[foot-loose]

... I blame the Royal Mail.

[Nicola_Red]

Well, you know, I had to come ALL THE WAY HERE in person to read the thread cos of the postal strikes. I had to get two trains and a bus, you know, and it's a long walk from that main board when you're not so good on your feet. I just couldn't trust the Royal Mail to deliver it to me, it's terrible. What would have happened if I hadn't seen the thread at all? And what's gonna happen at Christmas?
/mystupidcustomer

[McGuinness-89]

What a first class comment with a great delivery.

[English Bob]

... I blame the Royal Mail.

Made me chuckle!

Seriously though, it makes me so angry looking at all the people whining on twitter about their f*&^ing DVD's getting delivered late or something. Yes, because your DVD's are SO much more important than fighting for better pay, conditions and standing up for worker rights....

[dimtimjim]

Yes, because your DVD's are SO much more important than fighting for better pay, conditions and standing up for worker rights....

Well, its very important to get these DVDs as near as possible to release date, hence I was so annoyed that Top Gun was delayed in the post.....

[chrysostom]

I preordered football manager months ago and it only came on friday which was the actual release day, when they usually come a few days early.

that's my story about my experience with the postal strike.

[Lactating Man Nips]

I'm still waiting for my fat cheque from a Nigerian fella I've been helping out.

[chrysostom]

i think i know the chap




?

[Yudster]

... I blame the Royal Mail.

Made me chuckle!

Seriously though, it makes me so angry looking at all the people whining on twitter about their f*&^ing DVD's getting delivered late or something. Yes, because your DVD's are SO much more important than fighting for better pay, conditions and standing up for worker rights....

In theory I agree totally, but I have this little sneaking thought at the back of my head that i don't want to have, but it won't go away - I think the management might have a point about the need to modernise. The postal service is no different to any other function which the internet can provide - and usually provides faster, cheaper and more efficiently. How can it be possible that, given the huge decrease in domestic and commercial use of overland post services, and the increased competition for parcel services from other organisations, that the Royal Mail can maintain the same levels of staffing? How can they be expected not to make changes in operations to reflect the change in the way the service is used? I am and always will be a supporter of trades unions and the increasingly important role they have, and I wish the postal workers all the best - but I fear they may be flogging a dead horse here.

[dimtimjim]

Again, wise words Yuds. The feeling of pending inevitability for change is inescapable. Times 'ave changed, and threatening your employer to resist things beyond their control seems futile. Although I share the concerns, its something that will have to change or job losses will happen for completely different reasons. IE Royal Mail is no more.

Do think its a little rubbing it in the faces of the MILLIONS out of work at the moment, people who would fight for a job of any description right now.

[MK Chris]

Right, maybe someone can answer this - how can the union justify going to court to stop Royal Mail hiring temporary workers? I know the point of a strike is to cause disruption in order to make a point, but hiring twice as many temporary staff causes disruption in how much is costs - surely if Royal Mail want to spend that money, that's up to them - seeking a court injunction against hiring temporary staff just shows everyone that they just want to cause disruption for the sake of it, in my opinion. And they want the overtime prior to Christmas.

[Yudster]

Well, the legislation covering official industrial action is pretty complex and very extensive, I can easily believe that a combination of employment legislation and strike legislation would be able to challenge the legality of hiring extra workers for that purpose. And even if the employer maintains that the extra workers are what would normally be hired at this time of year, the union's representation could convincingly argue that in fact that isn't the case.

[chrysostom]

just had an interesting post on another forum from a postie...

Hi guys, im a postie (my week off before anyone slaughters me, infact my first week off for 9 months, RM would'nt even give me 2 days off for Reading) and the reason i'm on strike is not because I want better pay or because I'm against modernisation. It is because of the unreasonable working conditions and workload.

A common criticism we hear is "There are lots of unemployed people who would be happy to have a job at the moment. Why don't you just get on with it?" Well how many of those people want a job where you are expected to work flat out for an eight hour shift without a break? Then work an extra 30 mins for free?

My walk is 9 miles long, i have 8 bags that weigh around 15-20kg, i tend to do it in around 3 1/2 hours, am always over my time but then get bullied by managers telling to take more out!! I do stick up for myself. But some don't/can't!

We used to start at five o'clock and it was not a problem. We were forced to start at six because Royal Mail said that was what the public wanted. I am compeled to run around my delivery now because it has increased in delivery time by over half an hours work.This being done when I was already working to time to complete my job before.

Because of the policy of not taking on any new staff due to saving money our office is half a dozen people short of being fully staffed. My management team therefore order's the staff to take out 30 minutes work from these uncovered duties to help out.

I can be an hour late before I start my delivery proper through no fault of my own. Royal Mail's modernization plan for it's future has followed just one narrow line. Save money. I have seen not one shred of new machinery, or new advances. The cry is simply..."save money."

I am paid for an eight hour day but invariably work nine hours or more. The mantra we constantly hear is "we are a business...not a service"

And don't get me started on the pensions..

[Yudster]

And this is why, even with my reservations, I will continue to be a trades unionist. I just think they are fighting the wrong battle at the moment.

[Lactating Man Nips]

Clearing the backlog of post is apparantly not what the striking postal workers would normally be doing so hiring people to do so (like at Christmas) is not against any employment law. Picking the run-up to Christmas to strike and play that card is just trying it on.

[Yudster]

If that's what Royal Mail are saying the temps are for, then the unions will have a hard time winning any legal contest I reckon. But if the same temps are then kept on for Christmas without changing their contracts, there could be fireworks.