tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545428530989218019.post232753511783348244..comments2023-11-02T13:43:32.053+00:00Comments on Andrew Reeves' Running Blog - but what am I running for.....: Postal strike - who is benefitting?Andrew Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07693106687465032781noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545428530989218019.post-65368943723126848662009-10-27T16:31:59.074+00:002009-10-27T16:31:59.074+00:00Check out my song about the postal strike:
www.yo...Check out my song about the postal strike:<br /><br />www.youtube.com/watch?v=24ntxbAbdicMartin Leayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15268270827409236641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545428530989218019.post-79442130054116248392009-10-21T18:36:50.631+01:002009-10-21T18:36:50.631+01:00I have every sympathy with anyone being confronted...I have every sympathy with anyone being confronted with job scope and nature changes, work intensification etc and limits on pay rises. I'm a public sector worker too. The issue is that striking is cutting of your nose to spite your face. People have alternatives now and can choose to try alternative services other than the RM. The business isn't too big to ignore changes in the world around it.<br /><br />If the incumbents can do it better then why not develop a competitive value proposition, get funding and walk out of RM leaving them high and dry!! If you are that good just do it and no one could argue that you right all along about how the business should have been run.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09463141694556030954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545428530989218019.post-81552045911391238382009-09-30T13:41:19.285+01:002009-09-30T13:41:19.285+01:00Caron has it spot on and I am saying that as a Pos...Caron has it spot on and I am saying that as a Postie.<br /><br />Modernisation so far for the ordinary postie has meant <br />1. No pay rise this year, which I will accept even if RM made a profit of £321,000,000 this year.<br />2. Last 3 years pay rise all below inflation and RPI.<br />3. Later deliveries to householders.<br />4. Earlier Last collections.<br />5. No collections from Post Offices and Boxes on Sunday and Bank Holidays.<br />6. Larger and larger delivery rounds.<br />7. Heavier and or more bags to deliver because of PIP (Pricing in proportion) I used to have 4 on my round now 8 is more normal.<br />8. Later starts. Which is why customers are getting post later and later in the day.<br />9. 2,500 post offices closed and a "hard sell" culture introduced.<br />10. 30 minute flexibility has been introduced which according to the agreement is voluntary, yet people being sent home without pay when they can't (and yes sometimes won't) do it.<br />11. Lapsing rounds was meant to be when there was time spare, on the 1st day of planned absence and to allow more posties to take holidays in summer. However, posties still lapse on the busiest days, on the 6th and 7th day of absence, and to date no extra slots have been made available for posties to take summer breaks. Lapsing makes rounds bigger by the way.<br /><br />Future RM modernisation will impact customers in the following ways.<br /><br />1. Even later deliveries I work at the moment 6am to 2pm, RM are moving to 9am to 5pm which means later post for everyone. Also with the 10% drop in volume (although the actual % may be in question)rounds are being increased making later post more likely.<br />2. Est 20,000 more redundancies meaning more use of casual labour when its busy - which means a less professional work force.<br />3. At the moment most (though not all) business mail is ready for collection at 9am, in future to ensure you get the same service you will need to may £3,000 plus a year.<br />4. More Post Office closures and more "Hard selling" in them.<br />5. Removal of under used Post Boxes - collecting 20 - 30 letter per day is just not efficient.<br />6. Increasing stamp prices - beyond RPI and inflation to pay for "modernisation".<br /><br />So as you can see although yes there is some self protection behind the strikes, but also, in this humble posties opinion, some attempt to stop further degradation of the service we try to provide.<br /><br />Please note I am just an ordinary Postman I hold no official in the CWU or RM beyond that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545428530989218019.post-39791207185908316722009-09-29T11:04:25.076+01:002009-09-29T11:04:25.076+01:00I don't really think it's all about money....I don't really think it's all about money. I think it's more about culture and managing change. The Royal Mail has been a hotbed of industrial action and wildcat strikes for so long now. That doesn't happen in an organisation with a healthy culture. If the Royal Mail management took action to make their employees feel better valued and treated them like grown ups, then I think you wuoldn't see so many strikes.<br /><br />It's not as easy as saying "if you don't like it get out". I count being happy in your work as being an essential part of productivity. That doesn't mean that you don't work hard - quite the reverse - but you're committed to your goal, if you like.<br /><br />I reckon, actually, that the way to resolve the postal strike for good is to get managers who understand people in - people like you, except you are not allowed to leave your current position cos you're too good:-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04988201531739344840noreply@blogger.com