Life as it was

Post by **postiebob** » 16 Jun 2007, 06:08

Two more things I remember from the late 60's early 70's, as a junior it was my job after bags of mail were opened, to collect all the lead seals, cut the strings off and place in a bag to weight 56lbs, and also how many, like me were shown how to use string to tie bundles of mail up and cut this string using only your hands? took me a while but I got there.

lincolnimp · Post by **lincolnimp** » 22 Jun 2007, 16:59

I've been with RM for 35 years and yes the old days were good and people worked for each other. I did most of the jobs ie delivery collection night sorting PHG AND i even had a few years as an acting manager and an office CWU rep. I worked a three way rotation A delivery collection and nights. If you wanted to have a couple of hours for what ever reason one of your set mates would cover for you at NO COST you would work the time back when he wanted time off. When on nights you would put your mates delivery in for him on your M/R.
I feel that when RM brought in FIXED DUTY'S that when RM started to go down hill.
Regards the pink slips for registered items you could also get them in GREEN AND BLUE. When we had PHG's I would do them on my night shift and afternoon shift. In those days we had to handle lots more specials than we do today, i can remember we would get over 2000 items from the local council in one day. In the good old days the registers were signed for when ever they changed hands even whe you brought one back for what ever reason you had to get a signature for it but today no one bothers.
If the workers helped each other today like we did RM would be a lot better place to work. An example of what I mean is the other day a postie was going on about having to wait for transport when I asked why he said that another postie was not ready to go. I said to him why not go and help him his reply was ITS NOT MY JOB.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 23 Jun 2007, 13:41

Anyone go back this far

Darlington, Postwomen 1941

Post by **evilc** » 23 Jun 2007, 15:14

lincolnimp wrote:I've been with RM for 35 years and yes the old days were good and people worked for each other. I did most of the jobs ie delivery collection night sorting PHG AND i even had a few years as an acting manager and an office CWU rep. I worked a three way rotation A delivery collection and nights. If you wanted to have a couple of hours for what ever reason one of your set mates would cover for you at NO COST you would work the time back when he wanted time off. When on nights you would put your mates delivery in for him on your M/R.
I feel that when RM brought in FIXED DUTY'S that when RM started to go down hill.
Regards the pink slips for registered items you could also get them in GREEN AND BLUE. When we had PHG's I would do them on my night shift and afternoon shift. In those days we had to handle lots more specials than we do today, i can remember we would get over 2000 items from the local council in one day. In the good old days the registers were signed for when ever they changed hands even whe you brought one back for what ever reason you had to get a signature for it but today no one bothers.
If the workers helped each other today like we did RM would be a lot better place to work. An example of what I mean is the other day a postie was going on about having to wait for transport when I asked why he said that another postie was not ready to go. I said to him why not go and help him his reply was ITS NOT MY JOB.

That postie mentioned should come and work at Plymouth Mdec he would have loads of mates there, most staff seem to think like that.

L Tommo · Post by **L Tommo** » 23 Jun 2007, 18:56

TBT Where you get them fine fillys from??? That pic of the rinkley stockings does it for me mate!!!!

..........................................................

baaaaaaabyyyyyyy!!!!!!! Looks like they are right goers!!!

OUT!!!

vigilante · Post by **vigilante** » 23 Jun 2007, 19:53

when I joined we had sections of mainly three town, two rurals and a late shift,
if someone needed time off etc the late man would do a favour for him and so on.
If a rural needed covering one of the town round men would do it, wouldn't go much on it but that was it.

The dedicated duty s**t was obviously a divide and conquer tactic to destroy the union instead of standing up as a section
you would be more or less a lone voice.
thats why we are in this position today.
whoever thought of dedicated duties--------i hope your ass***e gets infected with a million s**t eating fleas.

tyconuk · Post by **tyconuk** » 23 Jun 2007, 20:44

I Joined 1990 as a cadet. Looking back it was good and bad.
good points -: Started an hour later than everybody else.
didn't do any ips.
Week release every forth week, for collage

week away in the lakes paid for

Bad points -: getting paid Â£60 for the same work as a adult postman

that really did my head in!
Getting ALL the shitty Jobs ie DIB stamping, sticking the reg slips in the reg book, going to bookies, tea boy,
general dogs body

But i would not have it any different if i could go back, the good old days of THE ROYAL MAIL.
I don't think i will look back in seventeen years time, with the fondness of now, as i do now. Thats if RM still going then!

postierg · Post by **postierg** » 24 Jun 2007, 05:52

ive been a postie for 3 years now, still a reserve, but (i know im a bit thick) whats the difference between a signed for duty and a dedicated duty?, first ive heard of a dedicated.
love the job, hate the way its run

Gazza90000 · Post by **Gazza90000** » 02 Sep 2007, 17:36

Been in about 27 years... I remember those reg reciepts which got lost all the time and you had to a copy of the signature from the Customer. Trying too explain they were signing for something they already had ....Grrrrrrr.

I know its not long ago but remember standing in a queue for my wages which was in a plastic cover and a wage slip attached too it and you had too sign for the cash...

dave7634 · Post by **dave7634** » 02 Sep 2007, 17:45

Gazza90000 wrote: Been in about 27 years... I remember those reg reciepts which got lost all the time and you had to a copy of the signature from the Customer. Trying too explain they were signing for something they already had ....Grrrrrrr.

I know its not long ago but remember standing in a queue for my wages which was in a plastic cover and a wage slip attached too it and you had too sign for the cash...

When I started you had to empty the postboxes on your delivery. You carried a little brown pouch with your walk no on it the keys for your walk inside & also your Recorded Delivery Book - the little orange one.

Used to hate getting the money for surcharges off the public and was told by other postmen that if it was a postcard then to let them (public) read it and then take it back to work as "refused"

mister-spock · Post by **mister-spock** » 15 Sep 2007, 12:29

i used to do town packets in newcastle in the late eighties,along with an old timer,start at 6am,finished by 10 and paid till 2,From 10 till 1 we used to feed the ducks in Leazes Park then head back to the office,other days we used to sit in our vans in Tyne Street along with council workers and other utility workers and a ice cream van and a fast food van and well hidden from the world.I can even remember watching the Tall Ships with my binoculars.Ah....those were the days

dave7634 · Post by **dave7634** » 15 Sep 2007, 13:14

Gazza90000 wrote: Been in about 27 years... I remember those reg reciepts which got lost all the time and you had to a copy of the signature from the Customer. Trying too explain they were signing for something they already had ....Grrrrrrr.

I know its not long ago but remember standing in a queue for my wages which was in a plastic cover and a wage slip attached too it and you had too sign for the cash...

That was nice if you did afters. You'd get paid on the Thursday afternoon. Nights would get theirs upon starting at 22:30 and then if you were on days you'd come in from your walk at 09:30 and the gaffers would be sat there dishing them out. Open, check amount then sign I think. Used to like rubbing off the blue'ish glue they used to seal the wages packet. If you were off then you'd get your wages 2nd delivery via the postman on the Friday and have to sign the little pink slip.

Post by **slider** » 04 Oct 2007, 20:35

tony T wrote:Does anyone remember pink regy receipts, or the little orange recorded books, how about Datapost or Trackbacks, We had to collect to pay items at the door, stamps were put on to the envelope to the price required. oh yeh and C.O.D's we were walking the streets with hundreds of pounds in our pockets, couldnt see that happening nowadays. When i first started we used to empty phone boxes too, god i must be old.

Post by **slider** » 04 Oct 2007, 21:13

I started in the far of days of 1975 as a y/pmn short for young postman. later termed cadet anyone else here remember those times. as a 16 year old i remember taking home Â£19 per week. also having to attempt delivery 3 times before 739ing an item.
More of a service in those days dont you all agree

majeed · Post by **majeed** » 07 Oct 2007, 13:51

tony T wrote:Does anyone remember pink regy receipts, or the little orange recorded books, how about Datapost or Trackbacks, We had to collect to pay items at the door, stamps were put on to the envelope to the price required. oh yeh and C.O.D's we were walking the streets with hundreds of pounds in our pockets, couldnt see that happening nowadays. When i first started we used to empty phone boxes too, god i must be old.

... Yes, Tony: you are old - no question about it! God bless!

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