[Update] The Royal Mail strike thread

No, the workers should not be allowed to make up for the wages they have chosen to lose by taking this action. Personally I'd be all for the extra 30,000 replacing the strikers while they're out manning the barricades, but apparently that's illegal. Where's Margaret Thatcher when you need her.

[Druchii]

Originally Posted by Chris

No, the workers should not be allowed to make up for the wages they have chosen to lose by taking this action. Personally I'd be all for the extra 30,000 replacing the strikers while they're out manning the barricades, but apparently that's illegal. Where's Margaret Thatcher when you need her.

Exactly. There is a job to be done, and many willing to do it for the wage they are obviously unhappy with.

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by Tuftus

You know what, this may just be the kick up the arse they need.

How does the postal system work in Poland? Hmm, I am guessing it works OK. Who are most of these 30K temps going to be?

Migrant workers who will be greatfull for the work and I am sure they will work bloody hard too.

2.howmany MILLION unemployed in this country? Union or no union, I would be bloody wary if I was a Royal (if you can still call it that) Mail employee.

The writing is on the wall. Strike and they will axe the bloody lot of them and re staff with migrant workers who will only be too glad of the work, I will not go as far to say they will do a better job, but hey...

That would most definitely be illegal and land the employers in even more hot water. It is the fundamental right of all unionised employees to withdraw labour. The law, quite rightly, protects them in these circumstances.

---------- Post added at 12:10 ---------- Previous post was at 12:05 ----------

Originally Posted by Druchii

I think it is reasonable.

They normally take on 15k this time of year due to the additional Christmas mail etc. This is fine.
The extra 15k is also fine, why should they have to pay people who have refused to work lots of overtime? In a recession to boot. Actually, it's an even better thing that they hire people for that very reason.

30,000 new jobs for people. Cool.

Although I don't necessarily disagree with the principal, but why just hire these extra people for a few just days? The strike is only for two days, so these extra temps will only be needed for what, four or five days? Have they all been thoroughly checked and trained for what is, essentially, just a week's work? Or have they been hired for longer, in order to push out the existing postal workers?

Update ... about time this thread title more accurately reflected the breadth of the discussion - changed.

Originally Posted by Flyboy

That would most definitely be illegal and land the employers in even more hot water. It is the fundamental right of all unionised employees to withdraw labour. The law, quite rightly, protects them in these circumstances.

---------- Post added at 12:10 ---------- Previous post was at 12:05 ----------



Although I don't necessarily disagree with the principal, but why just hire these extra people for a few just days? The strike is only for two days, so these extra temps will only be needed for what, four or five days? Have they all been thoroughly checked and trained for what is, essentially, just a week's work? Or have they been hired for longer, in order to push out the existing postal workers?

Royal Mail are trying to flex their muscles as much as the workers, rightly or wrongly, are.
One thing about temporary workers, they cost less overall.
They can be hired and fired without much of a whimper, where is the countries sympathy then?
A major factor is Royal mail as any other company, do not have to pay the insurance for those temps, the agency they are hired from covers that angle.
How much training they receive in my experience is irrelevant.
We have had the same posty around here for yonks, and we're forever getting other people's mail!
How hard can it be ro relate a number on an envelope, printed I may add, not written, to the correct letter box?
Valid point on your last paragraph.
Where I work they are making redundant 80+ people from the offices down to the shop floor, so to say, I work in a warehouse.
The excuse given was a turn down in demand, and so the union went in to see management.
It transpires after talks with management, with the union looking through every piece of information the company have, that within a set period of them finishing up 80+ full time permanent workers they have already agreed to start a load of temps to fill those positions.
There is no history of dispute between the workers and the company in this case, it is imo the company using good old maggies workings to full effect.
It is Maggie and her cronies to blame for this environment we have with agencies etc;
In relation to the post office issue, both sides are digging their individual heels in.
Intersting that I heard not half hour ago that if the strike goes ahead TNT wants to put its workers on the streets to post letters.

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

TNT are lobbying ministers so that they may start door to door deliveries

This would be excellent. They need to get the go-ahead.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

It is Maggie and her cronies to blame for this environment we have with agencies etc;

When you run out of ideas, always resort to the old favourite.

Blame Maggie.

Maggie hasn't been around for 18years, I know some people find it hard to let go

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

Royal Mail are trying to flex their muscles as much as the workers, rightly or wrongly, are.
One thing about temporary workers, they cost less overall.
They can be hired and fired without much of a whimper, where is the countries sympathy then?
A major factor is Royal mail as any other company, do not have to pay the insurance for those temps, the agency they are hired from covers that angle.
How much training they receive in my experience is irrelevant.
We have had the same posty around here for yonks, and we're forever getting other people's mail!
How hard can it be ro relate a number on an envelope, printed I may add, not written, to the correct letter box?
Valid point on your last paragraph.
Where I work they are making redundant 80+ people from the offices down to the shop floor, so to say, I work in a warehouse.
The excuse given was a turn down in demand, and so the union went in to see management.
It transpires after talks with management, with the union looking through every piece of information the company have, that within a set period of them finishing up 80+ full time permanent workers they have already agreed to start a load of temps to fill those positions.
There is no history of dispute between the workers and the company in this case, it is imo the company using good old maggies workings to full effect.
It is Maggie and her cronies to blame for this environment we have with agencies etc;
In relation to the post office issue, both sides are digging their individual heels in.
Intersting that I heard not half hour ago that if the strike goes ahead TNT wants to put its workers on the streets to post letters.

If your employer fills those jobs with temporary/casual workers, it would be illegal and you would have been unfairly dismissed and your employer should, quite rightly, be brought to book.

If TNT do start delivering mail, it would be a sad day for the citizenship of this country. They do not have a universal delivery obligation; they will pick and choose what is most profitable and leave everyone else out in the cold.

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Apparently over 85,000 applied for these jobs. There seem to be plenty who'll work for the RM.

TNT are lobbying ministers so that they may start door to door deliveries

NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, DO NOT GIVE THIS TO TNT.

They will end up out sourcing to another country, and never deliver on time (FYI I work for TNT *Spits vile taste from mouth*)

Originally Posted by Hom3r

They will end up out sourcing to another country

What, so my local TNT postie is going to wake up in Bangalore and then get to my local delivery office in time for his shift? I think not.

and never deliver on time

No change there then.

(FYI I work for TNT *Spits vile taste from mouth*)

Time to find another job perhaps? Sounds like you need a change!

[Druchii]

Originally Posted by Chris

What, so my local TNT postie is going to wake up in Bangalore and then get to my local delivery office in time for his shift? I think not.



No change there then.



Time to find another job perhaps? Sounds like you need a change!

They're making his entire office redundant and moving it to Belgium.
He's leaving, but he's not happy about it.

Sorry for the off-topic.

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by Chris

What, so my local TNT postie is going to wake up in Bangalore and then get to my local delivery office in time for his shift? I think not.



No change there then.



Time to find another job perhaps? Sounds like you need a change!

I think it is more likely that the mail will be transported overnight, in bulk, to Eastern Europe and sorted there and returned the next day.

Originally Posted by Flyboy

I think it is more likely that the mail will be transported overnight, in bulk, to Eastern Europe and sorted there and returned the next day.

Well. Still faster than Royal Mail. Bet they won't strike as much either.

[danielf]

Incidentally, TNT is the privatised Dutch Royal Mail.

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by Damien

Well. Still faster than Royal Mail. Bet they won't strike as much either.

If you truly believe that then there is little hope for the postal service. When TNT decide that your mail is not profitable enough for them, who would you turn to then?