Anyone else getting fed up with Royal Mail stikes?

[Matt]

No postie wants to strike

except the ones on strike, clearly they do. :nuts:

TNT or one of the other postal services will get the royal mail franchise, and then all the ones that dont want to strike will likely lose their jobs too. The PO is bloated, money losing operation, years and years of mismanagement and pandering to unions have made it worse. TBH i dont care if the post comes at 1pm rather than 9am, at least it turns up, at the moment its a lucky dip.
My sisterinlaw and her husband are both posties, they used to get up at 4am and go to work, now they get up at 6am and go to work, they both finish before 2pm. He was told by his local union rep that he was doing his round too fast and sorting his letters too quick. If he kept up, then the management would realise that they dont need to be there so long and therefore cut staff - thats not the right attitude as far as im concerned. Sisterinlaw was told that her round was too short, and that there would be an extra road added, the union rep told her to refuse, again, this is not the right attitude. What the unions are failing to see, is that ALL the postman will lose their jobs if they dont save money, all aspects of business are doing similar things, why should the PO be any different? :shrug:

 

[birdy961]

I use a lot of carriers at work for various parcels/letters etc etc.

Had a meeting with RM the other week who were full of beans about new services coming on line next year etc, competitive prices etc etc.

Asked em what about all the strikes then and what guarentee they could offer against disruption of service.

They left:shrug:

They cannot compete and will eventually go under I am afraid

 

[digitalfailure]

I recently paid a small fortune to post a small but expensive item via special delivery as the recipient wasn't going to be in the delivery area more than just the expected delivery day. RM managed to screw that in areas not affected by strikes and I had to drive 90 miles to collect the parcel they now had sitting in their sorting office.

I gave up trying to claim the postage back, it's like talking to a brick wall. !!!!

So, i'm afraid I too hae zero sympathy for the postal services

 

[Mangelwurzel]

except the ones on strike, clearly they do. :nuts:

Yes thats right they love standing on a picket line all day not getting paid looking forward to a crap load of backlog when they return to work :bang:
Have you actually looked past your front door and enquired why there are strikes happening?

TNT or one of the other postal services will get the royal mail franchise

Let them. They don't have the means to deliver mail to every UK address and they won't even in 10 years time. You think you have bad service now. Wait until TNT, City Link, DHL posties are walking the street.
Who do you think delivers all the other companies mail now? Thats right. It gets injected straight into the RM process line and gets delivered with all the other junk by the useless lazy theiving postie that comes everyday :razz:

TBH i dont care if the post comes at 1pm rather than 9am, at least it turns up, at the moment its a lucky dip.

Lets see if your still happy when it's arriving at 6pm. Starting times are getting pushed further and further back and soon we'll be on 9-5 hours. The full time veterans that are leaving the company are being replaced with part-time positions. This means there's not enough hours to do the work which means extra deliveries get picked up on overtime after that individuals round has finished.
Hey, thats not on. Someone should protest about that! Oh wait we can't because the public can't cope with a week of disruption. Better just shut up and get on with it then. :annoyed:

What the unions are failing to see, is that ALL the postman will lose their jobs if they dont save money, all aspects of business are doing similar things, why should the PO be any different? :shrug:

Yeah and the latest cut back is phasing out bicycles - they cost too much. Hey, why don't we get rid of police cars and make them run after criminals. Why should the police force be any different?

 

[Matt]

Yes thats right they love standing on a picket line all day not getting paid looking forward to a crap load of backlog when they return to work :bang:
Have you actually looked past your front door and enquired why there are strikes happening?

Actually yes, as i said, i have relatives in the PO, so I hear all about it. Sympathy level is still 0. Last time i looked you could cross a picket line, ts not an invisible barrier perhaps telling the union rep to get ****ed might the way forward? or here is a way out idea from left field, get a different job?

Thats right. It gets injected straight into the RM process line and gets delivered with all the other junk by the useless lazy theiving postie that comes everyday :razz:

Your words, not mine. Pays your money and takes your choice. When the PO folds, and the dutch take over the infrastructure, you will have cheery men in orange delivering the mail quickly, cos if they dont, TNT will sack them. PO = Union dinosaur

Lets see if your still happy when it's arriving at 6pm. Starting times are getting pushed further and further back and soon we'll be on 9-5 hours. The full time veterans that are leaving the company are being replaced with part-time positions. This means there's not enough hours to do the work which means extra deliveries get picked up on overtime after that individuals round has finished.
Hey, thats not on. Someone should protest about that! Oh wait we can't because the public can't cope with a week of disruption. Better just shut up and get on with it then. :annoyed:

What times do the charter cover for deliveries?
Part-timers have been there for years, my sisinlaw was part time 8 years ago, less hours, less money, more cost savings. Her hubby is full time. Business 101 really, not something the unions really want to hear.
As for the public not coping with a week of disruption, I PAY for my post to be delivered next day, not for the post to sit in a sorting office..the PO is a service, like any other service, or business, and needs to act like one.

Wilful delay of the Royal Mail is actually a sackable offence, is it not? :shrug:

Yeah and the latest cut back is phasing out bicycles - they cost too much. Hey, why don't we get rid of police cars and make them run after criminals. Why should the police force be any different?

havent seen a copper on a bike for years...:nuts:

 

[foodpoison]

Skipping the majority of the thread because I'm a bit tipsy and can't be bothered to read it, but my friend's father is a postman for the royal mail, and if he doesn't strike with the rest of his colleagues, he effectively becomes a subject for bullying and singling out. He doesn't strike but they come back to give him an onslaught of abuse. He doesn't mind too much, he has his mates, and he's getting paid.

I have sympathy for him, but the rest, nah. None.

Sober Edit: By the rest I mean the union leaders and the posties out there to do as little work for as much as possible.

 

[Mangelwurzel]

Actually yes, as i said, i have relatives in the PO, so I hear all about it.

I bet you are top of their xmas card list.

Last time i looked you could cross a picket line, ts not an invisible barrier perhaps telling the union rep to get ****ed might the way forward? or here is a way out idea from left field, get a different job?

That comment is pure ignorance and doesn't deserve an answer.

When the PO folds, and the dutch take over the infrastructure, you will have cheery men in orange delivering the mail quickly, cos if they dont, TNT will sack them

Yeah. And on that day Beelzebub will have frozen monkeys flying out of his butt. Here's an idea. Why don't you quit moaning about RM and start using the men in orange right now. That way you'll hasten this process and get this golden service you are so looking forward to.
Please post back here with costings and a service review. It will make interesting reading.

the PO is a service

Wrong. Try to keep up. The PO is a business. It used to be a service but unfortunately the public don't like our workforce acting to try and keep this service for you, so put up or shut up.

 

[Matt]

I bet you are top of their xmas card list.

They dont like the way the PO is going or the way the unions bully them, 1 is off to a new job soon the other is going PT, neither are fans of the bully unions, and wont have anything to do with them.

That comment is pure ignorance and doesn't deserve an answer.

If you say so, but as you dont have a constructive reply as to why you cant tell em to do one and get on with your job, I will take a point. Unions are voluntary, and im sure that while they do have their uses, striking isnt the way to make a point, going and getting a job elsewhere is.

Yeah. And on that day Beelzebub will have frozen monkeys flying out of his butt. Here's an idea. Why don't you quit moaning about RM and start using the men in orange right now. That way you'll hasten this process and get this golden service you are so looking forward to.
Please post back here with costings and a service review. It will make interesting reading.

I do use the men in orange for all parcel services and important documents(as well as UPS, though they are quite crap). We send out goods everyday by TNT as they are cheaper, have less paperwork, arrive in the morning to deliver and take away what we have to ship in the morning, he also pops in on his way past in the afternoon, oh and they are not on strike.
I know that when I send an important sample to a customer its going to get there when they need it. TNT aint perfect, but they havent put a large order in jeopardy like the striking folk at the PO have, put up or shut up you say?

Wrong. Try to keep up. The PO is a business. It used to be a service but unfortunately the public don't like our workforce acting to try and keep this service for you, so put up or shut up.

Its not me that needs to keep up, its your colleagues. I pay money for your company to deliver my letter in a timely fashion, its not been delivered because a few of your colleagues have taken it upon themselves to strike on my behalf so I can keep the great service Im not getting. If i pay for it, i expect it to happen. Its not building cars, its a business that serves the public, they are the people that pay your wages, if you **** enough of them off, they wont use the service, and the business will lose more money, and then the PO will have to save money, which will mean getting shot of more expense, which will mean more staff.

Finally, for put up or shut up, put up what? Im not sitting on a stack of paid for letters, wilfully holding up the royal mail, so it isnt me that needs to put up, Im the customer that isnt getting what I pay for, so I wont shut up.

You and me are not going to agree on this, ive always been of the opinion that a free market economy means you can go and work where you like, its a choice, you put up or shut up.

In the words of the Great Capitalist Dragons, I dont see a viable investment here, so im out

 

[Mangelwurzel]

They dont like the way the PO is going or the way the unions bully them, 1 is off to a new job soon the other is going PT, neither are fans of the bully unions, and wont have anything to do with them.

Nobody leaves a job because of unions. Stop paying your £2 a week and you aren't a member anymore. It's easier :shrug:

Unions are voluntary, and im sure that while they do have their uses, striking isnt the way to make a point, going and getting a job elsewhere is.

As i have said TIME AND TIME AGAIN. Striking is an act of desperation. In an ideal world RM management would converse with the workforce to forward the company in a positive manor. This doesn't happen, which is why unfortunately unions are required.
I didn't reply to your last comment of this nature because i found it damn rude. While working for RM might not be your chosen career path, why should other people who have chosen to be a postie lie down and have their career changed from everything they enrolled to become. It obviously seems like a glorified paper round to you, but some workers take pride in this age old role.

I do use the men in orange for all parcel services and important documents(as well as UPS, though they are quite crap). We send out goods everyday by TNT as they are cheaper, have less paperwork, arrive in the morning to deliver and take away what we have to ship in the morning, he also pops in on his way past in the afternoon, oh and they are not on strike.

So why are you still using and bitching about RM? :bang: I say again. Put up with it or shut up

Its not me that needs to keep up, its your colleagues. I pay money for your company to deliver my letter in a timely fashion, its not been delivered because a few of your colleagues have taken it upon themselves to strike on my behalf so I can keep the great service Im not getting.

Yes great reponse . If we had more public support 4 years ago when the main changes went ahead you would still have the 99.9% next day delivery rate that we used to have, you'd still have your mail on your doormat before your snoopy alarm clock went off to tell you to pour your cornflakes.
Unfortunately what the public want, and what they're willing to do to keep it are miles apart.

You and me are not going to agree on this, ive always been of the opinion that a free market economy means you can go and work where you like, its a choice, you put up or shut up.

Right. So i trained as a policeman 5 years ago. All of a sudden i'm being forced to carry a hand gun and walk single patrols. Are you going to tell all the police that signed up to the force to put up with change or ****** off and get a new job?
Just because a postie is a lowly job, why should i have to change and work under unreasonable circumstances?

In the words of the Great Capitalist Dragons, I dont see a viable investment here, so im out

Don't let the door bang your arse on the way out!

 

[Flash In The Pan]

The PO is a business. It used to be a service but unfortunately the public don't like our workforce acting to try and keep this service for you

Are you saying that these strikes are being called for our benefit? Believe me, they aren't, this is about the jobs of those taking the industrial action. It's not in the least bit altruistic, the only people that the strikers care about are themselves, but they're too short-sighted to see that they will ultimately be the losers, when the RM lose their franchise and the other courier companies start offering a proper postal service.

 

[Mangelwurzel]

when the RM lose their franchise and the other courier companies start offering a proper postal service.

Have you actually read any of this thread? The other companies don't have means to deliver to every address in the UK and won't have for decades which is why all their mail goes through RM.
I can't wait for RM to go under so i can sign up to these wonderful new companies that will spray perfume on envelopes before they get pushed through the door

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Have you actually read any of this thread? The other companies don't have means to deliver to every address in the UK and won't have for decades which is why all their mail goes through RM.
I can't wait for RM to go under so i can sign up to these wonderful new companies that will spray perfume on envelopes before they get pushed through the door

Yes, I have read the entire thread, what you obviously fail to realise is that when (not if) the RM loses the franchise to deliver the mail it will either go bust or be bought over by one of the other companies - either way they will have the infrastructure to deliver to every address in the UK - it's the one that exists right now....

 

[unclened]

i see where you are coming from MangelWurzel, but I think its unfair that the public are held to ransom over this. Your issue is with your management, but the ones who pay are the public. I work for a bank, so tomorrow if I complained about my working hours being changed suddenly or having to work weekends to make up for a shed load of work thats been dumped on me, id be expected to get on with it or go work for asda. because its the private sector, theres no such thing as a union. you are lucky that you even have unions. if you wish to remain as a postie but are unhappy with the changes, then thats just life. you cant have your own cake and eat it as the saying goes.

 

[Dangermouse]

Put it out for tender is what I say,,,you can guarantee some of the big hitters can take over faster than we think such as DHL they are bigger than we think and probably would do a better job

 

[Gremlin]

Part of the problem is it's already out for tender and the companies such as DHL have cherrypicked the profitable business in innner cities, they are interested in the costly rural stuff, that is what is downstreamed to Royal Mail !
I left the union ages ago because feedback in our unit was zero and even now I don't understand the problem !!

 

[Matt]

Snip

:shrug:

im bitching, cos one of your colleagues took it upon himself to be offended that he is being required to change the way he works so that the company he works for can continue to be the company it is now without being replaced with a different one. Companies like DHL and TNT employ people on performance, if you dont perform, youre out. Its a succesful strategy used by many companies that make lots of money. My problem is, that a parcel that i was waiting for, was sent by a supplier, by royal fail, and it didnt arrive with me when I needed it. I didnt send it :bang:

I cant remember the last time my post came before I was out of bed, that postman is a myth that hasnt existed in kent for years and years. I know what a postman does, as I may have already mentioned, ive got 2 in the family, and I used to help out in the local shop in the mornings so that the postie could do his job after the PO removed his other postie, so I know what the plight is, but I really have no sympathy at all. None, not a bean, and its because ive seen both sides that i dont have sympathy. Ive seen the union man come to the shop and lecture the postie on how fast he is working, ive seen the union rep tell the subpostmaster that I should be sacked as I am allowing that postoffice to be more efficient than the one up the road...

The world is changing, the post office needs to change with it, the infrastucture is there, but the old fashioned way the unions push you all around has to change. Which car plant is the most succesful in the UK? its the one that is run like a business, with teams working together and the attitude that they can always improve, and they are not dominated by the unions.

 

[dod]

I've had two orders go missing and some CD's which were to allow other orders to be made. Like many others I'm afraid I object strongly to the Union, rather than the workers, disrupting the service I'm not getting and paying for, twice now.

The Unions just come across as a bunch of spoiled kids now to be honest, "we're not getting our payrise and the hours are changing so we're taking our ball back".

I know, we'll **** our customers off so much they'll start to use other companies more and more and make us even less viable, that'll teach you

 

[nilagin]

The world is changing, the post office needs to change with it, the infrastucture is there, but the old fashioned way the unions push you all around has to change. Which car plant is the most succesful in the UK? its the one that is run like a business, with teams working together and the attitude that they can always improve, and they are not dominated by the unions.

You've hit the nail 100% on the head there matty. As much as some don't like it in all jobs we now have to move on and keep up with the times. There will always be elements we don't like, but what is the alternative, dig your heals in and possibly end up with no job at all, because someone else is prepared to do it without the strings attached or swallow your pride or what ever make the sacrifices and get on with what ever to the best of your ability.
Working for Ford Motor Company, as I posted earlier I've seen lots of changes in the 30 years I've been there. The militancy has dwindled although sadly there is still the odd element which will rear it's ugly head from time to time. The strangle hold the unions once had has waned also. When car production ceased in Dagenham and the Assembly plant was closed, we lost the major portion of the militant workforce. There is still the odd few with their heads buried in the sand unwilling to see what is going on around them, sadly quite a few of those appear to work on the opposite shift to me. They do try to bully their points across and force things/agreements their way, but we do our best to resist.
Sometimes I wish our management were in a stronger position to get rid of this bad element. For some reason for now they appear to be ignoring them.
My outlook has always been to put food on my table first at what ever cost. If I'm required to work harder then so be it. It's suprisingly how quick you become adjusted to change, even if it's a change you had resisted or hated.
When FITP mentioned British Leyland from the 70's. That was the exact mentallity of the Assembly plant workforce. Even into the new millenium, they had "official tea tasters", if they didn't like the taste of the tea out of the tea urns, they demanded a new brew. I've even known them too down tools because the canteen had dared to put up the price of baked beans. Extreme elements I know, but all lead to their demise and now they are gone and I doubt that Ford car production will ever return to the UK unless Ford can use Southampton for that.

I did have some of my parcels delivered yesterday, but there are still some outstanding, which are about a week late now.

 

[Mangelwurzel]

I cant remember the last time my post came before I was out of bed, that postman is a myth that hasnt existed in kent for years and years.

The world is changing, the post office needs to change with it

This is where the frustration lies. You cannot have it both ways!
That postman is not a myth because i used to be that postman. The reason you don't get mail early in the morning now is because Royal Mail is modernising. This means later start times, eliminating night shifts, absorbing 10 full time jobs into 7 part time jobs. Modernising means cut backs - cut backs which affect the service you receive.

I'm not stuck in my ways. I agree with alot of the modernisation changes and i don't think alot of our union.
I work bloody hard and i am a fast worker. But even some days going flat out there are not enough hours to do the work being asked. 9 times out of 10 i work extra - it doesn't bother me.

I appologise for sounding a bit arsey last night. I take pride in what i do. There are alot of useless lazy workers in Royal Mail and i object to being pigeon holed with them.
I'm lucky enough to still have my own set delivery so my customers know me and i know them. I know i do a good job and i know they are grateful. The amount in christmas tips i made last year is a reflection of that gratitude (a rare thing these days).

 

[Matt]

I appologise for sounding a bit arsey last night. I take pride in what i do. There are alot of useless lazy workers in Royal Mail and i object to being pigeon holed with them.
I'm lucky enough to still have my own set delivery so my customers know me and i know them. I know i do a good job and i know they are grateful. The amount in christmas tips i made last year is a reflection of that gratitude (a rare thing these days).

No worries, I understand your frustration. You should take your enthusiams and pass it on to some of your colleagues.. I like my postie, both here and at work, I know its not his fault, he works hard, but when hes on holiday the slacker who takes his place doesnt..

 

[russdaz]

The Post office does have its fair share of numptys like any company. But i havent worked for any company that wastes any where near the same kinda as money they do. I am very suprised that it still exists in the way it does now, even if that would be like they did with RoMEC, and sell what 49% of it to a private company.

One of the biggest issues i always thought that has caused part of the problems is the cost of a stamp, it hasnt changed a great deal.

Last time i check it was the cheapest postal service around, but its losing a fortune, as cost go up. As cost raise you generally have to do one of 2 things increase the price of a stamp, which i dont believe the regulator will allow, or cut costs. That inevitable means job loses (which there used to far to much middle management, including union reps that do b****r all work other then get in the way of work that needed being done. One office had 6 walking the floor per shift :shrug: ) or you expand in to new areas to help supplement it. They did that with RoMEC, that was at one point making a tiddy profit before they sold off a part of it.

Unions can be good, but you need both partys to talk and see the big picture.

Oh does any-one remember what happened to Consignia?

 

[foodpoison]

I used to work for Jessops (I left to go to university).

Jessops are going down the crapper.
No denying it.

They made a lot of cut-backs that ultimately affected their staff in a negative way, but they are trying to keep the company afloat.

These changes include:
#Any contracts that are more than 20 hours a week must be cut to 12 hours per week
#The only 2 people to have 8 hour days are the store's team leader and the store's manager
#The manager is required to rota in people so they work preferably under 6 hours. This means their hours can be split into multiple days, and best of all they won't get a lunch break as they are not legally entitled to one.
#People are reduced to 12 hours contracts but can take on available overtime that is required to keep the store running smoothly. This means 3 workers in each shop depending on size during the peak of the day. Beginning and end of the day is usually 2 or even sometimes 1. Overtime as you know does not allocate you holiday. This means that 12 hour contracts get under 9 days a year holiday, but most 12 hour contracts work 3 days a week on those 12 hours.

The attitude of most of the staff is this:
It sucks.
A lot.
It sucks really really really really badly, and I wish we could have it back to the way it used to be.

But what they do understand is this.
Sink or swim.

If you desperately want to carry on wearing all your clothes and shoes and portable electronics and jewellery you must be on the understanding that you'll sink.

If you want to survive, you're going to have to shed those things to survive. Then perhaps when you're on dry land you'll be able to go and buy some more jewellery and clothes and shoes and portable electronics.

You think the PO is different? No, it's not.

Just because a postie is a lowly job, why should i have to change and work under unreasonable circumstances?

You obviously aren't taking into account the workers who are paid a pittance in Tescos, Jessops, McDonalds etc.

They are treated poorly every single day by the managements attempts at making their company more financially efficient. But they don't strike because they are happy to have a job. It sucks, but then that's that.

why should other people who have chosen to be a postie lie down and have their career changed from everything they enrolled to become

Because I'm pretty sure it's the law.
When you sign your contract of employment, I'm pretty sure that you agree to work under whatever rules RM set. And I'm pretty sure that by continuing to work for them you accept any changes, irrelevant of them asking you.

Your colleagues want to stick it to the man? They want to say, "No, screw your changes!"
Then quit. Go and find a job that treats you better. If 100,000 posties quit it would do a hell of a lot more damage to RM than striking. The reason Royal Mail are making these changes is to keep the company afloat, and the nit-wits striking clearly don't get that.
From reading this thread it's become apparent to me that the guys who are working hard are being punished, whereas the guys who want to do as little work for maximum wages are the ones doing the punishing. It might not be immediately apparent but in the long run, those strikes are going to be the death of the guys not striking.

 

[Mangelwurzel]

A fine post Sean.
I made a decision yesterday not to involve myself in any non-photography posts on this forum anymore. I come here to be part of a community and i hate detracting from that.
I've already been a complete cock towards Matty when he was only venting his frustration.
Strikes affect everyone. I'm waiting for some lightstands that i need for a shoot this week too so i understand completely.
Royal Mail will fail. Hopefully i'll be long gone and without a knackered back by then

(ps although i feel privileged to have a forum title, could you dis-associate me with Bill Hayes please. I can't stand the p**ck! )

 

[foodpoison]

A fine post Sean.
I made a decision yesterday not to involve myself in any non-photography posts on this forum anymore. I come here to be part of a community and i hate detracting from that.
I've already been a complete cock towards Matty when he was only venting his frustration.
Strikes affect everyone. I'm waiting for some lightstands that i need for a shoot this week too so i understand completely.
Royal Mail will fail. Hopefully i'll be long gone and without a knackered back by then

(ps although i feel privileged to have a forum title, could you dis-associate me with Bill Hayes please. I can't stand the p**ck! )

I hope I didn't mean to offend mate, I really do. Don't stop taking part in the non-photography discussions.

Forums wouldn't be forums without people whining about something or another

 

[Laudrup]

The post arrived here today at 1pm. It used to come at 8am. The delivery today contained three letters, only one of which was for me. The other two were for someone who lives two streets away - his mail (and that for several other local residents) gets dumped through my letterbox almost daily.

Why? Because this is the last house on the round, except one and it's too far up the road for the postman to be bothered walking, so his usually gets dumped here too.

The really annoying thing is that the postie gets the bus back to the sorting office from a bus stop almost directly opposite one of the houses that I get the mail for.

I'm sorry, but with a level of service like that, not to mention the first class recorded delivery package I've sent to a TP member who lives only 6 miles from here that has so far taken EIGHT days and still hasn't arrived, the Royal Mail don't deserve to survive.

I used to be a postman and was there during the transition from the two deliveries a day to Single Daily Delivery. It is imposible to deliver mail at 8am now, some folk aren't even out the office until after 9am. They could be out earlier but are kept waiting about by management for sometimes 12-15 missorted letters (shared between 25 people) from another depot.

I'd highly doubt the postman is misdelivering letters on purpose, given he could lose his job over it as it's a serious breach of conduct in the RM. My guess is it is a poorly trained (if at all trained) 'floater' on the duty, or the street/name is similar. If it bothers you though phone the delivery office and they will put a note on your walkframe.

Postmen are supposed to be trained for a minimum of about 2 weeks on a duty by a person who knows the duty. When I worked there I was on about 15 dutys in 20 weeks, most with no training at all. Then people wonder why their mail is not going where it is supposed to. On the 1st class recorded delivery package I'd say send it special delivery next time as recorded delivery doesn't mean an awful lot, but special delivery are treated like gold dust (even the managers will get off their fat backsides to deliver them they are that important).

One more gripe is the 'door to doors' postmen are forced to deliver. That's the Farmfoods leaflets, the DFS pamphlet or Churchill insurance mailsort (junk mail). These just slow postmen down, but RM get paid handsomely for delivering them so they shaft the postman with them. Whenever you hear of a postman with '50,000 undelivered items' in his house it won't be 1st class letters, it'll be all that tat RM forces you to deliver for a pittance.

 

[noneforit]

I work right next to a sorting office and they seem to have been on strike 3-4 times this year. To be honest, there are many more professions who work a much harder and much longer day under worse conditions AND get paid Less!!. I have no sympathy for them, try going into a hospital and looking how nurses work.....they might have a different outlook on thier jobs then