Strikers

[Mangelwurzel]

I don't get overtime regardless of how long I stay on at work.

Sorry, but you're a mug (unless you shoot the Playboy calendar then forgive my comment ).

Seriously though, the "i should be thankful i've got a job" crap really isn't on. We're all just payroll numbers and this wonderful company that you work for free for wouldn't hesitate to see you in the gutter as long as the numbers tallied at the end of the year.
But on the brightside you'd be on benefit and afford new TV's and holidays like every other scrounger in this country

 

[Pieface]

Sorry, but you're a mug (unless you shoot the Playboy calendar then forgive my comment ).

Seriously though, the "i should be thankful i've got a job" crap really isn't on. We're all just payroll numbers and this wonderful company that you work for free for wouldn't hesitate to see you in the gutter as long as the numbers tallied at the end of the year.
But on the brightside you'd be on benefit and afford new TV's and holidays like every other scrounger in this country

What a awful outlook you have. It's all about yourself, understand THERE IS A RECESSION ON. Millions have lost there job due to it all over the world, and it's a time of depression for many people. It's just a case of think of others before yourselves. You SHOULD be thankful you have a job, suprised they won't just sack you and get new employees.

 

[Robert Davies]

It's good to see the government's brainwashing of the populace is coming along so nicely.

The Royal Mail is a service for the country that cannot be run as a business in the accepted sense. If you want it run as business, the people of say, Argyll, had better get used to the idea of paying £15 - £20 for each item they send.

The Royal Mail is being systematically destroyed by the government, it my estimate that in two years postal strikes will be entirely moot - there will not be a Royal Mail to be upset about.

Change was NOT necessary, the service WAS efficient AND profitable

Mismanagement and bleeding it dry brought the chaos that is Royal Mail today about.

Consider these few things - How did making the deliveries later improve the service? How did spending millions on automation, instead of thousands upon manpower improve the service? How did the consequent need to raise prices improve the service? How did confusing the customer with complex volume calculations improve the service? None of these brainwaves originated with those on strike now.

Those on strike now are not fighting for a cushy life, they are fighting for their very livelihoods.

The strike is entirely about working conditions.

Make *no* mistake, the work of a delivery walking postman is hard manual graft with working conditions each and every one of you contribute to - Where's your letterbox? Waist height, or crawl on all fours height? Have you fixed that broken paving slab? Do you keep your dog under control? Is your house properly marked? or is guesswork involved in determining it's proper address? Do you leave your cars/bikes/assorted paraphernalia as an assault course to your door? How about those leylandii that block the path? Have you put your bin away?

Get ready for your weekly trip into the sorting office to collect your own mail *ALL* of you, it IS coming.

I am daily thankful for the fact I no longer have to work for the Royal Mail and what it has become - Everyday I live with the health problems that working for them caused.

If you've not DONE the job don't even begin to criticise those that have.

-Rob

 

[willbaroo]

Sorry, but you're a mug (unless you shoot the Playboy calendar then forgive my comment ).

As it happens, no.

Maybe I am a mug but I would like to believe that one day I will be rewarded in some way shape or form.

Some of us aren't lucky enough to work in massive organisations where you can screw the overtime system and double your wages. Having said that though I work in a small enough company where i'm not just another statistic in HR. People in our company notice if you put the extra time in or if you come in 1 minute before your shift starts or if you take exactly 60mins for lunch.

The above comments are not directed at RM, just a genralisation.

 

[Mangelwurzel]

What a awful outlook you have. It's all about yourself, understand THERE IS A RECESSION ON. Millions have lost there job due to it all over the world, and it's a time of depression for many people. It's just a case of think of others before yourselves.

No, i'm just a realist who doesn't see the point of sugar coating everything.
Time with family is precious. We have to work long enough to scrape by as it is without feeling the need to work extra for free just because "we should be grateful to have a job".

You SHOULD be thankful you have a job, suprised they won't just sack you and get new employees.

Thats because like so many people, you fail to realise that Royal Mail employees are the biggest asset to the company. I deliver hundreds of items every week that are incorrectly addressed because i have experience and local knowledge. Get new staff in, and all those items go in the bin.
The people in this country don't know how well they have it at the moment. If/when the Mail gets taken over by another firm you can kiss goodbye to rural deliveries/postbox collections on street corners. They just won't be cost effective.
All you will notice will be the 500% increase in business junk that will pile on your doormat every morning.

Having said that though I work in a small enough company where i'm not just another statistic in HR. People in our company notice if you put the extra time in or if you come in 1 minute before your shift starts or if you take exactly 60mins for lunch.

I worked as a QA Engineer for a small microelectronics firm for 7 years. Lots of people put the extra in, including me. It doesn't stop the redundancy bat striking even though the two directors turn up to work in top of the line BMW's and Porsches. But carry on regardless in the hope of one day "you will be rewarded in some way shape or form".

It's good to see the government's brainwashing of the populace is coming along so nicely.

The Royal Mail is a service for the country that cannot be run as a business in the accepted sense. If you want it run as business, the people of say, Argyll, had better get used to the idea of paying £15 - £20 for each item they send.

The Royal Mail is being systematically destroyed by the government, it my estimate that in two years postal strikes will be entirely moot - there will not be a Royal Mail to be upset about.

Change was NOT necessary, the service WAS efficient AND profitable

Mismanagement and bleeding it dry brought the chaos that is Royal Mail today about.

Consider these few things - How did making the deliveries later improve the service? How did spending millions on automation, instead of thousands upon manpower improve the service? How did the consequent need to raise prices improve the service? How did confusing the customer with complex volume calculations improve the service? None of these brainwaves originated with those on strike now.

Those on strike now are not fighting for a cushy life, they are fighting for their very livelihoods.

The strike is entirely about working conditions.

Make *no* mistake, the work of a delivery walking postman is hard manual graft with working conditions each and every one of you contribute to - Where's your letterbox? Waist height, or crawl on all fours height? Have you fixed that broken paving slab? Do you keep your dog under control? Is your house properly marked? or is guesswork involved in determining it's proper address? Do you leave your cars/bikes/assorted paraphernalia as an assault course to your door? How about those leylandii that block the path? Have you put your bin away?

Get ready for your weekly trip into the sorting office to collect your own mail *ALL* of you, it IS coming.

I am daily thankful for the fact I no longer have to work for the Royal Mail and what it has become - Everyday I live with the health problems that working for them caused.

If you've not DONE the job don't even begin to criticise those that have.

-Rob

At last. Someone making sense

 

[photon]

Old news, but worth repeating...

'Few benefits' from mail shake-up

Mail boss gets £3m in pay packet

 

[SarahLee]

Sorry, but you're a mug (unless you shoot the Playboy calendar then forgive my comment ).

Seriously though, the "i should be thankful i've got a job" crap really isn't on. We're all just payroll numbers and this wonderful company that you work for free for wouldn't hesitate to see you in the gutter as long as the numbers tallied at the end of the year.
But on the brightside you'd be on benefit and afford new TV's and holidays like every other scrounger in this country

I worked as a QA Engineer for a small microelectronics firm for 7 years. Lots of people put the extra in, including me. It doesn't stop the redundancy bat striking even though the two directors turn up to work in top of the line BMW's and Porsches. But carry on regardless in the hope of one day "you will be rewarded in some way shape or form"

You're right. To a lot of companies the employees are just payroll numbers, but that's not the point.
For many it's a choice between either putting in the extra work or seeing the company and their job go down the pan. Many businesses right now simply don't have the funds to pay overtime.
Even for those working for more stable companies, they may not get financial remuneration for going the extra mile but if redundancies do come round those who aren't pulling as much weight will be front of the queue.

I know that your comment about being on benefit was meant to be tongue in cheek. But seriously, if you knew the number of people that I do who have been made redundant in the last year and just can't get back into work you'd be agreeing that anyone who has a job right now is one of the lucky ones.

It's good to see the government's brainwashing of the populace is coming along so nicely.

Those on strike now are not fighting for a cushy life, they are fighting for their very livelihoods.

The strike is entirely about working conditions.

It's not about being brainwashed, just a bit of common sense.
Whether the changes to the postal service were beneficial or not is a whole different debate. The question here was whether the postal workers are right to go on strike and I stand by my opinion that they are not. I also say again that postal workers are not unique in suffering poor working conditions.

Not aimed at you in particular Robert, but I would like to hear one good argument (from anyone) as to how striking will improve anything. Bearing in mind the following facts :

a) The strike itself will be detrimental to the economy and may even drive some small businesses that are dependent on the postal service under.

b) It may very well be counterproductive and strengthen the position of alternative delivery services - effectively hastening the demise of the RM.

c) Improvements in working conditions do not come for free. If the strikers are successful, how will these improvements be funded?
Increase prices and put even more strain on small businesses and customers?
Government assistance? Which services should be cut to make room for this? or perhaps there should be an increase in taxes, which will only add to the current economic crisis?

Make *no* mistake, the work of a delivery walking postman is hard manual graft with working conditions each and every one of you contribute to - Where's your letterbox? Waist height, or crawl on all fours height? Have you fixed that broken paving slab? Do you keep your dog under control? Is your house properly marked? or is guesswork involved in determining it's proper address? Do you leave your cars/bikes/assorted paraphernalia as an assault course to your door? How about those leylandii that block the path? Have you put your bin away?

If you've not DONE the job don't even begin to criticise those that have.

And on that I totally agree with you. I'd never underestimate the amount of work involved and I have nothing but respect for anyone who does a hard day's work.

Again though, postal workers are NOT unique in this situation. I have the same respect for anyone employed in ANY job who works hard. And they don't all have the luxury of being able to strike and employ blackmail techniques to get their own way.

 

[Steep]

My comments in red..

The question here was whether the postal workers are right to go on strike and I stand by my opinion that they are not. I also say again that postal workers are not unique in suffering poor working conditions.

So, because jo bloggs over there has hard time of it, postal workers have no right to fight for their own well being?

Not aimed at you in particular Robert, but I would like to hear one good argument (from anyone) as to how striking will improve anything. Bearing in mind the following facts :

a) The strike itself will be detrimental to the economy and may even drive some small businesses that are dependent on the postal service under.

And you know this as fact how?

b) It may very well be counterproductive and strengthen the position of alternative delivery services - effectively hastening the demise of the RM.

We've already heard that the alternative delivery services use RM, it's these cut price deliveries that RM are forced to make that are brining about RMs demise.

c) Improvements in working conditions do not come for free. If the strikers are successful, how will these improvements be funded?
Increase prices and put even more strain on small businesses and customers?
Government assistance? Which services should be cut to make room for this? or perhaps there should be an increase in taxes, which will only add to the current economic crisis?

They are not striking to improve their working conditions but to protect the conditions they currently work under

And on that I totally agree with you. I'd never underestimate the amount of work involved and I have nothing but respect for anyone who does a hard day's work.

And they don't all have the luxury of being able to strike and employ blackmail techniques to get their own way.

Now who's brain washing, "enjoy the luxury"? "employ blackmail techniques"?

 

[Mangelwurzel]

I would like to hear one good argument (from anyone) as to how striking will improve anything.

I agree with you, striking shouldn't be the way forward but unfortunately when you're faced with a management structure that relies on its workforce but isn't prepared to listen it's the only thing that brings them out of their offices and start listening.
The real joke is we have to fill out a questionaire every six months giving our feedback so i have serious doubts about how this data is used or if it's even used at all.

Improvements in working conditions do not come for free. If the strikers are successful, how will these improvements be funded? Increase prices and put even more strain on small businesses and customers?

We're not asking for toilet seat warmers and espresso machines in the canteen - just somewhere to put my mail would be nice :bang:
5 years ago they scrapped second post and bought in the single daily delivery which meant all of the duties got bigger. 3 months ago they spent millions on geo routing software which again made all the duties bigger and claimed we could complete the walks at a 4mph pace
In those 5 years we have been asking for extra pouch boxes to be installed around the new routes as the old ones are a)in the wrong place as the routes have changed and b) They are not big enough and there aren't enough to hold all the mail.

Yes thats right, we don't skip out of the office every morning with 1 bag (you'd be surprised how many people think you do). We often leave with 6 or 7 bags and in order for us to complete these new massive deliveries at the new pace we need to have this mail distributed around our route in secure lockable pouch boxes.
Management have not been able to address this simple issue in 5 years. This sort of thing should have been implemented in the planning stages, not after the changes.

The response to this request is always to phone a van driver to drop a new pouch to you when you need it. Unfortunately, as the van driver could be on the other side of town delivering packets it means you're left waiting around and not being able to complete the delivery on time.

As a result of this i now use my own car on delivery, simply because my boot is the only secure place large enough to fit all my mail in. I don't get wear and tear allowance or petrol expense. This cost comes directly out of my wage packet because Royal Mail haven't got a clue about the daily running of their own delivery offices.

 

[willbaroo]

As a result of this i now use my own car on delivery, simply because my boot is the only secure place large enough to fit all my mail in. I don't get wear and tear allowance or petrol expense. This cost comes directly out of my wage packet because Royal Mail haven't got a clue about the daily running of their own delivery offices.

Sorry but your a mug then.

 

[Squawk]

If the strike is over working conditions, as per the post regarding using your own car without recompense, then you have a point. However, my previous post has gone unanswered where I asked why the posties need to strike in order to change the decisions taken by management regarding carrying mail for 3rd party providers. That is of no concern to the workforce, the only concern for the workforce that could merit striking is working conditions.

 

[Mangelwurzel]

Sorry but your a mug then.

Good comeback, and you're absolutely right of course

My previous post has gone unanswered where I asked why the posties need to strike in order to change the decisions taken by management regarding carrying mail for 3rd party providers. That is of no concern to the workforce, the only concern for the workforce that could merit striking is working conditions.

I apologise if this hasn't been answered yet.
The dispute is complicated and over a range of issues stretching from pensions to working conditions to a successful modernization structure for the company.

Firstly the decision to carry 3rd party mail goes beyond Royal Mail. It's enforced by the government through independant postal regulators.

A postmans/womans day is basically split into 3:
1-Sorting mail for the whole delivery office
2-Preparing the postmans/womans own delivery
3-Delivering the mail

When mail from the other 19 companies get injected into (1), it means we are later moving onto stage (2) which ulitimately leads on to us getting onto the street late and completing (3).

If we are made late by this we inform our managers. The response is usually that they will not pay overtime but you can also not bring mail back.
This is bullying and harrasment and make no mistake this goes on over a large scale over the UK.
If i didn't use my own car on delivery there is no way i could complete my round everyday, but i'm just worn down with the constant struggle everyday that it's my easiest option. There are 11 postmen in the town i cover and 8 use their own car.

=======================================================

I'm bailing out of this debate now. I have to explain this countless times in the day to my customers and i'm getting tired of it.
I love this forum for photography and i curse myself for getting tied up in these threads.

There is some info here for you:

http://www.cwu.org/royal-mail-dispute.html

 

[Holden Caulfield]

It’s amazing how the ‘I’m all right Jack ‘ mentality has pervaded British society over the last 25 -30 years, aided by the tabloid press who now brand anyone who sticks up for their rights and fight for their jobs as trouble makers.

Recently ‘we’ and I use the word in a collective sense have bailed out the banks to the tune of billions of pounds yet hardly a word is said about bankers bonuses and the obscene amounts they receive. Yet postal workers who have to carry more weight on deliveries and move faster than a serving soldier are vilified when they ‘dare ‘ to strike over poor pay and conditions.

To cap it all, instead showing solidarity to an institution which has contributed to a positive way of life for decades, whose workers help bind community cohesion in society which is collapsing we hear individuals moaning and whining that the strike has held up their toys arriving.

Grow up .

 

[SarahLee]

My comments in red..

I've given a bit of thought as to whether to reply to this or not. This is potentially an emotive topic and there's a fine line between heated debate (which is healthy) and argument (which is likely to get this thread closed down)

My final few thoughts on the subject below and then I'll shut up . . .

The question here was whether the postal workers are right to go on strike and I stand by my opinion that they are not. I also say again that postal workers are not unique in suffering poor working conditions.

So, because jo bloggs over there has hard time of it, postal workers have no right to fight for their own well being?

I certainly didn’t put it quite as bluntly as that. But if every Jo Bloggs took the same attitude, then there would be nobody left working in the UK.
As I said in my original post, striking is very rarely a constructive way forward.

a) The strike itself will be detrimental to the economy and may even drive some small businesses that are dependent on the postal service under.

And you know this as fact how?

To elaborate.
Many small businesses are dependent on the postal service for the delivery of goods and payments – Fact
Many small businesses are currently struggling in the current economic climate – Fact
A delay of a few days to a week in receiving said goods and payments may be enough to finish off already struggling businesses – Note that I said “may” here.

b) It may very well be counterproductive and strengthen the position of alternative delivery services - effectively hastening the demise of the RM.

We've already heard that the alternative delivery services use RM, it's these cut price deliveries that RM are forced to make that are brining about RMs demise.

That’s not quite the whole story though. There’s more information here
It would seem something of a Catch22 situation. The fact that RM has VAT exemptions on deliveries that private companies don’t creates a barrier to competitors providing their own delivery service. Whilst this is in place to protect the RM, the reality is that it is placing additional strain on it.
The strike action is just pushing the demand for alternative services and strengthening the case for the lifting of this barrier. In fact TNT is already piloting an alternate delivery service.


c) Improvements in working conditions do not come for free. If the strikers are successful, how will these improvements be funded?
Increase prices and put even more strain on small businesses and customers?
Government assistance? Which services should be cut to make room for this? or perhaps there should be an increase in taxes, which will only add to the current economic crisis?

They are not striking to improve their working conditions but to protect the conditions they currently work under

Mangelwurzel has already expanded far more eloquently than I could on the range of issues that the strike is over.
Unfortunately, none of these are free of charge.

they don't all have the luxury of being able to strike and employ blackmail techniques to get their own way.

Now who's brain washing, "enjoy the luxury"? "employ blackmail techniques"?

Fair comment. They were an emotive choice of words, but those were personal opinions :shrug: – Striking is something I have strong opinions on.
And in the context of the rest of my sentence, I'm sure that the option to go on strike would be regarded a luxury by some employees in other industries

 

[SarahLee]

I'm bailing out of this debate now. I have to explain this countless times in the day to my customers and i'm getting tired of it.
I love this forum for photography and i curse myself for getting tied up in these threads.

Ditto.
I don't normally get involved in these types of thread, but this is one that I had strong opinions on.

I'm bowing out gracefully now too (or as gracefully as I can manage)

Whilst I still don't agree with the strike action, on a personal level I wish you all the best.
I don't believe that as a whole postal workers have it any worse than many other workers at the moment. However, you personally are obviously having a tough time of it in your job and I hope that things get better for you (and everybody else who is in the same boat)

 

[Simmotino]

Quite frankly, if they don't want to work under the new conditions, resign.

There are plenty of people out there who want a job at the moment that would jump at the chance to be paid for what a postie does (and yes, I know several, so know what they do).

Sympathy for strikers? Sometimes.

Sympathy for striking posties? Sorry, not this time.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

What a awful outlook you have. It's all about yourself, understand THERE IS A RECESSION ON. Millions have lost there job due to it all over the world, and it's a time of depression for many people. It's just a case of think of others before yourselves. You SHOULD be thankful you have a job, suprised they won't just sack you and get new employees.

What a poverty of thinking, just what the media and the Government want you to believe, yes some people have lost their jobs and some companies have closed.

Take a walk down the High street, pop in to you local hypermarket or fast food outlet. Are they deserted? Is tumble weed blowing along the floor?

No. most people are still spending with lots of companies declaring record profits.


What you have to remember is that lots of companies use the ‘recession’ as an excuse to lay off staff and to boost shareholder profits. I worked for a multinational company who regularly would post losses as a tax break/ money shifting exercise.


We laughed at meetings when our boss would say that ‘we are altering the pivot point this month’ an expression derived from how the accounts department would alter the spreadsheet to move from profit to loss or visa versa in one single key stroke in excel.

 

[Matt]

interesting little story today about the dutch.

dutch posties who work for TNT are likely to strike as bosses are modernising the service, its a fully open postal market there, with TNT being the main infrastructure holder(remember folks, TNT wont be able to run a post service here in the UK as they have no experience.. ) The workers are striking over modernisation too. The difference is that in Holland, there is another company waiting in the wings to take over...Now if TNT get the boot in holland, they will want to find other revenue...perhaps in other countries that they work in...

Ive not had several things delivered this week that have caused me untold inconvenience and hassle, and frankly, it makes me feel VERY unsympathetic indeed.

 

[willbaroo]

TNT FTW!

Oh and going back to an earlier point/post about maybe one day about being rewarded for staying on for a couple of hours or skipping a lunch break here and there, I've just been informed I may be looking at a company car before christmas. [/brag]

Happy days!

 

[stokecity_m]

TNT FTW!

I may be looking at a company car before christmas. [/brag]

Yeah your bosses company car

 

[photon]

TNT?

Oh I remember. I gave up using them because they couldn't be bothered to collect on about 20% of the booked occasions, because my location is too rural.

 

[willbaroo]

Yeah your bosses company car

Oh for sure. Beats having to Tax, Insure, Mot and Service mine!!

 

[Matt]

TNT?

Oh I remember. I gave up using them because they couldn't be bothered to collect on about 20% of the booked occasions, because my location is too rural.

Royal Mail?

..oh I remember, a failing business, hamstrung by dinosaur unions, thick, grabbing management, and a handfull of workshy slackers who spoil it for the hardworking posties, tarnishing good posties reputations and driving the mail delivery business into the hands of TNT..

 

[Mangelwurzel]

Ive not had several things delivered this week that have caused me untold inconvenience and hassle, and frankly, it makes me feel VERY unsympathetic indeed.

Stop press. A selfish Royal Mail customer doesn't give a damn about the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of Royal Mail employees because he hasn't had his new toys delivered.
Sympathy registering on zero.

Royal Mail?

..oh I remember, a failing business, hamstrung by dinosaur unions, thick, grabbing management, and a handfull of workshy slackers who spoil it for the hardworking posties, tarnishing good posties reputations and driving the mail delivery business into the hands of TNT..

The same dinosaur unions that Peter Mandelson tried to get to meet the TNT directors in Holland as part of the privatisation deal because he had no trust in the current management of Royal Mail?

You sir, may have a green forum name, but you clearly have no idea about what you are talking about.

And yes i said i'm bailing out of this debate, but after hearing comments like that clearly it's not quite time yet

 

[stokecity_m]

Stop press. A selfish Royal Mail customer

says it all

 

[Matt]

Stop press. A selfish Royal Mail customer doesn't give a damn about the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of Royal Mail employees because he hasn't had his new toys delivered.
Sympathy registering on zero.

The same dinosaur unions that Peter Mandelson tried to get to meet the TNT directors in Holland as part of the privatisation deal because he had no trust in the current management of Royal Mail?

You sir, may have a green forum name, but you clearly have no idea about what you are talking about.

And yes i said i'm bailing out of this debate, but after hearing comments like that clearly it's not quite time yet

personal insult removed

I only care about people who want to work, not a bunch of idiots who cant see their own demise due to the smoke coming out of the burning barrel they are stood around, its 2009 ffs, not 1979.

Its not toys im waiting for, I get toys via companies that actually have staff who want to carry out their jobs, the missing post is for BUSINESS, something that Royal Mail isnt delivering. My business has suffered due to the actions of strickers, samples havent arrived for me to send to customers, cheques sent and contracts all held up. Its shameful behaviour and you should be ashamed to support it. In the run up to christmas too..nice bit of overtime to catch up will see you all right just in time for christmas, i wonder why the unions tried to legally block RM from employing temps to clear the backlog..part of the grand plan failed there.

Mandy only got the unions involved because he needs support of them, otherwise they get people to strike Do you really think mandy gives a damn? Of course he doesnt. Once hes got his deal the unions will find that he really doesnt care. Take off the rose tinted specs and take a look at it again, its a business...

Royal Mail management are fools, ive already said that, but not as great a fool as the people who think striking will save them.

Ronald Reagon had it right with the air traffic controllers.

 

[Mangelwurzel]

and you sir, are a fool.

From the rest of your comments it obviously takes one to know one

I only care about people who want to work, not a bunch of idiots who cant see their own demise due to the smoke coming out of the burning barrel they are stood around, its 2009 ffs, not 1979.

So just because we are in a so called recession and "be thankful we have a job" we should roll over and take the bullying? Grow up!
YOU should be thankful you don't need a union.
I was against the strikes until 3 days before when our management instructed us despite keeping us in sorting business mail and making us late out that they would not be paying overtime and that there would be serious repercussions if we brought mail back!

You think i don't want to work? You think i like losing pay? You're a moron

Its not toys im waiting for, I get toys via companies that actually have staff who want to carry out their jobs, the missing post is for BUSINESS, something that Royal Mail isnt delivering. My business has suffered due to the actions of strickers, samples havent arrived for me to send to customers, cheques sent and contracts all held up.

Strikes are announced weeks in advance. If you can't manage a simple task like planning around them maybe you shouldn't be in business.

In the run up to christmas too..nice bit of overtime to catch up will see you all right just in time for christmas, i wonder why the unions tried to legally block RM from employing temps to clear the backlog..part of the grand plan failed there.

Royal Mail doesn't pay overtime due to strikes. Another fact you a clearly clueless about.
We obviously offer to clear the backlog and limit inconvenience to our customers but Royal Mail management aren't interested in keeping customers happy and once again pull the wool over the publics eyes.

Do you really think mandy gives a damn? Of course he doesnt. Once hes got his deal the unions will find that he really doesnt care. Take off the rose tinted specs and take a look at it again, its a business...

Oh god, do you even have any idea what you're talking about?
The unions aren't working with Mandelson. That man has done more to damage RM than the unions and the management put together.
Do us all a favour and actually do some research into the issue before coming back on here and posting more drivel.

Ronald Reagon had it right with the air traffic controllers.

That's right lets live in the past. Didn't you just say this was 2009 not 1979

 

[cambsno]

The longer this goes on the more likely it is that businesses will find alternatives to RM and then RM will have to cut loads of its shirkforce - remember the coal strikes??

RM need to modernise and the dinosaurs at the unions need to wake up.

What annoys me most is the unions saying they feel for the public and dont want to see us affected, then try to stop RM from using temps.

 

[Matt]

From the rest of your comments it obviously takes one to know one

2 personal insults directed at me, nice one. 3 infraction points

So just because we are in a so called recession and "be thankful we have a job" we should roll over and take the bullying? Grow up!
YOU should be thankful you don't need a union.
I was against the strikes until 3 days before when our management instructed us despite keeping us in sorting business mail and making us late out that they would not be paying overtime and that there would be serious repercussions if we brought mail back!

shockingly enough, you are the royal mail employee, you should get your finger out and do your daily workload. Dont daudle about, spending time chatting with your colleagues, get on with it. My contract states i have the right to be in a union, but we all work hard, so productivity is up.

You think i don't want to work? You think i like losing pay? You're a moron

Clearly you do, 6 points

Strikes are announced weeks in advance. If you can't manage a simple task like planning around them maybe you shouldn't be in business.

Read it again, we dont use RM, they are unreliable due to the staff clearing off at a drop of a hat cos someone might have to work harder.

Royal Mail doesn't pay overtime due to strikes. Another fact you a clearly clueless about.
We obviously offer to clear the backlog and limit inconvenience to our customers but Royal Mail management aren't interested in keeping customers happy and once again pull the wool over the publics eyes.

Its the strikers who are not keeping people happy, if you were working, i wouldnt be telling you what I think of the strike..

Oh god, do you even have any idea what you're talking about?
The unions aren't working with Mandelson. That man has done more to damage RM than the unions and the management put together.
Do us all a favour and actually do some research into the issue before coming back on here and posting more drivel.

You need to do the research, why would he take the unions? really? think about it really carefully. You lot cant even agree new terms with your own employers without having to stand around a burning barrell

That's right lets live in the past. Didn't you just say this was 2009 not 1979

granted, but he sorted the problem out quickly, didnt he?

the fact is, YOU are not providing the service you are paid to do, in my company you would be looking for another job.

For the personal insults, you can have some time off. You should be used to that.

 

[Matt]

infractions for personal insults given. I dont mind a good debate, but dishing out insults because you are losing isnt on.

 

[fracster]

Ah well, that was a conversation killer..............

 

[Steep]

and you sir, are a fool.

Isn't that a personal insult?

 

[willbaroo]

Without trying to start yet another argument I thought that also. Can't help but feel Wurzel would have felt provoked by that comment.

 

[KIPAX]

Been here before.. Its not an even playing field..

 

[towershot]

I'm sorry but thats a typical ignorant comment from someone who has no idea what the industrial action is about and doesn't spend 10 minutes looking into it before putting the world to rights.
No - the strike isn't about pay, even though postal workers haven't had a cost of living payrise for 2 years on the trott.



NHS staff are the first to threaten strikes over pay.

I think you chaps should look into both sides of the argument a bit more before sticking your oar in :nono:

Quite agree with Mangel, most people do not check the facts, I am working in the public sector and have had to settle for less than cost of living index for around 8 years , last year I think it was 1.4 %
Every bl@@dy time the councils want to save money they hit us. (no,I'm not a binman, but they work twice as hard as anybody.)
The Workers in this country are mucked on and is it a shock when they decide to fight back at last.
It's not all about money but when the bosses say to you that you're workload is going to double because we are sacking half the workforce ,but expect you to still finish the job on time ,what the bl@@dy heck option does one have except withdrawal of labour.

 

[Matt]

Isn't that a personal insult?

yes, and i gave myself a warning.

 

[Matt]

Without trying to start yet another argument I thought that also. Can't help but feel Wurzel would have felt provoked by that comment.

read his post before mine, he wasnt exactly polite.

Been here before.. Its not an even playing field..

Is this related to the thread? no, muckstirring again.:thumbsdown:

 

[willbaroo]

I agree he wasn't very polite but I can see why if he is directly involved with all this striking malarky.

Maybe a warning about his first post would have been more appropriate rather than letting him run away with his post like he did. IMO of course.

 

[Matt]

bit of time off to cool off is all hes got. We are all directly involved, either because we dont get any bloody post or because we have been bullied into striking by unions, or feel its the only way to make our voice heard.

 

[Simmotino]

Sorry Matty, but you are out of order IMO :nono: