Small business owners ask government to end postal strike
by Sue Bailey
We’ve heard plenty in recent months about the problems caused to small businesses by the current Royal Mail strike. One of the recurring themes has been the frustration felt by people whose businesses have no alternative but to use Royal Mail letter and small packet services: for many of us, there is no option but to sit out the strike patiently.
But now one seller has decided to do what she can to get the strike stopped. Rachael from Thingimijigs has started a petition asking the government to intervene in the strike before it causes small businesses yet more problems.
Rachael told me “I cannot passively sit and let Royal Mail & the CWU destroy the business that I have worked hard to build up, as both sides are acting like kids in a playground. Too many politicians state they are there for the small business….well, let someone prove it. What do I hope from the petition? That the government act as intermediary and work to end the dispute.”
Even now, with piecemeal action and 24 hour stoppages, Rachael says the CWU’s action is hitting her business: “98% of our lines are under 2kg so Royal Mail is the only viable option. We are already having to refund customers where deadlines for delivery have been and gone. We are having to resend items to customers, who are getting more frustrated. If their local office has not been on strike, they don’t see why it should affect them.”
“This results in either loss of confidence in my company, or on-line retailers in general, right at the time when we are all gearing up for Christmas. If we do not have a good Christmas, this impacts for the rest of the year. The worst case for some retailers is that they close their doors and staff lose their jobs.”
If you’re a British citizen, find the petition on the Number 10 website.
49 Responses on "Small business owners ask government to end postal strike"
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shame this effects small businesses, many businessed including royal mail should be cooperatives where everyone shares in most of the profit rather than some of the boss & most bankers.
We need economic democracy, as well as social for taxpayers & voters
Well done Rachel, and thank you Tamebay for bringing this petition to attention.
As one of Tamebays regular moaners this petition enables us to do voice our concerns at the right level. I have signed already and hope that many others follow on and sign.
Thank you
Regards Glenn
one of Tamebays regular moaners
PMSL.
I’ve signed the petition, but the closing date for it (i.e. when Number 10 actually reads and responds to it) is March next year – if the strikes carry on until then, we’re all up the creek without a paddle.
Great idea
. Hope the petition gets some publicity.
PS What’s the odds on an ex CWU leader being the next leader of the Labour party?
Great idea.
Signed, Twittered, and Facebooked.
Thanks Simon – everyone else, remember to click the buttons under the post
there is an even better petition coming up some time in the next 10 months is called an election
and there is no hope we will vote for this present bunch of plonkers
You’re not kidding, I’d elect anyone other than the current clowns. Heck, the Fred West party could do a better job.
Steve – EthicalCompanies.co.uk
nearly 150 have signed now..excellent & thanks everyone , but we need more if we are going to get a result..
I’ve made an article about this on my blog to give Rachael a bit of extra exposure. Hope it helps:
http://www.ethicalcompanies.co.uk/
Direct to article:
http://www.ethicalcompanies.co.uk/?p=649
Steve
Also blogged and twittered. Well done Rachel. http://blog.magnumopusmusic.co.uk/
At the risk of a pink slap (like I’m bothered)
eBay’d as well.
http://forums.ebay.co.uk/thread.jspa?threadID=1200316128
cheers…be careful, I have had the thread pulled on Business board and Q&A for breaching ebay board policy today…first time in 2 years I have ever posted on those boards…
cheers Steve,
(couldn’t find the love heart smiley), every little helps…now if the flippen MP would reply we might get somewhere..
cheers Steve, (couldn’t find the love heart smiley), every little helps…now if the flippen MP would reply we might get somewhere..
oh heck…Steve, I can’t get this under your name, but you know I mean you…
Goddamit I’ve just sold my soul to the devil and joined the CWU Facebook group…
…so I could post a link to the petition on their wall.
Gits!
Oh lordy. Are we going to be overrun with angry posties again?
I do hope not Sue. And shouldn’t they be on the picket line rather than online?
The CWU should all want to sign my petition, as I am asking for the gvt to intervene to end fairly…
I can’t wait for the strikes to be over. They have cost me a flipping fortune. Nearly 200 items (approx £20 each trade) have all vanished and I am having to refund or replace them all before I have gotten any compensation from Royal Mail. If this carries on until Christmas I will be forced out of business.
MOST of my buyers do not even believe me that there are postal strikes going on as
“I have received my other mail today”
and as a result my DSRs have plumeted and so has my 100% feedback for over 5 years.
grrrrrrrrrrrr
Completely agree Emily.
Buyers are obvlivious and it’s only going to get worse as we get closer to Christmas.
Thanks Rachael, signed it this morning.
There’s a few familiar names on the list of signatories!
We failed to get TRS by 0.1% in one category. The bizarre thing is , having looked at the stats in Seller Dashboard , if ebay had included all International Sales Data , we would have been comfortably less then 0.5% in all 4 cats…..
national paper now looking at the petition…so grab everyone and see if we can get it over 300 (or even better 500 so we get a gvt reply), before the end of the week..
Strike action is indeed infuriating for us and our customers – that’s what next week at Earls Court we have a free seminar on alternative mail, packet & parcel carriers as well as lots of them exhibiting – won’t bring an end to the strike but will hopefully help businesses of all sizes to find workable solutions
register for free http://www.ecmod360.co.uk
Some more commentary on the postal strike(s), don’t read if easily offended by bad language:
http://tinyurl.com/yb43j9h
Steve
http://www.ethicalcompanies.co.uk
It is a PITA whilst we streamline, modernise, worry and fret to get through the recession… Please everybody sign the petition now! Well done Rachael. Lets not fiddle whilst Rome burns!
We now have Carrie spending all her time chasing delivery offices, phoning customers and either refunded or resending items, as we don’t want to lose our reputation – obviously this is costing us time,post, and stock..how are other fairing?
Not great. We’ve seen a huge increase in late/lost deliveries. Customers don’t care that there’s a strike on, all they want is their goods. Our feedback and DSRs getting hit too.
I agree that buyers are not interested in whether there is a strike on. Regardless of area, they think it’s not affecting them …..
We’ll know soon enough whether a full nationwide strike is on the cards. The ballot closes tomorrow with results expected possibly the same day. No doubt all those business collection posties will be delivering bad news as well as mail sacks.
At least if it’s a national strike it will be all over the news and save me from being called a liar again.
The ballot closes tomorrow with results expected possibly the same day.
Not if it’s a postal ballot
We’ve been spending far too much time chasing up delayed parcels
Today a number of parcels turned up that were posted 1st class on 28th September.
Fortunately we have lots of lovely customers who have been very understanding once we have explained the situation. Not everyone was aware of the postal strikes until then.
Ebay quite simply need to aid communication here, and lengthen the time given to buyers before then put in claims for non delivery.
There’s a lot of stuff eBay could do, but you know they won’t.
Steve
http://www.ethicalcompanies.co.uk
I have to say that my contact with ebay is very positive. I am under NDA for certain things. They do listen and do try to change things when and where they can. Its good that Tamebay is a platform for people to make positive and constructive critisism, so that they can initiate chage
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/07/royal-mail-amazon-postal-strikes
And the strike so far has cost RM their Amazon contract.
Yeah – it was just on the news too. I bet that’s hurt them big time. When will their staff get it into their heads that strikes will ultimately cost them their jobs….although some of their points are morally correct.
the silly sods have been brainwashed into thinking a strike will further their cause,
their full time union reps who are suggesting strike, wont lose a penny
I hope the latest move by Amazon will be a shot in the foot for the CWU and it’s members to wake up and come to their senses.
How could the management at Royal Mail allow this to happen?
because they have little choice,
were working in the 21st century, the post workers are determined to stay in the 20th or even the 19th
In my mind the buck stops with the management/goverment.
Where is Royal Mails contingency plan?
Are there some at the top who want to play the “end game” at the expense of the customer?
Where is the long term stratergy for Royal Mail?
You would think that Goverment want to lose the election.
This isn’t just the usual strike action that will eventually pass for another 2 years…I believe this is the end of the old Royal Mail.
With the likes of Amazon jumping ship many are sure to follow and that will help to bring the cost of couriers down across the board.
My advice would be to start collecting some RM memorabilia to sell on eBay
Bloody idiots have voted to strike.
I am appalled that they are taking action during a recession. IMO those that voted to strike should be sacked with the jobs given to the unemployed. After all, it’s not exactly a difficult job is it? Training should take a couple of hours. “put envelope in letterbox”
The postman that collects our mail has already had 6 week s holiday this year and earns a very good wage.
Where does this leave the small business that has no alternative to Royal Mail?
Couldn’t agree more. Bloody idiots – 70% of them anwyay! And RM are not going to move so this is the start of a downward spiral methinks.
Are you sure the unemployed would want the job?
A good wage? not really (possibly an appropriate wage).