Why I will be crossing the picket line.

[peejay14]

I now won't be crossing the picket line, however my views still hold. I phoned my manager this morning to discuss arrangements for going into work tomorrow, and discovered that I was the only one prepared to do so out of the whole office. Can you imagine the trouble I would get from my striking colleagues the next day at work, if I had been the only one working tomorrow ?! I think my turn-around could be called self-preservation. I want to work, I don't want to strike, and by numbers alone the union is keeping me from going to work (still my choice, but by choosing to strike I am choosing not to be mentally tortured when we all return on Saturday).

I too am struggling financially. Me and my family are about to move house (we are renting, which is more expensive), my wife is pregnant and on reduced hours at her work, and we are paying off a loan. Yes it's just one day and £40, but it looks like there are further and longer strikes looming.

Had there been more of us prepared to work, then I would have joined them and worked tomorrow. I am closer to joining the union now, if only to make a 'no' vote, but the position of 'Independant' (where I am not a member of the union but choose to strike) seems to suit me. If or when support for the strike drops and more posties return to work, then I will be among the first to do so.

Not an easy situation or decision for me, and I could do without this stress. Changing job remains an option for me, but that would be an extremely difficult decision, because until this week I was content at work.

[krussel]

I now won't be crossing the picket line, however my views still hold. I phoned my manager this morning to discuss arrangements for going into work tomorrow, and discovered that I was the only one prepared to do so out of the whole office. Can you imagine the trouble I would get from my striking colleagues the next day at work, if I had been the only one working tomorrow ?! I think my turn-around could be called self-preservation. I want to work, I don't want to strike, and by numbers alone the union is keeping me from going to work (still my choice, but by choosing to strike I am choosing not to be mentally tortured when we all return on Saturday).

I too am struggling financially. Me and my family are about to move house (we are renting, which is more expensive), my wife is pregnant and on reduced hours at her work, and we are paying off a loan. Yes it's just one day and £40, but it looks like there are further and longer strikes looming.

Had there been more of us prepared to work, then I would have joined them and worked tomorrow. I am closer to joining the union now, if only to make a 'no' vote, but the position of 'Independant' (where I am not a member of the union but choose to strike) seems to suit me. If or when support for the strike drops and more posties return to work, then I will be among the first to do so.

Not an easy situation or decision for me, and I could do without this stress. Changing job remains an option for me, but that would be an extremely difficult decision, because until this week I was content at work.

Blimey I am glad that your not going in

However if your really that desperate for a few quid then drive to another office and cross their picket line and stop bloody whining on about it.

[madelin4]

I`m crossing the picket line as I have to go for my RTU on Friday. :cfo :mfo
Maybe I should wave as I pass the picket line. And then join the line with my P45. on the way out.

Hey Hope its all good news?????

[Wiggins79]

Off topic this I know, but hoping someone can answer me this. I'm a day-off relief on a 28hr contract. I work in a small subs office (8 rounds) and I'm not in the union. I used to be, but got fed up of paying out £50-odd quid each year only to discover that my union rep was totally useless (and uninterested) when it came to helping me with a problem. In light of the current ongoing crisis, I was intending to rejoin, but thanks to the our driver, who brings the mail out being moved to work in town on the phones (!) I've lost touch with the only person who was capable of sorting out my re-application.
Whilst I support the strike (and most of the reasons behind it) I've been asked if I will be coming into work on Friday morning. When I said I wasn't intending to I was told if I wasn't in the union, then I had to come in. I then said I refused to cross a picket, but was then told that there wouldn't be a picket after 9AM, so I could come in then. I'm pretty sure they won't be a picket as the only other person who is definitley striking in the office certainly won't come just to picket and I seriously doubt the local rep will sit outside our small office all day (I imagine he may turn up early when work is supposed to start, like he did last time round, and then leave after a half hour). I'm also wary of getting any support from the union when our office "revision" hits the fan in the new year (which we have been lovingly promised by our line manager), especially after my previous experience.
I'm getting a bit sidetracked here, but what I want to know is- assuming there is no picket after 9AM, can RM force me to come into work on a strike day if I'm not in the union?
Thanks for any advice.

Non union members can strike according to the Government: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... /DG_179248" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and you can get a join pack by visiting the CWU Website http://www.cwu.org/join.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks TrueBlue. Helpful info that.

[Theghost]

Yet I believe that as the nature of the job changes, there will still be the need for workers. If I show my commitment to my employer now, then they will see that I want to be a part of their future plan.

You need to be very careful in choosing which side you are on, If in the near future you f**k up, Royal Mail will not take into consideration that you worked in a previous strike they will just try to get you sacked, just the same as the rest of us, but you will more than likely find yourself on your own without the support of you're Union or Colleagues,

Please accept my sincere apologies,I browsed through your previous posts and spotted this,It only showed the headline and it looked as if it was your topic,Not a reply to the topic.
Very very sorry

[opgpat]

If I show my commitment to my employer now, then they will see that I want to be a part of their future plan. That's all I want to fight for, my own place on the company's payroll.

lol good luck with that one. When they want to cut numbers fella it will be last in first out and with 1 years service you will be top of the list.

[Pat Ostman]

If I show my commitment to my employer now, then they will see that I want to be a part of their future plan. That's all I want to fight for, my own place on the company's payroll.

With Royal Mail (and a postie), you are only as good as the last letter you posted. Remember that!

[Destroyer]

Believe me, if they treat people like s**t after more than 20 years service you are like a lamb to the slaughter. What you probably havent ever given it a thought is that people have fought for everything youve got in this industry, if it wasnt for our predecessors we would have little or nothing to fight for. Get out there with your new colleagues & fight for a future that you really want to be enjoying.

Sometimes i cant believe what i hear from some people at work, let me make this clear - Royal Mail dont want to give you anything, they dont want to give you a job, all they want to give you is the sack & get rid of you for nothing.

All the benefits you currently enjoy have been won by the members of the CWU.

[Funked!]

All the benefits you currently enjoy have been won by the members of the CWU.


I just wish some of these people would understand this.

[pete the ex-postie]

All I ask of anybody who is in the union and goes into work on strike days is to resign from the union. I will respect your decision even though I disagree with it but if you are in the cwu then you should be following the decision of the majority .

Exactly!

[Ogg]

Good for all people who are crossing the picket lines you have a right to and don't be afraid of the postman bullies who are worse than their own managers hey complain about good for you

A little punctuation perhaps mate? :)

Ah, I expect a few more to cross the line tomorrow and even more next week if this farce continues. We have endured a minority whispering against the sc*bs but tolerance is the key really and people will learn in the end that in this day and age it doesn't really matter... :)

Personally I wish they'd hurry up already and stop wasting our time and money.

[coxie]

its not wasting your money though is it ogg because your earning it while the rest of us take on the fight. I just hope you dont go crying about future outcomes when managers decide to bully you or in a few years force you out of a job, when you have no job at all you can look back and see how scabbing for a few days made a big difference.

[sonofuberman]

For the rest of you life you have to live with the fact, that when your colleagues needed your support you turned your back on them!
Remember this in years to come.
This goes for anyone else crossing the line in the morning, for your own short term need (greed) you are sacrificing the long term living not just of yourself, but all those you work with.
Thatchers children...... :mfo

[Huxon]

Ogg just think of our boss Adam, waking up in his huge mansion, going for a swim in his private pool before being chauffer driven into work where he spends a whole 30 mins delegating. He relies on people like you to wear out there knees for a few pounds a week so he can live like a king.

[DirtyHarry]

Ogg just think of our boss Adam, waking up in his huge mansion, going for a swim in his private pool before being chauffer driven into work where he spends a whole 30 mins delegating. He relies on people like you to wear out there knees for a few pounds a week so he can live like a king.

I'm afraid you are wasting words on that peasant, Ogg. People like him were born to serve their masters, and nothing you, or,me, will say, or do, will ever convince him of what a shallow existence, devoid of pride, he not only creates for himself, but for his children and grandchildren too.