Royal Mail Rant

[Northstander]

What is wrong with these idiots?!

I may be wrong and open to suggestions here but in this current climate, I know of a number of people who would be happy to have that job.

From what I can see, its a business stuck in yesterdays technology and attempting save costs etc by introducing change, this from what I see os what the posties do not like.

Meanwhile, businesses are now using competitors they have not used before and finding their service is just as good if not better, these idiots are bringing down Royal Mail and I dont think it will recover!

*again, I may be wrong here*

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

What is wrong with these idiots?!

I may be wrong and open to suggestions here but in this current climate, I know of a number of people who would be happy to have that job.

From what I can see, its a business stuck in yesterdays technology and attempting save costs etc by introducing change, this from what I see os what the posties do not like.

Meanwhile, businesses are now using competitors they have not used before and finding their service is just as good if not better, these idiots are bringing down Royal Mail and I dont think it will recover!

*again, I may be wrong here*

Nobody goes on strike in the current economic climate unless they have a genuine serious grievance. Wouldn't trust Adam Crozier as far as I could throw him - which isn't very far at all.

Power to the posties

Oh, and to the B&H binmen also in their upcoming struggle

 

[robinsonsgrin]

they obvious realise the risks and have made an informed choice based on that. i agree that the track record of crozier isnt one i admire...
think if they feel they need to do this, then fair play to them.

 

[Timbo]

I've yet to hear one reason as to why they are on strike. All you get is 'we're getting bullied' and 'we dont agree with whats happening'.

Seems the posties aren't happy with having to do the hours they get paid for, they want to get back to slipping off home at half ten in the morning.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Nobody goes on strike in the current economic climate unless they have a genuine serious grievance. Wouldn't trust Adam Crozier as far as I could throw him - which isn't very far at all.

Power to the posties

Oh, and to the B&H binmen also in their upcoming struggle

I thought this series of strikes was partly because the new working practices agreed after the last set of strikes two years ago has now reached London for their implementation after gradually being changed in other parts of the country first, including Sussex. (which is why there has been strikes in London for several weeks)

The main difference was that posties used to be able to start earlier and leave for the day when their rounds were done, so in theory, they could get paid for a 10hr shift, and work just 7. The changes brought in meant that they had to start work at a certain time, and couldn't leave until the end of their shift as other tasks would be found for them to do.

The Royal Mail has also seen a drop in demand for its services, with alot of companies and individual turning to e-mail rather than traditional post, but the union seem unwilling to accept this, and thhink that the Royal Mail management is to blame for this drop in business.

Some of the statements the union leaders have released shows just how out of touch they are, this includes such gems as any business customer who will be affected by the strike should ring up Adam Crozier and demand that they accept the unions demands, but the reality is that businesses want a cheap and reliable service, and if another company can offer a better service than Royal Mail, they will use it.

Last weeks strikes showed that the union executive weren't interested in preventing the strikes, there was an offer agreeable to the Royal Mail management and the unions negotiators, but the executive dismissed it and pressed on with the strikes because Peter Mandelson had released a statement about it which they felt didn't support them, and because he hadn't become directly involved in discussions so they continued with their plans to strike (which is why alot of the posties didn't strike but worked as normal)

To me, it seems that this trade union is more interested in trying to dictate how Royal Mail is run rather than the concerns for the businesses future in an ever changing postal market. a very short sighted view that can only damage the business in long term.

 

[bhaexpress]

Seems the posties aren't happy with having to do the hours they get paid for, they want to get back to slipping off home at half ten in the morning.

Ahh, you can actually back that up can you ? They get crap wages for walking around in all weathers while their management piss them about and despite losing money still manage to award themselves a decent annual bonus.

They would not be taking such drastic action if they didn't have a very good reason unlike some.

 

[happypig]

How about RM's attitude: finish a round early and you'll be given another. if that means you work late, you're expected to complete it but will not be paid for the extra hours worked (and in many cases it will be hours).
No-one goes on strike these days to get a few days off, it's a tough decision and can have far reaching consequences so good luck to them, I hope it gets sorted soon.

 

[Walkers Cajun Squirrel]

People complain about immigrants coming to England and 'taking our jobs'. Well this is why. We don't want to do our jobs. How many times have the posties striked in the last few years? If they weren't happy with the agreements that ended the last strike why did it end?

 

[Garage_Doors]

Ahh, you can actually back that up can you ? They get crap wages for walking around in all weathers while their management piss them about and despite losing money still manage to award themselves a decent annual bonus.

They would not be taking such drastic action if they didn't have a very good reason unlike some.

As per Timbo original question, why are they striking, do you know ? ive read up listened to many radio debates on this keep getting told, "they want us to work the hours they pay us for"

Its beyond belief that they used go in early, finish at 9am then do "overtime in the sorting office" or go painting & decoration etc, this is from the mouths of themselves.

This year my wages are many £1000's down on last year, and i've only been able to take a 1/3 of my allocate holiday and "benefits" have been reduced, that's what happen when businesses are in recession. You get on with it and wait for better times

I'm lucky i still got a job, but that appears not good enough for the posties.

All the major customer like Amazon have moved away from RM because of this, and there will be many more, They will be the first to bleat when they have to make even more redundant.

I'm not sure i blame the posties themselves directly though, the are driven by the union and peer pressure of colleagues.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

How about RM's attitude: finish a round early and you'll be given another. if that means you work late, you're expected to complete it but will not be paid for the extra hours worked (and in many cases it will be hours).
No-one goes on strike these days to get a few days off, it's a tough decision and can have far reaching consequences so good luck to them, I hope it gets sorted soon.

So you should be allowed to do next to no work and expect to be handsomely rewarded? what should they do, all disapear and sit in a cafe for half the morning because that would seem fairer because they wouldn't have to provide the labour to Royal Mail for which they are being paid?

If Royal Mail was a private company then yes, employees would be expected to do more work when they finish their first job, so why should a public organisation be any different?

How about if you worked in retail for example, and you were asked to restock an area of the store after a delivery, if you were due to work an 8hr shift but finished that task in 4, should you be allowed to go home too and still get paid for 8 hours work because otherwise you may get asked to do another task?

 

[coventrygull]

People complain about immigrants coming to England and 'taking our jobs'. Well this is why. We don't want to do our jobs. How many times have the posties striked in the last few years? If they weren't happy with the agreements that ended the last strike why did it end?

Don't even go there mate

 

[happypig]

So you should be allowed to do next to no work and expect to be handsomely rewarded? what should they do, all disapear and sit in a cafe for half the morning because that would seem fairer because they wouldn't have to provide the labour to Royal Mail for which they are being paid?

If Royal Mail was a private company then yes, employees would be expected to do more work when they finish their first job, so why should a public organisation be any different?

You shouldn't be expected to work beyond your finish time without getting fair compensation.

I fully agree that they cannot expect to finish and bugger off home early

 

[drew]

I've yet to hear one reason as to why they are on strike. All you get is 'we're getting bullied' and 'we dont agree with whats happening'.

Seems the posties aren't happy with having to do the hours they get paid for, they want to get back to slipping off home at half ten in the morning.

Seems you have selective hearing. As far as I am aware, a major part of the problem is that RM have reneged on a previous agreement going back to the last dispute in 2007.

As per Timbo original question, why are they striking, do you know ? ive read up listened to many radio debates on this keep getting told, "they want us to work the hours they pay us for"

Its beyond belief that they used go in early, finish at 9am then do "overtime in the sorting office" or go painting & decoration etc, this is from the mouths of themselves.

This year my wages are many £1000's down on last year, and i've only been able to take a 1/3 of my allocate holiday and "benefits" have been reduced, that's what happen when businesses are in recession. You get on with it and wait for better times

I'm lucky i still got a job, but that appears not good enough for the posties.

All the major customer like Amazon have moved away from RM because of this, and there will be many more, They will be the first to bleat when they have to make even more redundant.

I'm not sure i blame the posties themselves directly though, the are driven by the union and peer pressure of colleagues.

You say your salary is down £1000s, but the obvious question is where was your salary in the first place. I am assuming you don't earn anything like as little as postmen.

Another point, aren't they expected to carry out their round at a pace of a about 4mph which is a good walking pace yet they have to carry the mail bags etc. RM would probably not be in this situation if they charged the going rate for delivery for other companies but they don't. If Royal Mail go under then no other company will do door to door daily deliveries.

 

[Deano's Invisible Pants]

Power to the posties

Oh, and to the B&H binmen also in their upcoming struggle

Power to the posties, they must do what they think is in their interests (even though they are probably wrong).

Power too, to the customers who will vote with their feet, and to businesses like Amazon who have decided no longer to use Royal Mail.

Power too, to voters at the next election who are fed up with not having their rubbish collected or having their post delivered and realise that the unions responsible are the principal fund-raisers for a weak Labour government, and will also vote accordingly.

 

[beorhthelm]

... but the executive dismissed it and pressed on with the strikes because Peter Mandelson had released a statement about it which they felt didn't support them, and because he hadn't become directly involved in discussions so they continued with their plans to strike

i noticed this in the recent RMT strike, Bob Crow was insisting that Boris Johnson should attend meeting. it ultimatly comes down to egos and the union leaders wont give in until they've spoken to the people at the top or in the relevent government dept.

Ahh, you can actually back that up can you ? They get crap wages for walking around in all weathers while their management piss them about and despite losing money still manage to award themselves a decent annual bonus.

They would not be taking such drastic action if they didn't have a very good reason unlike some.

so you challenge the point, yet know no more? from my recollection its excatly todo with working hours, though i lost track of the details. unions dont seem to be very good at conveying to the public their grievence, which i read as them knowing we wouldnt be symapthetic.

 

[bhaexpress]

As per Timbo original question, why are they striking, do you know ? ive read up listened to many radio debates on this keep getting told, "they want us to work the hours they pay us for"

Its beyond belief that they used go in early, finish at 9am then do "overtime in the sorting office" or go painting & decoration etc, this is from the mouths of themselves.

This year my wages are many £1000's down on last year, and i've only been able to take a 1/3 of my allocate holiday and "benefits" have been reduced, that's what happen when businesses are in recession. You get on with it and wait for better times

I'm lucky i still got a job, but that appears not good enough for the posties.

All the major customer like Amazon have moved away from RM because of this, and there will be many more, They will be the first to bleat when they have to make even more redundant.

I'm not sure i blame the posties themselves directly though, the are driven by the union and peer pressure of colleagues.

The fact is that they have been messed about and many could lose their jobs. I wouldn't knock posties but it's not rocket science. However, theyu have low pay and all this nonsense about early finishes amazes me, do you know that for a fact or was it in the Daily Mail ?

 

[Stat Brother]

POSTIE ALERT.

This whole thread sums up exactly what is wrong with our strike.

In this thread is the truth, a little bit here, and a little bit there.

RM are wrong, but also right.
CWU are wrong, but also right.

Picking out the facts are almost impossible, because the last deal, 2007, was fudged, and left for local agreement.
Some offices are progressive, some aren't.
Some managers have pushed things forward, some haven't.

To call a national strike over what is in effect, 1000's of seperate local issues, is just causing chaos, and will protract the strike out until there is nothing left.

 

[the wanderbus]

So you should be allowed to do next to no work and expect to be handsomely rewarded? what should they do, all disapear and sit in a cafe for half the morning because that would seem fairer because they wouldn't have to provide the labour to Royal Mail for which they are being paid?

If Royal Mail was a private company then yes, employees would be expected to do more work when they finish their first job, so why should a public organisation be any different?

How about if you worked in retail for example, and you were asked to restock an area of the store after a delivery, if you were due to work an 8hr shift but finished that task in 4, should you be allowed to go home too and still get paid for 8 hours work because otherwise you may get asked to do another task?

What you dont seem able to grasp is the fact that all deliveries have been laid out ,using Royal mails own criteria, to take a full shift( be it part time or full time). Seeing as everything is mapped out by computer, in theory there is no opportunity to finish early,so the old addage of posties going home early is ,by Royal Mails foolproof system, bollocks.Most people would be happy to do their hours but no extra.
Obviously there will be exeptions but if anyone wants to finish early these days they need to start early, forego meal breaks & rush around. Although i agree london offices have always been a law unto themselves dont believe that what you see on tv & in the papers represents everywhere else.
For any body who is unaware of the reasons of the strike after the 2007 dispute part of the agreement was that there would be no unagreed change.Royal mail have how been making wholesale changes not to mention swingeing cuts without consultation.Dont believe the" we're dealing with 10% less mail" argument either, it may interest you to know that downstream access mail (letters with tnt deutchpost uk mail ect in the corner instead of a stamp) is not included in Royal Mails figures, but is still delivered by your postman.
The agreement that has been mentioned that was unsigned by the cwu was actually withdrawn by RM's chief executive , I have seen the agreement & believe me if The government & RM wanted a settlement it would have stayed on the table.

 

[Timbo]

POSTIE ALERT.

This whole thread sums up exactly what is wrong with our strike.

In this thread is the truth, a little bit here, and a little bit there.

RM are wrong, but also right.
CWU are wrong, but also right.

Picking out the facts are almost impossible, because the last deal, 2007, was fudged, and left for local agreement.
Some offices are progressive, some aren't.
Some managers have pushed things forward, some haven't.

To call a national strike over what is in effect, 1000's of seperate local issues, is just causing chaos, and will protract the strike out until there is nothing left.

Very well summed up. The only difference seems to be that RM are making all the right noises to get the public onside whereas nobody understands what the CWU are on about.

 

[the wanderbus]

Very well summed up. The only difference seems to be that RM are making all the right noises to get the public onside whereas nobody understands what the CWU are on about.

Probably because Royal Mail have got Tony Blairs very own minister of spin engineering the whole thing.