Poll : Are we all ready for a National Strike?

[wacko74]

I think this is worthy of a mention in BlueShirts as many people will be unaware of it. ''Moya Greene takes on an additional role with Easyjet''

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=80811" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

by their union masters.

Bravo for your independent thought that is commendable, but you kind of ruin it with such dross as I quoted as above. If you can have independent thought outside the Union, why can't members like myself have the same approach within the Union?

Using the term "Union Masters" can be reasoned as discriminatory, biased and condescending, but certainly, it makes me dismiss outright any reasonable view you may have on Unions.

[swoosta]

A manager told us today that if we strike Rm will have an excuse for culling loads of jobs - I'm scared as I've only worked here a few years and it would be last in first out - can't sleep worrying

[viking1488]

I think this is worthy of a mention in BlueShirts as many people will be unaware of it. ''Moya Greene takes on an additional role with Easyjet''

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=80811" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

EasyJet has appointed Royal Mail boss Moya Greene to its board earlier than planned as it speeds up the search for a new chief executive.

[fishtank]

A manager told us today that if we strike Rm will have an excuse for culling loads of jobs - I'm scared as I've only worked here a few years and it would be last in first out - can't sleep worrying

It's never been last in first out in the 500 year history of Royal Mail, I can't see why that would change now.
If Royal Mail are allowed to implement their hack and slash approach we'll all be out of a job much faster than the effect of strike action might bring about, we'll have a vote and if people have any sense they'll support the union then we can see where we're going.

People need to see the big picture, the business needs industrial stability right now and the only way to bring that about is with an agreement that meets the needs of both parties, at the moment Royal Mail don't want that, they think that the way forward is to implement their plan unilaterally and to hell with the staff. We've been down that route before and all it leads to is unhappy, disengaged staff, a series of wildcat strikes and we're back to this position in 18 months time.

It may sound counter-intuitive but the only thing that can bring long term industrial stability and secure the business is a vote for strike action in order to focus the minds of senior management on negotiating a deal that's in the interests of all of us and more importantly a deal that properly addresses the concerns of staff so we don't end up back here in a year or so.

[Newbie001]

A manager told us today that if we strike Rm will have an excuse for culling loads of jobs - I'm scared as I've only worked here a few years and it would be last in first out - can't sleep worrying

They're talking about getting rid of thousands of staff anyway. Strike and you will have more chance of keeping you're job. First lesson, don't listen to a word a manager says.

[postslippete]

I think this is worthy of a mention in BlueShirts as many people will be unaware of it. ''Moya Greene takes on an additional role with Easyjet''

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=80811" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Something tells me that it won't be long before she gets on the plane and flies away. I mean how can she stay committed and focussed on over-seeing a transformation programme which will shed thousands of jobs if she has another part-time job at EasyJet?? She should be negotiating with the CWU and be offering more reasonable terms and cons

[ernieshoe]

A manager told us today that if we strike Rm will have an excuse for culling loads of jobs - I'm scared as I've only worked here a few years and it would be last in first out - can't sleep worrying

They're talking about getting rid of thousands of staff anyway. Strike and you will have more chance of keeping you're job. First lesson, don't listen to a word a manager says.

I think Strike and you will have less chance of keeping your job.
If RM have to buckle to the CWU and offer an unsustainable Pension Plan then they will move heaven and earth to get the technology in place ASAP and cut as many full time jobs as they can get away with.
Simple economics.
Full time Postman cost RM £35,000 a year and if they feel they are not getting value for the £35,000 a year they will make changes.
Reading up on other forums there are some big market players that would actually welcome a strike. The share price dips to an all time low, they buy big, wait for the storm to pass and cash in.
There's no more govt hand outs now.
This is a private enterprise to make profit.
There will be serious repurcussions for full time staff if there is a strike. Gloves will be off. I feel there will be only one winner. Shareholders.
They can afford to dig in and wait.
However many postpeople can strike to the bitter end ?

[milly]

A manager told us today that if we strike Rm will have an excuse for culling loads of jobs - I'm scared as I've only worked here a few years and it would be last in first out - can't sleep worrying

They're talking about getting rid of thousands of staff anyway. Strike and you will have more chance of keeping you're job. First lesson, don't listen to a word a manager says.

I think Strike and you will have less chance of keeping your job.
If RM have to buckle to the CWU and offer an unsustainable Pension Plan then they will move heaven and earth to get the technology in place ASAP and cut as many full time jobs as they can get away with.
Simple economics.
Full time Postman cost RM £35,000 a year and if they feel they are not getting value for the £35,000 a year they will make changes.
Reading up on other forums there are some big market players that would actually welcome a strike. The share price dips to an all time low, they buy big, wait for the storm to pass and cash in.
There's no more govt hand outs now.
This is a private enterprise to make profit.
There will be serious repurcussions for full time staff if there is a strike. Gloves will be off. I feel there will be only one winner. Shareholders.
They can afford to dig in and wait.
However many postpeople can strike to the bitter end ?

You are correct in your assessment,we are no longer a monopoly and have very little leverage with regard to any strike action.
Hopefully the Union can win some concessions but it would be a mistake to push too far.
Also the militancy of some of the forum members on here is not in any way indicative of the opinions of the people I work with.
There is very little appetite for industrial action in my office.

[SierraOscarBravo]

A manager told us today that if we strike Rm will have an excuse for culling loads of jobs - I'm scared as I've only worked here a few years and it would be last in first out - can't sleep worrying

They're talking about getting rid of thousands of staff anyway. Strike and you will have more chance of keeping you're job. First lesson, don't listen to a word a manager says.

I think Strike and you will have less chance of keeping your job.
If RM have to buckle to the CWU and offer an unsustainable Pension Plan then they will move heaven and earth to get the technology in place ASAP and cut as many full time jobs as they can get away with.
Simple economics.
Full time Postman cost RM £35,000 a year and if they feel they are not getting value for the £35,000 a year they will make changes.
Reading up on other forums there are some big market players that would actually welcome a strike. The share price dips to an all time low, they buy big, wait for the storm to pass and cash in.
There's no more govt hand outs now.
This is a private enterprise to make profit.
There will be serious repurcussions for full time staff if there is a strike. Gloves will be off. I feel there will be only one winner. Shareholders.
They can afford to dig in and wait.
However many postpeople can strike to the bitter end ?

You are correct in your assessment,we are no longer a monopoly and have very little leverage with regard to any strike action.
Hopefully the Union can win some concessions but it would be a mistake to push too far.
Also the militancy of some of the forum members on here is not in any way indicative of the opinions of the people I work with.
There is very little appetite for industrial action in my office.

How refreshing your views are and I must concur. Very little appetite for industrial action in my office too. In fact the only ones revelling at the prospect are the militants on forums like these. The same militants who backed Corbyn at the general election and saw Labour defeated for the third successive time. Not really people who carry a lot of credibility.

[jetblack]

I feel there will be only one winner. Shareholders.

Yeah - the shareholders can't wait to see their equity holdings drop in value by 10%-20%

Psssst ... the reason the share price will drop is because shareholders will sell

Who runs this company ? That is, who collects and delivers the mail ? Reason I ask is because it seems to me that its those that run the company and produce the shareholders profits that are in the driving seat here. Not the ones who are sat back having a free ride - like a tick on the back of a dogs neck.

[ernieshoe]

I feel there will be only one winner. Shareholders.

Yeah - the shareholders can't wait to see their equity holdings drop in value by 10%-20%

Psssst ... the reason the share price will drop is because shareholders will sell

Who runs this company ? That is, who collects and delivers the mail ? Reason I ask is because it seems to me that its those that run the company and produce the shareholders profits that are in the driving seat here. Not the ones who are sat back having a free ride - like a tick on the back of a dogs neck.

The big shareholders will cash in I said.
If you looked at the trading of the shares you will see big investors coming in at the now pre £4 share price and that the sold shares are genuinely smaller amounts.
You will have less shareholders but with bigger sums invested.
If you are rich and view RM as a good long time prospect then the current share price is of little interest.
Shareholders still get the dividend at at an equivilant of 5% interest a year.
Most analysts have RM as a BUY.
Unless the shareprice crashes and RM fall out of the FTSE 100 then a dip in share value to around £3.60 due to a strike is a result for big players.

Postpeople don't run the company they work for the company.
The comment just sums up the feeling of "militant" workers.
I would strongly disagree the worker is in the driving seat.

Can anyone afford to strike for 3 months from early November to January ????

I think what Milly says is true the general feeling over the work force is that an appetite for a strike isn't a strong one.
Some offices may but I think a lot will vote no over pensions and accept that people live longer therefore pensions have to change.

Its worth remembering that the CWU also come in with high objectives that they no they are not going to get.
You will not get the same pension we all have now + a 35 hour working week.
Striking for that objective would require weeks of striking by the bulk of the workforce. Not going to happen.

I think you will be surprised at how many workers will come in. That is the feeling I am getting.
A lot of staff will bite the hands off for a lump sum.
A lot of part timers feel a strike would only benefit full timers.

[Newbie001]

A manager told us today that if we strike Rm will have an excuse for culling loads of jobs - I'm scared as I've only worked here a few years and it would be last in first out - can't sleep worrying

They're talking about getting rid of thousands of staff anyway. Strike and you will have more chance of keeping you're job. First lesson, don't listen to a word a manager says.

I think Strike and you will have less chance of keeping your job.
If RM have to buckle to the CWU and offer an unsustainable Pension Plan then they will move heaven and earth to get the technology in place ASAP and cut as many full time jobs as they can get away with.
Simple economics.
Full time Postman cost RM £35,000 a year and if they feel they are not getting value for the £35,000 a year they will make changes.
Reading up on other forums there are some big market players that would actually welcome a strike. The share price dips to an all time low, they buy big, wait for the storm to pass and cash in.
There's no more govt hand outs now.
This is a private enterprise to make profit.
There will be serious repurcussions for full time staff if there is a strike. Gloves will be off. I feel there will be only one winner. Shareholders.
They can afford to dig in and wait.
However many postpeople can strike to the bitter end ?

They already want to get rid of a third of all posties. What percentage of that will be full-time, I'd imagine the majority. How will striking possibly make it any worse. Agree the old pension is unsustainable, but the current new pension is peanuts. Wouldn't be too hard to find a compromise you would think.
But RM don't seem to want to negotiate whatsoever.
My last company didn't have a union and went the same direction as RM want to go. And believe me it can get a whole lot worse.
Banking hours, 20 hr contracts the norm, sent home on quiet days,
10+ year pay freezes, no sick pay, sackings galore, very few managers, staff expected to run office for no extra pay, all assets/property sold off, end to all overtime, very poor pension, end to bonus or impossible to achieve. And that was all in the 2 years before I left, probably even worse now. Some of this sound familiar.

[ernieshoe]

A manager told us today that if we strike Rm will have an excuse for culling loads of jobs - I'm scared as I've only worked here a few years and it would be last in first out - can't sleep worrying

They're talking about getting rid of thousands of staff anyway. Strike and you will have more chance of keeping you're job. First lesson, don't listen to a word a manager says.

I think Strike and you will have less chance of keeping your job.
If RM have to buckle to the CWU and offer an unsustainable Pension Plan then they will move heaven and earth to get the technology in place ASAP and cut as many full time jobs as they can get away with.
Simple economics.
Full time Postman cost RM £35,000 a year and if they feel they are not getting value for the £35,000 a year they will make changes.
Reading up on other forums there are some big market players that would actually welcome a strike. The share price dips to an all time low, they buy big, wait for the storm to pass and cash in.
There's no more govt hand outs now.
This is a private enterprise to make profit.
There will be serious repurcussions for full time staff if there is a strike. Gloves will be off. I feel there will be only one winner. Shareholders.
They can afford to dig in and wait.
However many postpeople can strike to the bitter end ?

They already want to get rid of a third of all posties. What percentage of that will be full-time, I'd imagine the majority. How will striking possibly make it any worse. Agree the old pension is unsustainable, but the current new pension is peanuts. Wouldn't be too hard to find a compromise you would think.
But RM don't seem to want to negotiate whatsoever.
My last company didn't have a union and went the same direction as RM want to go. And believe me it can get a whole lot worse.
Banking hours, 20 hr contracts the norm, sent home on quiet days,
10+ year pay freezes, no sick pay, sackings galore, very few managers, staff expected to run office for no extra pay, all assets/property sold off, end to all overtime, very poor pension, end to bonus or impossible to achieve. And that was all in the 2 years before I left, probably even worse now. Some of this sound familiar.

Do you think the CWU's approach is wrong then?
The pension angle is the wrong line.
Take a pension compromise, aim for a 35 hour week but then then they will have to give too !
Accept job cuts with EVR for those that want it.
I know lots of postman from mid 50's upwards who would jump at redundancy. it would make sense as many of these openly admit its a younger mans game and they are no longer can keep up !
(mind you there's a fella in my office who's 65 and he's twice as a fit as quite a few half his age)

In my opinion the CWU don't want a cut in jobs as it will result in a cut in their subs !

[Postie45]

theres a LOT of people who will jump at the offer of EVR (myself included) who are just awaiting the time that this will be offered then will be out like a shot, dont worry too much if you want to stay in RM, theres enough people who want out and just want the payoff.