Conor:
Trukkertone:
this is the best chance we have to get a decent rate of pay for what we “professionals” do…
Just like the last time we had a chance to get a decent rate of pay when the WTD was introduced. Look how well that turned out.
Royal Mail increased the basic pay, which of course meant the hourly rate increased with it. Trouble was, the overtime available was crushed (already limited to 11.75 hours per week straight out of the gate!) and the multiplier was cut from 1.65 (contract overtime) 2.00 (weekends) 2.5 (bank holidays) down to the heady low number of 1.15, which as far as I know it’s still standing at. GREAT news if you can live off the basic wage, BAD news if you’re a docket king like I once was… RM however still pay one of the best hourly rates around - once you’ve been there long enough to qualify for that parity pay. I think you have to get the work through Pertemps rather than Manpower now, but are there not regional variations?
In any case, I don’t want to be working flat out at RM this coming Christmas unless I’ve already qualified for the higher hourly rate. If I’m to work full timer’s hours, I think it’s a reasonable expectation to get paid the same as the other blokes working alongside me. 
This will mean putting in some token hours each week starting SEPTEMBER, so it’s all back down to that critical DCPC month again. 
Winseer:
chester1:
I think agencys have just about had there day now the economy has picked up. All the big boys around Kent, Morrisons P&H, Downtons, Waitrose ect are all advertising for drivers direct with better terms than the agencies
…obviously the wrong agencies then. Are not some of the above still palming off full timers with less than a tenner per hour?
Last year I did a couple of shifts @ Firmins to pull around some Morrisons trailers. The agency (E---- S—) (no, not “eeasy street” 
) ■■■■■■ me around by lying about what rate I got for working sundays, so I don’t work there any more. Fast forward to the present, and it seems that agency might have lost Firmin’s business, judging by the fact that Demon are now picking up firmins work direct, and not having to sub via some other agency any more. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see ES go ■■■■-up in the months ahead… They used to have lots of Lehnam Storage work as well, but after lots of Umming and Ahhing from them regarding the hourly rates again, I decided to leave it on the shelf with the rest of their work last summer. 
Wasn’t the reasons for any agency to loose firmins work because they started there own agency to pick the best for there own fleet and chuck the rest on morrisons
Winseer:
chester1:
I think agencys have just about had there day now the economy has picked up. All the big boys around Kent, Morrisons P&H, Downtons, Waitrose ect are all advertising for drivers direct with better terms than the agencies
…obviously the wrong agencies then. Are not some of the above still palming off full timers with less than a tenner per hour?
Last year I did a couple of shifts @ Firmins to pull around some Morrisons trailers. The agency (E---- S—) (no, not “eeasy street” ) ■■■■■■ me around by lying about what rate I got for working sundays, so I don’t work there any more. Fast forward to the present, and it seems that agency might have lost Firmin’s business, judging by the fact that Demon are now picking up firmins work direct, and not having to sub via some other agency any more. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see ES go ■■■■-up in the months ahead… They used to have lots of Lehnam Storage work as well, but after lots of Umming and Ahhing from them regarding the hourly rates again, I decided to leave it on the shelf with the rest of their work last summer.
Yes most do pay sub £10 but they get it week in week out plus holiday pay , pension, good ot rate for weekends and bank holidays plus days in lieu I know our lot are cutting back on agency’s and using casuals more
chester1:
Winseer:
chester1:
I think agencys have just about had there day now the economy has picked up. All the big boys around Kent, Morrisons P&H, Downtons, Waitrose ect are all advertising for drivers direct with better terms than the agencies
…obviously the wrong agencies then. Are not some of the above still palming off full timers with less than a tenner per hour?
Last year I did a couple of shifts @ Firmins to pull around some Morrisons trailers. The agency (E---- S—) (no, not “eeasy street” ) ■■■■■■ me around by lying about what rate I got for working sundays, so I don’t work there any more. Fast forward to the present, and it seems that agency might have lost Firmin’s business, judging by the fact that Demon are now picking up firmins work direct, and not having to sub via some other agency any more. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see ES go ■■■■-up in the months ahead… They used to have lots of Lehnam Storage work as well, but after lots of Umming and Ahhing from them regarding the hourly rates again, I decided to leave it on the shelf with the rest of their work last summer.
Wasn’t the reasons for any agency to loose firmins work because they started there own agency to pick the best for there own fleet and chuck the rest on morrisons
Oh. I should feel flattered then just this week that they entrusted a 63 plate actros to me first night I was there - for a home fleet run. 
Agency Govnor says “We want more drivers who want to be inducted into Downtons” as well. Come and sign up, and fill your boots.
(you do a delivery on Downton inductions, and get paid for the full hourage shift you do on that day… Dunno if that is still the case if you fail it though. 
)
I’d say the sheer variety of work available at present has never been greater…
Zactly Winseer, tell 'em to shove it unless they, (in the voice of Jerry McGuire, "Show me the MONEY!)