Royal Mail Strike - Quick Question?

[ascender]

I don't understand why they're closing branches when they always seem to be busy? Surely there must be a viable business in there somewhere?

[ChrisF]

A lot of those people that make the places busy are posting things, or collecting money, neither of which make the Post Office much money. This is why you see the Post Office selling all manner of things like printers, dvd players, and not to mention all the insurance/credit cards etc... just to try and make some money. Which, I guess they're not making enough of.

[Shez]

Thanks for the info Matty - You're right, times have changed, more so because now, people are so heavily committed on a finacial level that they can't afford to miss 2 or 4 days pay etc.

Agree with Jebus as it happens, and it doesnt surrpise me at all, that this kind of thing is happening - Makes it all a bit farcical.

I recall when I was on the post, the older generation where so stuck in their ways - A lot of these guys where institutionalised - Watching it rubbing off onto the younger generation was a wholly frustrating atmosphere to work in.

These same folk where also the biggest slackers in the office, and yet they where always the one's grabbing the easy over time. It was an interesting insight into their mentality.

[Keith]

Can anyone in the know tell me if sorting offices are open today? Got to go and pick up a game I bought from someone on here.

Cheers.

[MattyD]

The managers should be on site today and manning the callers offices, so if you've been left a "Sorry, you were out" card or a silver surcharge card (for items with customs levies etc) you should be able to pick that up as normal.

If you haven't been left a docket then the chances of them finding specific items for you are slim to none. If they actually have any mail brought down to them from the mail centres it probably isn't getting sorted and obviously finding one item in amongst thousands is a big ask, especially if lots of people turn up with the same idea.

[Keith]

I've got the "sorry you were out" card, but I thought that the item itself may not have been taken down to the sorting office. Ah well, I'll go down and see what the crack is and if I can't get it today I'm sure it'll not be the end of the World.

Cheers Matty.

[MattyD]

If you've had a card, the postie will have returned the item to the delivery office when he finished so you can pick it up

[Keith]

Turns out that he didn't, unfortunately - they're saying to go back on Wednesday at the earliest. Poor lass behind the counter looked like she'd had a bit of a rough morning so far.

[Jebus]

Turns out that he didn't, unfortunately - they're saying to go back on Wednesday at the earliest. Poor lass behind the counter looked like she'd had a bit of a rough morning so far.

The guy must have "pouched off" then...but I didn't think many places still did that, it's rather unusual and to be honest it sounds like the woman didn't really know where to find anything. I can't see the posties at any office being allowed to not bring stuff back over a strike weekend.

[Keith]

Happens quite regularly up my way to be honest - I'll get carded then go down the sorting office the next day to be told that "it's not back yet"; never really think that much of it myself but I've often heard people shouting on at the girl behind the counter about it.

It wasn't a case of her just not knowing what she was doing though - it was the same woman that's always there, strike day or not. Guess she's crossed the picket line herself.

[Jebus]

All I can say then is that it's wierd...

[Keith]

Is it?

I've often wondered where my packages go if they're not there at the office though - any clues?

[Jebus]

Secure pouch boxes...pouching off means that when you finish your delivery you "pouch off" and leave your pouches in a locked location (secure, don't worry) for somone else to recover later. It's really not done much anymore though. It's so they can go straight home after their last delivery point.

The alternative is that the delivery postperson uses their own car and therefore goes home straight after delivery that way, taking your stuff, but that is most certainly NOT an accepted practice.

[Keith]

I read somewhere (although this may not be true) that posties hadn't been using their own cars (or carrying anything over the "proper" weight, or doing any more than they were contracted to do basically) for the past week, so I guess that's probably not what's happened?

It's a bit irritating mind, now that you're saying this - I have no issue with my post being delayed because of strikes; even the fact that something that arrived yesterday is going to take an extra six days before I can go and collect it wouldn't bother me if it was solely attributed to the strikes, but if it's just because some guy can't be arsed doing his job properly I'll not be pleased.

[ChrisF]

For the Postie guys who say they work on Sundays... What happens on a Sunday? Is it sorting and stuff?