What will ultimately break this dispute?

[POSTPERSON50]

Great effort and solidarity from everyone at the London rally yesterday, but what do you feel will ultimately end this dispute?

As we know, the differences between the two parties are huge. It's approaching mid December, with only 2 weeks left until Christmas.

I'm pretty sure that this dispute could not run until next Christmas, under any circumstances. If the current striking pattern has only a limited effect by January, it would have far less effect after the Christmas period.

I believe Royal Mail are banking on the financial pressure upon the workforce being too much for us to cope with in the medium to long term, and that a steady return to work will eventually follow.

So can we create enough pressure upon the business before it becomes too difficult, and what would be an effective industrial action strategy after Christmas?

[guardianangel]

What will break this strike is the cwu continuously putting out strike dates and customers leaving and royal mail and mainly shareholders seeing their investment go down the pan,customers will come back they will always pick the cheapest option.

[FilthyBloke]

Great effort and solidarity from everyone at the London rally yesterday, but what do you feel will ultimately end this dispute?

As we know, the differences between the two parties are huge. It's approaching mid December, with only 2 weeks left until Christmas.

I'm pretty sure that this dispute could not run until next Christmas, under any circumstances. If the current striking pattern has only a limited effect by January, it would have far less effect after the Christmas period.

I believe Royal Mail are banking on the financial pressure upon the workforce being too much for us to cope with in the medium to long term, and that a steady return to work will eventually follow.

So can we create enough pressure upon the business before it becomes too difficult, and what would be an effective industrial action strategy after Christmas?

If ST didn’t budge over Black Friday/cyber Monday and now Christmas he ain’t gonna give in in January.
My bet is after Christmas they will be talking of a new deal for April.
Maybe something like 12% pay rise and a few terms (compulsory redundancy and sick pay) delayed for 12 months or so.

I don’t expect any vacancies (or not many) filled any time soon and a few of the other terms may be forced through until then.

That’s just my thoughts on it.

[Dorset Plodder]

I agree RM believe Finacial Pressures will Starve Workers back to Work .... Nothing new in that it's been used for hundreds of years so why change a winning formula?

I take the view that a lot of these factors are above my pay grade, and I trust in the CWU to do their best for us. Chat Forums are OK for people to vent their frustrations (and some seem to wind themselves up more than others) but although full of experts we're not going to solve this Strike amoungst ourselves. That's what Unions are for.

After all if you're not supporting your Union who are you supporting? Simon Thompson and Royal Mail?

[FilthyBloke]

What will break this strike is the cwu continuously putting out strike dates and customers leaving and royal mail and mainly shareholders seeing their investment go down the pan,customers will come back they will always pick the cheapest option.

Which is also part of the problem. Royal Mail and the shareholders know the customers (majority) will come back. The CWU can’t strike for ever. It’s a waiting game and I think after sacrificing Black Friday and Christmas they are happy to sit it out.

[guardianangel]

im happy to sit it out too,if its a game of who blinks first it wont be me,

[cornstar18]

A reballot might break it

[POSTPERSON50]

im happy to sit it out too,if its a game of who blinks first it wont be me,

The scenario of half the workforce going back and half being on strike would signal the end of the strikes, that grim prospect would bring untold acrimony amongst the staff.

I could stay out longish term losing money every week due to my circumstances, but at some point I'd expect my say on any existing proposals that are tabled.

A government enquiry into this dispute is needed.

[POSTPERSON50]

A reballot might break it

That way, anything we get and agree to, we brought it on ourselves.

[cornstar18]

The sight of snow has given me a little hope again. The media and public are now taking this strike seriously since we're relevant to their existence again. Snow combined with the strikes may shut it down enough for some small movement from the board. Anybody that thinks we're getting more than that needs to wake up I'd say personally.

[POSTPERSON50]

I heard 4 different opinions today on the floor, paraphrased as;

"F*ck it, I'll stay out forever on principle" (cigarette hut)

"I can't keep losing money forever they've gotta get this resolved" (sorting)

"I'd be just happy with a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, everyone in the country is struggling" (break room)

"No matter what the eventual resolution becomes, they are just going to do what they want to us all in the future as they can, I say what we are doing is pointless, a strict work to rule across the board would have been more effective at this time of year" (break room)

[Murdoch]

To be honest, the only way I see a resolution to this dispute. Is if the Union agree to the deal on the table with a few tweaks.

Alternatively the company just ignore the union and make the changes anyways, with a bunch more redundancies and no pay offer, while we continue striking indefinitely.

At this point, it would require political intervention on service levels to put more pressure on the company to change tact. However, the Tories are making it their campaign mantra to "break the unions", so that is highly unlikely to happen.

[POSTPERSON50]

To be honest, the only way I see a resolution to this dispute. Is if the Union agree to the deal on the table with a few tweaks.

Alternatively the company just ignore the union and make the changes anyways, with a bunch more redundancies and no pay offer, while we continue striking indefinitely.

At this point, it would require political intervention on service levels to put more pressure on the company to change tact. However, the Tories are making it their campaign mantra to "break the unions", so that is highly unlikely to happen.

Agree, the government silence is deafening

[pieoftheday]

The separation of letters has been mentioned before but it wouldn't surprise me if RM says in the near future that letters are now unsustainable for them and want rid, how that would play out I've no idea but it give them freedom to become a new Hermes

[worktotime]

I heard 4 different opinions today on the floor, paraphrased as;

"F*ck it, I'll stay out forever on principle" (cigarette hut)

"I can't keep losing money forever they've gotta get this resolved" (sorting)

"I'd be just happy with a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, everyone in the country is struggling" (break room)

"No matter what the eventual resolution becomes, they are just going to do what they want to us all in the future as they can, I say what we are doing is pointless, a strict work to rule across the board would have been more effective at this time of year" (break room)

maybe work to rule could be put on the next ballot as we all know this job is run on it .