Christmas post could be hit as union militants threaten

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 08 Oct 2007, 14:05

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770

Christmas post could be hit as union militants threaten to step up action

The Christmas post will come under threat from strikes if Royal Mail bosses fail to back down in the latest pay dispute, warn union leaders.

The Communication Workers Union has made clear that it will maintain and intensify its industrial action unless a deal can be reached on wages, pensions and shift patterns.

Disruption to postal services over the busy Christmas period would be a hammer blow to many mail-order and internet shopping businesses.

And it would result in disappointment for the wider public, with cards and gifts subject to severe delays.

Postal services have been paralysed since Thursday when the first of two 48-hour stoppages was imposed.

The second 48-hour stoppage is due to run until Wednesday morning.

However, the CWU has made clear it is planning to repeat the strikes, with a series of stoppages every week through Christmas.

The Royal Mail usually delivers around 82million items a day, rising to 135million a day at Christmas.

Strike action until then would create an estimated black hole of Â£250million in Royal Mail's income.

Online retailer Amazon said that it was struggling to cope with the current strike but was already using alternative mail services.

DX, one of Royal Mail's biggest rivals, has taken on more than 100 staff to cope with a 25 per cent increase in orders.

The firm's James Greenbury said: "Since this strike began, we've had a lot of new business from the City and financial services industry, in particular - but also from holiday companies and ticket agencies who need to make sure customers get their tickets."

The CWU has rejected a 2.5 per cent pay offer and is fighting off modernisation plans which they say would change shift patterns and lead to 40,000 job losses.

Talks continued over the weekend, with Royal Mail chiefs claiming support for the strike is crumbling.

A spokesman said: "Royal Mail desperately needs to modernise and improve its efficiency.

"A key part of this is simply asking our people to work all the hours they are already paid to work across the working week and to use the equipment Royal Mail is investing in."

The CWU said the shake-up amounts to the dismantling of the Royal Mail service.

Proposals including shifting most daily deliveries until the afternoon and axing Sunday collections from post boxes.

"These changes will actually take the service backwards," said a union spokesman. "The strikes will not be called off until an agreement is reached

pickaname · Post by **pickaname** » 08 Oct 2007, 14:16

"DX, one of Royal Mail's biggest rivals, has taken on more than 100 staff to cope with a 25 per cent increase in orders. "

100 staff? Wow...

Wild Cat · Post by **Wild Cat** » 08 Oct 2007, 14:21

pickaname wrote:"DX, one of Royal Mail's biggest rivals, has taken on more than 100 staff to cope with a 25 per cent increase in orders. "

100 staff? Wow...

They will sack them all when the strike finishes.

Wild Cat · Post by **Wild Cat** » 08 Oct 2007, 14:22

Looks like the Fleet Street scum are stepping up the propaganda boys and girls!!!

max_gain · Post by **max_gain** » 08 Oct 2007, 15:54

At least its appears to be aimed at Royal Mail and not instantly just blaming it all on CWU.

blackadder · Post by **blackadder** » 08 Oct 2007, 16:24

pickaname wrote:"DX, one of Royal Mail's biggest rivals, has taken on more than 100 staff to cope with a 25 per cent increase in orders. "

100 staff? Wow...

excuse me, whos delivering there mail ??

Post by **dvbuk55** » 08 Oct 2007, 16:28

blackadder wrote:
pickaname wrote:"DX, one of Royal Mail's biggest rivals, has taken on more than 100 staff to cope with a 25 per cent increase in orders. "

100 staff? Wow...
excuse me, whos delivering there mail ??

They do their own delivery - the only competitor to do so, as far as I know.

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 08 Oct 2007, 17:25

"A key part of this is simply asking our people to work all the hours they are already paid to work across the working week

Perhaps RM would like to tell the big wide world exactly what they mean!

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 08 Oct 2007, 17:34

dvbuk55 wrote:
blackadder wrote:
pickaname wrote:"DX, one of Royal Mail's biggest rivals, has taken on more than 100 staff to cope with a 25 per cent increase in orders. "

100 staff? Wow...
excuse me, whos delivering there mail ??
They do their own delivery - the only competitor to do so, as far as I know.

More of a courier service mostly contracts, legal documents to Law firms solicitors etc

sean38 · Post by **sean38** » 08 Oct 2007, 20:09

pickaname wrote:"DX, one of Royal Mail's biggest rivals, has taken on more than 100 staff to cope with a 25 per cent increase in orders. "

100 staff? Wow...

If they have taken on an extra 100 staff there must be millions of extra letters (NOT)

ROCKY · Post by **ROCKY** » 08 Oct 2007, 20:10

they are crap the wifes firm use them and 1 wek they didnt turn up at all due to lack of staff,they make us look good even when we are on strike

sean38 · Post by **sean38** » 08 Oct 2007, 20:15

ROCKY wrote:they are crap the wifes firm use them and 1 wek they didnt turn up at all due to lack of staff,they make us look good even when we are on strike

When I was del on my industry I saw them go to 1 firm hardly going to bankrupt us ha.

chayoliver · Post by **chayoliver** » 08 Oct 2007, 21:02

YEH I SPOKE TO ONE OF THEIR GUYS A FEW WEEKS BACK THEIR ON CRAP PAY CRAP TERMS AND PEOPLE KEEP LEAVING, THEY WORK LONG HOURS NO UNION JUST LOADS OF YES MAN AND FOREIGNERS THIEVING ALL THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS, SUPPOSE ITS THE USUAL ONES WHO HAVE BEEN SACKED BY ROYAL MAIL FOR THIEVING CREDIT CARDS

goingpostal · Post by **goingpostal** » 08 Oct 2007, 22:03

A spokesman said: "Royal Mail desperately needs to modernise and improve its efficiency.

"A key part of this is simply asking our people to work all the hours they are already paid to work across the working week and to use the equipment Royal Mail is investing in."

TRY ASKING MANAGEMENT TO WORK THE HOURS THEY ARE PAID FOR instead If the 2 in our office actually got paid for the hours they put in they would be taking home less than a postman, Â£35k + for coming in around 7am only to go home around 10am

IWW Fellow Worker · Post by **IWW Fellow Worker** » 08 Oct 2007, 22:04

These 'militants' they keep on about. Who are they? I don't know any of them.