Royal Mail Postal Managers reaching breaking point
3 July 2006
Amicus the union, representing managers
at Royal Mail (16,000), is warning that many postal managers are
reaching breaking point as a result of increasing work loads and
staff shortages.
Over the last few weeks, Royal Mail has notified almost 700
managers that they have been selected for redundancy. The union is
angry that Royal Mail has decided not to consult the union
collectively.
The union is calling for an urgent meeting with Alan Leighton,
Chairman of Royal Mail, where he will be called upon to cease any
further redundancies and to stop making any further organisational
changes until a full and proper assessment of work organisation at
Royal Mail is undertaken with the aim of addressing the long hours
culture that exists.
Amicus is having to deal daily with cases of postal managers
suffering from stress and bullying and harassment. In an internal
audit carried out last year entitled 'Have Your Say' 25 per
cent of postal managers felt that they had been bullied or
harassed.
Staff shortages mean that managers are overworked, many
are being forced to deliver mail themselves due to staff
shortages.
Assistant General Secretary, Paul Talbot said:
"Royal Mail must stop making any further
redundancies and start paying attention to looking after the health
of their hard pressed managers.
"The long hours culture within the Royal Mail is taking its
toll and postal managers are reaching breaking point. Royal Mail
are putting the health of their staff at risk and jeopardising the
excellent service the Royal Mail gives to the public and British
business.
"This letter is an example of the enormous pressure that managers
are under to ensure that we receive our mail on time.
"We are calling for an urgent meeting with Alan Leighton to
demand that Royal Mail cease any further redundancies and stop
making any further organisational changes until a full and proper
assessment of working practices at Royal Mail is undertaken. Royal
Mail must address the long hours culture with urgency."
ENDS
Ciaran Naidoo 07768 931 315
