Royal Mail Strike - Quick Question?

[Nijo]

Is it likely the government will step in here like happened with Northern Rock and pump loads of taxpayers money into the RM (which would be kinda ironic) in order to resolve this ?

I think they're more likely to allow stamp prices to increase - the only way I can see this situation being resolved.
Unfortunately that's inflationary and they've gotta be worried about inflation right now...

[JB@XL]

Gordon Brown has already urged posties to go back to work. So the Government have pretty much said what side they've taken with this. Next step though? Who knows.

After the last few weeks i wouldn't take any notice of the unelected PM.

[Jebus]

I think they're more likely to allow stamp prices to increase - the only way I can see this situation being resolved.
Unfortunately that's inflationary and they've gotta be worried about inflation right now...

They can't allow stamp prices to go up, they've no authority. Whilst the regulator was put in place by the government, they have no influnce over it.

The reason this all came about in the first place is because the regulator opened us up to competition because "You have too much of a market share"...in delivering the post...yeah, who'd have thunk it.

[MattyD]

The union has never asked for a 27% pay rise either. I'm surprised to see the RM management wheeling that one out again after it was discredited in the last round of strikes.

[Nijo]

Reasonable or not...

Yeah I've read that before. I'm just saying that the media is spinning it - I just watched a report on News24 and it's well anti-strike. They even had the NHS on saying they're running out of blood donors because people aren't getting their reminder cards. Crozier seems to have better PR than the union....

They can't allow stamp prices to go up, they've no authority. Whilst the regulator was put in place by the government, they have no influnce over it.

The regulator is still part of the government, however independent. I'm sure they could be leant on if necessary.

[Brats]

The union has never asked for a 27% pay rise either. I'm surprised to see the RM management wheeling that one out again after it was discredited in the last round of strikes.

It's the news sites reporting that, not the RM. They all say the CWU is asking for wages to be brought up to the national average within 5 years which apparently equates to 27%.

Not one person in our entire office works 37 hours 20 minutes. He's gonna get bitten in the ass SO badly over this, he want's people to do their time, by christ he's gonna get it. 46 posties in our office, 30 of them coming in up to an hour early, never claim overtime, they do it just to finish on time. That's never mentioned though, if YOU were seniour management, would you tell your staff to stop working for free? Of course not, which is why it's gone on so long.

There seems to be a complete disagreement over this. The RM say that posties have the power (and reguarly carry it out) to go home early if they finish their work for the day rather than help in other areas. Someone's wrong, and I don't know who it is.

[Jebus]

Once upon a time you used to finish early, that is true. The only way people go home early NOWADAYS is if they don't take a break and come in even earlier.

You can believe Royal Mail on that one if you want, but then I actually work in these offices, I don't sit behind a desk trotting out propaganda to turn the public against the posties.

[ChrisF]

Once upon a time you used to finish early, that is true. The only way people go home early NOWADAYS is if they don't take a break and come in even earlier.

That sounds like EVERY industry these days, unfortunately

[Jebus]

I won't disagree with you, however, the management within RM are not honest about it. Continuing to say we are underworked and overpaid. Let me ask you this, if you have to come in 45 minutes early to finish on-time on a workday, are you overpaid...are you underworked?

[ChrisF]

Couldn't comment on the overpaid, but the underworked does look like spin

It sounds like you're under staffed if people are having to stay late/come in early to finish off?

[merf]

I won't disagree with you, however, the management within RM are not honest about it. Continuing to say we are underworked and overpaid. Let me ask you this, if you have to come in 45 minutes early to finish on-time on a workday, are you overpaid...are you underworked?

I'd say you live in the real world where there is always somebody willing to do your job for less money than you so you put up with it.

sorry to be picky but the whole attitude of 'finishing on time' and 'starting times' is just so alien to me and one of the things that I think gets me with this type of conversation.

there are many many jobs where you have to get in early and frequently work very late for no immediate reward, its the way things are. its not good, its not ideal but its what happens.

[Jebus]

At the moment yes, but it's voluntary overtime. Those that need the money can do it, those that don't, don't have to.

We're understaffed because members of the public start working for us and realise they cannot do the job, it's too hard. Some people can do it, others can't, never quite been able to put my finger on what the difference between these people is.

In the future you'll have to stay, which means the fitter, faster posties will have to do nearly twice the work, whilst the older, slower posties will still only have to do just their round. Ageism, all sorts of words that begin with "ism" and yet another in a looooooooong line of punishing the efficient workers...they've always punished you for being efficient, the hilarious thing being that now they are doing this all BECAUSE of efficiency and productivity.

[ascender]

Local papers are reporting that....

As the long-running row over pay, jobs and pensions continues, workers will now walk out from next Monday evening in a near week-long protest.

[Jebus]

sorry to be picky but the whole attitude of 'finishing on time' and 'starting times' is just so alien to me and one of the things that I think gets me with this type of conversation.

there are many many jobs where you have to get in early and frequently work very late for no immediate reward, its the way things are. its not good, its not ideal but its what happens.

If it's alien to you, how can you judge people who it isn't alien to?

If you put up with having to come in early to get the job done, that's your perogative. But it's sounds like you've accepted it. Why SHOULD you accept it? Why SHOULD you do overtime, why should you come in early to get the job done...? We have a union, maybe you don't. That's not my fault, but jesus christ if someone is supporting the fact you should only have to do your hours if you want, they why would anyone in their right mind be against it? Do your employess make you do all this and simultaneously take the piss out of you to nation, saying how underworked you are...and overpaid you are? Do you realise how insulting it is to be told that?

Royal Mail want us to work the hours we are paid for, ironically so do the Union, honestly, if Crozier and Leighton had a brain cell between them they'd realise just how ****ing stupid they are being demanding that. Once upon a time, yes, we made a ****load of time of the company whilst still being paid, nowadays you are lucky to finish on time any given day of the week!

I'm sorry but I don't work for free. I've been down that route and the employer takes the piss whenever they feel like it. Nobody is asking for reward for it other than being paid for it. I don't think that's a lot to ask. No wonder this country is in such a debt ridden state, how many people work for free 30 minutes a day...add that up and no wonder the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

[VR46]

I don't work for Royal Mail and agree with Jebus's last paragraph. Any overtime I do I get to take in lieu/get paid for. Wouldn't do it otherwise.