R2OK!

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

So the postal workers have voted for industrial action in support of their pay claim.

I well remember the 1971 strike, which went on for many weeks. The Post Office handled it so badly that I couldn't help but sympathise with the workers, despite the massive inconvenience suffered.

But the world has changed a wee bit since 1971. It's much easier to find alternatives, such as going online. Most of our post today is junk, which I would gladly be without. Easy alternatives are now available during strikes and many people may not return to the Post Office afterwards.

Is this a good example of attempted professional suicide on the postal workers' part?

Ian.

Briant · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:19 am Post subject:

Hi Ian. If you read The Times online you will see why the postal workers feel aggrieved. Unlimited amounts of junk mail to deliver without payment and doing the jobs of people on holiday in your own time are a couple of examples of what they are being asked to do for a below inflation pay rise.
The Government are the majority shareholder in Royal Mail and they could avert this strike if they wanted to, but they seem intent on destroying the Post Office in this country. How ironic that a leading contender for Deputy Prime Minister is a former postman. Every man has his price so the saying goes, sadly.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Thanks, Briant. I sympathise a lot with postal workers for the reasons that you state--many years ago my mum was a postwoman so I know that it's very hard work. But none of that alters the fact that, if postal services are disrupted, people will find and perhaps stay with alternatives.

Good to see someone from my favourite large British city on the board. Did you see a letter in one of the papers a few days ago from a London couple who'd had a mini-break in Liverpool and had been overwhelmed by Scouse friendiness? Give my love to the place.

Ian.

Briant · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:54 pm Post subject:

Cheers Ian. The trouble with hiving off the business mail is that it isn't competition, as the Royal Mail still have to deliver it after it has been 'processed' by someone else.

Liverpudlians are a friendly bunch on the whole, though we do have some 'scallies' here, and no one dislikes those people more than I do! Why? Because they let themselves down as well as the rest of us who like to think the best of our city and try to live decent lives.