official industrial action

[andy2007]

But there are other alternatives, which have proved effective in the past: Overtime bans, would have a major effect, as there are so many people on Part Time Contracts, who actually work full time.

RM have out-thought the CWU there; those 1 or 5 hour per week workers are going to earn virtually nothing under an O/T ban, but the F/T workers will still receive a week's wages. That's too divisive to be workable, as the P/Ts aren't going to go for that.
Good point. I'd forgotten that some people are on stupidly short contracts. I was actually thinking of the 20 - 30 hour Part Timers. So you're right. That wouldn't be fair, or workable.

The entire indoor SAWN Operation is staffed with S/A, so that would grind to a halt. And I think it's safe to assume that MCs rely heavily on Overtime too.

In my MC it's next to impossible now to get OPGs in on O/T. If there was an official O/T ban I reckon the management would do what they do most weeks, and just phone the local agency for more staff.
With the exception of the Manager, there isn't a single person on SAWN, who isn't doing S/A. Although there aren't that many people who do Weekday O/T these days. But as you pointed out earlier: An overtime ban, isn't workable.

Then there's the Go Slow. That's always prved effective in the past.

Back in the 1960s maybe.

No, it's been used very effectively, for local disputes where I work. Whether it would work elsewhere, I don't know. But surely it's worth a try.

We can't keep letting the Public down, by Striking. But on the other hand. If we don't find a way to fight back. The service will be erroded to the point, where it's a farce. Surely there's a workable alternative. I'm out of ideas, if the go slow idea doesn't work out. But surely SOMEONE can come up with an alternative.

[dvbuk55]

At least you answered albeit in your rather strange way! LOL. Still we have to look to the future dont we? I and many others want to know what that is and have imput into it not some pantie wearing vision of our future from above? But who knows i look at life in a strange way

Says it all really

[fmrPOSTIE]

Out of interest, when was the last National Walkout?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Out of interest, when was the last National Walkout?

The last National Official action was 07 when we went out on rolling strikes, each function going out for 24/48 hrs followed by the next function. Torpedoed when RM got an injunction against the CWU in October of 2007.

Was a very successful method as it took ages to clear the back log and RM refused to give us OT - which I was not bothered about actually as I did not want to do any.

[dvbuk55]

At least you answered albeit in your rather strange way! LOL. Still we have to look to the future dont we? I and many others want to know what that is and have imput into it not some pantie wearing vision of our future from above? But who knows i look at life in a strange way

Says it all really

Your so very naughty unlike me LOL. Just keep your snake to yourself.

You old snake charmer you, there's nothing wrong in wearing feminine undergarments, don't be embarrassed you have to be in touch with your feminine side now and again - just don't get run over and if you do say it was dark when you got dressed

[andy2007]

Out of interest, when was the last National Walkout?

The last National Official action was 07 when we went out on rolling strikes, each function going out for 24/48 hrs followed by the next function. Torpedoed when RM got an injunction against the CWU in October of 2007.

Was a very successful method as it took ages to clear the back log and RM refused to give us OT - which I was not bothered about actually as I did not want to do any.

Has there ever been an all out Strike in RM?
If so, how long ago was it?

I know that the rolling Strikes were effective, in creating a serious backlog. But it left a lot of people in the horrible position of being expected to complete their shift, while their Collegues were on the Picket Line outside! There were Drivers, with official authorisation from the CWU, to cross the Lines. A lot couldn't bring themselves to do so. I know of one Scottish Driver, who on seeing us, turned round and went back. Then got suspended as a result. When he was reinstated. He phoned ahead, to ask us to disperse, as he couldn't bring himself to cross a Picket Line. And he didn't want to be responsible for his Collegues loosing more money, by walking out again, to get him reinstated (as they had done the last time). Now THERE'S dedication to Trade Unionism!

As there is a 2 hour overlap, on our Shifts. I was left in the terrible position of finishing my Shift, only to find a Picket Line. I had nievely thought, that they wouldn't have set it up, 'till we left. I felt physically sick, when I realised! Had I realised that they would be setting up the Picket Line, before we finished. I'd have walked out, in time to join them. I know that it would have resulted in a disciplinary. But at least I would have been on the right side of the Picket Line!

[baldrick]

The last official all out strike was in 1971 - 6 weeks.
In September 1988 we were out for 2 weeks after RM moved mail from an office on
strike (Milton Keynes IIRC) to other offices who then walked out, which ended up with
most of the offices across the mainland being on strike.
In December 2003 the London Weighting dispute was again spread by RM moving mail
to other offices who then walked out. That lasted over a week.
I agree with you about having strikes where one shift is still working when others are out.
During the 1996 one day strikes against 'the Employee Agenda' the Media showed people
(not due to be on strike) crossing picket lines and claimed that the strikes were crumbling
and people were returning to work, when actually more people were supporting them.

[Jennifer]

A thought on which to ponder. For all intents & purposes most RM work is unskilled labour. Where oh where are all these people going to get jobs if they misbehave in RM & collapse the business? They seem to think that RM owes them a living! Therea re now so many hardworking men & women out there who have lost their jobs who would come into RM at the drop of a hat & work like Billeo.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

A thought on which to ponder. For all intents & purposes most RM work is unskilled labour. Where oh where are all these people going to get jobs if they misbehave in RM & collapse the business? They seem to think that RM owes them a living! Therea re now so many hardworking men & women out there who have lost their jobs who would come into RM at the drop of a hat & work like Billeo.

Sorry, but for you to equate union members and RM workers as misbehaving when they wish as they see it to protect the service they work in, and their own jobs and terms and conditions, gives away which side of the argument you are on.

Ok you may believe that RM are right in every thing that they do that is your right, but why intimate that people with other views are naughty children and don't work hard, instead of belittling others views perhaps it would be more constructive to point out to people why we should accept RMs proposals without question apparently.

I await with interest your next post.

[DGP1]

A thought on which to ponder. For all intents & purposes most RM work is unskilled labour. Where oh where are all these people going to get jobs if they misbehave in RM & collapse the business? They seem to think that RM owes them a living! Therea re now so many hardworking men & women out there who have lost their jobs who would come into RM at the drop of a hat & work like Billeo.

Do you ever think that if we were treated with dignity and respect we would complain so much Do you ever think that if the managers showed any sort of ability to manage that would complain as much and one more thing, whilst you seem to think that people will beg for scraps of jobs (1 hour contracts), the minute the economy picks up these people will be away into jobs that they can rely on.

[stokes11eg]

A thought on which to ponder. For all intents & purposes most RM work is unskilled labour. Where oh where are all these people going to get jobs if they misbehave in RM & collapse the business? They seem to think that RM owes them a living! Therea re now so many hardworking men & women out there who have lost their jobs who would come into RM at the drop of a hat & work like Billeo.

Sorry, but you sound suspiciously like an old Area manager we used to have.And, I have seen many hardworking people come and go, because the job is not what they have been led to believe--unskilled maybe, but most posties are dedicated and Loyal to the job----it is the Managers who should be thinking and pondering. how many people are going to come for one hour or ten hour contracts???? As they say, you gets what you pay for, including the staff, treat them like dirt, and pay them peanuts--what more can one say?

Sorry, but for you to equate union members and RM workers as misbehaving when they wish as they see it to protect the service they work in, and their own jobs and terms and conditions, gives away which side of the argument you are on.

Ok you may believe that RM are right in every thing that they do that is your right, but why intimate that people with other views are naughty children and don't work hard, instead of belittling others views perhaps it would be more constructive to point out to people why we should accept RMs proposals without question apparently.

I await with interest your next post.

[andy2007]

A thought on which to ponder. For all intents & purposes most RM work is unskilled labour. Where oh where are all these people going to get jobs if they misbehave in RM & collapse the business? They seem to think that RM owes them a living! Therea re now so many hardworking men & women out there who have lost their jobs who would come into RM at the drop of a hat & work like Billeo.

You seem to be labouring under a few misconceptions here:
1) There are many skilled jobs in RM (e.g. Truck Drivers, Reach Truck, Counterbalance, Staffing, RLB, etc., etc., etc., etc..)
2) No other Company in Britain is capable of providing the USO. None of them are even close.
3) If it's an OFFICIAL Strike, they can't sack us. And the Government CAN'T AFFORD TO LET ROYAL MAIL GO BUST (see point 2).
4) If we don't take action. The Government will continue to errode our service. Pay is only 1 of many reasons for the 2007 Strike. No sane person would have Striked for the wages alone, these days. When will people realise, that most, if not all of us, are far more concerned with the quality of our service. Than how much money we take Home (so long as it remains fair).

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I may concede the "unskilled" part of the argument for walking posties, being one myself. But to label a job as unskilled does not mean its an easy job or that the people doing it lack skills. It may be unskilled but yet I see people leave after as little as 3 or 4 days because the job is too hard (their reason not mine).

I also wonder why if it is an unskilled job that they allow up to 6 weeks training, including ring fenced duties, to allow people to learn it. Thats about the same length of time the RAF take to train you in basic military skills.

[andy2007]

That's a good point. And don't forget, that you need to be able to memorise an entire area, and all the Postcodes for it. You may not need much in the way of qualifications to GET a job as a Postie. But you need to have a good memory, be physically fit, and ready to work damn hard, for your money!

And as I pointed out earlier: There are also many (what most people term) skiled jobs in RM too. Although, I still think that being a Delivery Postie, should be considered a skilled job.

[guvenor]

smaller offices itching for ia just waiting on one of the big areas to lead