Postmen on strike - Is this right?

[MK Shrimper]

I've still got a final salary pension thankyou very much and hopefully the railways will be brought to a standstill should their EVER be a whiff of the b@stards trying to do away with it.

People don't strike over nothing remember - they lose a pay and if you're an unskilled worker that's a lot when you've got a family to support.

 

[SUFC Forever]

Why should I have sympathy for some useless SOB who cannot even put letters through the postbox of the correct house. A week or so ago, I had 6 or 7 letters for the house two doors away from me shoved through my door - no excuse for that.

The longer they stay out they will lose the support of the general public and they should remember that. Adam Crozier is a t*sser for sure and after f*cking up the FA he lands a top salaried job with the Post Office - where is the justice in that? The only sympathy I have for the strikers is that they are saddled with Crozier as a boss - other than that, get back to work you lazy, self deluded bunch of p*icks - I am waiting on some important mail, hopefully my neighbour will be honest enough to pass it on to me this time however...

 

[Crabby Shrimper]

Or perhaps you should get a better union to fight for your rights.......

Ok, so, lets see. I get a Union, and fight for better working conditions, and better pay, so what happens?

The money has to come from somewhere, so what's it to be? Less staff? That would hardly help working conditions. What else, maybe increase prices to pay for the increased wages? Hmm, and with more people going to internet shopping, how will that help? Retail is tough at the moment, and nobody has a right to an average wage (if so, then the average wage would just increase) Why do you think there are so many call centres abroad? because they're cheaper than us. that's competition in the global market for you.

Have you noticed that what was once the world's leading industrial country now produces very little? It's cheaper to import than it is for us to make. we need to realise that, as a country, we're no longer rich, we no longer have the empire, and we no longer have a right to everything we want purely for being British. Until we do, this country will continue to decline and be taken over by cheaper competitors.

rant over!

 

[The General]

Why should I have sympathy for some useless SOB who cannot even put letters through the postbox of the correct house. A week or so ago, I had 6 or 7 letters for the house two doors away from me shoved through my door - no excuse for that.

The longer they stay out they will lose the support of the general public and they should remember that. Adam Crozier is a t*sser for sure and after f*cking up the FA he lands a top salaried job with the Post Office - where is the justice in that? The only sympathy I have for the strikers is that they are saddled with Crozier as a boss - other than that, get back to work you lazy, self deluded bunch of p*icks - I am waiting on some important mail, hopefully my neighbour will be honest enough to pass it on to me this time however...

Oooooooo he's getting all personal now!

:cry:

Im sure you will be happy to hear that the Mon/Tues part of next week's strike is off due to a technicallity that the RM picked up on.

You also seem to think we like striking - couldn't be further from the truth!

Kev

 

[WestRoadShrimper]

...who cannot even put letters through the postbox of the correct house.

See, now this is why I can't sympathise with the postmen. I live in a semi that's been converted from 2 houses to 4 flats each with their own front door and each clearly numbered, yet time and time again I get the post for all the flats through my door. On other occasions a neighbour passes mine on. I can understand once or twice, but has happened regularly since I moved in over 2 years ago :mad:

This goes beyond the inconvenience as the property is a leasehold, and I've missed paying the groundrent on time BOTH years I've been here because the letter was not delivered - things like this could have serious repercusions with my credit rating etc... Again, not acceptable.

To cap it all, every so often I get post for the doctors surgery a couple of doors down - for those of you that know where I live you'll agree its bloody impossible to mistake the two :thump:



If this means the Royal Mail end up getting shot of the numptys that are giving the company a bad name then good!!!!!

At the same time, I do feel sorry for those that are doing their job properly and are being tarred with the same brush as the imcompetent plonkers they work with.

 

[Bielzibubz]

On the BBC, that great portal for totally impartial news stories, it kept banging on about the disparity between what an average postie earns and the national average of £24,500 per annum, strongly implying this was in some way one of the reasons they are/were on strike.
The vast majority of the working population of this country are lucky to get a yearly pay increase roughly in line with inflation let alone the 30% spread over 5 years the postal union are after for it's members to bring them in line with the national average.

If true, and I'd like to hear Kev's views on this, what the hell gives them the God given right to earn the national average? What makes them more deserving than someone doing a totally different job earning lets say £20,000 per annum? Are they under the impression that because they provide a public service they should in some way be paid the national average regardless of hours worked and position within the company.

The days of jobs for life, inflated wages and union power broking have gone, and gone for good. Times change, market forces change. Many previously militant unions have recognised this fact and now realise they have to work WITH their employers in order to benefit their members, which is clearly not the case here.

Public company or not, when market forces, competition within the industry or financial constraints force changes to be made, whether that be through redundancies, flexible working conditions and hours, modernisation or the reworking of pay structures it is something that every worker has to accept as part and parcel (excuse the pun) of working life nowadays.

Royal Mails monopoly of the mail delivery system has gone. The days of jobs for life for those working withing the industry have gone. The days of working six being paid for eight hours are gone, or will be soon. Unless every postal worker accepts the changes that Royal Mail needs to make in order to survive in today's competitive market there will be only one outcome.






Crumpets and jam anyone? :)

 

[MK Shrimper]

Ok, so, lets see. I get a Union, and fight for better working conditions, and better pay, so what happens?

The money has to come from somewhere, so what's it to be? Less staff? That would hardly help working conditions. What else, maybe increase prices to pay for the increased wages? Hmm, and with more people going to internet shopping, how will that help? Retail is tough at the moment, and nobody has a right to an average wage (if so, then the average wage would just increase) Why do you think there are so many call centres abroad? because they're cheaper than us. that's competition in the global market for you.

Have you noticed that what was once the world's leading industrial country now produces very little? It's cheaper to import than it is for us to make. we need to realise that, as a country, we're no longer rich, we no longer have the empire, and we no longer have a right to everything we want purely for being British. Until we do, this country will continue to decline and be taken over by cheaper competitors.

rant over!

The money comes from subs out of your paypacket, nowhere else. I pay about £12 a month which I think is fantastic for protection if HR or the bosses want to try a swift one and get rid of me FOR NO REASON (and it happens all the time, trust me).

Nobody has a right to an average wage: Yes they do! The minimum wage is one of the best things (and very few things) the Labour government ever did. While the bosses earn hundreds of thousands don't you think it's right that some poor slob gets enough money to feed their family? IMHO the minimum wage is too low, especially for under 21yr olds.

We're not rich? Britain, as country, is extraordinarily rich. Try telling we're not rich to some African nations.

And the sooner countries like China get unionised the better so they can get a decent wage for a days work and not be virtual slaves - of course the days of buying DVD's for £20 and £5 jeans would end, but hey, who cares if their made by kids for peanuts in slave labour conditions? You've saved some money for a pint!

 

[Bielzibubz]

Nobody has a right to an average wage: Yes they do! The minimum wage is one of the best things (and very few things) the Labour government ever did.

I think you'll find there is a difference between the national average wage and the national minimum wage. They are two totally different things.

Hmm, National Average = £24,500 p/a

National Minimum = £10,545 p/a

Quite a difference huh!

 

[WestRoadShrimper]

Nobody has a right to an average wage: Yes they do! The minimum wage is one of the best things (and very few things) the Labour government ever did.

Very true about the minimum wage, but I don't think that's the same thing as an average wage. 'Average' here was used to talk about the National Average. They are clearly paid above minimum wage, whereas the national average is circa £24.5k, so I would have to say no they don't deserve an average wage.

Do they deserve to be paid more? Overall, probably (see my previous post), but there are plenty of other more important jobs that are not yet at the National Average that deserve to be there before the posties - nurses for example start on just £3k more than the average postie!!!!!

 

[Crabby Shrimper]

The money comes from subs out of your paypacket, nowhere else.

What, the money for a pay increase? that's what i was asking about

Nobody has a right to an average wage: Yes they do!

No they don't! (see previous 2 posts :p )

We're not rich? Britain, as country, is extraordinarily rich. Try telling we're not rich to some African nations.

Ok, you're right there, I should've said we're not as rich as we were, or that some people think we still are.

And the sooner countries like China get unionised the better so they can get a decent wage for a days work and not be virtual slaves

Either they'll still be cheaper than us, or in the world where everybody earns the same, the value of money will be less.

Think about it, a man earns £200 a week, and a coat costs him £50 (made in china cheaply)

China, and the rest of the worlds workforce, demands more money, so now that jacket costs £100. the man either earns "effectively" half his initial wage, or he then demands more, which in turn the rest of the workforce does and inflation spirals.




I think tbh we're going to have to agree to differ on this one. I think we're both after what's best for the world population, but just have different views on how that may be achieved.

 

[The General]

Looks like it all might have been finally resolved. I've been off for the past 10 days or so but will find out tomorrow/Tuesday more details of whats going on!

Kev

 

[* ORM *]

And the sooner countries like China get unionised the better so they can get a decent wage for a days work and not be virtual slaves - of course the days of buying DVD's for £20 and £5 jeans would end, but hey, who cares if their made by kids for peanuts in slave labour conditions? You've saved some money for a pint!

It's bad enough the west trying to enforce democracy on a populus that neither understands or wants it but forcing them to have unions definitely won't work.

I have a much better idea. Stop buying the goods and the vendors will soon be forced to listen. Money talks.

 

[MK Shrimper]

It's bad enough the west trying to enforce democracy on a populus that neither understands or wants it but forcing them to have unions definitely won't work.

I have a much better idea. Stop buying the goods and the vendors will soon be forced to listen. Money talks.

While I agree with the latter, I think the first screams of western arrogance.

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

Give them all the Ferking sack is what i say!!!!!

 

[Kent Shrimper]

And the sooner countries like China get unionised the better so they can get a decent wage for a days work and not be virtual slaves - of course the days of buying DVD's for £20 and £5 jeans would end, but hey, who cares if their made by kids for peanuts in slave labour conditions? You've saved some money for a pint!

MK i think you will find that standards, pay and conditions have improved to a very good level in a lot of factorys in china and most companys now only use ethically safe and sound factorys.

I care if prices increase in china as we manafacture and import, my clients would care as they would be paying higher prices and so would people like Canvey Shrimper who are involved in the transportation of products.

If unions were involved nothing would get produced. Probably every piece of clothing you are wearing, the computer your using and the post bag you use to go on strike with, were made in china!!!