Royal Mail Strikes
23 October 2009, 11:36 AM
#64
TingTong the contacted hours and the actual hour vary considerably.
Our office starts at 5.45 and finishes at 2.30 and on average the walk takes at least an hour extra now takes us to at least 3.30, often a LOT later. I now carry a torch around with me
Also take in to account we have to go to bed earlier, makes it the same as a normal job. Just the hours are unsociable!!
Our office starts at 5.45 and finishes at 2.30 and on average the walk takes at least an hour extra now takes us to at least 3.30, often a LOT later. I now carry a torch around with me
Also take in to account we have to go to bed earlier, makes it the same as a normal job. Just the hours are unsociable!!as i stated in my previous post if i or my colegues decided to strike over this or any other practisises we disagree with the would be for the chop, it's only the public sector that can get away with it and i think it's wrong.
but you always have choices in life, plenty of people just don't realise how lucky they are to actually have a job and how many people would love the opportunity to work
ps i'm on a office day today
23 October 2009, 12:00 PM
#65
thats all well and good but my point is they are easy hours in the real world, i am contracted to work 8.30am to 5.30am but that does not take into account my many starts at 5.30am when i have to drive to my were i have my first appointment or the time it takes to travel home after nor does it take into account the many evenings after i get home sorting out paperwork which is all off the clock and unpaid. i don't mind any of this its par for the course and my choice to do it as i like my job and thats whats expected.
We're hourly paid, and if they start expecting us to work for extra hours for free then where does the book stop? 3 days paid 2 days unpaid?? Most of us are hard workng and work above and beyond our means, all for no thanks, but hey its a job and yes I'm glad I've got one. But when RM go against an agreement THEY and the CWU have made then something needs to be done. Whether a strike is the right thing to do or not only time will tell.
Please also bear in mind this is the last thing us as posties want to do, but if we didn't then the service will just keep getting worse, not just for the customers but for the workers too, and who gets the blame then?? For the postal workers its a lose lose situation for us.........
Oh and btw those times stated are actual working times, we also travel to and from work in our own time.
23 October 2009, 12:15 PM
#66
thats the problem you should all be an a salary not hourly paid, this is why the attitude of the workers is wrong and the whole thing is a mess (but it keeps the union employed).
i understand completely what you are saying and am not trying to have a dig at you in any way (my local post office yes because i'm waiting for my oil catch can bast***s) i just have my own opinion on all of this striking only hurts the people who cannot help you.
one thing i do sincerely hope is that anybody striking is not being paid otherwise thats something else that us normal people will have to pay for in the end.
oh btw i doubt any postie has to travel 2-3 hours to get to work in the morning as us external based people have to on many occasions but as i said we all have a choice.
one further question just out of interest;
do you actually agree with the strike or in your opinion could this have been handled in a different way ?
i understand completely what you are saying and am not trying to have a dig at you in any way (my local post office yes because i'm waiting for my oil catch can bast***s
) i just have my own opinion on all of this striking only hurts the people who cannot help you.one thing i do sincerely hope is that anybody striking is not being paid otherwise thats something else that us normal people will have to pay for in the end.
oh btw i doubt any postie has to travel 2-3 hours to get to work in the morning as us external based people have to on many occasions but as i said we all have a choice.
one further question just out of interest;
do you actually agree with the strike or in your opinion could this have been handled in a different way ?
23 October 2009, 12:36 PM
#67
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23 October 2009, 12:56 PM
#69
oh btw i doubt any postie has to travel 2-3 hours to get to work in the morning as us external based people have to on many occasions but as i said we all have a choice.
do you actually agree with the strike or in your opinion could this have been handled in a different way ?
do you actually agree with the strike or in your opinion could this have been handled in a different way ?
Do you have a company car??
I voted for the strike as no other option apart from being shafted was on the table. However I feel we have a poor union and that things could have been handled differently, how exactly I'm not sure. I also feel that despite being a communications union, they are unable to convey the real issues accross to the public, hence so much hate towards us.
Basically, we want modernisation brought in fairly and consistently, not on a whim without the investment in machinery and equipment that is so desperately needed.
23 October 2009, 01:28 PM
#73
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The thing is, in this discussion we have both sides of the story -I'm an unhappy customer, and you are clearly an unhappy postman.
As far as I'm concerned our points of view should differ considerably. My point of view is that I and many others are receiving a rubbish service by Royal Mail, if this was any other service provider (electricity, gas etc) we would be able to choose an alternative. However, we cant so what you get is unsatisfied customers.
Whatever the reason for the crap service, striking and making the service even worse is not going to win you any friends or sympathisers.
As far as I'm concerned our points of view should differ considerably. My point of view is that I and many others are receiving a rubbish service by Royal Mail, if this was any other service provider (electricity, gas etc) we would be able to choose an alternative. However, we cant so what you get is unsatisfied customers.
Whatever the reason for the crap service, striking and making the service even worse is not going to win you any friends or sympathisers.
You clearly don't understand whats going on in the case of the PO and in other industries previously and currently.
Last edited by ChrisB; 23 October 2009 at 01:34 PM. Reason: Edited to remove unnecessary insults / abuse
23 October 2009, 01:38 PM
#74
Just to confirm Mr Unhappy customer, i am not, or have ever been a postman. In fact the only letters i have had contact with have been of the French variety.
You clearly don't understand whats going on in the case of the PO and in other industries previously and currently.
Again, take your f**cking head out of your **** you self satisfied gimp.
Hows that for another insult, or do you want another one?
You clearly don't understand whats going on in the case of the PO and in other industries previously and currently.
Again, take your f**cking head out of your **** you self satisfied gimp.
Hows that for another insult, or do you want another one?
Could you clarify about other industries, previously and currently as I dont really see what your eloquently put point is?
Feel free to throw as many insults as you like, makes little difference to me what you think -however discussions should be two way streets, why dont you try adding something of value rather than a pointless rant.
23 October 2009, 02:00 PM
#75
i just sent 3 of my mates a txt before (they are all posties in northants) joking about them being lazy layabouts to find they are actually in work as they don't agree with the strike and can't afford not to work.
i'm shocked to say the least ! i take my hat off to those that can afford to strike in this economic climate but it has started me wondering why they can afford to do that ?
i'm shocked to say the least ! i take my hat off to those that can afford to strike in this economic climate but it has started me wondering why they can afford to do that ?
23 October 2009, 02:04 PM
#76
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I haven't read the whole thread, but I thought I might aswell chime in as I am a postman, and I'm on strike.
Firstly I should say I don't really hold any strong views about what's going on. The job for me is a means to an end because of the hours. I work for myself in the afternoon during U.S. hours, so the postie hours are ideal and it provides me with a little money while I grow my self-employed activities.
I have gone on strike because I don't like the alternative of being a scab and all the hassle that goes with that: being ignored, having my car keyed, mail being hidden, rubbish tipped in my parcel sacks etc. I should also add that I am not in the union, so didn't vote and actually would rather not strike because it's just a load more work when I go in tomorrow. Hopefully you understand this, so shouldn't think that all posties want to be out. Perhaps selfishly I do whatever is best for me, to hell with anyone else.
I would like to quickly describe what the day involves though, as some people seem to think we're lazy. Start time is 6:00am, but if I started then I would be late finishing, so I get in for 5:10am. This is when I start sorting the letters for my own round. At 6:15 we start 'walksorting' which is where we leave our 'own' work and start sorting the mail between the rounds. This typically lasts until between 7:15 and 8:00. Then we go back to sorting our own letters and parcels. Then we do the re-directions (I have about 70 on my round), and then we bag up. Most of my bags are over the 16kg limit so I don't weigh them (a requirement according to health and safety), and managers turn a blind-eye to this. I have between 8 and 10 bags a day.
At between 9:00 and 9:40 we leave and start delivering. Sorry, there is no chance of getting your mail with your breakfast like the good old days. I deliver to 680 houses and this takes between 3.5 and 4 hours if I walk quickly/jog, tear off recorded mail stickers to avoid getting signatures, leave the mail unattended on the bike so I don't have to carry the bag (I've been picked up on this by the internal security people, but continue doing it) and leave parcels on the doorstep so I don't have to leave a card and return the item to the office. I do this so that I finish at 1:30, 65 minutes ahead of the official finish time of 2:35pm. However, I don't stop for a 'meal relief' which is 40 minutes, so you could call the finish time 1:55pm.
By the way, there is NO competition. TNT and DHL etc don't deliver to the door. RM do it for them for a cut price. The lucrative work has been taken by the competition, but it is not a complete service, they just handle it at different stages between sender and receiver.
Also, I don't believe mail volume has dropped off. I am carrying more junk mail and brochures than I ever have. There are more small packets than ever before, I presume due to online buying. I guess the mail being handled by RM exclusively has dropped off and these are the figures they band about, but what is delivered over the 'final mile' is more than ever. Just because people are getting statements by e-mail instead means diddly.
Anyway, I just wanted to counter some of the things people are coming out with, because they've clearly listened to the media and drunk the Kool Aid.
Firstly I should say I don't really hold any strong views about what's going on. The job for me is a means to an end because of the hours. I work for myself in the afternoon during U.S. hours, so the postie hours are ideal and it provides me with a little money while I grow my self-employed activities.
I have gone on strike because I don't like the alternative of being a scab and all the hassle that goes with that: being ignored, having my car keyed, mail being hidden, rubbish tipped in my parcel sacks etc. I should also add that I am not in the union, so didn't vote and actually would rather not strike because it's just a load more work when I go in tomorrow. Hopefully you understand this, so shouldn't think that all posties want to be out. Perhaps selfishly I do whatever is best for me, to hell with anyone else.
I would like to quickly describe what the day involves though, as some people seem to think we're lazy. Start time is 6:00am, but if I started then I would be late finishing, so I get in for 5:10am. This is when I start sorting the letters for my own round. At 6:15 we start 'walksorting' which is where we leave our 'own' work and start sorting the mail between the rounds. This typically lasts until between 7:15 and 8:00. Then we go back to sorting our own letters and parcels. Then we do the re-directions (I have about 70 on my round), and then we bag up. Most of my bags are over the 16kg limit so I don't weigh them (a requirement according to health and safety), and managers turn a blind-eye to this. I have between 8 and 10 bags a day.
At between 9:00 and 9:40 we leave and start delivering. Sorry, there is no chance of getting your mail with your breakfast like the good old days. I deliver to 680 houses and this takes between 3.5 and 4 hours if I walk quickly/jog, tear off recorded mail stickers to avoid getting signatures, leave the mail unattended on the bike so I don't have to carry the bag (I've been picked up on this by the internal security people, but continue doing it) and leave parcels on the doorstep so I don't have to leave a card and return the item to the office. I do this so that I finish at 1:30, 65 minutes ahead of the official finish time of 2:35pm. However, I don't stop for a 'meal relief' which is 40 minutes, so you could call the finish time 1:55pm.
By the way, there is NO competition. TNT and DHL etc don't deliver to the door. RM do it for them for a cut price. The lucrative work has been taken by the competition, but it is not a complete service, they just handle it at different stages between sender and receiver.
Also, I don't believe mail volume has dropped off. I am carrying more junk mail and brochures than I ever have. There are more small packets than ever before, I presume due to online buying. I guess the mail being handled by RM exclusively has dropped off and these are the figures they band about, but what is delivered over the 'final mile' is more than ever. Just because people are getting statements by e-mail instead means diddly.
Anyway, I just wanted to counter some of the things people are coming out with, because they've clearly listened to the media and drunk the Kool Aid.
Last edited by Butkus; 23 October 2009 at 02:35 PM.
23 October 2009, 02:09 PM
#77
This is the trouble, and will be the downfall of our union. It only takes a few to cross the picket line and well thats it.
I've been fortunate to have got in plenty of overtime to cover me for a few days worth of strikes, any more and I'm screwed. Time for a new job.........
Just had this text off my mate;
I was watching 'Postman Pat' today and thought to myself "what kind of role model is he for kids?"
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.The f**king scab
I've been fortunate to have got in plenty of overtime to cover me for a few days worth of strikes, any more and I'm screwed. Time for a new job.........
Just had this text off my mate;
I was watching 'Postman Pat' today and thought to myself "what kind of role model is he for kids?"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.The f**king scab
06 November 2009, 12:53 PM
#80
At last, some progress!!
The CWU has today announced that the postal strikes planned for Friday 6th November and Monday 9th November have been called off.
CWU and Royal Mail have reached an interim agreement that was unanimously agreed by the union's Postal Executive today.
The interim agreement will provide a period of calm for the CWU and Royal Mail to reach a full and final agreement. The interim agreement guarantees that modernisation will be introduced with agreed job security and improved terms and conditions for postal workers. It also addresses all the issues included in the long running local disputes.
The strike ballot remains in place.
No more lost wages (for now!) May only be an interim agreement but its nice to see some headway finally being made!
Originally Posted by CWU 5th November 2009
The CWU has today announced that the postal strikes planned for Friday 6th November and Monday 9th November have been called off.
CWU and Royal Mail have reached an interim agreement that was unanimously agreed by the union's Postal Executive today.
The interim agreement will provide a period of calm for the CWU and Royal Mail to reach a full and final agreement. The interim agreement guarantees that modernisation will be introduced with agreed job security and improved terms and conditions for postal workers. It also addresses all the issues included in the long running local disputes.
The strike ballot remains in place.
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