Royal Mail Strike - Quick Question?

[merf]

we do not live in a job secure world, whining about wanting to know 'I have a job in a years time' is just not realistic.

also any view expressing that the RM managment are taking the piss by messing around pay arrangements during the strike (within their rights according to somebody on this thread) really does take the biscuit. Its ok to hold the country to ransom by walking out to get what you are after but management aren't playing fair by using the options open to them ?

[Jebus]

My views are my own, like them or not. Read my post properly, all I was saying is that in MY VIEW it was underhanded, I maintain that. If you read my post you'd see it was me that said they were within their rights to do so as well, that doesn't change the fact it's an underhanded attempt to "starve them back to work", which was admitted to me by my boss.

You've made it clear on numerous occasions how you feel on the subject, we don't agree, fair play but nobody is "holding the country to ransom" either so please don't be so melodramatic.

Apart from the recent strikes, it's been 24 hour strikes at a time, you don't get post on a sunday either, you know that? How would the nation cope if postcomms rumoured plan/idea to make it a four day delivery came to fruition? Or what about the other idea of no delivery on saturday.

I'm not comparing (because there really is no comparison) but did you feel the same way when the firemen were out on strike? Whilst they are a far more important service (though I'm sure some businesses might argue the difference) I bet the people giving us stick didn't give them half as much because their service is more valuable to the public...the point that they were fighting for themselves, not the public, pretty much get's missed.

I'm really sick to ****ing death of the way people talk about us. It's Royal Mail that told me "you aren't getting overtime, we'd rather fail the special deliveries" when 19 came in after everyone else had gone home. I wasn't offering for the money, I was offering because I didn't want to let the customers down. I (like 99% of our office) pride myself on my work, always have and I don't like letting people down when they've paid for a service in good faith.

But we're all selfish ***** aren't we. People talk about it like they have a clue, like they know us, like they know us well enough to judge us. I'm absolutely sick of it.

Post what you like, I just hope this kind of thing never happens to anyone else because it's **** for everyone involved, just unfortunate people don't seem to realise what this means for the future of their precious service they are complaining about missing so much.

Now look, I've said my piece, if anyone has anything they'd like to discuss on the subject PLEASE PM me. Don't tempt me to post again because I really don't want to, I've honestly had enough. I have it at work, I have it on the street and I don't need it here. You don't like what we're doing, fine, I accept it and I understand why. Please PM me anyone if you wish to have a discussion about it, otherwise I'll leave it to the other posties to defend themselves further.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I think there is sign the dispute solution almost ready to agreed and according to someone on a postman forum. Adam Crozier had resigned. (But I think it is bollocks)

[RetroEd]

I work for Royal Mail, but I'm not a postie, I am computer based. I haven't gone on strike throughout, and am not in the Union. A lot of my co-workers are in the Union though, but barely any of them have been on strike were I work.

We had a brief a couple days ago, and from what was said, this is what is happening. The pension plan is remaining the same as it always was (which is pretty darn good), for those that are in Royal Mail contracts before 31st Jan 2008. Anyone joining after then will have a 'dumbed down' version. I think this is fair enough, it does cost them £850m a year.

From what I heard in our brief regarding shift changes, it means there will be more chance to have holiday in the summer when it's quieter, and more chance of overtime in busy periods. Only downside is that there will be less opportunities for holiday at busy times in the year; Valentines, Easter, Christmas, etc. It's already like that where I work. Royal Mail also want to cut out the 'Ghost Overtime' that goes on amongst postie's, which I fully agree with. They want their worker's to work the hours they are paid to work. Nothing more, nothing less.

They are offering a 5.4% pay increase this month (to make up for the lack of one previously), with a further 1.5% in April 2008. It will then be reviewed the following April. They are also offering £175 cash lump to everyone this month. It's not huge, but it's something. The strike's just keep putting everything behind. Royal Mail can't afford to pay any more than they are offering, or that's what they're saying, at least.

I understand that we may not have been told everything in the brief, only the 'good' things, but the above is how it was put across to me.

By the way, if people are confused, we're still weekly paid in Royal Mail.

I get paid monthly.

[goldenhawk]

seeing this through a posties eyes (i was a postie and my dad is still.)

looking at the proposed agreements, some people like my dad are going to loose a fair bit of money, especially when he usually starts an hour earlier to gett his round sorted and maybe throw up another one whilst he is at it, as he usually does a collection and 2 walks before 12pm, and then he will do another couple of hours from 3pm.

they also want to stop people from taking their cars with them on rounds, i am not 100% sure why, but there is probabily a sensible reason, but i would hate tto be lugging 4 bags on a bike 5 miles at christmas.

[Grapple Convoy]

we do not live in a job secure world, whining about wanting to know 'I have a job in a years time' is just not realistic.

When your employer makes people redundant next, I hope you are first in the queue then. Y'know, to avoid being a hypocrite.

[MattyD]

The BBC are reporting that the CWU and RM have reached an agreement of some sort. The Union's homepage simply says the executive committee will decide on Monday whether or not the agreement is sufficient. I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel!

[MattyD]

I understand that we may not have been told everything in the brief, only the 'good' things, but the above is how it was put across to me.

With respect Ed, they haven't told you the full story. The way you describe the changes is the same sort of stuff they print in the Courier, where they just put a positive spin on things and never mention that there are any downsides. The 'opportunity for more leave in summer' for example means, in practice, that those not on leave have to do twice as much work to pick up the slack.

In my office they let an extra four people go on leave each week but they also took those people's deliveries off the duty roster and divided the work up between the remaining nearby postmen. Clearly it's quite a significant increase in your work load during what is traditionally a quiter time of year when you have say a quarter of another delivery to complete in addition to your own assigned duty.

It used to be that people put up with the workload at Christmas because they knew they'd get a breather in the summer, but now it's full-on overtime claiming all year round.

The pay deal as well, only came about because of the strikes. Royal Mail said they would not negotiate - and they have. They said there was no more money - and as if by magic, there suddenly is. I think we'd all be happy with the pay deal on offer, it's just the devil in the details ('flexible' working, no payment for door-to-door work etc etc) at the moment.

[momobeast]

All sorted now???

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/b...cleId=13290001

[Lok]

Thank fook for that just hope the others take the deal also, c'mon guy's start delivering me parcels im waiting on

[Rossco]

Is it all done then? I cancelled my Orange Box order from Gameplay as I thought I wouldnt get it next week because of this, but just went and reordered it again now!

[Greg Moss]

Bit early to say it's definately sorted, CWU members have to review the agreement first.

[cutmymilk]

We will deal with all mail in the order in which we received it, and will re-instate all service guarantees and promises as soon as we are able to honour them.

Not true - I sent 6 parcels on Friday and 2 of them got to their destination on Saturday!

[adam_the_browndog]

i'm not looking forward to monday.... I have two huge lots of packages to send off from ebay auctions.

I'm still waiting on stuff from a week or so ago.... But stuff i've recently bought have turned up.

I'm just hoping for the best on my other stuff i hope they turn up.

These Strikes are completely pointless, It won't solve nothing.

[Dazzyman]

Anybody believe him ?

You sussed me