WHITSTABLE PROTEST - MASS OPT-OUT OF JUNK MAIL THREATENED!

[juliew]

WHITSTABLE TO OPT OUT OF JUNK MAIL DELIVERY IN PROTEST AT MOVE!

I can confirm that if Royal Mail continues with its plans for our delivery office move to Canterbury, people in Whitstable are now prepared to show effective opposition by staging a mass 'opt out' of the receipt of any 'door-to-door' mail (junk mail).

The delivery of 'door to door' mail represents an important source of revenue for Royal Mail so what better way to show our opposition to the company's proposals - effectively and peacefully?

A letter will be sent to the Direct Marketing Association to explain exactly why this protest would be going ahead, making it clear that such an 'opt out' would be staged as our town's reaction to Royal Mail's intransigence on the issue of the delivery office move and for the contempt which the company has shown, both to the people of Whitstable, and to our local politicians.

I will give full instructions about Whitstable and residents can refuse junk mail for up to 2 years.

Believe me, this fight is far from over and if Royal Mail continues with its plans, regardless of our views, we will aim to make Whitstable the VERY FIRSt JUNK MAIL FREE TOWN IN GREAT BRITAIN!

Here are some figures:-

On average, there are 6 x items of direct marketing mail delivered to each household per week. Multiply that by just the number of our petition signatories and that's nearly 36,000 items per week x 52 for a yearly figure and x 2 for the period we can opt out for = a LOT of lost business/revenue for Royal Mail.

However, Whitstable has a population of 30-40,0000, so multiply that by 6 items per week x 52 x 2 for refusing junk mail for 2 years and Royal Mail has a situation on its hands - especially if this action spreads. This is a David and Goliath scenario. Whitstable was once dubbed 'the small town with the big voice', and that voice will definitely be heard with this refusal.

I can also confirm that all relevant letters, documents and comments that have come to the campaign or to its Facebook site (before, and following, the public meeting on 1st February) have now been passed to the union (CWU) for forwarding to Royal Mail as Whitstable's own 'public consultation'. This includes the petition signed by thousands of people to oppose the move.

Remember - first they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you - then you win. (That's Gandhi, not me...)

Julie Wassmer Everything you do, or you don't do, makes a difference

[SpacePhoenix]

Can't see it working, may even backfire as with less revenue then RM would probably be more likely to make DOs out of towns and onto industrial estates miles away. Would not put it past RM to use a drop in revenue as a reason to make deliveries later.

[DirtyHarry]

It might not work, but it's worth a try, at least.
Big corporations must not remain unopposed, free to do what they like, when they like, in the pursuit of extreme profit.
It's supposed to be a service beneficial to the public, not one the public sees as a hindrance because it's miles out of their way.

[Stormproof]

I doubt RM would be bothered and it will also potentially take away jobs or replace F/T with P/T staff, especially if part of a posties duty is to put out the D2D's for the rest of the office.

[newtimes]

"VERY FIRSt JUNK MAIL FREE TOWN IN GREAT BRITAIN!" if that did happen then it could change the direction of RM strategy.

[Wessex]

Royal Mail management cannot deal with humour or creativity so they must feel threatened by Whitstable aka 'the mouse that roared' , I wonder if they have called in the 'consultants' yet ?

They must feel threatened and out of their comfort zone because one of their spokesman comments was not of their usual stock reply format.

Never seen that before.Good luck to Kent posties. and Kent residents in Whitstable

[juliew]

Royal Mail management cannot deal with humour or creativity so they must feel threatened by Whitstable aka 'the mouse that roared' , I wonder if they have called in the 'consultants' yet ?

They must feel threatened and out of their comfort zone because one of their spokesman comments was not of their usual stock reply format.

Never seen that before.Good luck to Kent posties. and Kent residents in Whitstable

Thank you Wessex, I think you're right! Julie W x

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I think some posters have missed the point of this "creative" protest.

I don't think this is about making Royal Mail aware that if they go ahead with the move that people will opt out of D2Ds, and I think the protesters will realise that it won't make a jot of difference to Royal Mail directly.

Its more of generating media interest and getting the marketeers of the D2Ds to put pressure on Royal Mail.

Whether it will work or not doesn't really matter, I think Royal Mail in Whitstable is about to suffer the "Shock and Awe" of a peoples protest and this forms part of it.

[Lincox]

It is a shame that we do not have more post people with the convictions that Julie and the town of Whitstable have. Too many are prepared to do nothing and that is why Royal Mail continues to use bullying and harassment tactics to push it,s undermanned workforce to breaking point to get the mail delivered.

[newtimes]

In my opinion it is people taking direct action. I read a study many years ago which it showed that it can be a life altering experience for citizens who normally tow the line and then they get involved in direct action. Time will tell were this will go.