To Cross or Not to Cross that is the question.

Kings Norton · Post by **Kings Norton** » 04 Apr 2016, 20:38

Rumple wrote:
daveyeff wrote:they crossed OUR picket line when we were on strike without batting an eyelid.
And if you're prepared to cross theirs you're just as bad as them.

Why should we lose money over them? did they lose money over us?

Whysoslowyehcfc · Post by **Whysoslowyehcfc** » 04 Apr 2016, 21:07

DirtyHarry wrote:Cross their picket line?
I'd f***ing dance across it with two fingers on each hand giving them the traditional salute.

datasaint · Post by **datasaint** » 04 Apr 2016, 21:33

It's not an issue that effects posties so why would we entertain walking out? If posties were stepping in to assume temp-manager responsibilities that would be wrong.

End of the day if management aren't in I doubt the office can function anyway just in case somebody does something monumentally stupid, so they have enough power without us.

korky · Post by **korky** » 05 Apr 2016, 04:54

norm wrote:It's not an issue that effects posties so why would we entertain walking out? If posties were stepping in to assume temp-manager responsibilities that would be wrong.

End of the day if management aren't in I doubt the office can function anyway just in case somebody does something monumentally stupid, so they have enough power without us.

they crossed ours to do our jobs, even if only for special deliveries,
but regardless you would be crossing a picket line, they obviously don't have a conscience or principles but not sure i could cross even theirs,
i didn't deliver mail to another company that was on strike, told manager beforehand and he said just endorse it and bring back.

Post by **IloveMYredTROLLEY!** » 05 Apr 2016, 06:01

Will the Work Place Coaches be made up to managers for each strike day, to allow OPGs to enter the depots?

ratchet · Post by **ratchet** » 05 Apr 2016, 08:50

DirtyHarry wrote:Cross their picket line?
I'd f***ing dance across it with two fingers on each hand giving them the traditional salute.

Sums it up nicely

tpost · Post by **tpost** » 05 Apr 2016, 08:54

They won't go on strike, just hot air by their union.

CharlesSpooner · Post by **CharlesSpooner** » 05 Apr 2016, 12:52

Nothing wrong with crossing their picket line.

I'm crossing that line of managers to perform my work as an OPG - Not to perform their managerial work. If somebody tries to instruct me to perform managerial duties in absence of striking managers then I will refuse. I had no problem with managers crossing our line to do manager's work when we were striking. The problem came about when they started performing the work of the strikers.

It's like when workers strike outside a building and try to stop the post. I'm not going in to perform their work, I'm delivering the bloody mail - that's not their job and doesn't harm the effects of their strike.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 05 Apr 2016, 12:54

Kings Norton wrote:
Rumple wrote:
daveyeff wrote:they crossed OUR picket line when we were on strike without batting an eyelid.
And if you're prepared to cross theirs you're just as bad as them.
Why should we lose money over them? did they lose money over us?

It comes down to principle or revenge. It sounds high-handed but I will never surrender my principles just because they surrendered theirs. If I crossed ANY pricket (SWIDT) line it means I am no better than them. But everyone else has the same choice and I am not going to condemn anyone for crossing, I'll be disappointed, but that's the choice people have.

CharlesSpooner · Post by **CharlesSpooner** » 05 Apr 2016, 13:25

But why not TrueBlue?

You're crossing the picket line to do YOUR job. Not theirs - I'm fully in agreement that you don't cross a picket to perform the strikers work, but to go in and do a different job? I've no problem with that just as I had no problem with managers crossing our lines to manage people who weren't there. I did have a problem with the one's who went in and performed OPG work though.

Our Union has sanctioned similar methods in the past with different parts of the network striking at different times to cause a knock-on effect in the hopes of leaving those of us not yet striking with little or nothing to do*. Were we not technically crossing the picket lines then?

*I could be wrong here

crazyshrew · Post by **crazyshrew** » 05 Apr 2016, 13:50

norm wrote:It's not an issue that effects posties so why would we entertain walking out? If posties were stepping in to assume temp-manager responsibilities that would be wrong.

End of the day if management aren't in I doubt the office can function anyway just in case somebody does something monumentally stupid, so they have enough power without us.

Surely pay is an issue that affects us. Yes, it's about THEIR pay deal, But humour me for a moment and join me in fantasyland. Managers go on strike or just the threat of the strike manages to secure them a half decent pay deal.
Where does that leave us? In a much better position to argue for a decent deal ourselves.

A hell of a lot of the crap, that gets put on to us, such as lapsing every day all year round, comes from higher up than our linos and DoMs. No not all handle the pressure well and that makes it hard for them to get sympathy from us but whose fault is it that we have such bad managers? Royal Mail's of course, they don't seem to invest in the training and look at cold hard numbers rather than a whole picture of how each team in DO's is working.

If RM Paid their managers more and treated them better, maybe they'd be able to successfully recruit some good ones in rather than relying on failed postmen, or graduates who can be paid peanuts because they have no idea how the real world works.

We often hear about phenomenal wages paid to managers in private and public sector organisations. And that's because they want to attract the best. Not just whoever will work for what they'll pay.

Post by **greengiant** » 05 Apr 2016, 14:24

Would managers cross a picket line if a strike were to happen, for example, I support of a sacked opg?

motherhubbard · Post by **motherhubbard** » 05 Apr 2016, 14:42

CharlesSpooner wrote:
Our Union has sanctioned similar methods in the past with different parts of the network striking at different times to cause a knock-on effect in the hopes of leaving those of us not yet striking with little or nothing to do*. Were we not technically crossing the picket lines then?

*I could be wrong here

You are correct and it was a tactic that caused problems and confusion.

I would guess that TBT is probably about the same age as me and to those of us that remember the Loony Left, crossing a picket line is just wrong.
When confronted with a picket line on our duty (firemen/journalists/health workers/social workers) we would not cross their picket lines to deliver the mail. Not in a million years. It is just wrong.
It doesn't matter if I think they are bad trade unionists, they are still trade unionists and should be supported.
I have stood on picket lines with people I wouldn't normally give the time of day.

I do find it quite ironic that you could be sacked by one of the very people you are supporting simply because you are supporting them.

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 05 Apr 2016, 14:53

and they wouldn't hesitate to do it either. '' f**k em''

eggraidonmojo · Post by **eggraidonmojo** » 05 Apr 2016, 15:12

motherhubbard wrote:I do find it quite ironic that you could be sacked by one of the very people you are supporting simply because you are supporting them.

So, what would the chances of dismissal for not crossing the line be? Orders wouldn't come for your lino obviously, but from on high...

I doubt there would be a picket line at my office. In a way, I'd prefer it if there was, because it'd give me an excuse not to cross it. If I said I'm not coming to work because I'm not crossing an hypothetical picket line, well, people would think me odd.

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