worrying numbers looking to work on strike day

[Greenbaum]

We've got some who see coming in on a strike as a good way of kissing the dom's arse, rubbing their hands together thinking of all the overtime they'll be getting. There's no consideration beyond looking after number one.

[Chelseablue]

Jimmy ure office must be unbearable ,

[dvbuk55]

If people believe that the strike is a one day wonder they aren't going to want to lose pay and who can say it isn't the right decision? If that is the case and an overtime ban and boycotting DSA is the next ballot.............................

[halfull]

i think it will be 50/50 in my office, me(subrep) & my rep are trying to explain too them why its so important for us to get a deal that protects our futures, but once they have made their mind up they seem to convince themselves this is not worth striking over! Like many have said whats 300quid when we will be on 0hour contracts/min wage!?!? And people with children have MORE reason than any to back the strike! I think you can feed your children better on £10.50/11.50 perhour than £6.90!! We will not rep anybody who breaks the strike,they dont deserve a rep.

[dvbuk55]

I'm not entirely sure where this idea that there will be a sudden drop in pay to minimum wage. It isn't likely to happen to existing staff. New starters will probably be on a lower rate but then they are now. New starters probably won't get sick pay but they don't now. To coin a Dylan song, "the times they are a changing" and nothing and no one is going to make time stand still I only wish it was possible. You have to ask yourself that if the existing management are in charge for an indeterminate future and judging their performance to date is it likely that they are going to be able mount any sort of plan to make sweeping changes within the next 3 years, because they haven't managed it in the last 3? People shouldn't forget that industrial action doesn't always have to be on a national level individual offices can ballot and strike over local issues.

[chrisj]

I'm not entirely sure where this idea that there will be a sudden drop in pay to minimum wage.

Scaremongering and irrational if you ask me. It does not help the debate at all.

[dvbuk55]

I'm not entirely sure where this idea that there will be a sudden drop in pay to minimum wage.

Scaremongering and irrational if you ask me. It does not help the debate at all.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned voluntary redundancy. Now how many older people would consider taking a golden handshake? That's probably not an immediate prospect but bearing in mind not all of our work is subject to the USO and that provides scope for shedding staff. There are probably many methods which are totally unnecessary and will be shed. Royal Mail have stated that there will be protection for "the core staff" but no mention of how many core staff will remain.

[UnhappyGremlin]

I'm not entirely sure where this idea that there will be a sudden drop in pay to minimum wage.

Scaremongering and irrational if you ask me. It does not help the debate at all.

No matter what, there is very little probability of a sudden drop.
But, it has happened in many other industries. Look at City Link, staff given new contracts with a 'sign it or you're fired' instruction.
I think that pay and allowances will be slowly chipped away at over time.

And for anyone thinking that it's OK as long as lower wages only apply to new staff, then that will still affect us, but 10 or 15 years down the line.
For example, it creates a two tier workforce, and as long as the current staff is the majority it's fine, but when the new tier overtakes the old tier in numbers, that's when the problems start.
RM could offer a lump sum payment instead of a % rise, and as long as they can persuade the newer employees to take it/vote it in, that's it.
Real term cuts etc., by the back door.
Yes, it's fine now, and even in the medium term, but at some point, it will cost us all.

[clashcityrocker]

i We will not rep anybody who breaks the strike,they dont deserve a rep.

Does that mean you are both standing down to let somebody who properly understands their responsibilities take over?

[halfull]

I'm not entirely sure where this idea that there will be a sudden drop in pay to minimum wage. It isn't likely to happen to existing staff. New starters will probably be on a lower rate but then they are now. New starters probably won't get sick pay but they don't now. To coin a Dylan song, "the times they are a changing" and nothing and no one is going to make time stand still I only wish it was possible. You have to ask yourself that if the existing management are in charge for an indeterminate future and judging their performance to date is it likely that they are going to be able mount any sort of plan to make sweeping changes within the next 3 years, because they haven't managed it in the last 3? People shouldn't forget that industrial action doesn't always have to be on a national level individual offices can ballot and strike over local issues.

one of the worse posts ive ever read, its so obvious that the royalmail want to employ an inferior workforce on awful t&c, pay, contacts,pension etc,& only a fool wouldn't realize over time they will move the profitable parts of the business(parcels,specials etc) to this workforce & leave us with the declining mail running at a loss,then the ultimatum will come to us- sign this new contact the same as these guys or goodbye! Thats privatization fellas! Nobody is saying they will say next week you on min wage but they will manufacture the business in a way over the next 2-4 years that they will say they have no choice but to do it, however they have to they will! They want rid of fulltime staff & our hourly rate,anyone who thinks otherwise is drinking way too much cherry!

[halfull]

i We will not rep anybody who breaks the strike,they dont deserve a rep.

Does that mean you are both standing down to let somebody who properly understands their responsibilities take over?

If need be we have both said we would give up the rep jobs, how can you rep certain people who are going round telling everyone to cross the picket line as its a good deal & our union is usless?? Then they still want to be in the union for selfish reasons! Either be in a union & back it or leave the union & say what you like about it but to be in a union & encourage others to cross the picket line is unrepable.

[fishtank]

I'm not entirely sure where this idea that there will be a sudden drop in pay to minimum wage.

It's not hourly pay that will drop if Royal Mail get their way,it's earnings.
Casuals will be the norm especially in processing,overtime will dry up,part-timers will be hit hardest.
We've already seen indoor hours culled and part-timers reduced to more or less delivery only,expect much more of this.
I would expect some kind of push towards pay simplification,reducing or removing the many supplements in RM.
MTSF and Pay Protection is very expensive and must be a target
No sick pay for the first three days is almost certain to make some kind of appearance at some point.

Labour costs will have to be reduced dv and although the threat of tearing up our contracts and re-employing us on vastly inferior contracts is unlikely at the moment it's worth thinking about.It's a nuclear option but i'm sure it has been discussed at boardroom level if only as part of a wish list.
We wouldn't be the first...or the last.

[clashcityrocker]

i We will not rep anybody who breaks the strike,they dont deserve a rep.

Does that mean you are both standing down to let somebody who properly understands their responsibilities take over?

If need be we have both said we would give up the rep jobs, how can you rep certain people who are going round telling everyone to cross the picket line as its a good deal & our union is usless?? Then they still want to be in the union for selfish reasons! Either be in a union & back it or leave the union & say what you like about it but to be in a union & encourage others to cross the picket line is unrepable.

If you can't counter their arguments without recourse to an anti-union threat, perhaps it is time to stand down.

[kitkatchunky]

Am in a office in lancs and there is a few going to go in like fools

[halfull]

i We will not rep anybody who breaks the strike,they dont deserve a rep.

Does that mean you are both standing down to let somebody who properly understands their responsibilities take over?

If need be we have both said we would give up the rep jobs, how can you rep certain people who are going round telling everyone to cross the picket line as its a good deal & our union is usless?? Then they still want to be in the union for selfish reasons! Either be in a union & back it or leave the union & say what you like about it but to be in a union & encourage others to cross the picket line is unrepable.

If you can't counter their arguments without recourse to an anti-union threat, perhaps it is time to stand down.

sounds like you are one of the ones crossing the picket line, go have an afternoon nap!