[Update] The Royal Mail strike thread

ZrB, you said

The only ways to trim that down are mostly beyond my control, namely increased staff numbers or reduced route lengths (Which means more routes and in turn increased staff numbers).

the other way to reduce that is to introduce more automation at the sorting side, which means you get out on the street faster.

[webcrawler2050]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

ZrB, you said

the other way to reduce that is to introduce more automation at the sorting side, which means you get out on the street faster.

I would agree here - it would avoid less mess ups and would also speed up the delivery process.

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

ZrB, you said

the other way to reduce that is to introduce more automation at the sorting side, which means you get out on the street faster.

Which is supposed to be getting done, we have an ETA of about 3 years before this is introduced into our Mailcentre, the main problem is the machines that do this will never make it to my office so the mail will still need to be distributed and local sorted to some degree so they make it to the correct fitting number to be sorted for delivery.
The other problem is that my managers are already behaving asthough these machines are online and cutting hours and jobs which really shouldn't be getting cut (At least yet).
Though as I said previously this is still out of my control.

---------- Post added at 17:08 ---------- Previous post was at 17:07 ----------

Originally Posted by webcrawler2050

I would agree here - it would avoid less mess ups and would also speed up the delivery process.

Asside from when they go wrong, which going by the current Mailsort machines we have now is every day!!!

[Hom3r]

I wonder if Postman Pat was on strike the last couple of days?

[Druchii]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I wonder if Postman Pat was on strike the last couple of days?

No mate, he's been delivering. He loves his job he does. Goes round every morning with his van.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I wonder if Postman Pat was on strike the last couple of days?

Of course he was working, here is the video evidence of him driving through a Picket Line.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfuLFBQTo4U













OH wait a minute its a Picket Fence, I should have gone to Specsavers

[v0id]

Originally Posted by Druchii

No mate, he's been delivering. He loves his job he does. Goes round every morning with his van.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=catEhS8k_BU

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Isn't it strange that they always arrange a strike when there is a weekend involved, this week it was THURSDAY AND FRIDAY and next week it is WEDNESDAY/ THURSDAY/ FRIDAY I am a strong union person, but CWU you make me sick, this is a dispute that will cost you jobs and at this time, where there is big industrial problems ie the recession you are putting your workforce at big risk, and this is wrong.

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by v0id

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

Post delivered again, by the same postman. This time I did tell him that I wasn't expecting to see him today, he said, well, I have a family to feed. The pittance I get isn't even enough to buy the kids their school uniforms this year."

[alferret]

Originally Posted by Flyboy

Post delivered again, by the same postman. This time I did tell him that I wasn't expecting to see him today, he said, well, I have a family to feed. The pittance I get isn't even enough to buy the kids their school uniforms this year."

Not questions directed at you Flyboy, just what your postie said.

Havnt sifted through all the post's so appolgies if this has been asked before.

What are the hourly rates for postal delivery people, both part time and full time? I know it may vary reigonally, what is the average.

Do they (the striking workers who back the union) think they are alone in getting a low wage?

I work up to 57hrs a week to make ends meet, I dont have an extravagent lifestyle, cant even afford a new (re newer) car. When I pop to my local sorting office to pick up mail I see many cars newer than 3-4 years old.

What is the maximum weight for a postal bag when setting off from the SO?

Originally Posted by webcrawler2050

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.

So, if it meant helping the " team " or the " Business " would you take a pay cut from your £15 ( approx ) per hour to the minimum wage?
I think most post workers can only dream of being on £15 per hour.
So are you willing to back up your point with action?
The fact that the country is in the state it is does not justify any company doing what it wants to maximise profit at the expense of the worker.
Particularly making people redundant then spreading their work among the other workers, out of order, full stop.



" I use my own car for convey to my delivery round even though RM withdrew my travel allowance about 2 years ago its still faster than waiting for a van for convey as this can take up to 2 hours for which RM will not pay us as we are not technically working. "


ZrByte, reading the above leaves me wondering who needs to " modernise " the worker or the company?
Seems to me the company.
Lets look at it from this angle.
I take a job that involves the need for work to be dropped off at my workplace, I am on a shift of 6 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon, the boss says, " sorry, the stuff will not be with you until 8, but I am only paying you from 8 "
Are there really people who support the above for the good of the Country? or the fact it will keep people in a job?
Another point, when you are taking the mail in your own car, were you to have an accident, are you covered under the companies insurance?
I suppose you only have say Fully Comprehensive Insurance on your car which is only meant for Social, Domestic and Pleasure !

[webcrawler2050]

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

So, if it meant helping the " team " or the " Business " would you take a pay cut from your £15 ( approx ) per hour to the minimum wage?
I think most post workers can only dream of being on £15 per hour.
So are you willing to back up your point with action?
The fact that the country is in the state it is does not justify any company doing what it wants to maximise profit at the expense of the worker.
Particularly making people redundant then spreading their work among the other workers, out of order, full stop.

No - as being in tech - it will never happen and if the business cant afford me, then theres plenty of people who are willing to pay more. However, I would take more tasks if it ment the business would save £xx per hour. Simple fact is, you wont ever get no more than £8.00 an hour being in the postal service. As I said, its not a very "skilled" job therefore the pay reflects the job.

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

So, if it meant helping the " team " or the " Business " would you take a pay cut from your £15 ( approx ) per hour to the minimum wage?
I think most post workers can only dream of being on £15 per hour.
So are you willing to back up your point with action?
The fact that the country is in the state it is does not justify any company doing what it wants to maximise profit at the expense of the worker.
Particularly making people redundant then spreading their work among the other workers, out of order, full stop.

But posties aren't on the minimum wage, so I don't understand your premise?

If you do a google on postmen's salaries, it tends to show that the average salary is approx £21700, which if you divide by 52*35 (weeks and hours in the week) gives £11.92 per hour, against the National Minimum Wage of £5.80 per hour.

And the dispute is also about modernisation of systems and processes.

[webcrawler2050]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

But posties aren't on the minimum wage, so I don't understand your premise?

If you do a google on postmen's salaries, it tends to show that the average salary is approx £21700, which if you divide by 52*35 (weeks and hours in the week) gives £11.92 per hour, against the National Minimum Wage of £5.80 per hour.

And the dispute is also about modernisation of systems and processes.

Seems like catch 22 here - workers want more pay - RM saying no. blah blah blah

Originally Posted by foreverwar

But posties aren't on the minimum wage, so I don't understand your premise?

If you do a google on postmen's salaries, it tends to show that the average salary is approx £21700, which if you divide by 52*35 (weeks and hours in the week) gives £11.92 per hour, against the National Minimum Wage of £5.80 per hour.

And the dispute is also about modernisation of systems and processes.

Foreverwar, did I say that Posties were on the minimum wage? No
Webcrawler was making a point that they would take a pay cut for the good of the company, " Teamwork "
I was merely wondering whether that " pay cut " would be down to the National minimum wage if it meant keeping their job.
Webcrawler says No, so thats my end on that matter.

---------- Post added at 11:07 ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 ----------

Originally Posted by webcrawler2050

No - as being in tech - it will never happen and if the business cant afford me, then theres plenty of people who are willing to pay more. However, I would take more tasks if it ment the business would save £xx per hour. Simple fact is, you wont ever get no more than £8.00 an hour being in the postal service. As I said, its not a very "skilled" job therefore the pay reflects the job.

How I would love to have your take on life Webcrawler
Do you have kids?
If so I am sure you have no gripes about that " unskilled " lady/man seeing them safely across the road to school every day.
That attitude is very patronising.
I suggest you read through some job advertisements, there are jobs that involve a lot more responsiblity that are paid less than I am on at the moment, the fact that they are on less pay does not tell the full story.
How much are Nurses on? Domestic Workers in hospitals wiping people's backsides, emptying bedpans?
Enough said.