drivers on this forum about their poor pay and treatment, but when for all intents and purposes a decent company like Royal Mail comes under their spotlight the same drivers haven’t got a good word for them either lol.
Reading between the lines I think the overall problem is far deeper than first apparent. None the less, it’s treatable and I suggest these as suitable remedies for certain angst-ridden forum members:
I wouldn’t be surprised if this coming Christmas run-up - RM Drivers acting as Managers - will be taking a large number of would-be "Christmas Agency " applicants out on the road - and routinely failing them, whilst writing “This driver not to be paid” across the sign-in sheet by that driver’s name… Meanwhile, assessments at supermarkets - get a shift tagged to the end of them if you pass, and you then get paid the prevailing full hourly agency rate for ALL those hours… Paid Assessment, not-much-lower hourly rates…
Not heard any noises from ASDA-suppling agencies as to what this year’s “Christmas Contract” looks like as of yet… Firms are competing for the same pool of drivers, after all.
There’s a heavy stress price to be paid for RM’s top dollar rates, not to mention 90mins taken off a 12+hr shift for “Breaks”. The industry standard is “one hour” of course…
£19.48ph is great when it’s as easy to get in there as other places - but it wasn’t last year, and now with full timer morale being so low THIS year, what with the court injunction cutting the balls off what would have been the most effective strike in our lifetimes… Anything can happen, and probably will.
See other threads on “Impossible Deadlines”.
Winseer:
There’s a heavy stress price to be paid for RM’s top dollar rates, not to mention 90mins taken off a 12+hr shift for “Breaks”. The industry standard is “one hour” of course…
I’m booked in to do a shift at Crick next week. Took the assessment and was told all the blurb. To be honest it does sound like a rush rush environment and I’m not looking forward to it. £17 sounds great but 30 minutes from clock in to the gatehouse is actively encouraging drivers to skip proper vehicle checks IMO. Not that you’ll get pulled by VOSA for a dodgy brake light, on Her Majesty’s Service and all that.
You only have to see how their drivers throw a decker round an island to see what their scheduling is like. Arrive at 13:47, 45 seconds for a wee in a bush etc.
First time they moan at me I’ll tell em to stick it. Which I’m going to assume is going to be next week 
The scheduling is fine, most the problems come from agency hanging it out. All the running orders are agreed by the union and are very generous.
Terry T:
Winseer:
There’s a heavy stress price to be paid for RM’s top dollar rates, not to mention 90mins taken off a 12+hr shift for “Breaks”. The industry standard is “one hour” of course…I’m booked in to do a shift at Crick next week. Took the assessment and was told all the blurb. To be honest it does sound like a rush rush environment and I’m not looking forward to it. £17 sounds great but 30 minutes from clock in to the gatehouse is actively encouraging drivers to skip proper vehicle checks IMO. Not that you’ll get pulled by VOSA for a dodgy brake light, on Her Majesty’s Service and all that.
You only have to see how their drivers throw a decker round an island to see what their scheduling is like. Arrive at 13:47, 45 seconds for a wee in a bush etc.
First time they moan at me I’ll tell em to stick it. Which I’m going to assume is going to be next week
There’s “De Brief” at the end of each shift, noting at where you appeared on the Isotrac trace “where you shouldn’t have been at such-and-such time”…
I’ve found a lot of Royal Mail is rush rush - Especially if you’re waiting around to get on the bay allocated to you.
If you know the shortcuts on routes, then it works great and can be seen as easier, but agency wont know those, only the drivers that have done that shift over and over for a while - Then you have road closures on nights that ofcourse haven’t been planned for on the 318 schedule
As an example: 15 minutes to unload and reload an 18 T truck that holds 26-28 yorks with 2 at a time on a tail lift is far from generous - Ofcourse some put 5-6 on a tail lift and then wonder why the have the odd accident etc.
Then you get Christmas rental rigids with tail lifts too small to get Yorks on in the first place, let alone the nested empties. These are almost always allocated to agency as they aren’t union members.
Then you get RM cutting shift lengths each year, expecting the drivers to get the same amount of work done in less time
I don’t see the union forgetting about what RM have promised and reneged on, in the name of cutting costs to make the company look healthier to prospective investors
Hyh:
I’ve found a lot of Royal Mail is rush rush - Especially if you’re waiting around to get on the bay allocated to you.
Turning up at NDC (Dirft/Crick) they have a queing system with a yard marshall telling you which bay to go on. You are then expected to be promt, and off the bay in time for the next allocation.
The indoor staff are supposed to help you, but there are times where they are busy on the floor with loads of yorks cluttering up the entire cross docking area. Difficult to get a double decker unloaded all by yourself, when there isn’t even space beyond the dock leveller to get the things off your wagon! “30 minutes given” - with a bollocking for leaving more than 9 minutes late… Not the case at Parcel Force Hubs though - where it is just drop a trailer, take a break, pick up another trailer - and go.If you know the shortcuts on routes, then it works great and can be seen as easier, but agency wont know those, only the drivers that have done that shift over and over for a while - Then you have road closures on nights that ofcourse haven’t been planned for on the 318 schedule
I was full time more than two decades, and knew all the backroad shortcuts… Still got nicknamed “Off Route” for all my fancy ways around the blocked roads due to accidents, etc. They watch you like hawks on “routes taken”…!As an example: 15 minutes to unload and reload an 18 T truck that holds 26-28 yorks with 2 at a time on a tail lift is far from generous - Ofcourse some put 5-6 on a tail lift and then wonder why the have the odd accident etc. It is enough time when plenty of people are standing around idle, waiting for you to get your keys on the hook, and start wheeling the yorks off/on.
Christmas time - means cluttered floors, henpecked indoor staff, and other agency drivers looking bewildered as to WTF is going on…! Can’t stand the “Hire” rigids, as the tail lifts are very easy to hurt yourself on - if you’re not careful. Tail flaps like Guillotine blades, Metal shards on every metal edge, tail lifts without enough grease that stick on one side as you lift it up, threatening to topple yorks onto anyone standing too close… and of course “losing your balance”, and finding your fingers/hand alighting on a surface it shouldn’t… Like the groove where the tail lift moves in… Nasty, if you’re not really on the H&S ball at all times!Then you get Christmas rental rigids with tail lifts too small to get Yorks on in the first place, let alone the nested empties. These are almost always allocated to agency as they aren’t union members. “York Re-patriation” is, in my mind - the real arse end of Christmas work at RM. I made a point of loading two yorks at a time going UP as well as coming down… Got sick of the nested six-packs “slamming my fingers”… “Two at a time” - means you cannot load in the required time of course… Time now more important than “Keeping Safe” - even using RM’s own Safe System of Work. H&S seems to have taken a holiday these days. Not good.
Then you get RM cutting shift lengths each year, expecting the drivers to get the same amount of work done in less time
Agencies - tend to get offered the shifts that RM full timers either don’t want (crappy jobs) or Cannot do (Working Time DIrective Rules) - such as the 12+ hour shifts.
Duty patterns also mean a full timer might do a long shift only one day per week, which they will then book off all around the year as a “single day’s holiday”, tendering that one shift out to agency.
A lot of the longer shifts - are the BETTER ones in my mind. It is the short ones that are the pain, for the old “Rush Rush” reasons, of course - especially when running into the Mechanized Delivery Offices around the country, where there might be only a single HGV unloading bay…I don’t see the union forgetting about what RM have promised and reneged on, in the name of cutting costs to make the company look healthier to prospective investors
I’m done with RM now by the looks of it. Thought I’d cracked it this time last year, where I passed the assessment on the 2nd attempt (unpaid) and found myself flat-out with work - not just across Christmas, but January, Febuary and into March… Constantly pushed on my running times, ending when I turned up bang on time one night - only to have a entry gate barrier suddenly descend between my cab and trailer. Instantly stood-down, rest of my week’s shifts cancelled, and I didn’t even get told I’d been effectively “fired”. Had to find another job quick, and it took me nearly a whole 3 hours of driving about signing up with another agency for supermarket work instead, which I’m still doing to date… So much for “honesty and transparency” at RM though. Still - it was good whilst it lasted. 
Can’t see myself going back there, even after I become eligable again. I’m too well-known about the place! 
As usual, a lot of people on here, who obviously know ■■■■ all thats relevant about a subject giving their opinion from the comfort of their armchair.
They are worried about the new executive that’s been brought in as an axe man, fresh from screwing up the TACOS of workers at tesco and Glasgow Rangers.
He’s already trying to divide and conquer by splitting parcelforce away from the rest of royal mail group as ‘a seperate legal entity’. Ostensibly to “make it more nimble”, but anyone who believes that is naive in the extreme.
It’s the thin end of the wedge. Next it will be “Wembly Distribution Centre, Ltd.”, and “Daventry DC Ltd.” etc. Etc. Indeed he’s made them all separate, he can remove the union’s power bit by bit, before commencing the usual race to the bottom seen in every other player in the industry.
Instead of criticising them, for being ungrateful, we should be backing them, in the hope that the existence of decent TACOS jobs in our industry makes other hauliers pay a decent wage, to prevent a hemmeorage of good staff.
Rather than saying that then striking out balloting “■■■■■■ you off”, why not look a bit deeper. The continual reduction in our industry’s pay and conditions in real terms and absolute terms should be “■■■■■■■ you off” more.