are royal mail striking

If Royal Mail workers want to get paid more, then that's fine IMO. But I don't agree with striking (and I kinda disagree with unions too, there are a lot of generic ways of complaining w.r.t. employment problems these days, which is what unions would previously have helped with). If they want more money, do what the rest of us would do - ask for it, or get a new job!
Maybe Royal Mail should be able to act as a private company, with the way they can bid for contracts mentioned above, etc. I think that would be fairest.

I used to like his shows as a kid, no more...

Is this prophetic?

If like my mate you live in Alsager and the other lives the other side of Stoke then 2 hours to get up get sorted and get there isnt that much .
As for getting another job what world are you living in my hubby was made redundant 3 months ago he has applied for 1,834 jobs up to now he has had 4 letters back (yes through RM) saying thanks but no thanks 1 interview and the rest dont even bother.
Sorry dont do punctuation takes up my time lol

Originally Posted by suzijax

If like my mate you live in Alsager and the other lives the other side of Stoke then 2 hours to get up get sorted and get there isnt that much .
As for getting another job what world are you living in my hubby was made redundant 3 months ago he has applied for 1,834 jobs up to now he has had 4 letters back (yes through RM) saying thanks but no thanks 1 interview and the rest dont even bother.
Sorry dont do punctuation takes up my time lol

I'm sorry your husband was made redundant but that's life, and I don't see why Royal Mail workers shouldn't have to face the same trials and tribulations as the rest of us?

I'm a little confused about it all. Can't fathom the reasons for going on strike when the company is in danger of going down the pan, whatever the rights and wrongs about the way that the company is being managed. Seems a bit futile to me.

Worse still, by witholding mail from other businesses they are putting those businesses at risk. So they go to the wall, less mail being sent, less income for RM and a downward spiral comes into being. Other businesses will simply turn to other providers/other means for business mail to preserve their ability to trade.

Sure, press for things like better terms/conditions/pay when times are good and the company has the cash/income to support it but now ain't the time.

I have a lot of sympathy with the staff during these uncertain times, but striking in a recession is just plain daft.

I heard an interview on Radio 4 a few weeks back when they were doing the strike ballot. The union man came across far better than the management bloke. The union man - I think his name was Dave Ward?? - had facts at his fingertips, the management bloke just talked meaningless BS. It was so obvious that there was a huge gap in communication.

Originally Posted by Ed

It was so obvious that there was a huge gap in communication.

And so a huge gap in understanding.

I'm sure you're right about the Union chap and he's probably very far from being a "Red Robbo", but striking rarely works long-term. Where are all those industries and business that suffered strikes in the late 70's and 80's now?

last time they were striking there was a rep from RM on the radio saying how X% of RM workers were being paid less than the average wage, and that everyone should be earning at least that.

probably the same guy that decided striking whilst you business is failing is a good idea

[Sir Trev]

Originally Posted by Jabba

Worse still, by witholding mail from other businesses they are putting those businesses at risk. So they go to the wall, less mail being sent, less income for RM and a downward spiral comes into being. Other businesses will simply turn to other providers/other means for business mail to preserve their ability to trade.

FedEx must be rubbing their hands with glee. Perhaps the union reps have shares with them!

Let's see if we can predict the outcome... RM loses another shed load of business customers and yet again has too many staff for the volumes they handle, resulting in more layoffs and more changes to working time/conditions. Unions scream about it being unfair, despite it being largely their fault.

The world is getting smaller and competition is now global. If a business cannot adapt to that it will die - period. If the unions insist on stopping that adaptation by looking at short term gains for their members they will end up killing the company, as well as lots of innocent companies they drove to the wall by striking. The public will lose faith in them too and will quite probably take their business eslewhere and the spiral Jabba quite rightly mentions continues down and down.

I seem to reacall the car workers trying it on - not many of them left now is there? Likewise the miners. And the steel workers.