Royal Mail national strike looms for Christmas

custardy

bendix wrote: »

Your argument would hold a lot more weight if it wasn't for the lovely photo in the press last week showing two posties letter carts sitting on the pavement outside (unguarded by the way) a betting office, while our incredibly hard-pressed posties (god bless em) were inside whiling away their working day betting on the horses.

Oh, the cheeky chappies.

yes i saw however what did it show
were the posties finished?
were they on an official break? (yes we are actually allowed breaks)
was the betting shop one of RM's famed 'secure' drop points?
is it the only toilet in the local area?
were the trolleys empty?
most but not all posties work 6-2,RM still have a very localised system and there are some shifts such as night shift + % walk duty.
so dont assume finish times.

sometimes a picture doesnt tell a thousand words

bendix

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

Just because you personally don't use the post much, it doesn't mean it's irrelevant for the rest of the world. In my job I use a courier for urgent and large items, but RM for quite a lot of routine things- expense claims for those not based on site for example. The recent strikes in London have caused problematic delays especially for small businesses who can't afford to do everything by courier.

So use private mail services. RM doesn't have a monopoly anymore. It aint rocket science.

God, is it just me who isn't still living in 1979?

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Its nice to see the experts comments who have no idea or comprehension what working in the Royal Mail on the ground is like today.

If any of the objectors were postmen just remember most of them would vote to strike also.

inspector_monkfish

bendix wrote: »

So use private mail services. RM doesn't have a monopoly anymore. It aint rocket science.

God, is it just me who isn't still living in 1979?

no-one anywhere in the whole wide world is as clued up and as clever as you.
and you know that.

Dr.Rock

bendix wrote: »

Someone told me recently that the unions had taken the postal workers out on strike on and off since July.

I was totally surprised. Has anyone really noticed? Does anyone really care? It's a classic example of a union in the public sector (and, let's face it, where else do unions still remain) thinking it has some kind of power when, in reality, it's totally irrelevant.

I literally can't remember the last time I posted anything. And apart from bank statements (who needs them anymore too, with online banking), I'm struggling to remember the last thing that fell on my doormat that wasn't some crappy unsolicited advertising.

That's right and it has had a very profound effect on deliveries, especially in London, devastating many small businesses who rely on even some sort of mail service.
So in answer to your question. Millions of people care but their cares don't matter. It isn't incoveniencing you and that's the most important thing in the whole world.

custardy

Really2 wrote: »

No where they pay RM for the mail. But how many small parcels did they deliver. (DX did though )

RM have competitors, I would not be so blinkered if I were working for RM to think other postal operators and couriers are irrelevant (Amazon seem to think they are not.)
People do not just stop sending things just because they do not deal with RM any more.

given most of the operators on the list also use RM downstream access for parcels i still dont get your point.

so because there are competitors i should just work unlimited hours every day?
shall we throw away the agreed health and safety levels of 3.5 hours foot delivery?
shall we sack anyone without a car and tell everyone else we are doing away with vans?
what exactly do you expect of me ,just me
given our office has done all RM has asked?
we implemented the systems,duties,staff cuts etc they wanted?

bendix

inspector_monkfish wrote: »

no-one anywhere in the whole wide world is as clued up and as clever as you.
and you know that.

You're quite right, of course, inspector. But it's a burden, I tell you. I try to shoulder said burden with grace, but it's not always easy, you know.

bendix

Dr.Rock wrote: »

That's right and it has had a very profound effect on deliveries, especially in London, devastating many small businesses who rely on even some sort of mail service.
So in answer to your question. Millions of people care but their cares don't matter. It isn't incoveniencing you and that's the most important thing in the whole world.

Devastating small businesses? My lord, aren't you being a tad overdramatic? I've yet to see small businessmen throwing themselves out of skyscrapers. If the devastation is so profound, I would imagine the business owners would be smart enough to make other arrangements - it's called contingency planning. UK mail for example.

By the way, I'm terribly inconvenienced by the strike myself. My weekly copy of The Economist used to arrive on Friday morning. It's been a huge devastation to have it arrive on Saturday for the past few weeks. I'm thinking of writing to the PM about it.

I haven't wanted to mention my own devastation for fear of appearing self-interested. I'm sure you'll understand.

inspector_monkfish

bendix wrote: »

You're quite right, of course, inspector. But it's a burden, I tell you. I try to shoulder said burden with grace, but it's not always easy, you know.

so i've noticed....

Really2

custardy wrote: »

given most of the operators on the list also use RM downstream access for parcels i still dont get your point.

so because there are competitors i should just work unlimited hours every day?
shall we throw away the agreed health and safety levels of 3.5 hours foot delivery?
shall we sack anyone without a car and tell everyone else we are doing away with vans?
what exactly do you expect of me ,just me
given our office has done all RM has asked?
we implemented the systems,duties,staff cuts etc they wanted?

No I said I said you should ask UK mail staff what their jobs are like.
I don't work in your sector so I thought it would be a reference point for you.

I have said non of your point's above.

As for the bold bit I would check your facts no courier I know downstream through royal mail.
They all collect and deliver their selves or through their franchise or network.

Do you really expect me to believe RM handle everything and are free from competition?
I am not having a go at you but RM will be in for a shock for how much business it could lose.