R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Postal workers have called a national postal strike which could start by the end of October. I do not support strike action, and unions should get around the table and stop holding the country to ransom. At the end of the day big companies who have a lot of mail to deliver, and use the post office will deliver themselves.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8304537.stm

Briant · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:08 pm Post subject:

I worked in the Royal Mail for thirty years and took a pride in the job. We did two deliveries then until the FIRST delivery was abolished and they lumped the first class, second class and junk mail into an unreliable any time of day will do system. Of course the bright sparks who ruined the service received millions of pounds in salaries and bonuses. Royal Mail took a Pensions holiday for over ten years while the employees still paid in every week, that is why there is a cash deficit today. The business mail is now COLLECTED by private firms but still DELIVERED by the postmen, resulting in loss of revenue to the Royal Mail, in the name of 'competiton.'
Ask your own postman if he is delivering LESS mail than he did ten years ago. No, the volume of junk mail and internet shopping has increased the workload.
Having said that, I am not in favour of strikes because the workers have to go back under worse conditions than before as a result of being 'allowed back' to do their jobs.

SantaFefan · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:37 pm Post subject:

I'm not familiar with all the circumstances so shouldn't really comment but it really annoys me to hear of taking strike action in the current situation.
We constantly hear of people losing their jobs or not being able to find work, so to strike - further endangering their position with regard to the future and private mail companies coming up is beyond me, but then again I always was a "company first" man ( within limits! Razz

)
Plus of course, if the strikes affect Joe Public at Christmas time, let alone struggling businesses!, they won't have much support.
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Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7228 Location: North Yorkshire

I think its very sad. Our Royal Mail posties do a good job and I would rather have them delivering my mail than any Tom, Dick or Harry from Bloggs and Co or whoever it gets flogged off to, which is probably where it will head after strike action. I expect I'll have to pick my post up from the sorting office, or the end of the lane as we have not got any neighbours!
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iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

I wouldn't presume to blame unions or management for the current impasse but a strike seems pretty suicidal to me.

Ian.

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject:

Indeed. Supreme folly.
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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Looks like Royal Mail are starting to play hard ball with the union and striking workforce, they plan to take on up to 30,000 temporary workers. Lord Mandelson has also been ask to step in, but can't really help anymore.

Briant · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 9:57 pm Post subject:

I think Lord Mandelson should go out on a postal 'walk' for a full week to see whether or not postmen/women are working hard enough for their wages. I think he would be fed up after about the fourth bag of mail on the day, and the next several bags would be returned to the office. This is what usually happens when 'casual labour' try to do the regular staff's job. Rolling Eyes

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

TNT could send some of their staff out to deliver letters and parcels.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

The unions, Royal mail and government are not talking with each other and blaming each other. This dispute should be resolved with the royal mail and unions. The government shouldn't get involved because at the end of the day it will cost the tax payer money. The government want to part privatise the post office, but that was put on hold. Thinking maybe they mail service could resolve their problems. As I said 'they are blaming each other and know one can talk under those terms.

They need to all sit round the table including the management and sort this out. It will effect millions of people who rely on this service.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

It is interesting to see that, at the same time the Royal Mail is proclaiming that it needs to modernise operations, cut costs and streamline services, its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Post Office, having closed hundreds of offices last year, is splashing out on yet another high profile television advertising campaign (I wonder when Roger Moore last visited a post office?) and is in the process of renewing the exterior signage of all the branches which remain.
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Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7228 Location: North Yorkshire

Plus who set about destroying the Post Offices by stopping people from paying for things there, sending them to a PayPoint instead?

Who stopped people from getting their benefits etc paid into there and forced them to open bank accounts elsewhere?
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RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Well, I ordered something from Amazon on Monday night, on the free delivery terms, they e-mailed yesterday to say it had been sent Royal Mail, and it arrived this morning.

I wonder if it went through one of these new sorting centres, staffed by temps on the minimum wage?
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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Royal mail have built a number of temp depots only 2 hours away from major cities around the UK. They employ temp staff. This will frustrate the situation.

Briant · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

I doubt if they have built them Mark, they have 'hired' the empty premises. Royal Mail would be better off trying to get a settlement to the dispute, but then the hands of New Labour are pulling their strings. Rolling Eyes

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239