Because of these wonderful post strikes, i doubt i will get EMA since it's unlikely my form will get there on time. 
So you think the people sending the bills dont know there is a strike on?
Strewth Kev, flamin' oath ya did! There's more that came from if ya play ya flamin' cards right.
I'm sure they know, but they don't care. They just want what you owe them and you have to get it to them any way you can.
I'm torn currently about unions. I have been working for an automotive OEM supplier for 13 years. We've been through 6 unionization campaigns in that 13 years. The problem is, the unions are big business just as the company you work for is. The UAW (United Auto Workers) are the ones that are trying to unionize our plant. We supply 80% of the market for our product, which the company holds the patent for, to General Motors. The problem for us is, if the UAW, which is also the union organized for General Motors employees, want something from GM, would it make sense for them to put the 30,000 GM employees on strike or to put our 200 employees on strike to get to GM?
If we go on strike, GM's assembly lines shut down. If we are the cause of the assembly lines shutting down, the company I work for is charged $50,000 per hour per line (it's in the contract). GM cannot pull their tools from us and send to someone else, because we hold the patent for the product and no one else can make the product. GM can not design a new product for someone else to supply them in sufficient time. Thus, say there are 20 assembly lines, we are on strike for 24 hours, then we are charged $50,000 x 20 lines x 24 hours of shutdown, which would put our plant out of business, thus me out of a job.
On the other hand, for years all was fine between the employees and the company. We had good pay, good benefits, good pay raises, etc. It was only the "union only no matter what" folks that were wanting to organize. But, in the snap of a finger, all can change overnight. New management was brought in, and all of a sudden, raises have dropped from our average 4.5-5 % down to 2, 1, even half a %. Benefits have changed for the worse. Now, I will say that our manufacturing plant needs to be union organized. The problems still resides in the UAW, and their hold over General Motors. For some reason, those who are organizing the talks with the union, only go to the UAW, which is the most logical since we are an automotive supplier.
Some places are union shops because they've always been union. Others are union because folks have the thoughts of "union or nothing". Yet, others really do need unions because of management screwing the employees.
We use to have quite a big turnaround in our production employees where I work. Then the new management arrived and the HR director was heard stating how horrible the turnaround was and it has to change. He was heard stating that they need a far greater turnaround than the measly amount that was happening previous. Thus, in my 13 years there, I am one of the very few that started when the plant was new.
Three years ago, we did not need the union. You could discuss anything you wanted with management. The employees ran the show and ran the "working" end of the business. Management and the company took care of their employees. But with the new management arriving 3 years ago, it is nothing but lies and targeting from them. They state an "open door policy" where you can discuss anything, but when you utilize that "open door policy" to discuss something that goes against management or the company for the benefit of the employee, you are targeted. Your job will be short lived from here on out.
There are big differences in companies that depict whether unions are beneficial or not. For the first 10 years, I was very vocally against any and all organizationing of my employment. Like I said though, things can change, as it has for my place of employment. But the statements that currently are put forth that unions are needed everywhere by those currently working in a unionized shop are false. It all depends on the circumstances.
And for the record, my current position is the highest paid non-management position there is. I have the benefit of receiving pay raises of probably 3 times more than the production floor employees. Unfortunately, that is also currently about 3 times lower for the last 3 years than it has been the first 10 years, including when I was part of the production department. But, I can move no further in the company because I can not agree with managements policies and ethics to how they treat the hourly employees that are below my position in order to move up into a higher paid salary position. I'm at my last stop and I wish my boss would quit with the "where do you see yourself in 5 years" bit during the annual performance planning/review. I'd hate to tell him "I see myself working for another company in 5 years."
Very well said Mike!
Things are slightly different here in the UK...the Unions cant just order everybody out on strike, any industrial action has to be ratified by the members, usually with a ballot, so in your case, even if the UAW wanted to screw GM, they would have to ask you lot first! If you said NO, then that would be it, they would either have to back down, or get GM out on strike. However, if they did that, would your company still be able to continue production, if there was nobody to take the product?
Things are slightly different here in the UK...the Unions cant just order everybody out on strike, any industrial action has to be ratified by the members, usually with a ballot, so in your case, even if the UAW wanted to screw GM, they would have to ask you lot first! If you said NO, then that would be it, they would either have to back down, or get GM out on strike. However, if they did that, would your company still be able to continue production, if there was nobody to take the product?
i've worked for royal mail in the past and all i can say is that im not surprised 
when i worked for them they payed 2 million to changed there name from Royal Mail to Consignia, then 1 year laters they payed 1 million to changed it back to Royal Mail
they even lost the british contract to post UK's mail and the goverment opened it up for others to compete for the contract.
they have had time changes to stupid finacial problems i just wish they would give up and give another company a chance
when i worked for them they payed 2 million to changed there name from Royal Mail to Consignia, then 1 year laters they payed 1 million to changed it back to Royal Mail
they even lost the british contract to post UK's mail and the goverment opened it up for others to compete for the contract.
they have had time changes to stupid finacial problems i just wish they would give up and give another company a chance
More to the point, do you really think the people sending the bills care that there is a strike on, do you think they'd use another method of getting the bills to your doorstep. i don't think so. <-- just my opinion/experience!
Yes, over here it is the same. To go out on strike, it has to be voted by the members. But the union would still have the power to strike without member input. I don't know if it is put into contract or what. When contract negotiations come up, the members have most of the say, but the union is also able to negotiate it's own thoughts whether it has anything to do with the members or not.
Thankfully, we are no longer nearly completely tied in with GM or the automotive field. We have many non-automotive products now to get away from the stability/instability of the automotive industry. GM did go on strike for about a month way back in 1996, which nearly halted our plant productions. 95% of the plant went on temporary lay-off, including me as probably one of the last 5 to go. Now, there is plenty of other jobs, and the fact that I work in the research and development group, any strike coming from the automotive industry is just a small dent in our production.
The thing with the UAW is, they force all members to support any other UAW action, which would be small auto suppliers could strike to affect another larger automotive group into action. The members don't have much say in contract negotiations other than yes or no at the end. The negotiations go on without member input.
Working in a call centre, all ive been doing all ****ing day is explaining why everything will be late, and getting a fair bit of abuse about it, because obviously its me who made them go on strike, ****ing nobends.
And on an even worse note, i wont get RBR until at least thursday
And on an even worse note, i wont get RBR until at least thursday
I am getting SERIOUSLY fed up with the "Shut up and get another job" crowd...most of the ones I have seen on this thread have come from guys who have NEVER HAD A BLOODY JOB!!!!
When you grow up and start living in the REAL WORLD, you will find that it is not just a matter of telling the boss to stick it and go elsewhere..there are things like bills to pay, food to buy, kids to feed and clothe...
Come back in a few years time and tell people to go get a better job, when you know what life is REALLY all about.
[/rant]
When you grow up and start living in the REAL WORLD, you will find that it is not just a matter of telling the boss to stick it and go elsewhere..there are things like bills to pay, food to buy, kids to feed and clothe...
Come back in a few years time and tell people to go get a better job, when you know what life is REALLY all about.
[/rant]
"Oh Lisa, if you don't like your job, you don't strike. You just go in, day after day and do it really half-assed."
I got ALOT of that in my last job and I 'kin hated it! :gnasher:
The thing is, they may only be on strike till x day, but the effect goes on for weeks. Because they go on strike it causes a huge backlog and obviously not all of it will be posted. Which is utter shite if you have DeKo's job or the one I used to have.
I do semi agree with Bladerunner. It is not easy to get a job at the click of a finger. But surely...All that time spent organising a strike could be spent finding another job.
That is why the workers will win, because Royal Fail (Credit to Bean0) know if service isn't resumed quickly then it will ruin them.
If I went on strike, I would get told to piss off and find another job. I can understand when the Fire Brigade went on strike, they are risking their lives...but a postman? The worse I can think is that nasty dog will nip old Mr. Posty on the bum, which results in an insurence claim and more money.
If putting stuff through peoples letter boxes such a domanding task, why don't companys like TnT, Business Post etc go on strike...
Sorry about my spelling, it gets worse the more tireder (...example) I get.
LMAO
just a quick, but late reply to give you guys an insiders point of view.
1. we are/were striking because its the weapon we have.
2. none of us are doing it willingly, i reckon ive lost 500 quid plus due to this action, but im all for it.
3.pay isnt the main issure here, its pensions and working conditions.
4. the work force is sick to the back teeth of piss poor management, total lack of investment by the royal mail/the goverment, harder and harder workloads, and to top it all, being threated with having to cover summer staff on leave for no extra pay, flexi times, where we could work hours dictated by managers at little notice.
this is only the tip of the iceberg, so i want to apolgise for anyone getting their mail late, but the average postie here is fighting for his/her job.......and YOUR postal service which is being eroded away by royal mail.
1. we are/were striking because its the weapon we have.
2. none of us are doing it willingly, i reckon ive lost 500 quid plus due to this action, but im all for it.
3.pay isnt the main issure here, its pensions and working conditions.
4. the work force is sick to the back teeth of piss poor management, total lack of investment by the royal mail/the goverment, harder and harder workloads, and to top it all, being threated with having to cover summer staff on leave for no extra pay, flexi times, where we could work hours dictated by managers at little notice.
this is only the tip of the iceberg, so i want to apolgise for anyone getting their mail late, but the average postie here is fighting for his/her job.......and YOUR postal service which is being eroded away by royal mail.
Bump?
Really?
Ask people in Paris if they don't bother about the stike that is actually going on in the public transportation. Throw a train driver on strike into the crowd for example, there's a good chance he gets beaten to death
And this is my view as well. I'm probably not going to be liked, but **** it.
I wonder what would happen if medical staff used this tactic. Granted, technically they actually have weapons.. Scapels and the like.
I don't know what to say... If this is the sympathy card you're playing, you aren't getting it.
Normal people, if they don't like their job, quit and find a new one. Or find a new one then quit. Or go on the dole.
Now, if anyone happens to do the final option, and not need to then quite frankly I think they deserve a good flogging, doing so only makes it worse for others who actually need assistance from the government. For instance, people suffering from various medical conditions can often find it somewhat tricky to get assistance whilst they are unable to work. But that's another rant.
I think the big problem is that businesses who may have used the Royal Mail for those days ****ed off and used another courier company. Several which I do business with will not be going back to the Royal Mail for at least sometime as a result.
Congratulations, you've managed to shoot yourselves in the foot, only by sending it via London then back to Bristol, then back to your boot via a courier van driven by a "foreign national".
I have no problem with standing up for your own rights, etc. but when it starts getting in the way of how the country is run, I'm going to get a little irritable - to put it midly.
If, for instance, I don't get a certain letter from a bank regarding a payment issue, or my passport doesn't ****ing show up because the ENTIRE ****ING COUNTRY relies on an unreliable service I'm going to get ****ing pissed off.
If I decided that I wasn't going to work because I didn't like the hours I'd get ****ing fired. I'm sorry, but I don't understand the mentality behind a ****ing strike. Granted if enough people do it then the employers have got a big problem on their hands. Equally though you're just as ****ed. You're not getting paid, you can't pay your bills, etc. Strikes are a relic from middle of the last century for people who don't seem to have the will to find another job that they might enjoy doing.
At no point in your life is it too late to change career.
Don't take this personally mr grady, but you've touched a sore point.
They don't want to throw the driver into the crowd...maybe a RATP official, because THEY are the reason for the strike! Same with our posties...it's not their fault that the bosses decided to work the poor buggers into the ground just to cut costs, and raise profits. In any case, if the posties were getting a cut of all these extra profits, they wouldnt be moaning.
As with ALL industry, its the lazy Fat Cats in the suits that get the money, and the poor bloody bloke on the street that does all the work.
As for us bus drivers...well, I have to hide; we just got a 5.5% pay rise, and a very good holiday bonus scheme thrown in...our union guys successfully negotiated a deal where our holiday pay is based on ALL earnings in the 13 weeks prior to the holiday, but with a guaranteed minimum of the average weekly pay. What that basically means is, if you do a bit of overtime, then you get more pay for your holiday as well
(besides...if we even think about industrial action, they get squeaky bums...we don't even have to strike; a work-to-rule for a few days would cripple the company)
I'm sorry...but that is the best post I have ever read on this forum.
You Sir, have just explained how 95% of Britons feel when Royal Fail goes on strike because of a really petty reason.
If we are both at the same LFS meet, make sure I buy you a pint!
Also...your rant is the posting equivalent to Scarface or Casino.
The problem here is really different!
The strike reason is retirement conditions. Over the years, using their bargaining power over the state (they can basicly froze the country's economy and pissed to death workers) to get insane retirement condition.
To keep it simple:
private sector: 41 years of work! Pension = 50% of the average salary over the last 25 years
SNCF: 30 years of work; pension = 75% of their average salary over the last 6 month
The governement want to make everybody equal for those condition!
I wouldn't bother if it was a wealthy company aranging for good retirement condition for its employees but actually it is the tax payer who pay for that! They are just pulling the cover to their side. And well considering that they are over payed for what they are doing and that they have employment security (they can't be fired), I (and I 'm not alone) feel that it's a bit too much!
Just to make it clear, I'm not against strike in general but when it comes to make the populaion hostage to get what they want I fell like something is out of place
Well, how about that, we almost had a nurse strike starting Tuesday morning, but it was called off today when the parties agreed that more money should be given and inflation increased. Whopping 28% raise in salaries, well, I guess it has been underpaid work for what they do. But it's going to mean trouble locally.
Everyone is about to go on a strike over here at the moment. Bastards.
+1
I'm sick to death of Royal Mail, as I've made known to them several times, not that I even expect to hear anything back. In the past few months they have managed to lose (read: steal) over £150s worth of stuff that has been sent to me and has ended up at the Shirley sorting office in Southampton. How much compensation have I received? £0.
On top of that they fail to deliver Special Delivery packages next day, or before 1pm which causes trouble for the sender as I make a point of getting the postage costs back. I don't pay nearly £10 postage to be pissed about.
Added to that when I arrange for delivery and take the time and effort out of MY day to be in all bloody day, I expect the parcel to be delivered when I arrange, not the next day, or the next week as has happened.
It's a joke. If given the choice I now never choose Royal Mail for deliveries, even of the postage cost is a fair bit higher (which it's generally not) with other couriers.
The only good thing I have to say about Royal Mail as that our postie in the shire is very friendly and post is always on time there. Not so in the city.
It's a shame, because RM used to be a great icon of the UK.
Unfortunately, they no longer employ people with a brain, and hence this mess occurs. As long as RM doesn't cave in it'll keep some respect. It shouldn't pander to those stupid enough to not change jobs
Unfortunately, they no longer employ people with a brain, and hence this mess occurs. As long as RM doesn't cave in it'll keep some respect. It shouldn't pander to those stupid enough to not change jobs
Yeah, why should we support blue-collar workers taking action to secure fair pay/pension/conditions when it means our mail gets delivered late. I for one will be supporting the arsehole fat cats who inherited a monopoly from the government and managed to make it unprofitable, yet still find enough spare cash to cream small personal fortunes off the top.
Well said Karl.
I know I dont live in the UK but boy do we hear all this bullshit over here, its rediculous. Even An Post (irish postal service) are starting to go into retardation.
ANOTHER Bloody Postal Strike!
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FGED GREDG RDFGDR GSFDG