a day off for me tomorrow

Originally Posted by Ed

No I don't have DX but I'm investigating.

Businesses rely on the post, a lot of people don't use electronic communication, yes even in 2007. I generally receive between 30 - 40 items of post a day.

I for one have no sympathy with these people. Pension? How nice to have one. I can't accept greedy managers with snouts in the trough, paying bonuses is not acceptable in these circumstances, but the fact is that if talented people aren't properly rewarded then they will walk.

I fail to see what this strike will achieve. Most postal workers won't want to break the strike for fear of being labelled 'scab' and will accept the lost wages because of this. I think that postal workers are simply accelerating the inevitable.

i totally sympathize with you Ed, the CWU didnt want this to happen either
and everyone knows how this will effect businesses, the regulator and the royal mail has left no option and i can personally see this going on for a long time, you could use another Carrier but they just give it to the RM to deliver anyway? by the way Mr Leighton and crosier have annual salary's of in excess of 1M and still say the company is making no money.

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

is this why the royal mail are finding it increasingly difficult to employ good delivery men? would you walk the streets 6 days a week in wind, rain and snow for £319.38 gross per week?
and when you talk about postal workers the indoor staff (me) could not be replaced by monkeys, do you know what we do? do you know what you are talking about before you shout about it?

Yes, I would. I would like to have the stress, worry free task of delivering letters in inclement weather for £319.38 gpw. but know that the Postal service is a pretty 'closed shop'
I know one or two postman pretty well. They lead the 'Life of Riley' Fact.

"life of riley" i must meet these two.

Ed, you hit a number of nails right on the head there....

Originally Posted by Ed

No I don't have DX but I'm investigating.

Businesses rely on the post, a lot of people don't use electronic communication, yes even in 2007. I generally receive between 30 - 40 items of post a day.

I for one have no sympathy with these people. Pension? How nice to have one. I can't accept greedy managers with snouts in the trough, paying bonuses is not acceptable in these circumstances, but the fact is that if talented people aren't properly rewarded then they will walk.

I fail to see what this strike will achieve. Most postal workers won't want to break the strike for fear of being labelled 'scab' and will accept the lost wages because of this. I think that postal workers are simply accelerating the inevitable.

And the relevance of the miners to this is what ?

The miners strike was politically motivated to try and bring down the Tory government, and at the same time, progress the ego of Arthur Scargill. Both of which failed because the Miners were wrong. The country cannot employ people if there is no work to do, which is very different in the case of Post Office workers.

Arthur who ??

Originally Posted by Tomcat

As for the pension .... too many companies are doing this, surely it is illegal! There is a factory locally and I know men who have paid into a pension for 25 years and more, and are now being told that its not there ....

In most cases, a company pays a % of an employees salary into a pension scheme on the understanding that said employee does the same. It's a benefit, not an obligation. When a company says "we need that money" there are two things to consider:

1) If the company needs the cash, it's to keep the business running. You could have your pension, but won't have a job....

2) The money that the employee pays in is safe, the employer can only get their hands on what they have paid in. So it wasn't the employees money anyway (in real terms). I know that they may have been expecting a a decent pension, but then you should read the small print when you sign on the dotted line...

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RM pay no contributions anymore.

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

RM pay no contributions anymore.

So what they are "claiming" back is what they had previously ?

.

yes, they used to pay good contributions in to pensions but it stopped when saving money became there objective and borrowed large amounts of money from the pension pot they couldnt repay.

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

yes, they used to pay good contributions in to pensions but it stopped when saving money became there objective and borrowed large amounts of money from the pension pot they couldnt repay.

So on top of your gpw earnings, you were receiving a contribution towards your pension?
Where do I sign up?

Originally Posted by Jelster

In most cases, a company pays a % of an employees salary into a pension scheme on the understanding that said employee does the same. It's a benefit, not an obligation. When a company says "we need that money" there are two things to consider:

1) If the company needs the cash, it's to keep the business running. You could have your pension, but won't have a job....

2) The money that the employee pays in is safe, the employer can only get their hands on what they have paid in. So it wasn't the employees money anyway (in real terms). I know that they may have been expecting a a decent pension, but then you should read the small print when you sign on the dotted line...

.

Originally Posted by Jelster

So what they are "claiming" back is what they had previously ?

.

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

RM pay no contributions anymore.

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

yes, they used to pay good contributions in to pensions but it stopped when saving money became there objective and borrowed large amounts of money from the pension pot they couldnt repay.

as i understand it, employer's contributions to a pension fund for employees is part of the benefits for the employee like getting a company car etc. i think lots of people accept getting a crapper salary in return for a decent pension contribution, seems unfair if you put up with the rubbish pay and then get your pension taken away