1971 Strike

[deristrong]

Seven weeks solid strike action and eventual "agreement" still fell far short of what postie's wanted. We've got to try, of course, but can we really win this one?

[clashcityrocker]

Define "win".
We have been fighting a rearguard action for the last 20 years.

In '71 didn't they go back for less than they were offered at the outset?

[JKSmudge]

Can we win? Who knows ? All I know is we have 3 options;-

1. Give up and accept the low pay rise and worse t&c.

2. Fight

3. Leave RM

1 is out of the question for me so atm it's 2, with 3 a possibility at some point

[Binsey]

1988 was the better comparison.

The picket lines were mental.

[koolishy67]

No agency worker in 1971

[baldrick]

In '71 didn't they go back for less than they were offered at the outset?

No, the UPW were offered 8% at the outset. The claim was for 15%. The strike ended with an agreement, endorsed by a members' ballot, for 8% plus another 1% dependent on 'efficiency savings' - sounds familiar!
Members who were involved in the 71 Strike told me that although they didn't get what they went out for, they did get a good pay increases the following years.
The main 'efficiency' RM management wanted to introduce was part-time staff. One result of the strike was that didn't happen until about 14 years later.

[clashcityrocker]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/date ... 516343.stm

Strikers are disappointed because they are being asked to return to work without even the 8% rise offered when the walk-out began on 20 January.

[wallan]

In '71 didn't they go back for less than they were offered at the outset?

No, the UPW were offered 8% at the outset. The claim was for 15%. The strike ended with an agreement, endorsed by a members' ballot, for 8% plus another 1% dependent on 'efficiency savings' - sounds familiar!
Members who were involved in the 71 Strike told me that although they didn't get what they went out for, they did get a good pay increases the following years.
The main 'efficiency' RM management wanted to introduce was part-time staff. One result of the strike was that didn't happen until about 14 years later.

We had Part Time Staff in 1971 , on Deliveries they did a 1st Delivery , Hours usually 0545 - 1030

[Surreypostie]

My old man was on that strike, told me they got their arse kicked and wished they hadn't bothered.

[k979aaa]

Seven weeks solid strike action and eventual "agreement" still fell far short of what postie's wanted. We've got to try, of course, but can we really win this one?

Can we afford not to win is the question!

[baldrick]

We had Part Time Staff in 1971 , on Deliveries they did a 1st Delivery , Hours usually 0545 - 1030

That might have been a local agreement. Until the Way Forward Agreement working arrangements were agreed in individual units by local Reps.
There were no PT staff in London when I joined RM in 1981. I think it was 1985 when they were brought into West Central DO without agreement.
WCDO walked out and were out for three weeks, but had to go back as they were not backed up by other London units. After that PT staff were brought in throughout London.

[Skuse]

No agency worker in 1971

[wallan]

We had Part Time Staff in 1971 , on Deliveries they did a 1st Delivery , Hours usually 0545 - 1030

That might have been a local agreement. Until the Way Forward Agreement working arrangements were agreed in individual units by local Reps.
There were no PT staff in London when I joined RM in 1981. I think it was 1985 when they were brought into West Central DO without agreement.
WCDO walked out and were out for three weeks, but had to go back as they were not backed up by other London units. After that PT staff were brought in throughout London.

We had Part Time Staff when i went on Delivery in 1965 , there 2nd Delivery was split between two ajacent deliveries , there was also Part Time Staff on Evening Outward Sorting , i think there hours were 1645 - 2045
Casuals were employed on deliveries not only at Christmas but also during the Peak Summer Holiday Period