Bloody work shy postal workers

Sewinman

I am turning into an outraged Daily Mail type. Have been waiting for a package from ebay for a week, and my lovefilm DVDs for ten days. Why is this strike not getting more attention!? I have not had any post all week. Anyone else affected?

Do some f******* work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil: :roll:

roger_merriman

nope mails been fine here, mail tends to suck more central one goes.

Monkeypump

The're all too busy with their moaning and protests to be delivering mail, poor little mites :roll:

DonDaddyD

Mail strike, you sure?

Oddjob62

Couple of days of no delivery, but generally ok here (NW London)

georgee

Waiting for my new Mavic shoes to turn up, spent a year talking about getting them, then they're stuck in the post!

il_principe

Don't get me started on Royal Fail. I'm in the process of buying a flat and have been waiting various legal docs all sodding week. The local sorting office also appear to have a penchant for nicking stuff. I frequently have to have parcels resent to me as they've never turned up - despite being delivered to my work address where someone is always about. Recently the postie has taken to leaving "signed for" post in our pigeon hole when no one has bl00dy signed for it. I'd complain but it takes about 5 hours to get hold of customer service and they're useless anyway. Roll on privatisation.

Grrrrrr.

stuaff

Well, as I work for the much (and frequently unfairly) maligned organisation, speaking in a purely unofficial capacity....
The CWU (of which I am not nor ever have been a member) has announced a national ballot for industrial action- that'll mean strikes, they haven't got the brain cell required to consider anything else, let alone think 'hang on, we're in a recession and competition's increasing, this isn't a good idea'. Numerous local branches have had their own ballots, hence widespread smaller-scale action, including here in Pompey (local union balloted the whole mail centre, got a no vote, threw a strop & balloted just deliveries, they voted yes..).

Pardon me if I get fed up with people who don't know me or anything about me tarring me (and those numerous colleagues who try to get the job done- and do) with the same brush as Billy Hayes (hypocritical General Secretary of the CWU) and the bunch of sheep he seems intent on leading to the slaughter. People kick up a stink- rightly- when we don't deliver the service they expect (assuming they've addressed and packaged the item properly...so many don't). But most of the time, we do get the job done, at a lower price than all those competitors who don't have the restraints we have to put up with. Over 90% of 1st class mail arrives next day, at the lowest price in the EU. Under this marvellous system called downstream access, people like TNT can dump much of the mail we used to handle on Royal Mail for delivery, without covering our costs (as the regulator seems equally keen to destroy the service). For parcels etc, they can charge whatever they like, some of them seem to think next day delivery excludes Saturday, you miss a delivery you often can't go and collect it (forget going x miles away, I mean anywhere..)..... The grass is not greener on the other side.

Wooliferkins

StuAff, Nice to hear the non anti side of the coin. Head up mate you guys on the whole get the majority of my deliveries where they need to be pretty much on time. The current industrial action is a pain because you never know which office is going to be out when. Privatisation would be a nightmare with couriers not doing the last miles (the important bit) They aren't cheaper. It's a shame people further up the food chain in your organisation and a few dinosaurs are holding back the new equipment most postal workers I have dealt with are screaming for.

Roastie

From a fan of RM (but not their van drivers):

Compared to any other mail systems I've encountered in other countries, Royal Mail is actually pretty good.

I have only had one letter go missing, and I think this probably has more to do with the receiving end than the delivery itself.

Also, I think it is easy to criticise the system if you are a city dweller. If you live in the boondocks - no private service is likely to provide the same sort of service.

roger_merriman

Roastie wrote:

From a fan of RM (but not their van drivers):

Compared to any other mail systems I've encountered in other countries, Royal Mail is actually pretty good.

I have only had one letter go missing, and I think this probably has more to do with the receiving end than the delivery itself.

Also, I think it is easy to criticise the system if you are a city dweller. If you live in the boondocks - no private service is likely to provide the same sort of service.

yup as a ex postie and one who used to train posties what I see even on the edge of london yet alone central makes me shudder, london as most big cities have the worse service, out of town it's much more like rose tinted view. the office I worked at the mean years of serice was 20 years plus so plenty had 30 years and a few had 40+

simple_salmon

I have no experience of working for RM but on the whole I think they do a great job (could stop dropping those elastic bands though )

If you think privatisation will improve things take a look at public transport.

DonDaddyD

Yeah, while I'm no fan of many public services, privatisation isn't always the answer. Don't get me wrong, aspects of the private sector, the competitiveness and training would benefit in leaps and bounds but I don't think it's the answer overall.

Personally I haven't had to complain about Royal Mail in general. I do find it interesting that my Mum could post something from London to me in Derby, when I was living there a few years back and it would arrive quicker than her (in London, Norbury) posting something to me in London, Wimbledon...

Fireblade96

I have few problems with RM (except, as above, with their awful drivers), and would definitely oppose privitisation.

As far as I'm concerned, healthcare, trains and mail should all be public services, run so as to pay for themselves and to invest in improvements to the services offered, but not to make profits for shareholders.

Oh wait, it's a lovely Friday afternoon. Don't get me started ranting....

:roll:

simple_salmon

rant, rant, rant, rant......

Sewinman

SIMPLE SALMON! THAT IS NOT A SALMON IN YOUR AVATAR, ITS A TROUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil: :evil:

paulja

Unfortunately the unions behaviour could put other people out of work. For example I ordered two graze boxes from graze.com for delivery on tuesday and wednesday, neither box turned up due to RM strike action. Tuesdays box finally turned up today, but the cut fresh fruit had turned into brown mush. To their credit graze have refunded me the cost of the boxes, but I do feel sorry for them, the Royal Mail strike is ruining their business.

So I would say sack the lot of them (the strikers that is) and give the jobs to someone who wants to work.

deptfordmarmoset

I got a letter today from my GP about a health problem that I thought I had just sorted out by getting a blood test done. As I only have one functioning kidney with associated medical complications, I was worried about them asking me to retest something so I phoned the surgery. It was only then that I noticed the postmark - 28 August. Time to deliver = 14 days. Distance = 0.58 miles. I'm not an expert in these matters but I reckon a real snail could have done the return trip in half that time.

So do I think they deserve more pay....?

Will Ingram

Typically shite management culture.
Let the decent, experienced staff go and replace them with much cheaper, younger staff who don't have the motivation. When service degrades, fill a call centre with hormonal girls to give the customer some aggro and pretend you care about the service.
I say loosen the civil service reins, and promote more experienced front line staff into management instead of parachuting in unexperienced business drones with sharp suits and MBA's, and get the company up again.
They are welcome to strike if it means better working conditions, people in offices don't expect to be worked to death so why should the service staff have to put up with poor management?

GRRRRRR

pant*pant*

downfader

Hmm.. I like the RM and post office. Their guys walk a fair old distance, the cycle delivery guys are (for now) still going.. the strange thing I find is that everyone strikes thesedays and the NHS staff who are majorly affected by change where I am wont.

I do feel what is happening to the RM and Post Office is exactly the same nonsense that is happening to us in the NHS. Private companies slowly being brought in to run, finance and manage.. Public services should remain so imo

Porgy

I worked as a postman once - for two weeks when i first left school - it was bloody exhausting - luckily i was detsined for a career which involved no carrying and very little walking.

Mind you - being back in bed by 12.00 was always welcome. Good training for soon to be student.

Post is pretty good in my area - I'm on Lovefilm - I reckon the lazy sods at Lovefilm hold it up more than the post - 2 day flipping days turn around!! My asre!

I've always held with the mantra pay peanuts get monkeys - or even theiving monkeys which is the sort we had at when i lived in Chislehurst. the Post Office had shut the local sorting office and sacked the staff - so we were left with Bromley office having to cover extra rounds (ie, us) and not coping, plus the fact that there seemed to be a helluvalot of stuff going missing in the mail all of a sudden.

I sympathise with the strikers becasue I believe all they are trying to do is preserve the post office and the service we all hope for. If they lose (which they probably will) we'll all be the poorer for it.

Sewinman wrote:

I am turning into an outraged Daily Mail type.

what d'you mean turning into? :P

NGale

Everything has been getting through to us with no problems and usually in Devon and Cornwall we are affected by every mail strike going.

Everything from Wiggle (damn you!) has arrived safe and sound as well as my Surrey Cricket membership (believe me cricket is great for a good days sleep!)

ratherbeintobago

It would be nice to know where my copy of Rouleur 14 is. Unusually, I'm not expecting much else ATM.

Andy

redvee

Got all the packages I've ben expecting within a few days here in Brizzle including Wiggle's free service.

Splottboy

Without a doubt, RM workers, not Management, work under stressful circumstances.
Deliveries are done with little or no training, in shite weather, all-year round.
I got stuck in snow drifts delivering in Feb, all the roads were deserted, everyone else in bed, tucked up nice and warm. "I can't come in boss, it's snowing!" Yeah, right...

Vans break down, dogs attack, people pester you for their Dole cheques, weekends off are almost non-existent. One Xmas we were in at 4.30am, to get all your biking kit to you...
And no, overtime or enhanced rate wasn't paid, it was our Voluntary choice.

Bullying to workers by Management is rife, tea breaks aren't taken as there's no time, and "spies" are out filming workers to ensure they are not scamming. I know, it happened to me.

Rounds have around 500 houses on them, bags weigh 15kg, and this means approx 5 - 8 bags. 3 - 4 hrs of walking is average, and evening overtime is almost demanded.
I've been working for 37 years and these guys/ladies work harder than any other workers I've seen in that time.

Tell you what, you try a deliver something over 100 miles for around 50p!

JonS123

My only problem with RM is that as I live in an flat/apartment with communal postbox's in our main hall, they won't deliver any special delivery/recorded/parcels to me, they always leave a while you were out card, frustrating thing is they need to press a doorbell to speak to a security centre and wave to the CCTV before they get let in, why cant they press my doorbell first then do the entry thing, if i don't turn up then leave the card.

Splottboy

Ring the number on the card, arrange for re-delivery, acceptable to you. Or arrange to collect it at you nearest/local Post Office, but it costs a HUGE 50p. Don't forget they've got another 499 + houses to deliver to as well as your flats.

You can also arrange to pick up your Specials/recordeds/packets at the Sorting Office.
May be charged for retained mail, but you get your stuff at your pleasure.

I call back sometimes if I see Wiggle/CRC marks on the outside...naughty, I know, but don't tell my RM manager!

"The post must get through!" Pony Express...

JonS123

re-delivery don't work as I did that once and just got another while you were out card, and I have no local post office any more - most things I can get sent to work but I have been arranging some finical matters recently and the people involved would only send to my home address

Now if RM can fix things so they can deliver items to post offices outside of the sorting office area id be sorted, since I goto the post office daily for my job, which unfortunatly is the other side of Leeds.

cjcp

Work mail in the City has been affected, but remain a big fan of RM; they bring post right to my door. It's the union leaders I'm not keen on.

Present Postie is friendly, but wasn't happy when his older predecessor was made redundant. He was great.

hells

During the last strikes a few weeks ago at my local office i had two while you were out leaflets both for cyclign stuff. The later dated one arrived first at the post office. I was working lates so was able to go into the office each day to retrive things. I waited the 48 hours then wnet in everyday to get it. the 7 days they will hold the item were up adn they had sent it back despite me coming in early every morning trying to collect it. I explained this to one of the posties and he kindly rang up the delivery driver and got them to bring my package back. Until then I had been extremely pissed off with royal mail but was very happy with this one guys customer service, he had saved me a major inconvienience. My line of work means I am usually out when the mail arrives and depending on which week of the rota I am on may have big problems trying to get to the post office.

Splottboy

Put it this way, NO RM worker wants to carry your heavy parcel about with them unless they have to, ie you are out. If there's more than 1 and there usually is, it's bloody heavy!
It's in their best interest to get the thing to you asap, as tomorrow and the next day, there may be more parcels...
SO... I'll do my utmost to get rid of them asap, as it only causes hassle for all.
We DON'T want to take parcels back to the delivery office, EVER!
You can also nominate a "safe place/neighbour" to accept things if you're out.
Special deliveries are to be there either before 9am, 12noon or 1pm. If you're out, we have to ring the office to notify them and usually there's no signal, no change or phone box is used as a urinal.
We REALLY, REALLY don't want to leave not having delivered your stuff.
Honestly! It just makes more work for us, so, now you know!
Delivering is our job, not carrying front mechs, handlebars and saddles all over the place.