united kingdom - Postal strike could begin next week,

[samuelbell]

Postal workers' unions have said that national strikes could begin on October 22, causing havoc in the run up to Christmas, How will this effect online sales for people using Amazon and ebay associates programs. The run up to Christmas is supposed to be the best time of year for online sales, I hope Royal Mail sort this mess out.

YouTube - Postal strike could begin next week

[n7 Studios]

What's new? Even when they're not on strike, Royal Mail suck at delivering mail. Quite why they're still in existance is a mystery.

As for the serious answer, most retailers will turn to couriers, if they don't already use couriers for larger items.

[Mary Gallivan]

From what I hear Amazon have pulled their contract from Royal Mail. There's some others that are also doing the same from what I've heard on the news.

This would be a good time to promote e-cards.

Mary

[Kevin Riley]

And then one day, the union worker wakes up to find there is no more job to go to. Win the battle, lose the war

[marcus passey]

Originally Posted by n7 Studios

What's new? Even when they're not on strike, Royal Mail suck at delivering mail. Quite why they're still in existance is a mystery.

As for the serious answer, most retailers will turn to couriers, if they don't already use couriers for larger items.

Well I am a postie and where we come from we work our hours and work hard to deliver our customers mail. We get up at 4.30 am in the morning 6 days a week and myself I deliver 8 16kg bags of mail a day its exhausting.

I dont think any competitor could set up an infrastructure like Royal mail has, I think Royal Mail is one of the best delivery services in the world. Like I say the vast majority of Postman work hard.

I really do not want to go on strike, but we strike when there is a good reason to but I know we need to move forward. But Royal Mail does use bully boy tactics on us.

I am only defending Royal Mail because I know what the job is like its a very demanding and tiring job, and like I say as a whole I think we deliver a good service. But I want to succeed online before we go down the pan.

Cheers

Marcus

[TristanPerry]

They are a useless company. Not sure why they are still (partially) state owned.

They moan about being pushed to modernise (which they don't want, even though it'd benefit efficiency) , and strike causing nation-wide troubles.

Then the workers are told they'll need to work a bit harder (which modernisation would have solved...) and they moan and strike about that.

It's very annoying.

Whenever I go into a post office there's always massive queues. My fiance and I once waited around 25 minutes just to send off a package (and this isn't too 'out of the ordinary')

The sooner they got sorted out the better.

Edit: Marcus, I agree it's a tough job for you postmen and you have my sympathies. The men (and woman) on the ground doing the hard work are all great workers. It's the hypocritical bosses and unions (etc) who are making Royal Mail a laughing stock.

[Jenni Mac]

Well on a purely selfish level, I've got one cheque expected and I hope it arrives before the strike. The rest of my money comes to me via wire transfer/DD!

Job security - no such thing! I balk at my friends who constantly moan about restructuring/having to reapply for their jobs etc...

[Ian Jackson]

The union bully-boys flex their muscle again. Like 1979, we'll soon have an administration that's not so sympathetic to their selfish, hypocritical (at the taxpayer's expense) attitude.

[Steve Crooks]

The worst thing is it could send our already very fragile economic recovery back into deep recession again. Government need to step in on this in my opinion.. Get it sorted!

[John Burton]

I don't often send anything out by mail, but I have done before when the post has been on strike. I used a courier. Costs more but at least you can still deliver on your promises.
John Burton

[marcus passey]

Originally Posted by TristanPerry

They are a useless company. Not sure why they are still (partially) state owned.

They moan about being pushed to modernise (which they don't want, even though it'd benefit efficiency) , and strike causing nation-wide troubles.

Then the workers are told they'll need to work a bit harder (which modernisation would have solved...) and they moan and strike about that.

It's very annoying.

Whenever I go into a post office there's always massive queues. My fiance and I once waited around 25 minutes just to send off a package (and this isn't too 'out of the ordinary')

The sooner they got sorted out the better.

Edit: Marcus, I agree it's a tough job for you postmen and you have my sympathies. The men (and woman) on the ground doing the hard work are all great workers. It's the hypocritical bosses and unions (etc) who are making Royal Mail a laughing stock.

Cheers Tristan it is the bosses and unions that hack us off we just want to do our jobs.

But us postman feel ripped off, Royal Mail made a £321 million profit and awarded management with big bonuses and us with a pay FREEZE.

Strike action is the last thing we want I did not even vote I have had enough of it. Our rounds are already totally over the top I spend half my duty travelling and sorting my round the other four hours to deliver at a fast pace. I have no time to talk to customers, and we already deliver late yet they want us to do more.

We want this service to continue, no one else can do it for as cheap as we do. We want to save Royal Mail if we do nothing it will be privatised within two years and to send a letter across the country will cost ten times more.

We should of stayed a service and not have been made a business.

I truely hope I can make it online because Royal Mail will not last at this rate.

Marcus

[Big JP]

I really don't understand why these people go on strike, they spend a few days bitching and walking the streets like a bunch of hobs, get the attention they are seeking, then settle for something ridiculously stupid, return to work and then work their butts off to catch up with all the backlog of stuff they caused, and complain about that! Is it worth the hassle...

[marcus passey]

Originally Posted by Big JP

I really don't understand why these people go on strike, they spend a few days bitching and walking the streets like a bunch of hobs, get the attention they are seeking, then settle for something ridiculously stupid, return to work and then work their butts off to catch up with all the backlog of stuff they caused, and complain about that! Is it worth the hassle...

I am really not liking this thread your slagging a lot of genuine hard working people off, the general public really dont see what goes on. Read my post above.

Are there any other posties here??

Cheers

Marcus

[Big JP]

Originally Posted by marcus passey

I am really not liking this thread your slagging a lot of genuine hard working people off, the general public really dont see what goes on. Read my post above.

Are there any other posties here??

Cheers

Marcus

Hi Marcus,

Just to be clear, I am not "slagging" anyone off, I totally respect where your coming from, and appreciate the RM service, I am always having things delivered to my house by RM, and get on pretty well with two guys who deliver to me, they even wait until after 10 before knocking me up if there's are parcel for me

All I was trying to say is, is the whole strike thing even worth it? All the hassle it causes for the workers like yourself, and everyone else. Even if you get what you're campaigning for, it usually never lasts, so... Is it worth it?

JP

[marcus passey]

Originally Posted by marcus passey

Cheers Tristan it is the bosses and unions that hack us off we just want to do our jobs.

But us postman feel ripped off, Royal Mail made a £321 million profit and awarded management with big bonuses and us with a pay FREEZE.

Strike action is the last thing we want I did not even vote I have had enough of it. Our rounds are already totally over the top I spend half my duty travelling and sorting my round the other four hours to deliver at a fast pace. I have no time to talk to customers, and we already deliver late yet they want us to do more.

We want this service to continue, no one else can do it for as cheap as we do. We want to save Royal Mail if we do nothing it will be privatised within two years and to send a letter across the country will cost ten times more.

We should of stayed a service and not have been made a business.

I truely hope I can make it online because Royal Mail will not last at this rate.

Marcus

Hey JP

I am glad you know where we are coming from thats why I wrote the above post.

I did not mean my post to come out like that, I ment the whole thread. I just want to make it clear that its the big union bosses and the Royal mail bosses creating havoc we are just the little pawns in there game.

No offence intended to you JP.

cheers

Marcus

[Big JP]

Originally Posted by marcus passey

Hey JP

I am glad you know where we are coming from thats why I wrote the above post.

I did not mean my post to come out like that, I ment the whole thread. I just want to make it clear that its the big union bosses and the Royal mail bosses creating havoc we are just the little pawns in there game.

No offence intended to you JP.

cheers

Marcus

Not at all, none taken.

I gathered you were regarding the whole thread, and even if you were not, I would totally understand your concerns, as you provide a service and should be thanked for it, not slagged off.

So hears my thanks... THANK YOU !

JP

[NickR06]

Oh dear a lot of people have been spoon fed by the media.

Fact - Royal Mail has modernised at the expense of 35 000 jobs.

Fact - People who have posted from the UK wake up, apart from the South East (always on strike it seems) Britain enjoys an excellent postal service. During the last strike one of the private couriers we had to use could not find our office despite it being on a central city street!

Fact - No matter which private company picks up the mail. It is the Royal Mail which delivers to the letterbox. Private competitors do not want the expense of setting up an infrastructure to deliver to every address in the UK. Royal Mail has a commitment to deliver to every household. Private competitors do not, but they do have the freedom to 'cherry pick' big customers. Thus losing Royal Mail profits which used to subsidise the universal delivery promise.

Fact - Under Adam Crozier (current Chief Executive) we have had two national strike and dozens of smaller ones. He has no relevant experience. He used to be an executive of the Football Association. Hardly comparable.

Fact - London is often on strike because who could afford to live on a postmans wage in London.

Fact - Governments for years have creamed of profits from Royal Mail. Far in excess of any taxes they would have received if it were a private business. Therefore, it is right that they should make good the pension deficit.

Anyway don't worry the way things are going Royal Mail will go down the pan.
See what the private competion charges to deliver ebay packages and amazon books. Don't think they will be interested in delivering to rural areas. Not enough profit in it.

Hopefully things will improve when the Tories win the next election. They do seem to care about the Royal Mail.

I hope they do survive. The service in our city is excellent.

[marcus passey]

Originally Posted by NickR06

Oh dear a lot of people have been spoon fed by the media.

Fact - Royal Mail has modernised at the expense of 35 000 jobs.

Fact - People who have posted from the UK wake up, apart from the South East (always on strike it seems) Britain enjoys an excellent postal service. During the last strike one of the private couriers we had to use could not find our office despite it being on a central city street!

Fact - No matter which private company picks up the mail. It is the Royal Mail which delivers to the letterbox. Private competitors do not want the expense of setting up an infrastructure to deliver to every address in the UK. Royal Mail has a commitment to deliver to every household. Private competitors do not, but they do have the freedom to 'cherry pick' big customers. Thus losing Royal Mail profits which used to subsidise the universal delivery promise.

Fact - Under Adam Crozier (current Chief Executive) we have had two national strike and dozens of smaller ones. He has no relevant experience. He used to be an executive of the Football Association. Hardly comparable.

Fact - London is often on strike because who could afford to live on a postmans wage in London.

Fact - Governments for years have creamed of profits from Royal Mail. Far in excess of any taxes they would have received if it were a private business. Therefore, it is right that they should make good the pension deficit.

Anyway don't worry the way things are going Royal Mail will go down the pan.
See what the private competion charges to deliver ebay packages and amazon books. Don't think they will be interested in delivering to rural areas. Not enough profit in it.

Hopefully things will improve when the Tories win the next election. They do seem to care about the Royal Mail.

I hope they do survive. The service in our city is excellent.

Nick that is a very excellant post mate, as a postman myself I agree with all said.

Good stuff

Marcus

[NickR06]

Marcus
I used to work for Royal Mail in the bookroom. It was over 15 years ago. I still keep in touch with several of my ex workmates. They all seem concerned with the downward spiral in standards. The move to part time work will keep away responsible family men, and encourage more temporary staff. No man or women with a family to support could afford to start work at Royal Mail now.
Anyway Marcus good luck with your ventures. Going self employed was the best thing I ever did. It's not always easy but you do feel self empowered.

Nick

[marcus passey]

Originally Posted by NickR06

Marcus
I used to work for Royal Mail in the bookroom. It was over 15 years ago. I still keep in touch with several of my ex workmates. They all seem concerned with the downward spiral in standards. The move to part time work will keep away responsible family men, and encourage more temporary staff. No man or women with a family to support could afford to start work at Royal Mail now.
Anyway Marcus good luck with your ventures. Going self employed was the best thing I ever did. It's not always easy but you do feel self empowered.

Nick

Hey Nick

The good ol bookroom eh!

Yep you got your post just right the general public just get sucked in by the media.

Really dont want to strike, lets see what happens. I just hope I continue to gaining success within internet marketing.

Cheers mate

Marcus

[Amanda Craven]

If you desperately need to get a letter through when/if the strike starts, a tip is to use next day guaranteed Special Delivery. Expensive but this service is given priority by the managers who are usually drafted in to handle the mail when postal workers are on the picket lines. The Royal Mail Parcelforce is a separate entity so apparently should not be affected by strike action..

Am I right on these points Marcus?

[marcus passey]

Originally Posted by Amanda Craven

If you desperately need to get a letter through when/if the strike starts, a tip is to use next day guaranteed Special Delivery. Expensive but this service is given priority by the managers who are usually drafted in to handle the mail when postal workers are on the picket lines. The Royal Mail Parcelforce is a separate entity so apparently should not be affected by strike action..

Am I right on these points Marcus?

Yes managers do try and deliver the special deliveries but im not sure if they are all guaranteed.

I dont think Parcelforce is affected.

cheers

Marcus

PS Amanda I really dont wanna strike, but have no choice.

[Dal.K]

I can't believe the anti union views being expressed. At the end of the day Unions are there to fight for fair working conditions, and do what's right for the workers.

Sure, as a customer/consumer you might have a problem, as you're inconvenienced by a strike, but for the worker, it's their job, something that they do everyday of their working life, so if they feel compelled to go on strike, I respect that, it's not easy going on strike, especially in this current climate.

You guys make it sound like Unions function by themselves. They ballot for a strike, so it's the workers/members who are taking direct action.

The strike is gonna affect me too, but it's all too easy to jump on the bandwagon, and put down the hardworking front line Royal Mai workers and the unions who represent them.

Tristan, you obviously know enough about the Royal Mail to say it's useless do you?

So sorry that it annoys you so much, but there is more at stake than you being annoyed.

Also, you say there are massive queues, is that because people like you are using their service?

I feel sorry for front line staff in these industries who have to endure endless queues/workload, and then told that they are useless.

Originally Posted by TristanPerry

They are a useless company. Not sure why they are still (partially) state owned.

They moan about being pushed to modernise (which they don't want, even though it'd benefit efficiency) , and strike causing nation-wide troubles.

Then the workers are told they'll need to work a bit harder (which modernisation would have solved...) and they moan and strike about that.

It's very annoying.

Whenever I go into a post office there's always massive queues. My fiance and I once waited around 25 minutes just to send off a package (and this isn't too 'out of the ordinary')

The sooner they got sorted out the better.

Edit: Marcus, I agree it's a tough job for you postmen and you have my sympathies. The men (and woman) on the ground doing the hard work are all great workers. It's the hypocritical bosses and unions (etc) who are making Royal Mail a laughing stock.

[Dal.K]

Well Marcus, I appreciate the job that you do, I really do, even if my affiliate cheques will be delayed.

Big JP, clearly, you're not putting anyone down, and certainly not Marcus, when you say,

"I really don't understand why these people go on strike, they spend a few days bitching and walking the streets like a bunch of hobs"

and then you later on say,

Just to be clear, I am not "slagging" anyone off, I totally respect where your coming from

Oh, I love your compassion my friend.

[NickR06]

It should also be pointed out that Post Office counters are a different company to Royal Mail. Tristan, your having to queue for so long is a direct result of modernisation. Hope your happy with the results!!!

[Dal.K]

Spot on Nick.

I've just been watching the news, and they've been discussing rumours that the Royal Mail are going to break their recognition agreement with the union. But this has been denied by Royal Mail. It wouldn't surprise me at all.

[Shana_Adam]

Well I guess they probably want us to start delivering our own mail like the supermarket self service. The stupid terminal just barks at you like a dog.... and even then you come out feeling stupid. So much for intelligent recognition of your groceries.

The services in this country are just getting plain bad.

[marcus passey]

Dam looks like im going on strike. I need some affiliate commissions quick.

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Marcus

PS Hope my internet marketing journey takes off a little bit quicker

[NickR06]

Chasing profits at the expense of the consumer. Royal Mail, and other companies are losing their focus on the customers and their frontline staff who service those customers.
For a company that treats it's staff well and take's it's lead from their customers; check out Tesco. The figures are staggering. £1 out of every £6 spent is received by Tesco. The headquarters is unflashy. Staff are listened to and receive a share in the ongoing success. Put the chairman in charge of our NHS.

Nick

[NickR06]

Dam looks like im going on strike. I need some affiliate commissions quick.

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Marcus

PS Hope my internet marketing journey takes off a little bit quicker

Marcus do some article writing to bring in some quick money. There was an excellent WSO recently by Kenneth Rearden. I tipped my grandaughter of about this. She writes well and this would be a useful part time income during her time at university.
Hope the strike does not cause you to much hardship.

Nick

[TelegramSam]

I feel I have to chip in here with a few comments.

My company sends out between 500 and 1,000 parcels under 3kg each week.

For 95% of them we use Royal Mail.

They are not perfect, lose perhaps 5 out of 1,000 somehow, but they give much better prices than couriers.

I personally talk to 3 or 4 postmen each week and they all seem decent people and work well.

I understand their issues on the whole. But we are living in difficult times.

Some change is obviously necessary. And I agree that management have botched things. People have a right to fight for their jobs, but both sides have to be willing to talk. The leader of the union seems like he doesn't want to talk to anybody.

I believe one of the problems is that the UK government allowed some competition in (at the demand of the EU) and they allowed these new companies to "Cherry Pick" some of the most profitable areas.

Even still, the Royal Mail has to deliver the majority of this post through the final letter boxes, yet only earn a few pennies for doing so.

There is no way private firms can create a network as good as Royal Mail at the same prices.

Sure the government should have kicked a few butts, but a country should have its own state run postal service. It is still a vital service.

One of the biggest problems is the pension shortfalls and the main reason for this is the Labour governments rule and tax-break changes a few years ago which had a serious detrimental effect for a lot of people.

Perhaps a little country such as the UK shouldn't be fighting wars half way round the world which it can't afford.

It should leave the wars to its bigger ally which seems to have a never ending ink supply in its money printing presses.

Sam

[Dal.K]

Great post Sam. It's good to hear from someone who is aware enough to see the bigger picture despite the likelihood of suffering financially from the strike.

I'm no Royal Mail worker, but I do believe in the unions, although when we talk about the strike, we forget that the it's the normal front line service people who have decided to take this action, not the Union chiefs. These things are always a last resort. What I do worry about though is, the effect the strike will have on Royal Mail itself and our economy.

I hope they do reach a compromise though.

[nettech]

I;m already getting emails from my credit card companies telling me to sign up online etc so I dont miss my payments.....the cheek! lol

[Big JP]

Originally Posted by Dal.K

Well Marcus, I appreciate the job that you do, I really do, even if my affiliate cheques will be delayed.

Big JP, clearly, you're not putting anyone down, and certainly not Marcus, when you say,

"I really don't understand why these people go on strike, they spend a few days bitching and walking the streets like a bunch of hobs"

and then you later on say,

Just to be clear, I am not "slagging" anyone off, I totally respect where your coming from

Oh, I love your compassion my friend.

LOL! When you put it like that, maybe I could have worded my post a bit better, haha. But I really do like my postman/men and the services RM workers provide, so no hard feelings to ya! Fingers crossed you'll get what you deserve...

P.S - Really weird, as I wrote"fingers crossed" my TV in the backround said it out loud I have countrylife on, don't know why

JP