Going on Strike

[Sankari]

Worldwide postal companys are dropping their staff levels. RM policy on this is natural wastage and has never been anything but.

I agree. I wonder how many people are aware that RM employs around 200,000 people? And that's to cover a country the size of a teaspoon! Ridiculous!

 

[RDM]

Which is how it should work. However this is totally useless when there is no other company doing the job.

if you want to be a postie then there is only one company, same with many other public jobs. The total monopoly means you can't just seek a new job in the same sector. Which is why it's silly trying to compare private sector with some of the public sectors.

So to protect workers rights in the postal service we need to fully privatise it and open the are up to real competition?

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Anywhere else you get what you're given, like it or lump it.

Just because it happens all the time doesn't mean it's right and you should put up with it or not fight against it.

Plenty muggings every year, doesn't mean they should be swept under the carpet.

I always laugh at the anti union posters that crop up in these threads. I think they are either higher management, wary of losing their "performance bonuses" due to disgruntled staff taking action OR too scared to fight for anything in their own workplace and have been totally cowed by their own management OR simply jealous of seeing someone getting more than they are.

Long live the unions imo.

 

[Jeff Lynne]

If that's all you're striking for, why does everyone think you're striking for bonuses, pay increases, etc?

Don't call us naive without telling us why your fellow RM employees really are striking...

I called the OP naive because he put two and two together and got, well, more than five!

I'm not actually striking, well, none of our region is anyhow, but across the country it seems to be the same thing where they are forcing in changes through executive action because the CWU can't agree to them.

And it's not not agreeing for the sake of it, it's not agreeing because what they're asking can't be done in the time!

 

[Glaucus]

So to protect workers rights in the postal service we need to fully privatise it and open the are up to real competition?

If a sensible and realistic plan can be made then yes.
But there's a reason most public sectors are still public. They just don't make money, whatever hand you put them in.

It all depends if the government things the sector is important and thus heavily subsidies it.

 

[Jeff Lynne]

The reality is that royal mail was run badly in the past because it had a monopoly, and has lots of bad practices in place that need resolving, which means change for everyone (employees and customers). Striking doesn't in any way alter this need for change, a much better approach would be to try and accept the need for change and lead it in the way you want to go, but the CWU is not interested in that, they want the status quo or nothing. Unfortunately, as history shows, nothing is the likely result of such a stance.

The way you say that makes it sound as though nothing has changed in the job in, say, my twenty years in the job. That couldn't be further from the truth.

Does the phrase, "give an inch, take a mile" mean anything to you?

 

[Captain_Slick]

I called the OP naive because he put two and two together and got, well, more than five!

I'm not actually striking, well, none of our region is anyhow, but across the country it seems to be the same thing where they are forcing in changes through executive action because the CWU can't agree to them.

And it's not not agreeing for the sake of it, it's not agreeing because what they're asking can't be done in the time!

What are these changes? Has anyone formally told management that what they're asking for is unrealistic?

 

[Jeff Lynne]

I agree. I wonder how many people are aware that RM employs around 200,000 people? And that's to cover a country the size of a teaspoon! Ridiculous!

200,000? Whats your source? I think it's closer to half that figure now and whats more, a large percentage of them aren't full time.

 

[Sash]

I called the OP naive because he put two and two together and got, well, more than five!

Just wondering why people think it is ok to go on strike for better wages/holidays/pensions or whatever when 10000s of people are being made redundant all the time during this recession.

I think you didn't bother reading properly, I wasn't being specific to RM in this sentence (as I said earlier, which you blatantly ignored for your own self righteous rant). It was a general question. But you aren't going to think long enough for this to register so I think you should call me naive again, for old time's sake.

The RM are striking for other reasons as you have hinted towards, but I was asking specifically about the people wanting bonuses, payrises etc.

 

[zytok]

as it seems clear that there is little comprehension of exactly what the problem is, maybe Jeff could enlighten us as to exactly what he's unhappy about rather than just the protecting interests spin?

 

[area51_for_psx]

Yep and the NICS Northern Ireland Civil Service are thinking about going on strike as well... Over a payrise we are due.

 

[Jeff Lynne]

What are these changes? Has anyone formally told management that what they're asking for is unrealistic?

Asking a guy whose out on delivery for four hours to do an extra half hour (for no extra pay!)

Management KNOW that it can't be done but they don't tell their managers "No"!!!!!

 

[Sankari]

200,000? Whats your source? I think it's closer to half that figure now

Along with Post Office Ltd and Parcelforce Worldwide, Royal Mail is one of the three brands which make up Royal Mail Group Ltd. Royal Mail Group is a public limited company wholly owned by the Government, with annual sales in excess of £8 billion and more than 200,000 employees.
​

(Source).

and whats more, a large percentage of them aren't full time.

Naturally. It was the same when I worked for Australia Post. Mail service providers need a large part time workforce because mail volumes and shift workloads are constantly fluctuating. No point in paying people to turn up and twiddle their thumbs for eight hours.

Of course, casuals are taken on at Christmas and Easter to meet the extra demand.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Yep and the NICS Northern Ireland Civil Service are thinking about going on strike as well... Over a payrise we are due.

Good luck to ya fella - let us know how it goes.

 

[Jeff Lynne]

The RM are striking for other reasons as you have hinted towards, but I was asking specifically about the people wanting bonuses, payrises etc.

Name them then. How many strikes have you seen of in the news recently where workers were striking to gain payrises?

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Update on the EDS/HP strike - ballot will more than likely take place 7th Sep.

New round of Compulsory redundancies to be announced by the company in October.

I think that's what, twenty four THOUSAND staff gone this year alone? 3,378 in the UK alone.

 

[Captain_Slick]

Asking a guy whose out on delivery for four hours to do an extra half hour (for no extra pay!)

Management KNOW that it can't be done but they don't tell their managers "No"!!!!!

And your posties actually do the half hour extra with no pay instead of telling them where to stick it?

Are the posties salaried or just paid by the hour?

 

[Jeff Lynne]

as it seems clear that there is little comprehension of exactly what the problem is, maybe Jeff could enlighten us as to exactly what he's unhappy about rather than just the protecting interests spin?

I'm unhappy that people think posting on internet forums that "If they don't like it they can get another job" is viewable as an opinion that isn't laughed out of town.

 

[Sash]

Name them then. How many strikes have you seen of in the news recently where workers were striking to gain payrises?

Why?
You were the one who jumped the gun to begin with. Stop being such an aggressive ****

Edit: ok fine.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8185754.stm This is today.

National Express managers say the unions want a 2.5% pay rise, a four-day working week and a 4% increase in the number of train drivers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8183891.stm 4th Aug
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/8169918.stm 27th July

More disputes over pay ^

I'm unhappy that people think posting on internet forums that "If they don't like it they can get another job" is viewable as an opinion that isn't laughed out of town.

If you are unhappy don't view the thread or post, my words aren't going to kill you.

 

[Jeff Lynne]

And your posties actually do the half hour extra with no pay instead of telling them where to stick it?

Are the posties salaried or just paid by the hour?

40hr week, well, 48hrs but I won't go into that

We seem to cope, although you have to rememeber that every delivery in every office in every part of the country is different and can't be compared. Some people can absorb the extra work without *too* much difficulty but others will find it impossible.