The irony is

[Wullie10]

I started when we tied bundles with string and hid mail for second delivery bundles. Postmen used to moan then and were looking for another job. 35 years later they are still the same

[chrisj]

Fuming

The irony is that the original deal of paid from April 2022 is now looking more and more attractive.

The last sh1tty improvement (unbackdated) is also now looking like a good shout but that will soon be withdrawn to be replaced by something worse.

It was all so predictable! Really cross!

The best we get from our great Union is more loss of wages and they turn us into the 'Grinch'; with companies immediately moving their Xmas business away following a spiteful announce f strikes up to Christmas Eve. Wow!

[Thebro]

I am 51. Would love a little bit of VR.
Cos I'm Parcelforce, no luck. We are not in the running.
Shame, I could have done with the reddies.
Was gonna take money and go agencies. Round west London.
Plenty of 7.5 Tonne work, even agency on royal mail,. Paying well too,. 18.00 p hour.

Gonna wait it out. Stick with it good luck to all.

Feel let down by Union slightly . They said they are for all, but it is hard when no one mentions you
Have a great day people,

[77SAMPOST77]

I am 51. Would love a little bit of VR.
Cos I'm Parcelforce, no luck. We are not in the running.
Shame, I could have done with the reddies.
Was gonna take money and go agencies. Round west London.
Plenty of 7.5 Tonne work, even agency on royal mail,. Paying well too,. 18.00 p hour.

Gonna wait it out. Stick with it good luck to all.

Feel let down by Union slightly . They said they are for all, but it is hard when no one mentions you
Have a great day people,

Yes it is disgusting how the union are hardly mentioning Parcelforce when they are integral in the plans of royal mail who want to increase owner drivers then divert parcel work away from the posties .

[chickenwittle]

Fuming

The irony is that the original deal of paid from April 2022 is now looking more and more attractive.

The last sh1tty improvement (unbackdated) is also now looking like a good shout but that will soon be withdrawn to be replaced by something worse.

It was all so predictable! Really cross!

The best we get from our great Union is more loss of wages and they turn us into the 'Grinch'; with companies immediately moving their Xmas business away following a spiteful announce f strikes up to Christmas Eve. Wow!

Plenty of posters like you that say it was all predictable, dig the union out etc. but have no answer to how we could have got a better outcome.

[einastronaut]

Fuming

The irony is that the original deal of paid from April 2022 is now looking more and more attractive.

The last sh1tty improvement (unbackdated) is also now looking like a good shout but that will soon be withdrawn to be replaced by something worse.

It was all so predictable! Really cross!

The best we get from our great Union is more loss of wages and they turn us into the 'Grinch'; with companies immediately moving their Xmas business away following a spiteful announce f strikes up to Christmas Eve. Wow!

Plenty of posters like you that say it was all predictable, dig the union out etc. but have no answer to how we could have got a better outcome.

Except, through the wonders of the internet, all our posts are still there, from Septermber.

Chrisj was one among many pointing out that the union needed to come towards the company on their priorities in order to secure and defend more realistic concessions on our other terms, pay included. Instead, the Union refused to talk, refused even to explain what they were striking to achieve; built the strikes on their "alternative vision" for the company - a fiction that doesn't exist; and even refused the offer of professional mediation for nearly 2 months.
It's not with the benefit of hindsight that this was a terrible "plan". Many here pointed out the Union's position was strongest when it was merely the threat of strikes. As soon as the striking began, the mandate and thus, negotiating power was bound to recede.

Now, for all the Union's posturing, arrogance and bluster, the original deal the company offered in the first half the year is still the same deal we have now, except no longer backdated, and all the Union's agreements and accords with the company have gone, with 10,000 job losses to boot and more threatened. How is this working out for the Union?

The alternative was: give them later start times, and give them (what was proposed to be, very occasional) Sunday working and bat away all the other attacks, secure a good enough pay rise to tide us over and move on. Instead, the Union is locked in a game of chicken it was clear from the outset that it was destined to lose. It refused to budge on anything, so the company in now free to come after everything.

[wolfman]

Agree 100% with this thread. I'm 57 and would have took 2 years money & got a little part time job along with my pension to see me through. Not now it's not enough. Will have to plod along for a few more years now

[chickenwittle]

Fuming

The irony is that the original deal of paid from April 2022 is now looking more and more attractive.

The last sh1tty improvement (unbackdated) is also now looking like a good shout but that will soon be withdrawn to be replaced by something worse.

It was all so predictable! Really cross!

The best we get from our great Union is more loss of wages and they turn us into the 'Grinch'; with companies immediately moving their Xmas business away following a spiteful announce f strikes up to Christmas Eve. Wow!

Plenty of posters like you that say it was all predictable, dig the union out etc. but have no answer to how we could have got a better outcome.

Except, through the wonders of the internet, all our posts are still there, from Septermber.

Chrisj was one among many pointing out that the union needed to come towards the company on their priorities in order to secure and defend more realistic concessions on our other terms, pay included. Instead, the Union refused to talk, refused even to explain what they were striking to achieve; built the strikes on their "alternative vision" for the company - a fiction that doesn't exist; and even refused the offer of professional mediation for nearly 2 months.
It's not with the benefit of hindsight that this was a terrible "plan". Many here pointed out the Union's position was strongest when it was merely the threat of strikes. As soon as the striking began, the mandate and thus, negotiating power was bound to recede.

Now, for all the Union's posturing, arrogance and bluster, the original deal the company offered in the first half the year is still the same deal we have now, except no longer backdated, and all the Union's agreements and accords with the company have gone, with 10,000 job losses to boot and more threatened. How is this working out for the Union?

The alternative was: give them later start times, and give them (what was proposed to be, very occasional) Sunday working and bat away all the other attacks, secure a good enough pay rise to tide us over and move on. Instead, the Union is locked in a game of chicken it was clear from the outset that it was destined to lose. It refused to budge on anything, so the company in now free to come after everything.

But that’s not how it’s ever worked is it ? Both parties set their stalls out Royal Mail want everything, the union want to give up nothing and you usually negotiate your way to some kind of acceptable compromise.To think this could of been nipped in the bud early just isn’t realistic. I’ve heard members calling the union weak for not being strong enough and going harder earlier. It seems Royal Mail have been playing the long game to push through their changes, the best the union can do now is accept a watered down agreement that somehow keeps the job recognisable to what it is today .

[heraldmoth]

Fuming

The irony is that the original deal of paid from April 2022 is now looking more and more attractive.

The last sh1tty improvement (unbackdated) is also now looking like a good shout but that will soon be withdrawn to be replaced by something worse.

It was all so predictable! Really cross!

The best we get from our great Union is more loss of wages and they turn us into the 'Grinch'; with companies immediately moving their Xmas business away following a spiteful announce f strikes up to Christmas Eve. Wow!

Plenty of posters like you that say it was all predictable, dig the union out etc. but have no answer to how we could have got a better outcome.

We all said it strike earlier for longer ffs handful of days up till Xmas is laughable Xmas Eve is dead anyway

[chrisj]

I am sorry chickenwittle, I did actually give alternatives and lots of ways to compromise... Refusing to engage with any of the changes and going for 2 separate votes on no-srring and terms was bound to fail - that was mentioned too... Because there was no way RM will give us a good no-string pay deal and still be held over the barrel on terms

There were aspects of the change that the CWU should have just accepted straightaway; but with some conditions or protections for those that will really be disadvantaged.

No point raking over many of the things that I have said. RM is actually the one bending slightly but nothing from the CWU.

Sunday working was a non-starter for all us - the capacity or business is just not there. Later start was going to happen but how could the CWU have mitigated against this - family friendlies and ensuring that it is at least not too late.

Anyhow, we are now where we are! So why carry on striking?

[claretandblue]

The ageing slow workforce of senior men that Royal Mail would love to get rid of will probably now stay due to these reduced VR terms.They will be snapped up by the younger lads that will take the few quid to get out now and get other jobs.

Probably right who wants to look for a job in their 50's or 60's but those younger ones will not get 9 months pay more like 12 weeks.

I'm 42 and would get the full amount.

[Caesar]

Fuming

The irony is that the original deal of paid from April 2022 is now looking more and more attractive.

The last sh1tty improvement (unbackdated) is also now looking like a good shout but that will soon be withdrawn to be replaced by something worse.

It was all so predictable! Really cross!

The best we get from our great Union is more loss of wages and they turn us into the 'Grinch'; with companies immediately moving their Xmas business away following a spiteful announce f strikes up to Christmas Eve. Wow!

Plenty of posters like you that say it was all predictable, dig the union out etc. but have no answer to how we could have got a better outcome.

It’s difficult to suggest answers when we’ve never been told the plan.

[chickenwittle]

Fuming

The irony is that the original deal of paid from April 2022 is now looking more and more attractive.

The last sh1tty improvement (unbackdated) is also now looking like a good shout but that will soon be withdrawn to be replaced by something worse.

It was all so predictable! Really cross!

The best we get from our great Union is more loss of wages and they turn us into the 'Grinch'; with companies immediately moving their Xmas business away following a spiteful announce f strikes up to Christmas Eve. Wow!

Plenty of posters like you that say it was all predictable, dig the union out etc. but have no answer to how we could have got a better outcome.

It’s difficult to suggest answers when we’ve never been told the plan.

It’s also difficult negotiating with an employer that isn’t really interested in negotiating.

[tractorboy2]

The 1.5% increase that the company proposes for next year won't even cover the increase in your electric bill.
That's if your defined area supplement isn't used to fund the pay rise.

The council tax will rise by 5% as well. We are going to be way worse off.