Why I will be crossing the picket line.

[westlondonpostie]

After Newsnight last night, can you imagine what working in you're Office will be like without Union involvment?
Why has Royal Mail refused to reveal they're forth coming plans for the future and they're refusal to negotiate with us.
You are thinking about breaking the strike for financial reasons, but look at the big picture, how much money would you get if RM decided to cut you're hours and pay in a years time.

[Sci_Dog]

We all have our problems, some greater than others, financially and otherwise. It is better to lose a little pay now than lose it all at a later date. So the rest of us will suffer while you join the Management Lackies, BUT good luck to you.

Bit harsh. Some of us do have large mortgages to pay for and cant afford to lose a days pay.

A lot of people in Scotland, London and elsewhere have large mortgages and can't afford to lose (more than
one days) pay, but have done so because they recognise the consequences of not doing so will be even worse.

So true. These members have been losing pay for weeks and maybe even months now. Most of us haven't had the chance yet to support them and yet when we do, we still have people with the attitude me, me, me. They want to gain the benefit from the strikes but they don't want strike. Makes me sick. No one can afford to strike! No one! Grow a set of conkers and either resign from the Union as already suggested or get your ass on the picket line and support your colleagues all over the UK!

[Terry Hurlock]

It's a individuals choice to cross a picket line however it's living with the aftermath and the fact that you let you mates down, how the f**k do you sleep at night knowing that you will have helped management to shaft people that you have obviously stood toe to toe with in previous strike action.
I couldn't do it myself not even for a pound note f**k that I would rather be skint or unemployed and yes that may happen but a job working the way they want us too ain't worth having.

Have a nice xmas though eh!

[rockytony67]

True about the much needed yes vote of course but I'm prediciting nothing but trouble if we do actually strike. I hope a solution can be found before hand. Ogg 8/10/09

This is your view on the 8/10/09 Ogg, "need a yes vote" so by that I take it that you voted yes

[shedboy]

I've got a mortage to pay, Christmas is coming up and I've got kids........well boo f*****g hoo mate, so have the rest of us, the vast majority of who will be standing shoulder to shoulder with our brothers all over the country in an effort to preserve our service, jobs, pay and future.

Lucky for you that we're asked to keep it decent on here, but please take your heart wrenching story somewhere it'll be appreciated a bit more, the Daily Mail for instance, no sympathy from me.

Furthermore I'm still a temp, nearly two years into my service, so will probably be writing out my own P45, but cross a picket line? Not as long as I've got a hole in me 'arris.

What are those things called that form when a cut is healing?

[Sci_Dog]

I've got a mortage to pay, Christmas is coming up and I've got kids........well boo f*****g hoo mate, so have the rest of us, the vast majority of who will be standing shoulder to shoulder with our brothers all over the country in an effort to preserve our service, jobs, pay and future.

Lucky for you that we're asked to keep it decent on here, but please take your heart wrenching story somewhere it'll be appreciated a bit more, the Daily Mail for instance, no sympathy from me.

Furthermore I'm still a temp, nearly two years into my service, so will probably be writing out my own P45, but cross a picket line? Not as long as I've got a hole in me 'arris.

What are those things called that form when a cut is healing?

I KNOW! I KNOW!

[hairyjack]

Shame on you ogg, shame on you.

[Broxi51]

Anybody who cannot make a small sacrifice, and God knows, a single days pay a week is as small as it gets, is completely at the mercy of gits like Crozier. I would never in a million years want to swap places with you, never.

On the other hand, if the majority of your colleagues are made of much more sterner stuff, and we win this dispute, you will be able to partake of the gains made by our collective sacrifice, and all it would have cost you is what little pride you have left. Yep, I definitely would not want to swap places with you, and I have already sacrificed at least 12 days pay to date on the principle that we should be treated fairly, treated like human beings, and not looked upon as some sort of new breed of mules to be worked until we drop. Yeah, you go and stick two fingers up at us, along with your new-found friends, Crozier & Mandelson, and anybody else just itching to see us cave in.

[harry09]

I have No sympathy at all for those crossing you will get what you deserve.. I have a large mortgage a small family and the bread winner as my wife is on Maternaty leave and zero savings. Dont start talking to us about how hard it is... But think of your mates (if you have any left by now) striking for you... Think twice and twice again you should know better...

[Pat Ostman]

Hang on guys, I might not agree with him at all but I DO respect his honesty. I just do not get him being a CWU rep once though....

What I mean though is I REALLY dispise the ones that cry to the managers so they can get shipped elsewhere for an easier life during a strike.

[antcpfc]

No half way house in this dispute it is all about Morals.

[knoxycube]

i started 2 weeks ago on a 25 hour contract so the money isnt great,my partner is on maternity leave,we have 3 kids and struggling to get xmas presents at the moment,i have been doing alot of reading on here and asking my colleagues there opinion on the strikes and have had to make a decision on if i should strike or not,in the end it was quite easy,i HAVE to STRIKE,i joined the union in my first week and now i will stand with my new colleagues to fight for our future,

[Sci_Dog]

i started 2 weeks ago on a 25 hour contract so the money isnt great,my partner is on maternity leave,we have 3 kids and struggling to get xmas presents at the moment,i have been doing alot of reading on here and asking my colleagues there opinion on the strikes and have had to make a decision on if i should strike or not,in the end it was quite easy,i HAVE to STRIKE,i joined the union in my first week and now i will stand with my new colleagues to fight for our future,

[112524]

It doesn't matter how many paragraphs of justification and reasoning a person produces. Crossing a picket line is the action of a scab. Its selling out yourself and your working comrades for a few extra notes in your pocket at the expence of your dignity.

[Ogg]

It would have been nice to have been proven wrong but I can assure you, you can all stop the slagging now, I DO understand where you are coming from, of course I do.
Perhaps I should've been a little more specific (to reiterate I have no need for virtual sympathy) but what would you really do if you too are staring bankruptcy in the face and enduring the constant threat of eviction? The fallout from a fiscally challenged ex-wife of course but a giant ****er for me to contend with.
I do posses a conscience, even greater considering I used to be a rep and admit I am torn between supporting the strike or getting the man off my back.

May I enquire if any of you here are or have been local union reps yourselves? Have you spent almost four years pursuing a thankless task simply to do your bit for the office? Have you had to spend entire evenings emailing correspondence, or chasing atos for colleagues, or representing colleagues during a stage meeting? Have you had to break off delivery to attend an important negotiation for an hour before returning for said delivery, for no pay, nothing at all? Are you aware a rep can claim fifty quid a year but only if he attends every single meeting? miss just the one and forget it. Would you have the patience to cope with colleagues domestic problems and mediate between them and management before you've even taken your coat off? Would you, time and time again stand up for your office (with valid results) influencing management to drop the day's absorbtion due to high mail volumes? Could you even have the time to spot colleagues struggling with a new frame and insist they receive help...this and much more besides! I admit I finally lost heart when I asked everyone not to come in early for two weeks to judge the impact of the latest set of changes yet many chose to ignore me. I did all I could and more to influence the yes vote in our office, just like I did in 07 and defy anyone to question my morals or obvious consternation at such decisions that are having a detrimental effect here. Resign from the union you say? Fair enough and if my colleagues requested it I would do so but what I sincerely hope is that people could look beyond that due to my service to the office.


For the record I made no mention of requiring sympathy but thought it might be refreshing to instigate a healthy discussion concerning the current dilemma we all face.
Please, enough insults already, they serve no purpose and you're only telling me what I already know myself.