GenevaSaint Posted 4 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 4 November, 2009 WG, as I pointed out to a postie last week. The CWU best make the most (not sure how) of this strike, come next year the Tories will probably be in power and will privatise the whole damn thing not just 30% as Labour had wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted 5 November, 2009 Share Posted 5 November, 2009 All strikes off... for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorpe-le-Saint Posted 5 November, 2009 Share Posted 5 November, 2009 I know there must have been severe economic pressure on the Royal Mail employees, but I think Barber could have held out, I think the Royal Mail would have broken before the CWU. Regardless, hopefully when the New Year comes Royal Mail give the CWU what they want so we can avoid all this in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Bognor Posted 5 November, 2009 Share Posted 5 November, 2009 Barber is a ****. "We can now have a period of calm where we hope we can genuinely take forward modernisation in a way that puts the union at the centre," he said. Union at the centre? That is why union people should NEVER run businesses. Successful businesses put the CUSTOMER at the centre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 5 November, 2009 Share Posted 5 November, 2009 WG, as I pointed out to a postie last week. The CWU best make the most (not sure how) of this strike, come next year the Tories will probably be in power and will privatise the whole damn thing not just 30% as Labour had wanted. It's always said that you (generally, not you GS) only appreciate something when you can no longer have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenevaSaint Posted 6 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 November, 2009 I know there must have been severe economic pressure on the Royal Mail employees, but I think Barber could have held out, I think the Royal Mail would have broken before the CWU. Funny story for you Thorpe. There was a guy at Southampton Mail centre who never works on a Thursday as it's his day off. On the strike Thursday he signed for overtime and went in!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenevaSaint Posted 6 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 November, 2009 All strikes off... for now. Great news for all users of the RM. Hopefully they'll be able to come to an agreement of how to implement the 2007 agreement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 Isn't it about time the RM just f*ck off now and we have someone new in ?? Is it me or do they seem to strike every few months ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 That is why union people should NEVER run businesses. Successful businesses put the CUSTOMER at the centre. Exactly my response when I saw his comment last night. What a tosspot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Bognor Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 Exactly my response when I saw his comment last night. What a tosspot. ...and that is the problem with the leadership of the unions. They couldn't give a monkeys about the staff any more than the management do. They exist for their own power and exploit the employees to this end. Take the reasons for strike action by the CWU, it changes as often as the weather. Ask 10 posties why they went on strike and they'll give you 10 different reasons. The day to day work that unions do for staff is important but the national strikes are more about power broking and being seen to be doing something when union memberships are falling. It stinks as far as I am concerned especially with commercial businesses, unlike 'real' public sector monopolies - where we have no choice. Take BA for example, they have made a near £300 million pound loss for the first time ever in the first six months of the year. Unite bang on about the £50 million worth of savings that they have "put on the table". This doesn't even make a dent in things considering that the first six months are traditionally the best six months of the year. If Unite and their members go on strike, I hope BA passengers switch to Virgin (whose employees voted against strike action) and never go back. It'll teach them a valuable lesson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 ...and that is the problem with the leadership of the unions. They couldn't give a monkeys about the staff any more than the management do. They exist for their own power and exploit the employees to this end. ...... I don't think it's right to generalise like this, JB. My ex-husband was a full-time official (Regional Secretary) for a Trade Union. I can assure you that the LAST thing he was was a power-hungry individual only looking out for himself. He most definitely cared very much about his members, their rights and addressing their issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 ...and that is the problem with the leadership of the unions. They couldn't give a monkeys about the staff any more than the management do. They exist for their own power and exploit the employees to this end. Spoken like a true ignoramus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Bognor Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 (edited) I don't think it's right to generalise like this, JB. My ex-husband was a full-time official (Regional Secretary) for a Trade Union. I can assure you that the LAST thing he was was a power-hungry individual only looking out for himself. He most definitely cared very much about his members, their rights and addressing their issues. To be fair BTF, I did not say all Union staff, just the leaders. Spoken like a true ignoramus. Well, it is on ignoramus dotcom...... http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2009/01/15/while-millions-take-pay-cuts-union-leaders-rake-it ....and the well informed balanced thinkers see it too. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6736206.ece Still, if you choose to ignore the truth, that's up to you. Edited 6 November, 2009 by Johnny Bognor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 To be fair BTF, I did not say all Union staff, just the leaders. ........... TBF JB he was a leader. A Regional Secretary is a very senior full-time official. He had been earmarked as a future General Secretary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Bognor Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 TBF JB he was a leader. A Regional Secretary is a very senior full-time official. He had been earmarked as a future General Secretary. Did he get pay rises much higher in percentage terms than his members???? I think Union leaders should only get an average pay rise in line with the pay rises attained for their members. Without this, they are no better than the bosses of the companies they are looking to take on. Fair play to Matt Wrack, at least he has principles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 Did he get pay rises much higher in percentage terms than his members???? I think Union leaders should only get an average pay rise in line with the pay rises attained for their members. Without this, they are no better than the bosses of the companies they are looking to take on. Fair play to Matt Wrack, at least he has principles. No - he had been a cabinet maker and his pay as Regional Secretary increased at the same rate as a master craftsman. He did get a 'company' car though - but that was because he had to travel throughout the south of England on union business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Bognor Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 (edited) No - he had been a cabinet maker and his pay as Regional Secretary increased at the same rate as a master craftsman. He did get a 'company' car though - but that was because he had to travel throughout the south of England on union business. So what are your thoughts on a 20% pay rise for the leader of Unite, when many of his members are earning less than the national average and would be lucky to get more than 2%? From the Times article, Bob Crow, the militant leader of the RMT rail union whose pay and benefits rose by 8% to £91,646 in 2008, was out on the picket line at Liverpool Street station in London as his members staged a 48-hour strike in a dispute over pay. Crow said: “I don’t really know if my pay rise was inflation busting.” WTF? Do Union leaders forego their pay when their members (who lose out) go out on strike? Didn't think so. So until anyone can show me otherwise, the Union leaders are in it for themselves. Edited 6 November, 2009 by Johnny Bognor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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