What are peoples's views on this ?

[headscrewedon]

Was told today of an unsavoury incident that occurred at an office that was not on strike yesterday.

An agency worker who has worked at an office (that I shan't be naming) on and off for several years, who is well-liked and has many friends, has been the victim of repeated goading from an ex-CWU rep about coming in to work during the one-day strikes.

Given that the union is supposedly strongly against all forms of bullying and harrassment, can it be acceptable to repeatedly make pithy remarks within earshot of this person, repeatedly using the hated four-letter word commonly used to refer to people who cross picket lines, when that person is not even a Royal Mail employee, is not therefore in the union, and whose employment would most likely be terminated by his agency if he did not go to work as normal ?

This abuse, over a period of weeks, culminated in the agency guy - normally an amiable 'gentle giant' - losing his temper and clouting the ex-rep. This has resulted in someone who isn't even a RM employee losing his agency job whilst the ex-rep has a bruise but still keeps his job, as nobody will admit to overhearing any of the insults that were repeated on a regular basis.

What are your views on this ? Can you really condone the RM employee's behaviour ? And if you do, what other forms of intimidation of non-strikers would you condone without speaking up ? Physical violence ? Actual bodily harm ?

Many I have spoken to are disgusted that this provocation has gone unpunished. We do not want to end up with the kind of terrible behaviour that led to a taxi-driver in South Wales ending up dead during the 1984 miners' strike ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_David_Wilkie" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ). I personally think that people can very easily lose all perspective during industrial disputes which, inevitably, cause strong feelings on both sides of the argument. Surely condoning verbal insults is just the start of a very dangerous and uncontrollable path ?

[spilie]

with all the sneaks from RM and the media sniffing about this site i think this is a hand grenade of a question, will tell you what i think after all is settled

[TrueBlueTerrier]

What are your views on this ? Can you really condone the RM employee's behaviour

- Nope bullying or harassment in any form is wrong, end of. I do not and will not support anyone who uses any words as a form of bullying. Keeping silent about bullying is just as bad.

I personally would prefer CWU members not speak to strike breakers rather than bully and harass them, as ultimately it could mean an incident like this occurring. However even not speaking to people has been deemed bullying so not sure how you could do this and be fair to both sides.

I personally would speak to a strike breaker, but I would have little or no respect for them and would probably not strike a conversation with them.

[whitemoor66]

Why are all these sob stories on Royal Mail Chat coming from people who joined in Sept/Oct of this year?

[DirtyHarry]

headscrewedon, I will tell you, if you tell me what you think of the widespread bullying and harrassment by managers of staff, which happens on a daily basis, at almost every office/mc, and of which I've been a victim myself, and was primarily the reason I voted to take strike action.
Deal, or no deal?

[london sub]

Why are all these sob stories on Royal Mail Chat coming from people who joined in Sept/Oct of this year?

Good question.

[collectionsarebest]

if local managers are on here to wind people up it really does show how sad they are, not all of us newbies are moles though, promise

[General Mannerheim]

I agree another one of these threads that always surface around strike time.

[dvbuk55]

Tell me headscrewedon - did the chief name you as well - anyone who hasn't heard the joke I apologise to.

[headscrewedon]

headscrewedon, I will tell you, if you tell me what you think of the widespread bullying and harrassment by managers of staff, which happens on a daily basis, at almost every office/mc, and of which I've been a victim myself, and was primarily the reason I voted to take strike action.
Deal, or no deal?

Deal.

Once again, I am NOT a manager. It is to be expected that a chat forum dealing with postal issues will attract more new members when something major like a strike is affecting them, is it not ? Or would people prefer this is a closed forum only open to members that all hold the same view, with no room for debate (i.e. what a forum is supposed to be for ???) and no new members allowed ?

Of course I do not condone the widespread bullying and harrassment by managers of staff. I have experienced it and had to take out a grievance to make it stop. But equally, two wrongs do not make a right. It's double standards - particularly for an ex-rep - to say they are against bullying but then actually inflict it on someone, especially if they are not even a RM employee

[headscrewedon]

Anyhow, off to chill-out and watch 'Have I Got News For You', and keep life in perspective.
I'm sure :mfo and Royal Mail won't even get a mention

[london sub]

If NOT a manager, then what are you then?

Like everything on here its a bit hard to believe if your story is true or not. So as for this i have no views on this topic, end of.

[osiris]

This strike will see many a friendship lost, and colleague turn against colleague. Good relationships built up over many years regardless of grade or job will suffer.

Quite sad in a way, and I'm not ashamed to say coming from a former pit village, I fear for our future. Hope it works out for everybody, and good luck all.

[BELIAL]

Was told today of an unsavoury incident that occurred at an office that was not on strike yesterday.

An agency worker who has worked at an office (that I shan't be naming) on and off for several years, who is well-liked and has many friends, has been the victim of repeated goading from an ex-CWU rep about coming in to work during the one-day strikes.

Given that the union is supposedly strongly against all forms of bullying and harrassment, can it be acceptable to repeatedly make pithy remarks within earshot of this person, repeatedly using the hated four-letter word commonly used to refer to people who cross picket lines, when that person is not even a Royal Mail employee, is not therefore in the union, and whose employment would most likely be terminated by his agency if he did not go to work as normal ?

This abuse, over a period of weeks, culminated in the agency guy - normally an amiable 'gentle giant' - losing his temper and clouting the ex-rep. This has resulted in someone who isn't even a RM employee losing his agency job whilst the ex-rep has a bruise but still keeps his job, as nobody will admit to overhearing any of the insults that were repeated on a regular basis.

What are your views on this ? Can you really condone the RM employee's behaviour ? And if you do, what other forms of intimidation of non-strikers would you condone without speaking up ? Physical violence ? Actual bodily harm ?

Many I have spoken to are disgusted that this provocation has gone unpunished. We do not want to end up with the kind of terrible behaviour that led to a taxi-driver in South Wales ending up dead during the 1984 miners' strike ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_David_Wilkie" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ). I personally think that people can very easily lose all perspective during industrial disputes which, inevitably, cause strong feelings on both sides of the argument. Surely condoning verbal insults is just the start of a very dangerous and uncontrollable path ?


Couldn't give a toss Head Screw cos like the rest of the s**t management spew out on a daily basis(traffic Figs. etc) This is more than likely another complete pack of lies.Think you lot might have shot your bolt

[DirtyHarry]

headscrewedon, I will tell you, if you tell me what you think of the widespread bullying and harrassment by managers of staff, which happens on a daily basis, at almost every office/mc, and of which I've been a victim myself, and was primarily the reason I voted to take strike action.
Deal, or no deal?

Deal.

Once again, I am NOT a manager. It is to be expected that a chat forum dealing with postal issues will attract more new members when something major like a strike is affecting them, is it not ? Or would people prefer this is a closed forum only open to members that all hold the same view, with no room for debate (i.e. what a forum is supposed to be for ???) and no new members allowed ?

Of course I do not condone the widespread bullying and harrassment by managers of staff. I have experienced it and had to take out a grievance to make it stop. But equally, two wrongs do not make a right. It's double standards - particularly for an ex-rep - to say they are against bullying but then actually inflict it on someone, especially if they are not even a RM employee

OK, I detest bullies, their actions are the actions of the basest coward imaginable, and they should be flushed out, and then shipped out.
By the by, I didn't say you were a manager, did I?