Royal Mail strike

[Jeremy]

Netquest Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> where i am from

> (originally) the tubes run computer controlled.

> They don't strick and are on time.

>

> Surely a first world country can resolve this

> situation....

Fair enough, but do you know how old the tube network is? I doubt that retro-fitting a system like that would be possible.

[Netquest]

Surely just a question of money - and how much does the strike(s) cost?

[Huguenot]

I don't think it's as easy as that NetQuest.

Let's say that each tube strike costs the economy 50m a day...

In financial terms, the drivers would initially go on strike indeterminately as soon as the subject of driverless trains was suggested.

Since the process from initiation to completion would probably be around twenty years, that's 365 billion in lost productivity just to start off with.

You'd have a breakdown in faith in both London and the UK on both economic, trading and tourist terms - perhaps 20 trillion?

You'd have wildcat and sympathetic strikes in other industries that restricted productivity - another 5 trillion?

Mass unemployment from the consequent economic downturn would cause huge civil unrest, rioting and a general breakdown of law and order.

So yes, I guess it's that simple really ;-)

That's why nobody likes a breakdown in labour relations.

[Netquest]

Ahh I see, let's just accept it then....:(

[Huguenot]

I don't think that's happening either.

The tube is part of a huge transport infrastructure that needs comprehensive management - but it's offtopication.

My point is that whether it's the Royal Mail, the Tube or the Miners, striking has a massive social impact, is rarely well thought through, and often counter-productive.

The Royal Mail can't be saved by strikes, and doesn't deserve to be saved by money.

[Netquest]

I do agree with you and have now recovered from the disapointment of not receiving deliveries.......

Strikes are happening way to often and there should be consequences for people involved.

[david_carnell]

Is the right to strike not something enshrined and valued in modern, liberal (small L) society?

Consequences for strikers? Such as? The sack? And that would achieve.....what exactly?

Whilst I acknowledge the need for a modern, efficient postal service it is an arena where a well-run monopoly service is the norm and the most sensible option. Attempts to privatise the domestic post beyond the current courier services (DHL, TNT and the like) would seem complex and counter productive.

Postal workers have been treated pretty shabbily by management in this whole thing, and when no other action works, striking is often a necessary recourse. And long may it remain so.

[Huguenot]

Wll yes, d_c but people don't get paid when they're striking so democratic rights are balanced by personal responsibility.

I'd argue that an efficient postal service is an anachronism in the modern age. An email has equivalent weight in law, read or unread (just like a mail).

So what actually gets delivered? Junk and packages.

Mail is dead!

Privatise!!!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Oh Hugenot, you will want to abolish ink pens next!

I had a delivery last night at 6 pm from a lovely postman who told me they were trying to clear the backlog before the next strike - at least they are displaying some integrity.

[Netquest]

Let's be clear here - i am not moaning about the posty(ies)!

My problem is with the higher management of the royal mail, the goverment, and anybody else who supported and is using privat carriers. That got the royal mail into this state.

Having said, i use privat firms too now and think it's too late to not to.

[Huguenot]

That's simply not the case Netquest.

I know Adam Crozier, and he's a very astute businessman.

The Royal Mail's in trouble because there is no requirement for the 1950's dream.

These poor guys are hamstrung because the population insists that the deliver a pastoral service ("my lovely postie") in a world that has no need for it.

We don't write letters any more, we have no need of it. So all they do is scrag along on junk mail and packages which are better delivered by blue collar unemployables and private business respectively.

If you demand some Christmas Card emotional validation, then pay a quid for it, not a first class stamp.

[Huguenot]

What did they say about Generation 'Y' - Generation Y-pay?

If you want social services then accept either high taxation or low salaries in the public sector, you can't have both!

[Netquest]

So a decent postal service is a 1950 dream?

Well if one only privatises the money making bits of publics companies then all one is left with unworkable sceletons.

The royal mail needs the income from parcerls and businesses to make money. We all know that it is not feasable to deliver a letter for the price of a second class stamp across the country!

Anyway, i might just be a socialist, which does appear to be a 1950 dream in this money grabbing sociaty these days....

[Huguenot]

Where are you coming from NQ?

What is a decent postal service? 150,000 people walking the streets delivering junk mail that nobody wants for salaries that exceed the price paid?

Are you saying that the post service is a government service that should be subsidised by tax payers to pay for direct marketers to send junk that we don't want? You want to subsidise private business?

You may not realise it, but that's what you're proposing.

The problem with socialists is they want everything for nothing, they hope to hide the cost in taxes.

Please God, don't call me a capitalist w@anker, you'll only demonstrate how few of my posts you've read.

[Moos]

I still get plenty of post that isn't junk mail, or I suppose junk post we should call it in this country. Admittedly a lot of it is bills, which will eventually be delivered only online, but still.

[sophiesofa]

I get very little posted junk mail at all. I think the vast majority of junk mail is sent electronically or posted through the door locally. I love getting post (not so much the bills). I wish it was still the days of knowing your postie, but it seems to be a different one everytime. I think they have lost the pride in their work that they used to be famous for. Last week a postperson bizaarly posted our letters under our garden gate (in the rain) so I got home to a pile of soggy post. I don't know what the solution is though because it just isn't cost effective anymore.

[Chick]

Anyone see Louise Murray on the news last night? (and EDF)