Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
22 October 2009
08:4031160#1
Well its happened, the first national union strike within Royal mail for some years.
are the workers correct to strike?
whats it all about?
Should royal mail modernise and not think of the effects on the business/workers?
Should Royal mail(if correct) give unachievable delivery times for its workers and threaten disipline for not achieving those targets
Now unite union who represents many of the managers working during this dispute is also up in arms over threats being made to working managers to do work they are untrained to do.
Talks have clearly broken down, and views become so far apart, we now face 2 days so far of disputes as looks like many more to follow.
Think this is going to be a long drawn out dispute, hopefully that can be resolved very soon
On the down side companies are looking to alternatives to Royal Mail which will effect the profits in the future, the more other delivery companies are used and reliable the more lost traffic to Royal mail.
So what's the answer when you get to this position?
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
22 October 2009
08:4131161#2
What are your views Keith?
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
22 October 2009
08:5031162#3
I obviously come from an active trade union background, so support other trade unionists
I don't know the full details of the dispute so its probably wrong for me to say the managers of Royal Mail are wrong in all they do.
The union obviously doesnt call national strikes lightly, more so in todays society, it appears to be about a modernisation programme(managers view)
where the union feels managers have gone against agreements reached over the years.
Listening to many postal workers they to don't want this disruption but feel there voiice through there union is not being heard.
So I will try to be level headed in my viewpoint seeing both sides and as im not involved I can only pick up like yourself snippets from both sides, and try to make a picture of it all
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
22 October 2009
08:5331163#4
They must modernise to survive and if we learnt anything from the 70's is that strikes will ultimately damage the strikers more.
They are sealing their fate with this strike, it is insane.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
22 October 2009
08:5831166#5
BAZ
As I said in reply to MAREK IU don't know the full details of this dispute and have tried to be even handed on it , So lets see what it's all about, rather than a slanted view do we know the full picture
MANAGERS VIEW?
TRADE UNION VIEW?
Not my, or your view, but the true view?
k
Guest 666- Registered: 25 Mar 2008
- Posts: 323
22 October 2009
11:2031175#6
I remember where I worked in London when the distribution department decided to do a sort of 'work to rule' they were qickly dispatched and a facilities company came in next day to run it all at a lower cost.
I have personally found surface mail very frustrating, maybe this is it's deaths-knell and the private companies will take over; most large companies who want reliability now seem to use private carriers, it appears to be the way forward.
TV used to run an amusing ad for one firm - 'when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight' - it's a great shame that we cannot rely on the Royal Mail these days.
Oh Boy!, That'll be the day.........
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
22 October 2009
11:5931176#7
went past the post office in pencester road this morning, the notice in the window from royal mail was hardly an olive branch to the workers.
i think that they would like to get shot of a lot of their long serving staff and replace them with casuals on the minimum wage.
the notice goes on to say that all new recruits have been vetted.
not true, anyone can turn up with a passport and a utility bill in some areas and get hired immediately.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
22 October 2009
14:1631181#8
Letters hope it all works out okay Kieth, and keep us posted.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
22 October 2009
16:4931182#9
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
22 October 2009
17:2031183#10
I have been in a union all my years of working apart from the six years in the army that is about 45years i am still today in a union and paid up the union is Unite. The strike will not work they have not worked in the pass,just look at the miners, and the ,P.O strike.I am not saying the postman do not have acase,that I do not know,but what I DO KNOW IS A WORK TO RULE does work."Why you might say"? Well first the postman will still get his or her wage each week.And stiill the post will stack up and in the end there must be agreement made. By striking the postman will not get wage,but will in the end still have to go back to work and they will never get back the wages they have lost.But with a work to rule means that they are working to rules that the post office make. No overtime a full tea and dinner stop. and for the ones that work inside if the tem/goes below 60 they can stop work and still get paid.The post office will have to pay out the wages but will not get the mail out as it should.So if you are apostman go back to work and then work to rule,if they get out side workers they will have to work to rule as well ,I think the cost to the postoffice would be to much.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
22 October 2009
19:3431219#11
Whatever happens, I hope they don`t get rid of one of the last British icons, the red post box. The red telephone boxes disappeared quick. Mind you, I don`t think you could have a shower in a post box.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
22 October 2009
19:3631220#12
those telephone boxes were a godsend late at night, you could even make a phone call from them.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
22 October 2009
19:3931221#13
Sure could Howard, and you could see them clearly a mile down the road, unlike the glass replacements.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
22 October 2009
19:5931224#14
I think lads you are geting away from the debate please keep on track with this one.
22 October 2009
20:5131225#15
The postal strike SUCKS and it really grinds my gears that the postal workers feel they can hold the country to ransom just because they are not getting their own way. Let's face it, job cuts, modernisation, recession, changing economy, technical efficiencies, they are all things that constantly batter us poor private sector business people but who represents us? Roughly about nobody. We just deal with things as they come, we either adapt or die, and quite often we have to cut staff and make unpopular choices. It seems to me that postal workers are going through this exact same thing and causing a great hissy-fit over it. We all moan about the socialist unions when the French are blockading the port in support of whatever bloody cause they can dream up next, and are we supposed to be supportive of our postal workers? I think not.
Long hours, hard conditions, tough financial situations, they are all just modern reality and striking isn't going to change these things. Jeez, if it were up to me.....
You could argue that postal workers / trade union is striking back in a time of hardship but we private sector types are CONSTANTLY fighting hardships of one sort or another. It seems they get it too good for too long and when times get tough they throw their toys out of their prams.
I'm sure postal workers feel fully justified in their cause. As always, the wrong people end up paying the price for these disputes (ie us lot). There has already been quite a large financial impact on my business thanks to this dispute and frankly I'm not impressed.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
22 October 2009
21:2131230#16
RICK
Now in a previous posting I agreed with you but this one i cant.
The unions are not against modernisation and happy to talk
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
22 October 2009
22:0331237#17
my understanding is that the argument from the union is that royal mail are reneging on an agreement.
very different from actions taken by french trade unionists.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
22 October 2009
23:4231248#18
HOWARD
Yep agree on this one
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
23 October 2009
07:1931254#19
rick,i would suposse that by your post that these postel workers should roll over to the royal mails new working practices with scant regard to personel feelings.if you are not happy with the royal mail postel system try another company,there are a few to choose from.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
23 October 2009
07:3431255#20
bRIAN
i Agree with part of your comments
Thats why we have trade unions thankfully still able to operate
but i suspect should Tories get into govt they will make it even harder for thre trsade unions to represent there members
