Royal Mail Strike - Quick Question?

[Salsa Party Animal]

Maybe the guy didn't want to cross the picket line to return the parcel.

[Mad Gear]

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

I usually get the Door 2 Door leaflets ready for delivery on Monday (ie the crappy leaflets nobody wants). There are usually around 10 people in sorting though and a few Sunday collections.

[Keith]

Maybe the guy didn't want to cross the picket line to return the parcel.

Surely the picket-liners couldn't give any abuse to a guy who was just finishing his shift that started before the strike?

Still, I'll never know and neither the not knowing nor the delay to my parcel will kill me, so it's all good.

[neverevertrevor]

on the pouching off issue, its a common practise at my office up in scotland, it just means we have a blue pouch bag with, when finished we put our shuts in it, and then it either goes into a postbox (if it will fit), or drop it in at my nearest post office, just means the stuff that was shut gets back to me the next day. Keith this is what probably happened with your item mate, but as the strike was the next day, the blue poch bag will still be sat with all the other untouched mail cause of the strike!

[ChrisF]

Using postboxes to store items in sounds like something out of Resident Evil

[Keith]

on the pouching off issue, its a common practise at my office up in scotland, it just means we have a blue pouch bag with, when finished we put our shuts in it, and then it either goes into a postbox (if it will fit), or drop it in at my nearest post office, just means the stuff that was shut gets back to me the next day. Keith this is what probably happened with your item mate, but as the strike was the next day, the blue poch bag will still be sat with all the other untouched mail cause of the strike!

D'oh! Yeah, that seems likely enough. Thanks for clearing that up - maybe it's more common in the North than it is in the South (assuming you're a Southerner here Jebus! ).

[Jebus]

We don't have ANY pouching off in our office, none whatsoever.

...and yeah, I'm daan saaaf.

[Jebus]

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

Sorting, cut and tip (cutting mail sacks open before sorting)...

That's about it.

[Keith]

We don't have ANY pouching off in our office, none whatsoever.

...and yeah, I'm daan saaaf.

Thought so - must be a Northern thing then; we're quite far behind the times y'know. Still down the pits and all that.

[ChrisF]

More strikes Monday and Tuesday next week then

[Jebus]

I don't mean to scaremonger, but I've heard rumours of this going on until Christmas. Royal mail have come through very heavily with their offer and the CWU have countered it with equally heavy strike action, weekly strikes until the dispute is over.

As I understand it, they are back to rolling strikes again, there WILL be delivery Monday, but not much of one because the mail centres are on strike. There will be NO delivery TUESDAY though, that is when delivery staff are out out. Just to confirm, only tuesday will there be no delivery.

I know people will be pissed off at us, but I can only reiterate that the pay "deal" on offer really is horrendous and will ruin thousands of people's lives. I appreciate that us striking upsets people's businesses etc but we're only protecting our future, because nobody else will.

[ChrisF]

Aye, they were on about it on the radio this morning. No deal agreed yet.

Bit about it here too: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7032582.stm

Edit: Seems its just mail centre and airport staff next monday/tuesday. Possibly MORE action later in the week by the delivery staff.

[Jebus]

The trouble is, they are constantly "in talks" but at the same time, Royal Mail are just going ahead and implementing whatever they want at the same time! It's insulting to the CWU..."We'll talk anytime" (whisper to execs, "get em starting later next week)...etc.

Debug, no, its JUST tuesday for delivery staff. However, because the mail centres are out the Monday it means Monday will be very quiet and not a lot will get through for delivery.

If I'm honest I'd say to people just get used to a 4 day postal delivery for the near future.

The media is so sickeningly on RM's side as well, quoting what Leighton etc want them to, forgetting to tell the public what the "deal" demands!!

Anyway, here's the full strike action details.

Mail centres and airports - duties, scheduled attendance and overtime commencing at or after 18.00 Monday 15th October 2007 and before 18.00 Tuesday 16th October 2007.

Deliveries and separate collection hubs - duties, scheduled attendance and overtime commencing at or after 03.00 Tuesday 16th October 2007 and before 03.00 Wednesday 17th October 2007.

Network (drivers) - duties, scheduled attendance and overtime commencing at or after 12 noon Wednesday 17th October 2007 and before 12 noon Thursday 18th October 2007.

MDECs (mechanised data entry centres) - duties, scheduled attendance and overtime commencing at or after 12 noon Thursday 18th October 2007 and before 12 noon Friday 19th October 2007.

International/Heathrow World Distribution Centre - duties, scheduled attendance and overtime commencing at or after 14.00 Thursday 18th October 2007 and before 14.00 Friday 19th October 2007.

[Fastware]

That's a bit melodramatic, 1000's of lives ruined. It's just a job and if it's not to the workers liking there are plenty of other jobs to get.

What about all the damage the stikes are doing to small businesses that rely on the post to make a living, stikes could be seen as ruining those lives.

[ChrisF]

If I'm honest I'd say to people just get used to a 4 day postal delivery for the near future.

I know its been mentioned before (ad infinitum) but people WILL start to abandon Royal Mail in droves if it's going to continue