Indefinite strikes

[Judgee]

If the ballot reaches a NO vote [ and I sincerly hope it does] would it not be possible to go on an indefinite strike until something is sorted out. I for one am sick of losing out money on strike days only for there to be a lull and clean up before the next strike. The leeches in my office just suck up the overtime and clear the lot. It just seems pointless, if we clear up the mess inbetween strikes what is the point of going on strike at all? Cant we go out and stay out until the bosses come up with something vaguely sensible to resolve this... or are our hands tied in that department too?

[BELIAL]

Stick with the rollers an unexpected success: two weeks and panic stations: Three weeks, the systems f****d you deliver zilch an you still get 80% pay.
If ever a plan worked to well

[Albethere]

In principle I agree. What you say is right. Trouble is too many posties are hard up for cash - and the management know this - so they just keep on exploiting us all. Victorian workhouse and all that. Extra bowl of soup please my master???????

[dvbuk55]

If the ballot reaches a NO vote [ and I sincerly hope it does] would it not be possible to go on an indefinite strike until something is sorted out. I for one am sick of losing out money on strike days only for there to be a lull and clean up before the next strike. The leeches in my office just suck up the overtime and clear the lot. It just seems pointless, if we clear up the mess inbetween strikes what is the point of going on strike at all? Cant we go out and stay out until the bosses come up with something vaguely sensible to resolve this... or are our hands tied in that department too?

Not exactly, but I don't think there would be a universal acceptance of an all out strike, most apparent by the leaderships willingness to sacrifice a winning hand of the backlog to agree to this deal.

[BELIAL]

In principle I agree. What you say is right. Trouble is too many posties are hard up for cash - and the management know this - so they just keep on exploiting us all. Victorian workhouse and all that. Extra bowl of soup please my master???????

See your point and recognise the problem ,but if we fold on this, 20% is going to seem like peanuts. Time to look at the proposed agreement is now, cos you will have a long time to regret inaction

[shades]

in 1971 we wanted 15% pay rise(that was about average at the time) we were offered 8%, so we went on indefinite strike action.
which lasted seven weeks then we were sold out just like today and ended up going back for 8.05%.
so i dont think an allout strike is the answer but if thats what it takes to get to get through to this management that we want to be treated as a professional work force, then i for one will be willing to go out again

[LDV 350]

i will always support strike action, but not indefinite striking got kids to feed mortgage to pay etc, if it went on for more than 5 days in a trot i'd have to return to work, and lots of guys in my position would do the same, a sure way to break the union if we went down this road

[BELIAL]

in 1971 we wanted 15% pay rise(that was about average at the time) we were offered 8%, so we went on indefinite strike action.
which lasted seven weeks then we were sold out just like today and ended up going back for 8.05%.
so i dont think an allout strike is the answer but if thats what it takes to get to get through to this management that we want to be treated as a professional work force, then i for one will be willing to go out again

You a Trooper but lets learn from past mistakes and avoid them

[Judgee]

I can appreciate it would be more difficult for people with kids/morgages to go on strike for a long period of time. But there are some in this situation that also rely on regular overtime just to balance the books at the end of the week. If the bosses get thier "free" absence cover, the overtime these guys rely on will be gone for good. Flexible working will also remove some of the overtime. Its a question of do you pull your belt in for a few weeks now, or struggle for many years to come? I know which I would prefer and if its a case of dribs and drabs strikes, with the odd day here and there, you will be losing money and getting nowhere

[TrueBlueTerrier]

We could always strike every 8th day ad infinitum this would mean people could plan and we would only be striking 1 day per week:

As a Guide

Week 1 - Monday
Week 2 - Tuesday
Week 3 - Wednesday
Week 4 - Thursday
Week 5 - Friday
Week 6 - Saturday
Week 7 - No Strike (as it would be 2 in one pay period)
Week 8 - Monday and round we go again.

[smokerjim]

We could always strike every 8th day ad infinitum this would mean people could plan and we would only be striking 1 day per week:

As a Guide

Week 1 - Monday
Week 2 - Tuesday
Week 3 - Wednesday
Week 4 - Thursday
Week 5 - Friday
Week 6 - Saturday
Week 7 - No Strike (as it would be 2 in one pay period)
Week 8 - Monday and round we go again.

Great idea, but one flaw I see is for people on floating days off ( most delivery staff I presume in my limited experience ) one person in a group would have a day off on every strike day - in other words, they would be getting 5 days pay throughout the action, but their group colleagues would be stuck with 4 days pay....personally, I could live with that ( I got a second job & could volunteer for extra hours after hitting the cobbles - pay is s**t, but better than the square root of feck all ), but could everyone you know, that might be affected by it, answer with the same confidence for one day strike action lasting weeks, maybe months?

[Judgee]

One day strikes a week wont do much because lets face it there are plenty of buttholes that would clear it up on overtime week in week out, the disruption would be minimal at best. The only thing that would make a difference would be a strike over a longer period. Just look at the chaos caused with a 4 day strike, it took months to get things anywhere near back to normal. Let it pile up I say, then demand reimbursement of pay lost due to strike action as part of the deal before we clear it all up again... along with a better deal allround of course :cfo :lfo

[blackadder]

have 2 agree with judgee on this 1. more 4 day strikes over the weekend sounds good 2 me, maybe 2 a month ??? we gotta do something thats gona hurt royal mail and make them listen 2 us. if dave ward wont do as we ask maybe we could ask him if he wants to stand for re-election due to a vote of no confidence from his public

[smokerjim]

i think this is a win win job if our leaders play it as they should :lfo :cfo

Our leaders in Wimbledon don't eactly have an inspiring track record on the above during this dispute ( the only RM dispute I have experienced as an employee - ie, seeing all the info )