Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

This post needs to be nominated for some sort of award. :erm:

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I dunno, I think the Unions in the 70s did a fairly good job of that.

I am no fan of Thatcher's (far from it, she did a lot wrong IMO), but she did leave the economy far more healthy than she found it.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Lest we forget - BBC on this day 15 June 1971

The last paragraph reveals some interesting information, which never seems to get mentioned.
And then from the context bar on that page

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

If everyone is going down the Iron Bitch Road, she totally ruined this country, if everyone followed her way this country would never have survived, she conned the housewifes of this country and the voters who were doubters, if the Tories were in now, they would arranged for the unemployed to work for peanuts to clear a backlog of mail, or the benefit would be stopped, they would also scupper any deal with the CWU, unless it was agreed by them and it wouldn't hurt the government coffers, while MPs are fiddling every penny out of the taxpayer, they would make absolutley certain that the CWU wasn't being 'overpaid':mad:

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0...AAAAAO6hkg.jpg don't http://www.command-post.org/desk/archives/RANT.jpg

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Well we wouldn't want any facts to get in the way of the argument would we.... :rolleyes:

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I have to point out that School Lunches becoming crap was down to her watch though foreverwar.The monies were withdrawn supposedly to pay teachers wages and thousands of school kitchen services were tendered out to the cheapest bidders.

We all saw where that ended up....several generations of school children eating junk food in the middle of the day and over excited hyped up children full of additives,sugar,salt and fat.

However back on topic which is actually The Royal Mail Strike.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

So is any postal service for standard mail that's comparable to Royal Mail in both service and charges?

Grats on hitting 24000 posts Mags! :D

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I doubt it. So far as I can see, the situation's rather similar to that which BT found themselves in when the telecoms market was opened up years ago. Even now many companies still piggy-back their services on BT's infrastructure as the costs involved in building their own would be prohibitive. Private mail companies would have the same problem providing a universal delivery service for many of the same reasons.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

No - but then the fact that Royal Mail alone gets a VAT exemption probably has something to do with that.

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And Royal Mail was built exclusively with as much public money as it needed.

Its nigh on impossible for private companies who have to seek their own funding to compete with that.

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Having listened to yet another radio debate on this issue this morning and heard a number of RM staff state their various views, I don't really think my opinion has changed one iota. I have sympathy for anyone whose job and/or terms/conditions are changed for the worse (or even lost) but in the real world that sort of thing happens all the time and especially so in the middle of a recession. I really don't see RM staff as a special case - they'll just have to accept to the sort of commerical reality most of us have had to live with for years. The choice we have is to shape up or ship out and find something else if we don't like the job we're in.

Whatever the outcome of this battle, the union will not win the war and IMO their ill-considered action will serve simply to antagonise their customers and hasten the demise of RM as we currently know it.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

absolutely spot on.

They're dinosaurs, they should have tried working in the telecoms sector for the past 10years.

Change is continual, there are re-orgs and redundancies at least 1-2 times a year, but you get on with it.

If they are so reluctant to be in an industry that is having to change and modernise then get out. There's plenty that have actually lost their jobs in the past 18months would happily take their place.

Don't the unions realise that the 70's was nearly 40 years ago. The world has changed, they way companies are structured has changed and the way they need to manage their workforce has changed.

Get back to work and stop bleating about it.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I think saying:

is Harsh.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Especially as it is untrue.

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Oh god not another "arthur was a saint and it is all down to that nasty thacher woman" thing please. Fact is union bosses in recent times have constantly felt they were bigger then the industrys that employed their members and felt they were more important then the members they are there to represent. That is what has damaged the trade union movement in this country because despite it's defenders there are a lot more people that can remember what the unions did for this country in the 70's and what they would do again if they got the chance and thats why the majority have little or no time for unions now they only have themself to blame.

If as so many RM employess are saying the management are the problem and the job is fast not worht doing then leave it and let some people that want to do the job with a modern attitude and a realistic one that so many RM employees seem to be lackingeright now. I know some of you don't get it but the cold fact is at a time when so many are losing their jobs and homes you are lucky to have a job more so a job that pays a lot better then some that a lot of people do these days.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

It would be a shame to dismiss everything that trade unions do.Some things like provide help,legal help,info over job issues can be very important.

Also let's not forget that Trade Unions did do some very good work in our history to address and obtain equality and fair working practices for workers.

I'm cross about the strikes because I feel that everyone is going to have to tighten their belts for quite some time in the future and postal workers can't expect to be exempt from all life's experiences.But it has to be admitted that we would not have some of the freedoms in the workplace if the unions hadn't done their best for their workers..We have all benefited because of unions

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I am pretty damm angry about this whole "we are on strike" tosh. They are public servants and they shouldn't be allowed to do things like this. The problem with Royal Mail, they are soft. They do the right thing, to i.e bring in 30k temps to cover the mess the "real" employees cause and they can't win. Simple fact is, Unions have far too much power and shouldnt be allowed full stop. They dont even care what stress they are causing and will potentiallly loose RM millions.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I didn't say that. I said it is hard to say he was single-handedly responsible. Just like it was certainly not all her fault. Like this incident is not all the Postal Workers, Royal Mail, or the Governments fault. It's just events have conspired, certain decisions have been made, and we are at this point. Who gets the most of the blame will remain to be seen.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Absolutely, how dare they not just shut up and put up with things, they have to be realistic that no matter how much ground they give it'll never be enough and so what if their terms of employment have changed so they are being set impossible time-round ratios and end up working hours for nothing, some people don't know how lucky they are

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

At the end of the day, considering this "Recession" and god knows how many people sign on etc, they should be very very very very very lucky they even have a job and a decentish hourly rate. We have a massive distrobution centre in Dorcan, Swindon and they are to be fair a large percentage foreign.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Lucky we've had 12 years of a socialist labour government to reverse all the wrong done then ...:dozey:

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

How decent is the hourly rate when you end up doing an entire shifts for free? Perhaps they are lucky to be in work during a recession so why not fight to keep that job rather than going on the dole?

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Well i know in Swindon, they are getting £9.00 / £10.00 an hour. £12.50 for a night shift.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Er i have no sympathy for them this time for all the reasons i have previously stated and the fact that my local service is a complete joke and that isn't down to the management it is down to the workers being more iterested in meeting up for coffee at starbucks then doing what they are paid too. While many of us wait for our mail to be delivered same group of ten postal workers sit in starbucks drinking coffee for over an hour and a half with their bags right next to their feet filled with peoples mail and it is a common joke in our town.

Most of the people i know that are lucky enough to still have a job right now have had to accept new employment contracts\conditions but they don't spit their dummy out and threaten to strike and neither do a lot more people in this country doing harder jobs in worse condidtion they just get on with it. If being a postal worker was one of the worst jobs in the country maybe then i would have some sympathy but it isn't.

Having just watched the news conference the cwu gave clearly everyone is to blame and they the least hell even david cameron has been dragged into this and what the hell he is supposed to do about anything right now i don't know. Also most of the postal workers i come into contact with certainly do not give me the impression of "caring for the business or the public". Like i said if RM workers are that unhappy leave the job and let others have them and if it is as bad as they state and so intolerable then we will know soon enough.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

My solution to the postal strike is to pay them by cheque and send it by post. ;)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Actually you have RM to thank for that one too. When the two daily deliveries ended so did the working practices at the time. It is now perfectly acceptable for your postie to go home and have a sleep, or some breakfast and he can take as long as he wants about it too, that is as long as the mail is delivered by 5pm (In order to qualify for being delivered by that working day). The mail should also be stored in an authorised safe place or kept in the posties possession the whole time.
For some reason a lot of the public can't seem to grasp this and so I still get told how late I am when I'm still on the road at 13:30 delivering and constantly get accusations like what you have said above thrown at me. Now I don't take any long breaks, I get out as early as I can and on the rare occasion I do finish a little bit early I count it as a bonus on my break, which I have to take at the end of my shift in order to avoid abuse from the public.

---------- Post added at 19:22 ---------- Previous post was at 19:21 ----------

And as I have said before WE DON'T GET PAID WHEN WE STRIKE.... ;)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

How much do you get an hour?

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Me I work at medion - don't get hourly. I get a salary.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I can guarantee any changes to their T&C's are nothing like RM's this has been going on for a couple of years now before the banking crisis even started besides why should they just get on with it?


I would imagine they are to busy to stop and chat like the old days and as for caring for the job, I'd imagine moral is at an all time low. You have just finished harping on about how many are on the dole queue and now you want tens of thousands more to join it out of choice, regardless of years of service, yeah sod the pension best they leave now, infact that's probably what the management hopes will happen, bet they hope all those on permement contracts go with them. Btw love the last sentence, all the evidence from blogs and peoples personal experiences aren't good enough for you, lying are they?

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I have never lost my rag with anyone, but to me the postal workers have signed there own death warrant, after THREE DAYS of talks, they could not sort it out, There are going to be thousands of businesses that depend on the RM that could go bust due to this stupid and arrogancy power they have, what they should have done, was call off the strike and carry on talking, instead of trying to blame each other, according to the news, an agreement was reached last night, but some silly bugger decides to send them a 'so called' letter, They are now deciding on when to call the next two day strike, how pathetic, l am a strong union person, but l believe they could have carried on talking until it was done, By Xmas each member would be sacked and they can then join the dole queue, and the postal service would then be given to another company, that can give a regular delivery service that the public can depend on, and that is something we can't get at the moment.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

But I'm sure you can work it out though, can't you? Bet it's a bit more than none pounds an hour.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Roughly it's £14.42 over a 40 hour week.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

So the strike officially starts at 4am and is going to cripple small businesses.

Royal Mail, you suck.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Yes 3 days of talking and not one member of senior management present throughout, anyone else thinking that they want them to go on strike, perhaps that's why they wouldn't let Acas get involved to.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Now you are confusing the issue with facts. :D

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

You may find this of interest - Channel 4

It seems that the CWU didn't have anyone senior enough at the meetings to agree anything either.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I saw that last night. The Union trying to blame management but he started live on air that that the Royal Mail were willing to immediately ready to sign that agreement.

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They'll get what they deserve - nothing.

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No it isn't. It will seriously inconvenience them for a while. The strike is for two days.

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I wouldn't go that far, if the strike was for weeks, business would just find alternative suppliers. It's a bit of over drama your comment isn't it?

All thats going to happen, is a serious inconvienience - not much else.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

from what I heard this morning on t'radio - there is a postal delivery today but no collections or sorting, tomorrow there will be no delivery's but will be sorting - not sure about collections.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

No post here as of yet! :S

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Just popped home for lunch and there was loads of post on my mat...

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

No mail here, and I've been hearing DIY sounds coming from the house of my postie neighbour all day. ;)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Its backroom staff that are striking today. Its tomorrow that posties and delivery staff will be striking.

And breaking news - 3 more strike days tomorrow. Triffic.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

So there will be mail today?

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Hmm, three strike days out of one...that'll be something to see. ;)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Some of them won't be inconvenienced at all, judging by my missus' email inbox over the last few days. A great many of the online retailers she uses have been sending out mail saying they're using couriers during the strike. And a significant number of them have said they're now switching permanently to alternative carriers.

This strike is going to turn out to be a massive, long-term own-goal by the CWU.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

strikes only work when the nation, or company, is so inconvenienced by the action that they have no choice but to capitulate.

The miners didn't win because we imported our coal to meet demand.

A mail strike, for personal mail such as this, will not be such an inconvenience. Also they don't have overwhelming public support. From what I can gauge most people I have spoken to or read about, think they need to join the rest of us in the 21st century.

So two days this week, and three days next week will not achieve their aims. They will need prolonged action and the question then is are the workforce really up for that kind of action.

Running up to Christmas? not being paid of 3 out of 5 days???

I was just listening to a women on radio 2, she works 6-2 earns £18,000. Not bad hours, not bad money. When asked what she was striking for she couldn't really give a compelling answer. "it's not the money I'm happy with my pay, it's the conditions and I want to make sure I keep my job" She doesn't know if her job is under threat!!??

I predict that most of the Royal Mail workforce will not have the stomach for major industrial action in the run up to Christmas, this wont last too long.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I'm surprised all those dyed in the wool 'socialists' around here aren't vociferously condemning the role of that well known 'Tory' Peter Mandelson* in all of this. :rolleyes: He's committed to privatising the whole shebang after all....

* (you know that unelected guy whose running the equally unelected Brown's New New Labour Party)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I consider myself 'left-wing'. A title hijacked by protesters unfortunately. However I don't support stikes, especially for public sector workers and I see little point when their are commercial competitors whose success would further undermine the organisation whose workers are striking!

I do not consider the privatisation of Royal Mail as a good thing either. It will force them to cut unprofitable services such as door-to-door deliveries every morning. Especially for rural towns and villages.

So the governments have made mistakes but none which justify the CWU undermining the very organisation they claim to care about and hastening it's demise.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

They don't care about the organisation they care about the workers, who have voted in their tens of thousands to say enough is enough. Sometimes you have no other options and the only way a worker can truely make their voice heard is through withdrawing their labour and if that brings about the demise of the organisation well, who is to say that isn't better than the slow drip effect that's been leading up RM's inevitable future privatisation.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

If they care about their workers, and their jobs, then the fiscal health of the parent organisation is important. They are doing real damage to the Royal Mail with Amazon and other retailers deciding to pursue other avenues for delivery. While some will come back and Amazon will recommence some deliveries with them it they will have permanently lost some custom.

As important as the "last-mile" deliveries are I doubt there is enough profit, if any, in them. It's the internet shopping deliveries which will be one of the biggest sources of revenue and the workers are royally screwing that line of the business into the ground. It is incidentlly one of the sectors the Royal Mail bosses want to address with their modernisations.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I had mail delivered today.

The backroom staff who went on strike today (at 4am IIRC) had already sorted my mail for delivery by that point.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Buggery - no mail - guess I aint getting any

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Indeedy - I got mail today. Well two lots actually which is odd.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

apparently 60,000 thousand yes, against £20,000 no.

I didn't think it had that much support, they really are delusional.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Ssshh stop rubbing it in lol I'm waiting for my new card to come, which was suppost to be today :(

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Yes, 80 000+ in favour of striking

It's not the union that decides, they are working on behalf of their members, this is what they want

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Yes we got mail today - bills sadly!.. :(

Just been chatting to a very relieved neighbour of mine who received his accounts and tax return back from his accountant yesterday in time for HMRC's end of the month deadline. They were sent Recorded Delivery yet the postman didn't attempt to get a signature but just pushed them through the door. I've heard complaints about similar dubious activity raised on the radio and TV several times in recent weeks but am still waiting for any RM staff (especially those who keep banging on about the quality of customer service they're trying to preserve) to explain why this sort of thing keeps happening when there's really no excuse for it.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

So I imagine the proposal to hold a strike ballot had nothing to do with the CWU leadership then. And they didn't recommend the members vote 'yes'. And having secured their 'yes' vote, they had nothing to do with deciding whether, and when, the strike actually occurred.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Considering the numbers that voted yes I'd have thought no recommendations were needed

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Butu as you said, the members are happy to let the union take care of things for them. If the union says a strike is required, surely that means the members are simply going to give the union what it wants, namely a 'yes' vote?

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

They aren't sheep, being happy to let them negotiate on your behalf is very different to with drawing your labour.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I think 'Recorded Signed For' is just the new name for what used to be known as Recorded Delivery. I can't see any mention of 'self certification' by the postman/woman but the link you posted states:

"We make sure we get a signature from whoever receives the item, but bear in mind that this may not be the person named on the address label. If there's nobody available to sign for the item and the item is not collected or redelivery rearranged within seven calendar days, we return your mail free, with a note saying why we can't deliver it. On the rare occasions that we don’t get a signature for any other reason, we'll refund your money."

Although RM clearly don't want to highlight the fact that the signature paid for isn't always obtained, the last sentence gives the game away. It appears in the cases I've recently cited that 'reason' was the postman simply couldn't be bothered to knock on the door and ask for one.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

It could also be the case that the postperson knows how inconvenienced a customer might be by having to go to their local collection / sorting office in the event that they weren't there to sign. Alternatively, what if the postperson saw that they were tax documents and having considered the deadline - together with the fact that there is industrial action going on, used his / her initiative to ensure that your neighbour was not further inconvenienced / fined?

Bottom line - if you arrive home and it's there do you throw a hissy fit at not having been asked for your autograph or do you recognise initiative when you see it?

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Maybe, no one actually sent you anything. ;)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Well theres none for all 4 flats and it comes in one door.. ;)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Well, maybe none of your neighbours have had anything sent to them today either. Or, maybe you have a squirrel for a neighbour. :)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Maybe... who knows just seems a bit wierd that all 4 flats didnt get nothing either..

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

The posties have organised it that no posties are delivering mail today and they will be back in to work tomorrow.Tomorrow there will be no sorters though so there will be no mail to go out.any sorting tomorrow will done ad hoc by whomever rallies around-probably the RM bosses.

Any post delivered today was delivered ad hoc by whatever means the RM bosses could organise.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

My mail was delivered by my regular postman. I didn't get a chance to quiz him on why.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

We got one of the three regulars who does our round today.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Well I don't think everyone was on strike today.;)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I have a sign on my front door saying. "All scab mail is refused." I also have blocked my letterbox as well.:D

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Delivery staff go on strike tomorrow. Except those who deliver Special Delivery, tracked mail, or Parcelforce ....according to 'ole auntie beeb

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I order a DVD from play.com which was despatched on Tuesday, it arrived this morning but not in a red RM / PF van.

-----------

This strike will affect all companies large and small. On another thread people have cancelled a order on line and bought froma high street shop.

If everybody did this how much would companies like Play & amazon lose?

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

LOL let me pick myself up off the floor. Who's in power at the moment? How long have they been in power? How is it the fault of a party that hasnt been in power for how long?

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Bus...2C_Sky_Sources

"Postal Workers' Union Announces New Strike"

I personally think this is just getting silly now - these workers, should be getting their backsides in gear and stop moaning. So their pay isnt fantastic, but lets be fair, it's not a very "skilled" job sorting mail, really is it? Driving a lorry, again, not very "hard" I think, something needs to be done here. I'm sorry but the postal service is a complete and utter mess. It's about time, the workers, stepped up to the plate. There used to be a time, when mail would come at 8:30 now - lucky, if you get it before 5PM. This is stupid and i'm getting more and more angry as it's affecting everyone everywhere. Simple answer.. Sack the lot of them. There are plenty and plenty of People who are on JSA etc, who would kill to have a job, infact there are plenty of people, who in this current market would kill for a job. So I put it to you RM workers, that are reading, can you do your job you are paid and contracted for without this stupid-childish striking, lets be fair, it's pretty damm selfish of you all to strike around this time of the year. I mean, c'mon!

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I believe that was said with tongue firmly planted in cheek

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Didn't you know that secondary action is illegal? You can't picket your letterbox unless you're in the CWU. ;)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

I've just had post today and I was chatting to the old lady who wasn't the regular - she was very apologetic and a helpfull old lady!

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

The strike IS About doing the job we are contacted to do, its also about not doing the job the person who used to work adjacent to you used to do for no extra pay because he was made redundant because his job supposedly doesn't exist any more.
The last set of strikes in 07 where about pay rates etc, this time it really isnt. Though pay could be seen as an issue because we are being forced to take on extra duties for no extra pay its still not about rates.
And I dare you to say that bit about Lorry driving to a drivers face and walk away without at least a verbal battering.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

No, you misunderstand me. My existing job hadn't changed, neither had the other person I mentioned in my example above, I don't do less than I did before, if anything I have already gained other duties which make my existing work take at least 30 mins longer. RM management make him take a redundancy claiming his job doesn't exist any more then try and make me take on his work aswel as my own for the same pay I am on now.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Welcome to the private sector and the real world.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Don't patronise me and just because its common place that doesn't make it right.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Easily - it's not a hard job - sorting letters, therefore the pay reflect the level of "skill" involved. Whilst "driving" is not "hard" it has other downside, concentration whilst driving etc. All the usual old tosh. Personally, i'd sake the lot of you - your useless, can't do anything right for the postal service and cause nothing but hassle for the general public and business alike. Very selfish as I said. Again, maybe you should all just wind your necks in and get on with your job. Like I said, your very lucky to have a job considering this "recession" i'm sure agencies are happy to bring in temps and maybe that would be a good idea as temps you have "no rights" etc.
Being forced to take on extra tasks in your day to day job, is unfortunatly, the way any business survives in times like these. RM isn't profitable enough as it is. Therefore, the chiefs have to make "choices" i'm afraid. When I asked, the post lady what she was striking for. She didn't want to answer, which again, seems to be the general rule of thumb. So what are you all sheep? I mean, c'mon - is all of this "idiotic-ness" needed. Seriously? Or can't you all open you mouths and talk to your line managers?

/rant over

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

It is what it is.

And if you guys took a little time and actually listened to what you're saying, you would realise why there is no groundswell of public support for your cause.

Get real. Personally I'd sack the lot of you and replace you all with more forward, freethinking, and dynamic personnel.

I reckon the RM would have no worries filling any vacant positions.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

lol, ok.

---------- Post added at 12:45 ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 ----------

I reckon you're right on that last part, though that doesn't mean the service will magically improve like you all think it will. And as for public support It seems to actually be the vocal minority who are speaking out against us. When delivering my round yesterday it took me an extra hour to get around because I was getting stopped every few doors with offers of support etc. Now while I don't doubt maybe even half of those may not be genuine and probably just out of politeness that's still a lot of support.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Here Here - it would seem RM is hiring all the wrong kind. Sack them all and hire better.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Took the words right out of my mouth ...

ZRB, if your management make a man redundant, add his workload to yours and it extends your day by a mere 30 minutes, exactly how much of a job do you suppose that man was doing?

Case in point: I worked in the head office of a large business in the service sector at the time of 9/11. Our business was frankly slaughtered in the immediate aftermath. There were 30-40 redundancies at head office alone, not because people were idle but simply because it was necessary to cut the business' operating costs. The mail room employed 4 people to sort mail, distribute it round the building and give general support to the facilities department. They had to make one man redundant and the other three had to pick up his share of the load.

In the real world, commercial pressures sometimes require these sorts of things to happen. It's about time that RM workers realised they live in the real world and not in some unionised, utopian vacuum.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Indeed - if they truley cared about their job and was proactive, they would step up to the plate and deal with working 30 minutes to spread the load. I think, RM should look at Jenson Button as an example - took a £3million pound pay cut, paid for all his own travel for the sake of his team - look where that got him.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

If you read my post again Chris you will see I said I had already taken on 30mins of daily extra duties before the doubled workload not directly because of it.
I think the ultimate misunderstanding comes from too many people assuming that RM is struggling. It has been especially since they opened up our infrastructure to private companies RM as a company though has actually taken an increase in profits since the recession hit (Though the strikes have damaged that now). RM management like to twist things to their end and even after those figures where published they still used recession as the driving reason behind redundancies etc.

---------- Post added at 12:57 ---------- Previous post was at 12:56 ----------

Are you really comparing JB to a postal worker?
How much do you earn?

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Some extra questions then:

1. Does your extra workload fit within your 35 hour working week?
2. If not, are you paid overtime for work beyond those core hours?

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

No i'm not comparing JB to a postal worker - what I am comparing, is his mentallity - proactive, willing to take a cut for the "team" or the "business" thats my point

I earn approx £15 an hour.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

1. I do not work a 35 hour week, I work 27.5 of which I normally work about 30 - 33.
The 27.5 hour contract was promised to me as a starting point, I had been told when I joined that after my training I would either be upgraded to a 33 hour weekly contract or I would be topped up with regular overtime (Both lies)

2. As answered in 1. I get paid for 27.5 hours, I work upto 33 and I don't see any of those hours as exra pay unless I take on any additional duties voluntarily for that week e.g. if someone phones in sick and they need their duty covering.

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

27 hours a week - got it easy :)

Re: [Update] The Royal Mail strike thread
 

Is that £3m even half of what he got paid? And if it is would you work for £7.50 per hour? I think you have an apples and oranges situation here.
If I got paid what he did and I was living my dream like he is I think I would do exactly the same. Actually If I was just shown some respect by my management rather than being bullied and walked all over I might be tempted. Sadly that's not the case and its the same accross the country hence the situation we find ourselves in now.