The Royal Mail Strike
Discussion
Anybody noticed it. I can't think of anthing the postie brings that I really need. Banking all internet based. Deliveries by Amazon or Courier.
I'm in two minds about it. Pay? Well I'm getting 5% this year as far as I know. Well below inflation but the economy is knackered. World events, high energy costs, and massive debt and huge NHS waiting lists caused by shutting much of the economy down for two years. We are all poorer whether we like it or not.
Where I can support them is on terms and conditions. If the workforce is being offered much poorer terms and conditions for new recruits then there could be justification there though I don't know the details.
I fear that the Royal Mail may like the railways be yesterdays child so some extent though. We don't need the same amount of stuff delivered by Royal Mail that we used to.
Competition needs to be fair though. It is wrong that it is cheaper to send a parcel to the UK from China than it is from the UK.
"Retailers in the UK say they are struggling with unfair competition from Chinese online sellers who benefit from subsidised postal costs.Domestic vendors say it can be cheaper to send a small item to London from Shenzhen than from Sheffield, partly thanks to international rules."
https://www.ft.com/content/3af8bfb8-ad3a-11e8-94bd...
I'm in two minds about it. Pay? Well I'm getting 5% this year as far as I know. Well below inflation but the economy is knackered. World events, high energy costs, and massive debt and huge NHS waiting lists caused by shutting much of the economy down for two years. We are all poorer whether we like it or not.
Where I can support them is on terms and conditions. If the workforce is being offered much poorer terms and conditions for new recruits then there could be justification there though I don't know the details.
I fear that the Royal Mail may like the railways be yesterdays child so some extent though. We don't need the same amount of stuff delivered by Royal Mail that we used to.
Competition needs to be fair though. It is wrong that it is cheaper to send a parcel to the UK from China than it is from the UK.
"Retailers in the UK say they are struggling with unfair competition from Chinese online sellers who benefit from subsidised postal costs.Domestic vendors say it can be cheaper to send a small item to London from Shenzhen than from Sheffield, partly thanks to international rules."
https://www.ft.com/content/3af8bfb8-ad3a-11e8-94bd...
T&C's seem to be the angle by which they could justify this - everyone knows of a postie who took the job because they'd be done by lunch. Which is fair if you're up at sparrowfart, and do your hours. Making everyone start later and finish later seems harsh. But like you said, the postal service is not what it was, so maybe things need to change, up to and including the universal obligation. Folks who choose to live in the Outer Hebrides might have to accept a weekly post 
The China thing is part and parcel of an international treaty , so meh.
The China thing is part and parcel of an international treaty , so meh.
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