Wrong Reasons to Strike

[DemonPostie]

So I've been talking with a lot of the punters on my round*, explaining the reasons why we are going on strike. Seems all anyone hears from BOTH sides (RM and Union) is that we are striking mostly over pay. Needless to say, the public never really has sympathy with people who just want more money, especially in the "current economic climate" (how I hate that phrase!). When I tell them how much RM is destroying the service, with later post every day, more and more stress for us, post office closures, etc etc etc, they tend to see our side.

I think it's a real mistake of the Union to bang on about pay. We aren't that badly paid, and certainly with so many unemployed, we are quite lucky to have decent (?!?) jobs. If we want the public on our side, we need to get across that we are NOT just fighting for ourselves, but for the future of Royal Mail as an institution and as a service.

That's my 2p, anyway.

-Demonic
*i am on a rubbush contract, so if i spend more time talking to punters, i make more money. :)

[janitor]

Totally agree, heard billy on the radio the other day from the interview i heard the only reason we are striking is over pensions. Not a single other reason was mentioned.

[DirtyHarry]

Any employee working for a company that despite "the current economic climate" still made a handsome profit, deserves a pay rise.
Jealousy from a do-nothing but whinge public doesn't change that.
Above all, the attack on our terms and conditions of work must cease, not just for what little remains of 2009, but for ever.
"The current economic climate" is unlikely to radically improve over the next few years, thanks in the main to British businessmen's almost total lack of financial nous, especially in the banking sector. That's a long time in which to endure a pay freeze unlikely to be reciprocated by crooks like Crozier.

[lekker]

Totally agree, heard billy on the radio the other day from the interview i heard the only reason we are striking is over pensions. Not a single other reason was mentioned.

All interviews are edited depending on the time alloted for screening. So it is quite likely that other reasons were given but then ignored. My reason for striking is that the numpties running the show are imposing duties that simply cannot be done and that the service they are giving to the public is an absolute disgrace. Also I am pig-sick of royal Mail blaming me for the crap the business is in. I take out between 80 and 160kg a day and they reckon i don't work hard enough. I have already lost pay through striking but i am glad we returned a Yes vote. Maybe these people will see sense at last and start talking seriously to our representatives.

Mind you, with their contention that the ballot is flawed because there was not a 100% turnout - usual bad loser claptrap - it hardly seems likely

[andy2007]

Any employee working for a company that despite "the current economic climate" still made a handsome profit, deserves a pay rise.
Jealousy from a do-nothing but whinge public doesn't change that.
Above all, the attack on our terms and conditions of work must cease, not just for what little remains of 2009, but for ever.
"The current economic climate" is unlikely to radically improve over the next few years, thanks in the main to British businessmen's almost total lack of financial nous, especially in the banking sector. That's a long time in which to endure a pay freeze unlikely to be reciprocated by crooks like Crozier.

You're right about us deserving a pay rise (and a big one at that!). But the fact is, that there are so many other, far more important issues. That IMHO, it should be "put on the back burner". We SHOULD be putting ALL our resources, into fighting the attacks on our service, working conditions, and in a lot of cases, B&H of our Collegues!

I'd be perfectly happy, with a pay freeze. If we can get something done about the IMPORTANT issues. We can worry about a pay rise, next year!

[krussel]

I agree i am quite happy to take a pay freeze in the short term.
What i would like to see is Royal Mail being able to compete in a fair open market place and not be tied down to EU directives which force to offer financial crippling downstream access agreements.
Let there be open and fair letter competition and we would wipe the floor with the rest out there.

[watdeadlyone]

Someone needs to let media know real reasons and not just RMs propoganda and bull.
Only company i know where modernisation means later deliveries.
Just more time to overload us with more crap till we drop

[krussel]

Which i why i really want to see a national campaign from the CWU be it in newspapers, TV, online or even radio stating our case and moving away from money issues which the public like to kick off about.