Royal Mail workers vote for national strike
The CWU have announced that their members have voted three to one in favour of a national strike. There are no details as yet of actual dates involved, though union deputy general secretary Dave Ward has said it will be at least ten days before any stoppage takes place, to give Royal Mail a “final opportunity” to resolve the dispute. By law, the union must give seven days notice of any industrial action.
The strike, in protest at what the union say is Royal Mail management’s refusal to negotiate over changes in working practice, follows months of local and short-term action which has already brought chaos to the postal system. Delays in delivery of two weeks and more are being reported by some eBay sellers, and this will surely only get worse. Estimates of the number of items currently held up in the system vary wildly, from 5 million to 25 million.
Royal Mail has condemned the CWU’s action. Their Operations Director, Paul Tolhurst, earlier told the BBC earlier that, “the union is constantly demanding that we halt the changes we are making. But we have completed our changes for this year, so there is a clear opportunity for the union to stop striking.” Postal affairs minister Lord Young called the action “completely self-defeating”.
Industrial action taken so far has already damaged RM’s relationship with one of its biggest clients. Amazon has not yet cancelled a contract for delivery of parcels over 500g, as was reported in the Guardian yesterday; a spokesperson told The Times that they are working on contingency measures with other carriers: it’s understood that the Home Delivery Network will be picking up where Royal Mail fail. And one thing’s certain, Amazon will not be the only online retailer looking at delivery alternatives today. If, as reported, strike action threatens Christmas mail, many sellers – already financially squeezed and hoping that the holiday season will save their businesses – will have no alternative but to look elsewhere for reliable delivery services.
iMarkM says
1:20 pm on 08/10/2009
Good luck all.
It’s going to be horrific.
whirly says
1:25 pm on 08/10/2009
FFS you can’t win.
We are just about to order a huge amount of soapy style products in order to raise transaction levels on eBay to get TRS etc….everytime I turn a corner these days something is trying to shaft my business. It’s a conspiracy I tell you.
I hope eBay act in a positive way towards sellers with this latest announcement from the RM..DSR’s could be horrific.
Good luck to you lot.
iMarkM says
1:30 pm on October 8th, 2009
You’ve been around long enough to know better than that Whirly.
whirly says
1:40 pm on October 8th, 2009
‘We have a plan in place and will be announcing shortly.’ from Pink chap about 30 minutes ago.
Fingers crossed.
Sue Bailey says
1:44 pm on October 8th, 2009
It’s announced… hold the line for further blog post
still trading says
1:34 pm on 08/10/2009
I am going to buy as many DHL shares as I can get my hands on
Elvis says
2:18 pm on 08/10/2009
On Sky news website it says
“Their ‘yes’ vote is in protest to changes to working practices as well as cuts in their pay and job losses.”
How come the CWU has always said it’s not about pay, yet sky news appear to differ?
Sue Bailey says
2:29 pm on October 8th, 2009
Elvis, even CWU members scrapping in TameBay comments don’t seem to be able to decide exactly what this strike is about. My guess is that changes in pay structure and other remuneration (e.g. pension) come under RM’s definition of modernisation, but that the union would like to play that element down as it garners less sympathy.
I may be wrong. I have no sympathy for the CWU, and not a whole bunch for its members after today.
katakitty says
2:33 pm on October 8th, 2009
I would have more respect for them if they called an all out strike but suspect that would cost them too much in lost wages.
Elvis says
2:22 pm on 08/10/2009
I have 5 different staff who do my business collections. All of them said they wouldn’t want to strike (as they can’t afford it), but they all stated there was no way they would cross the picket line. It appears most staff feel pressured into striking, and have voted to strike, not because they disagree with RMs modernisation, but because they feel forced into it through sheer pressure from the union.
Jimbo says
2:30 pm on October 8th, 2009
Or possibly they are just saying what they think you want to here.
Elvis says
2:39 pm on October 8th, 2009
I did think that Jimbo, but being honest I don’t think they care whats going on. 60% of union workers didn’t even vote which I think says it all really. “They couldn’t give a toss either way”.
They have their cushty Mon-FRi and flexi family working Saturday hours. They do their shifts and go home each day with no stress or hassle. One of the RM Gals said they used to finish between 10am and 11am on a saturday and still got paid until 2pm. Her complaint was that they have been given extra work on Saturdays which takes around an half hour to do. So she now finishes at 10:30 -11:30 which she is far from happy about.
I think it takes the biscuit saying that as she still gets paid until 2pm anyway. RM workers have had it tooo easy for too long (Just like most council workers). Only now they have to pull their weight in the work place they are crying like babies.
Jimbo says
7:13 pm on October 8th, 2009
From what I have read (BBC) three quarters of those polled voted in favor of strike action.
Not sure why the government doesn’t intervene. There should be ongoing and intense negotiations but this doesn’t seem to be happening.
I personally don’t think that working for the Royal Mail is the doddle that many believe it to be.
Elvis says
11:28 pm on October 8th, 2009
My uncles been with RM 36 years and 2 school mates have worked there since leaving school (around 10 years). From what they all say it is defo a doddle.
I think the votes (according to sky news webbie) were 2-1 in favour of striking, althoug 60% of union workers didn’t even vote. So it was a 2-1 vote from 40% of the staff. The other 60% just couldn’t care either way.
Jimbo says
8:01 am on October 9th, 2009
“60% of “union” workers didn’t even vote”. Are you sure?
Gerry007 says
3:09 pm on 08/10/2009
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE………!!!!!
Publisher says
4:26 am on 09/10/2009
Three years ago we posted about 500,000 pieces of mail a year plus normal office post. Business has to go on so the previous round of strikes meant that we shifted more than two thirds of this to other suppliers saving money in the process. We will now be looking to move as much of the rest we can. Its a shame but all I see is Royal Mail’s business share dropping further and then there will be more closures and job losses etc.
It's me again with a new username says
11:25 pm on October 10th, 2009
Who did you shift the mail to if you don’t mind me asking?
It's me again with a new username says
8:13 pm on October 13th, 2009
Please reply!
Who did you shift the mail to if you don’t mind me asking?
SinBad says
11:55 am on 09/10/2009
eBay better suspend Dispatch Time DSR
Jon says
12:38 pm on 09/10/2009
Well I for one welcome the strike. I just hope this one succeeds and the enough business customers desert the royal mail that it finally gets broken up and is no more. Sure , we will all end up paying 25% more for our mail in the end , but the services will be reliable and I would pay for that. So here’s to the speedy death of royal mail and good luck to all its staff in getting a job where they are over-paid for a brisk walk and getting some healthy fresh air !
Sue Bailey says
12:54 pm on October 9th, 2009
I think the point about “paying 25% more for our mail” is one worth making. Royal Mail’s prices are astonishingly low: they’re about half the comparable domestic rate in France, for example. If the organisation is going to survive in anything like its present form, I think we need to get over the idea that you can send a bit of paper anywhere in the country for a paltry sum like 39p. That might have worked when the post was all we had and the volume was there, but since the invention of the internet (or more likely, the telephone), it’s just unsustainable.
Chris Dawson says
1:06 pm on October 9th, 2009
I agree with Sue, quite honestly I could live with a service which was country wide and started at a rate around £1.50 or maybe £2.00 for signed for.
If there was a viable tracked next day service available at sub £3.00 I’d be very tempted to switch until all danger of strikes was well and truly past.
still trading says
1:09 pm on October 9th, 2009
We would Die twice for this service
http://www.usps.com
Jimbo says
1:39 pm on October 9th, 2009
So who do you imagine is going to offer a country wide service to deliver a small packet weighing under 100grams for £0.75p with the vast majority being delivered the next day?
Chris Dawson says
2:49 pm on October 9th, 2009
At a guess…. no one other than Royal Mail
However as I said if someone else comes along at sub £3 I’d be willing it reshape my business to accommodate a new pricing structure. It would probably spell the end for some product lines, but equally it’d be beneficial for others.
still trading says
9:02 pm on October 9th, 2009
the point is Royal mail cant send bugger all if their on strike never mind & 75p/ 100gram packet
and if they stay on strike someone will come along and do it , and make a profit if they dont have Royal mail to compete with, the same way no one has managed to compete with auctions against ebay, because ebay are already dioing it, but if there were no ebay, someone would fill the space left
Jimbo says
9:10 am on October 10th, 2009
It would be nice but I don’t think there is anyone who could come in and do it. Not at a comparable price (not even at double Royal Mail’s current pricing for under 500gram items) & not without a giant subsidization + a long bedding in period and even then it would be a service which was not a touch on what Royal Mail is (when not on strike
).
Gerry007 says
2:16 pm on 09/10/2009
Email from buyer today to say item finally arrived.
Posted 16th September
23 DAYS IN TRANSIT
MailHater says
5:27 pm on 09/10/2009
If you (like me) have suffered at the hands of Royal Mail – come join us on http://www.rubbishroyalmail.co.uk
My business has been all but ruined by the Royal Mail strikes – I deal heavily in low value items that can’t easily (or cheaply!) be couriered.
It’s a new forum, so posting is encouraged – there are no ads also. I won’t make a penny of of this!
See you there,
MailHater
Chris Dawson says
8:08 pm on October 9th, 2009
I don’t hate the Royal Mail, I just hate the fact the CWU have been having localised strikes and are now likely to call a load of national strikes.
I just want them to get on with doing their jobs and let me get on with doing mine
MailHater says
3:40 am on October 10th, 2009
It’s a two sided coin.
Whereas the CWU are being (typically) militant with strike action, RM have been beligerant. For example:
Postal workers have been refused overtime when returning from strike action (this is a zero-sum, as they are unpaid while on strike, and overtime is paid at ‘time’)
Managers have been drafted in from other areas to deliver the backlog of mail.
In other locations, casual workers have been hired to do the same deliveries.
I’m not sure RM have been acting in the best interests of their customers recently. Certainly, it’s put me off using eBay massively for small items, as the costs to courier items is excessive.
In any case, come join us over at the forum and natter there – the more the merrier!
MailHater
http://www.rubbishroyalmail.co.uk
Bunchy says
11:49 am on October 11th, 2009
RM workers don’t get overtime after a strike so the strikers cannot profit from increased pay rates of overtime due to their own actions. It’s pure common sense that this is not allowed as if it were, every union member in the country would be on strike on a regular basis and be being paid more to do less work/hours.
Sue Bailey says
11:59 am on October 11th, 2009
I’m not sure RM have been acting in the best interests of their customers recently.
How do you figure that out? They keep the mail moving: THAT is the most important thing. Bring in managers from other areas, use casual staff (which at least has an incentive to actually do the job it’s been hired to do) – I don’t care if they get trained chimps to do it so long as my customers get what they’ve paid to have delivered.
Gerry007 says
1:12 pm on October 11th, 2009
“trained chimps”
You mean they are employing intelligent staff at last……
It's me again with a new username says
8:16 pm on October 13th, 2009
Regarding the mail kept moving,yes they do that from one depot to another and then they have to sometimes move the artics if they are in the way of something,nothing gets delivered!
whirly says
7:57 pm on 09/10/2009
I’m so worried – I don’t know what to do now postmen have voted to stage a national strike.
If only scientists could invent a way for us to use computers to send mail electronically over the internet.
It's me again with a new username says
11:27 pm on October 10th, 2009
They have,but i wont tell you how or where as i want to deliver your mail.
Bigpoppa says
11:52 pm on October 10th, 2009
Sue Bailey says
11:55 pm on October 10th, 2009
The commenter formerly known as “You’re a joke the lot of you”.
Bigpoppa says
9:08 am on October 11th, 2009
I guessed that but I think he/she thought Whirly was serious regards If only scientists could…
It's me again with a new username says
3:16 pm on October 11th, 2009
Ha kudos Sue,Kudos
It's me again with a new username says
3:24 pm on October 11th, 2009
Thought it was self-explanatory
Oh this is to Bigpoppa
John says
1:22 am on 10/10/2009
My postwomen walks all over my grass every morning, delivers my mail to various neighbours and wears shorts even in the winter.
still trading says
5:42 am on October 10th, 2009
even worse my postMAN wears shorts all year round,
Rose says
11:16 pm on 10/10/2009
Royal mail do not care about customers? We now use Collect + 3.99 for any parcel up to 10kg.
http://windowblinds12.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/royal-mailing-killing-off-online-trade/
postie says
10:42 am on 11/10/2009
I have been a postie for 9 years now and can guarantee you its not the doddle people think it is. Despite what figures may say our workloads have increased and our ability to earn more is getting less and less due to Royal Mail employing more and more casual staff (unreliable and no experience).I would also like to point out that although some people are using our competitors like TNT, Business Post etc.for letters and certain packets it is in fact Royal Mail that still ends up delivering your mail at the end as i am sure some of you did not realise this. The problem is that when our competitors came in to take the cream of our customers in business Royal Mail should have had the balls to stand up and say well ok if you want the business you go and deliver it too, this is why we have lost so many customers to competitors. Rest assured at the end of the day you may feel you are getting a cheaper service but it is still good old Royal Mail that delivers your letters, so to all of you waiting to see the downfall of Royal Mail GOOD LUCK finding a service good enough to compete with Royal Mail at the same level as they have provided for the last god knows how many years.
Bigpoppa says
11:42 am on October 11th, 2009
good enough to compete with Royal Mail at the same level as they have provided for the last god knows how many years.
As many other people on this website, I have a great deal of experience in using both Royal Mail and other couriers.
I can honestly say, with hand on heart that the level of service I now receive from RM is very very poor. Here are some examples of what I have to deal with on a weekly basis:
*Recorded items not signed for, sometimes I’m lucky and the buyer doesn’t decide to steal my item because the postman couldn’t be ar$ed to do his job.
*Special Nextday delivery items getting sorted to the wrong depot and turning up 2-3 days late.
*Items simply “lost” in the post.
*Coming home to find my postman has put my packages in my wheelie bin because they wouldn’t fit through the letter box.
*Around 7 times out of 10 no “while you were out card” being left for my customers, so they then chase me for their delivery and call me a liar when I say that postmen rarely leave a card. Then when they check their delivery office the parcel is there.
*The postman signing for the delivery himself!
Need I go on?
Fans/supporters of Royal Mail often argue where else can you get a letter delivered for 27p or whatever. That argument simply doesn’t excuse all the other problems. I would happily pay more for a service that works and one that I can rely on to help grow my business.
Royal Mail are pushing their new “tailored growth pack”, I would suggest that the number one suggestion in that pack should be:
Don’t rely on Royal Mail to deliver your goods in a timely professional manner.
Jimbo says
3:02 pm on October 11th, 2009
In my experience Royal Mail is still head & shoulders above the competition (although the service does seem to be deteriorating rapidly).
Most couriers seem to be very hit & miss depending where you are sending items to.
Who would you say offer a better service?
Sue Bailey says
11:46 am on October 11th, 2009
Sorry, Postie, but last mile delivery is a problem to be overcome by RM alternatives (and it will be – it already is being), not a reason to put up with petulant behaviour from the CWU, a reason not to modernise or even a defence of a service that is – frankly – out of date.
And I’ve said it before, I’ll keep saying it – if you don’t like the job, then quit. Find another job. Don’t bring half the country to a standstill because you’re asked to work half an hour longer than you used to. You’ll get absolutely no sympathy on this forum for “I don’t like my job” because most of us are self-employed and the reason that many of us are self-employed is that we didn’t like our jobs. Don’t sit there on picket lines whinging, do something about it. (And when I say “something”, I DON’T mean striking.)
It's me again with a new username says
3:19 pm on October 11th, 2009
Quality post Sue,quality,wondered how long it would be before you posted it,you’re slipping love.
It's me again with a new username says
3:21 pm on October 11th, 2009
Wrooooooooong,well if you don’t count DX,but would you pay the earth to have a letter delivered by some dude in his ford fiesta.
Sue Bailey says
3:23 pm on October 11th, 2009
I’m afraid this is what you and your chums over at Postie Chat don’t understand. The people at the end do not care (or even notice) how their stuff gets delivered. They just care that it does.
Jimbo says
3:50 pm on October 11th, 2009
I care
.
I would rather have my tax money going to Royal Mail than to RBS. But didn’t Royal Mail make a profit last year (& that’s with the man who brought us Sven in charge)?
It's me again with a new username says
6:00 pm on October 11th, 2009
Sue:So who’s doing the last mile thing that you mentioned then,seems to me you are (and no suprise there) very un-informed.
Sue Bailey says
6:04 pm on October 11th, 2009
You’re a great representative for your colleagues, aren’t you?
It’s not about who *is* doing it now, it’s about who *could* be doing it next week. And it won’t be you when you’re out on strike, will it. Nature abhors a vacuum.
It's me again with a new username says
8:18 pm on October 13th, 2009
Sorry double post.
It's me again with a new username says
6:09 pm on October 11th, 2009
Just answer the question then sue,who is going to spend billions and i mean billions of pounds building a network like we have had for over 350 years and charge customers 20-30-40p to deliver a letter.
Just answer please,you say next week yes?
Sue Bailey says
6:14 pm on October 11th, 2009
Plenty of people, like you, have thought they were untouchable. Plenty of people have been wrong: I lived in Yorkshire through the miners’ strike, mate.
It’s not only about replacing your guy walking door to door: letter post is dying, and will continue to die. Small packets is where it’s at, and I see plenty of people snapping at your heels.
But of course, you don’t like the way the newspapers report your industry, do you. So all the reports about Amazon moving to your competitors and eBay dealing with other courier firms will have passed you by.
It's me again with a new username says
6:19 pm on October 11th, 2009
Amazon is looking at other couriers only for when we strike,they have said they are not leaving us,Oh and for the record they tried to leave before,but they came back,they always come back,as for ebay,what does ‘the company’ ebay sell that has to be delivered then.
I’m guessing you mean some ebay members yes?
Did i mention ill-informed in another post?
Sue Bailey says
6:21 pm on October 11th, 2009
as for ebay,what does ‘the company’ ebay sell that has to be delivered then.
I’m guessing you mean some ebay members yes?
Did i mention ill-informed in another post?
No, I mean eBay *the company*. If you ever read any posts on TameBay other than the ones you think are about Royal Mail, you’d know. But you don’t.
And I don’t believe you got Amazon’s 2nd class back after they dumped you in 2007, did you? Perhaps you know more about it than The Guardian and The Telegraph do.
http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/665618/Royal-Mail-loses-Amazons-8m-second-class-mailing-account/
they’ll come back, they always come back
THAT is the attitude that will kill Royal Mail in the end. It’s the attitude that “we can do what we like, demand what we like, because we have no competition”. It’s astonishingly arrogant and it will be what finishes both RM and the CWU in the end. Any business that thinks its customers need it more than it needs them is heading for failure. And deserves it too.
I tell you, the people I feel really sorry for are the moderate posties who just want to do a good job, who have hardline militants with loud voices speaking for them. Must be pretty much impossible for them at the moment.
It's me again with a new username says
8:55 pm on October 11th, 2009
Trust me Sue,i know a hell of a lot more than what the gutter press do,trust me.
Like i said un and ill informed.
Bunchy says
11:52 am on October 11th, 2009
I don’t care if you think we think your job is a doddle. Just DO your job, while you have one left so I can do mine, while I still have a business left!
Chris Dawson says
1:08 pm on October 11th, 2009
“Royal Mail should have had the balls to stand up and say well ok if you want the business you go and deliver it too”
Well that’s not entirely up to Royal Mail is it? I mean they didn’t choose to be opened up to competition – That’s I believe an edict from the EU and I’m sure they’d rather not have the competition and having had it thrust upon them they’ve no choice but to deliver the last mile as that’s the game they were forced into.
Jimbo says
3:06 pm on October 11th, 2009
I bet the management would also love the freedom to decide Royal Mail’s pricing? There is certainly some room for price increases, which could help to ease the situation somewhat & allow “modernization” to proceed at a more acceptable pace to the Royal Mail workforce.
Gerry007 says
1:41 pm on 11/10/2009
Actually I’m with ‘postie’ here, but ONLY on the matter of what is true competition.
If RM loose money on the delivery oF other Mail Co’s mail, Then WE as the other users pay extra to subsidize their service.
This is not competition, it is favortism at a subsidized rate.
I do not know any other EU post Co THAT DOES THIS SORT OF THING.
Re ‘last mile’, it is hardly that, as the other ‘mail Comps’ dump their mail at local main sort offices to their collection points & RM process the whole thing.
Sue Bailey says
1:43 pm on October 11th, 2009
“Last mile” is how the industry refers to it. It’s not a measure of actual distance walked
Gerry007 says
1:47 pm on October 11th, 2009
hi Sue,
I know, but it does imply that.
Steve Antony Williams says
3:22 pm on 11/10/2009
There’s a line in Star Trek where the Borg Queen says to Janeway:
“Do what all good pragmatists do, admiral. Compromise”
It’s easy to criticise the postmen but all you’re intimating is “get off your backsides and do your job.” This is not an option because then they lose, and the management will not listen to the postmen’s grievances, and to be fair I think they’re right to complain. Trouble is striking is the ONLY THING that makes the RM management “listen.” Do you think a chat over a cup of tea and a plate of Hobnobs is going to sort the postmen’s complaints ? Of course not ….
A little bit of empathy towards the postal staff and some compromise all round would go a long way.
I realise that your businesses are suffering BUT ultimately your words on here will not coerce the postmen into going back to work. Compromise is what’s needed, both from the CWU and the RM management.
Steve
http://www.ethicalcompanies.co.uk
Steve Antony Williams says
3:27 pm on October 11th, 2009
It’s all too easy to blame the RM staff and criticise, but nothing anyone says on here is going to change anything so it would be far more realistic to try and work with the postmen towards a solution than criticise them for what is not exactly the greatest job.
Steve
Sue Bailey says
3:31 pm on October 11th, 2009
nothing anyone says on here is going to change anything so
so we might as well all shut up? I might as well delete the whole site? People like arguing for the sake of it. Anyone who knows about psychology would of course appreciate that.
Steve Antony Williams says
5:04 pm on October 11th, 2009
Well it isn’t is it. Do you really think CWU and RM staff will go “oh my god the eBay sellers hate us, let’s get back to work pronto” ??
Bigpoppa says
3:49 pm on October 11th, 2009
With all due respect Steve, that attitude has hardly seen you in good stead has it. The bottom line is that striking will ultimately end up bringing an end to Royal Mail.
Posties have been fed the false impression that if you withold your services you will get what you want, this isn’t the case. You may win a battle or two but in the end you will lose, big time.
Most of us on here most likely agree that Rm is not what is used to be, we would most likely agree that unless RM change it will not survive.
Where we differ is the posties don’t want change because they only see the jobs cuts and increased hours and view that as a negative, when in actual fact if RM manage to pull off the changes and truely modernise then what’s left will be a company that’s robust enough to last another 200 years.
Steve Antony Williams says
5:02 pm on October 11th, 2009
I really don’t think any amount of whingeing about RM on here is going to help, sorry but that’s how I see it.
Steve Antony Williams says
5:07 pm on October 11th, 2009
I agree RM isn’t what it was, but like I imply (all though it may not be obvious to some) complaining and moaning will not very likely change the situation. All the “postie bashing” is doing is putting people’s backs up.
Remember what Peter Senge says:
“People usually do what they think is right at the time”, ergo the postmen and CWU think this is the right way forward, possibly the ONLY way forward. No matter how much abuse you give the odd postman that wanders by here the chances of it stopping them striking is very very slim.
Chris Dawson says
5:51 pm on October 11th, 2009
“All the “postie bashing” is doing is putting people’s backs up.”
Actually I have a great liking for posties and really do appreciate the role they have in making my business a success. What I don’t have is any great pleasure in seeing them go on strike and cause needless harm to my and countless other peoples small businesses.
At the end of the day why are they striking? Royal Mail isn’t about to implement any further changes in 2009 so as far as I can see it’s useless needless posturing designed purely to gain as much impact and cause Royal Mails customers as much pain and inconvenience as possible at the busiest, and for many small businesses what should be the most profitable time of the year.
If they want to strike and want to send a message to the customers that they really do (and not just claim to) care about them, why not announce an all out strike starting January 1st so that they don’t impact the Christmas shopping season? Simple, it’s because they want to cause everyone in the country as much pain as possible and that’s what I dislike intensely.
Sue Bailey says
5:52 pm on October 11th, 2009
“People usually do what they think is right at the time”
This is only my interpretation, but the impression I’m getting is that the *union* think that striking is the right thing, and most of the workers think that the right thing to do is what the union tells them to do.
It's me again with a new username says
6:06 pm on October 11th, 2009
OMG are you so blind that you cannot see,how long have we got left in 2009!!!,and what do you think will happen after Jan 1st 2010,and also Sue if you have a look on the so called postie chat webite where my chums are,you will see that RM’s cost cutting has not stopped,jeeze i may go back to my old username on here!!
Chris Dawson says
7:30 pm on October 11th, 2009
Well it appears I’m in ignorance. Perhaps you could let me know what other changes Royal Mail are going to implement this year?
Also as of January 1st – well that’s the date I suggested that if you’re going to strike would be a good date for you to announce the start of your strike. You’d garner a lot more public sympathy by saying: “We know there are changes coming next year but we don’t want to cripple small businesses or affect our customer Christmas mail so we will strike but not until January 1st as we want to ensure customers don’t suffer at the busiest time of the year”
Or does that not seem reasonable for people that claim to care about the service and genuinely want to look after their customers?
radams says
7:37 pm on October 11th, 2009
I’m sure after the CWU members strike themselves into unemployment they’ll be on here blaming everyone else for their unemployment, much as Steve ‘failed small businessman’ Williams does.
Bunchy says
10:19 pm on October 11th, 2009
This comment and question is not aimed at you Steve, just a response to your post that highlights part of the problem.
“Do you think a chat over a cup of tea and a plate of Hobnobs is going to sort the postmen’s complaints ? Of course not ….”
Why the heck not? Isn’t that what we are supposed to do when problems arise? Seeing as both sides deal in communication, neither one is doing it very well ………….
Gerry007 says
6:45 pm on October 12th, 2009
To friendly or todays’ you/them & us cultural
postie says
4:40 pm on 11/10/2009
With reference to Sue Bailey, I dont remember once saying that i did not like doing my job and with reference to Bigpoppa had it ever occurred to you that it might be casual staff employed by Royal Mail that are the root of many of your problems. Fair enough there may be some rogue posties out ther but the majority of us are honest and hard working. You seem quick to critisise the bad things about Royal Mail but nobody praises the posties for things such as wrongly addressed items that still seem to find there way to the correct addresses or items attempted to being redeliverd at the end of a round which we obviously can be ar$ed to do. I say to you both it is easy to sit in your high towers passing down judgements when to be quite honest you havent got a clue what goes on, so my suggestion to you is take your heads out of your ar$es and leave it to the people who have got a clue what they are talking about and if you feel you are being hard done by Royal Mail quit using them and go elsewhere but i’m sure a little further down the line you’ll be thinking up excuses for the bad services they provide to.
Sue Bailey says
4:47 pm on October 11th, 2009
You said this
its not the doddle people think it is. Despite what figures may say our workloads have increased and our ability to earn more is getting less and less
That doesn’t sound like you like it much to me. Striking over working conditions also sounds like you don’t like it much. Or are you saying you’re striking even though you’re quite happy with working conditions?
Then you said this:
nobody praises the posties for things such as…
Those things are doing your job. You shouldn’t need praise: you get paid for it. Except when you refuse to do it, of course.
Steve Antony Williams says
5:09 pm on October 11th, 2009
I suppose it depends on your interpretation. BUT to me it sounds like he’s not happy with the changes but still more or less enjoys his/her job. Guess my POV.
Bigpoppa says
4:51 pm on 11/10/2009
Well, Postie I used to be a postman for 2 years so I do have an idea regards what goes on in these offices and how the union old boys pressure everyone to vote yes for strikes and bully everyone else who doesn’t.
And you seem to think that some “extra effort” on the part of the MINORITY of post workers excuses all the mistakes/theft and down right lazyness of the rest.
Steve Antony Williams says
5:10 pm on October 11th, 2009
Obviously the experience of working at one postal depot for 2 years gives you the authority to speak on all depots and all postmen.
Bigpoppa says
5:20 pm on October 11th, 2009
Yes, that and the experience of using their services for the past 25 years oh and a wealth of other factors that I haven’t mentioned, it’s called an opinion.
Steve Antony Williams says
5:50 pm on October 11th, 2009
Long as it’s not “gospel”
board_surfer says
6:43 pm on 11/10/2009
personally, I’m tired of it all
Let the RM go to the wall
so what if it costs £4 or whatever with someone else
with RM gone customers will know the price of shipping is higher
less hassle all round probably.
Andrew says
7:25 pm on 11/10/2009
At some stage in this dispute one of the parties will have no choice other than to make concessions to the other side. There has to be a compromise, agreement, deal or understanding between the various parties.
WHY?
Because quite simply because if some sort of deal isn’t agreed then Royal Mail will go down the pan and all the postal workers with it and there wont be any jobs to strike for.
Now whilst both sides continue to dig their heels in they are damaging the economy at what must be the worst time of year imaginable.
If a National strike goes ahead, people are going to loose jobs, and RM are going to loose business and risk job looses within RM.
I know that both parties try and put their own spin on their version of events, but with so much spin going around, I for one am getting dizzy.
Heaven help us there is injustice throughout the world. MPs are fiddling accounts left, right and centre. The Bankers are a right bunch of bankers, and the economy is shot to sh_t
Do the CWU really think they are going to achieve anything other than adding to a growing list of woes?
Bite the bullet guys. If you don’t like it pack up and get new jobs. It’s not the government or even big business you are holding to ransom. It Mr and Mrs Average who send Christmas cards and presents to friends and relatives. It’s all the small traders out there doing their best to boast their income and in turn the economy by selling on ebay and other channels when they get home from work, or those that for various reasons have taken up selling full time, i.e. health reasons.
The longer you drag this on, the more damage you are causing. For goodness sake grow up.
Jimbo says
9:00 am on 12/10/2009
I heared that Adam Crozier is the highest paid civil servant in the country.
William McAlister says
12:41 pm on 12/10/2009
Actually, I think it’s better that it’s a national strike, at least people (buyers) will know about it.
What really annoys me is all these small strikes at various sorting/delivery offices around the country that are impossible to keep track of. It means the majority of buyers just think I’m being slow as they don’t know that there is a strike at me end (or someone on route).
Roger says
2:33 pm on 12/10/2009
The strike so far only cassed a bit problem with my customers, perphas most of them just don’t bother to order.
Anyway can anyone actually tell me what is this strike for, as there are too many versions and news, just can not put a whole story together.
Bigpoppa says
8:05 pm on 12/10/2009
dumm, dumm, dumm another one bites the dust!…well, maybe
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8303616.stm
Andrew says
8:38 pm on 12/10/2009
I’m just amazed at how personal some of these comments are, and even more Amazed by the verbal aggression of those ‘Posties’ who support the strike.
I take on board the comments that ‘We (customers and collectively the people who pay your wages) don’t know how bad things are.’
But the way you seek to justify this action beggers belief. The attitude appears to be “If we cant get our way lets F### the Country and ruin as many small businesses as we can, and mess up Christmas for everybody” is unbelievable
If you think you will win, think again. Previous unions have tried to hold the Country to ransom and it just doesn’t work.
When you find yourselves standing outside tube stations with empty collection buckets, you might find you have left it too late.
The Country is in a major recession and your kicking millions or working men and women in the teeth, do you really think you will be forgiven?
If the kitchens too hot – GET OUT
Steve Antony Williams says
8:40 pm on October 12th, 2009
And your reply is not aggressive ??
It's me again with a new username says
8:26 pm on October 13th, 2009
Finished Andrew,and with people like you and others on here who have no idea and believe everything you read in the papers or what press release RM put out wonder why we get riled on here.
whirly says
8:41 pm on October 13th, 2009
Eh?
Gerry007 says
8:56 pm on October 13th, 2009
You know Mate,
You must be the biggest know-all & rudess person that’s ever been in this forum.
Why don’t you go deliver some letters or something, like play with some Motorway traffic, preferably when it’s moving
Apologies Sue.
Sue Bailey says
10:19 pm on October 13th, 2009
No apology necessary, Gerry. I’d guess once upon a time a few of us might’ve had some sympathy for the posties, but now we’ve all been told how it is by their self-appointed spokesman, I’d hazard that most of us *don’t*.
radams says
9:40 pm on October 13th, 2009
You get riled because:
a) you’re going to have to work the hours you’re actually paid for.
b) any number of ‘spanish practises’ are going to come to an end. How many of your mates/shop stewards do you clock on for so they can get a ‘no show’ wage ?
c) your union bosses are insisting on going on strike so you’ll have no job anyway shortly.
d) your job is going to be done better and faster by a machine within a year or two and you are to dumb to retrain to use a machine.
e) all of the above
Andrew says
8:53 pm on 12/10/2009
Tell me Steve do you get a kick out of stirring. I don’t think I’ve read one positive comment from you. You seem to have a lot of pent up anger.
Your one liners are neither funny, informative or interesting. I wonder why you actually contribute . Until you leave that rather large pile of luggage you are dragging behind you alone you really aren’t somebody that I’m particularly interested in.
Your business failed – I’m sorry – But what sort of satisfaction is there in watching other businesses go the same way. Because if this strike goes ahead that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
Jimbo says
9:21 pm on October 12th, 2009
To quote “I’m just amazed at how personal some of these comments are”
Debs says
12:58 am on October 13th, 2009
Indeed. You can’t get more personal than Andrew’s response……
board_surfer says
9:18 am on October 13th, 2009
Doesn’t make them wrong though.
Gerry007 says
1:44 am on October 13th, 2009
Properly & well said Andrew.
Some people in here want to remember how personnal their own comments have been in previous forums…………
Yes, think about it!!!!
Rachael says
2:18 pm on 13/10/2009
I have just been on sky news, putting our side as small businesses forward,..my own MP says the government cannot get involved, but if they don’t bang heads together what cost will it be to the economy if lots of small businesses go under
Andrew says
4:50 pm on October 13th, 2009
Rachael
I’m sure a lot of sellers feel the same as I do and want to say THANKS
Well done
Gill says
5:45 pm on October 13th, 2009
Just saw you Rachael – well done & thanks from me too
whirly says
7:11 pm on October 13th, 2009
What Gill said.
Nice one.
Sue Bailey says
7:37 pm on October 13th, 2009
Well done Rachael!
Gerry007 says
7:52 pm on October 13th, 2009
Typical of this Goverment, borrowing £175 bn, Co’s going up the wall all over, Selling the (last remains) nationl assets to any foreign buyer (bridges, tote etc).
AND here they are saying they can’t get involoved.
They, the goverment (us) own RM, so here’s this point from.
They ALSO, (as the Labour party) are also in the pockets of the CWU by way of politial contributions.
I’m of the sound opinon, they, the LABOUR party are just borrowing tons of money & screwing everthing up further, knowing they won’t have to be the one’s to sort everything out.
It's me again with a new username says
8:29 pm on October 13th, 2009
They made the problem,course they aint gonna get involved!
Oh and before you guys ask,i might as well do it now,well some of it anyway,robbed our pension,deregulated the industry 2 years too early,introduced unfair competition,and employed hatchet men to run the place.
Gerry007 says
11:44 pm on October 13th, 2009
‘Oh and before you guys ask’
Wasn’t going to Ask & frankly could not care less.