Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Non-Wargaming Discussion => Chat & News => Topic started by: Heedless Horseman on 26 August 2022, 01:33:45 AM

Title: Mail Strike.
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 26 August 2022, 01:33:45 AM
Royal Mail Senior Management seem to be completely 'Off Planet'.
Just WHO wants to answer door to post at up to 10pm?
I get annoyed with Hermes / Amazon delivering at up to 6pm!
And I DON'T want Post on a Sunday!
Local posties pretty good... usually 10am to 2pm.
Good lads / Lasses.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62672783
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Steve J on 26 August 2022, 06:23:48 AM
We've had deliveries scheduled for up to 9.00pm around here, with deliveries starting from 7.00am, for Amazon, Hermes et al.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: FierceKitty on 26 August 2022, 06:25:27 AM
I thought the title was announcing a far more interesting post about katars or becs de corbin.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Steve J on 26 August 2022, 06:25:55 AM
Oh and I forgot to mention food deliveries at all hours of the night, but these have dropped off of late due to the squeeze on the cost of living.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Orcs on 26 August 2022, 08:10:07 AM
Our posties are good, apart from the fact they park their vans across our drive while delivering to the houses nearby. It coincides with the time I get home from work when on night shift. I then end up sitting in the road waiting for them. Not something I want to do after a 14 hour working day.

There is no need for this as there are loads of places they can park without blocking the drive. 

I too am quite happy with one daily delivery 5 or 6 days a week.
I certainly do not want deliveries at 10PM or Sundays
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Ithoriel on 26 August 2022, 09:45:48 AM
Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 26 August 2022, 01:33:45 AMRoyal Mail Senior Management seem to be completely 'Off Planet'.
Just WHO wants to answer door to post at up to 10pm?

Who? Me!

Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 26 August 2022, 01:33:45 AMI get annoyed with Hermes / Amazon delivering at up to 6pm!

I get annoyed with Evri (TCFKA Hermes) when they don't deliver anything. As the local wags say, Evri - every parcel lost, damaged or stolen!

Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 26 August 2022, 01:33:45 AMAnd I DON'T want Post on a Sunday!

I'll take post/ parcels whenever they can deliver them. Every day is Saturday now I'm retired.

Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 26 August 2022, 01:33:45 AMLocal posties pretty good... usually 10am to 2pm.
Good lads / Lasses.

At last! something we agree on! :)

Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 26 August 2022, 01:33:45 AMhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62672783
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Raider4 on 26 August 2022, 10:26:23 AM

QuoteI certainly do not want deliveries at 10PM or Sundays
I have had one delivery driver - not Royal Mail/Parcelfarce - knock at the door at 10:50 one evening. He did apologise for the lateness.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Raider4 on 26 August 2022, 10:28:15 AM

QuoteI get annoyed with Evri (TCFKA Hermes) when they don't deliver anything. As the local wags say, Evri - every parcel lost, damaged or stolen!

I have stopped using one supplier, who advertise as using Royal Mail for delivery, after my last order was delivered by Hermes. And I have emailed them telling them this.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 26 August 2022, 03:24:33 PM
Orcs... just ask if drivers could move along a little way. Sure they will be happy to.... but ask.

I was Post Office, but not Royal mail. I did do a stint as an Xmas casual in Sorting Hub, 5 yrs ago. It was NOT fun. By 2hrs into 8 hr night shift... standing, tossing 'small packets' about... back would be 'knotted rope'. If you were unlucky, (But Someone had to do it!), you might get a York (5'x 3' sq) FULL of tiny pharma packets. Had to take magnifying glass to read labels!
We tried to treat some packages with care... flowers, calendars, etc. but some posters just no clue about packaging toys, glassware, etc. Sad little 'tinkle' now and then. It got you down to realise someone's Xmas gift was not going to make it. And, then there was all the 'junk' mail letters... Nobody wants them. Hundreds of 'return to sender'... but you knew posting companies would still keep on sending junk. Demoralising... and for a pittance. I did not 'need' wage at the time... but others did.
Be nice to posties.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Big Insect on 26 August 2022, 03:58:52 PM
I was just wondering what kind of mail we were talking about here - ring mail or the ubiquitous Victorian 'chain-mail' ... or maybe I have the wrong thread  :-\
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Orcs on 26 August 2022, 04:09:39 PM
Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 26 August 2022, 03:24:33 PMOrcs... just ask if drivers could move along a little way. Sure they will be happy to.... but ask.


The problem is they have wandered off down other walkways/ pedestrian avenues to houses that are not directly on the highway. They could be 500 yards away. That is my issue.

I have also had them parking on my drive so I cannot get in.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Raider4 on 26 August 2022, 04:33:36 PM

QuoteI have also had them parking on my drive so I cannot get in.
Gosh, how rude!
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Ithoriel on 26 August 2022, 09:26:48 PM
Almost fifty years since I worked the Christmas Post. Four Christmasses in a row. Apart from a couple of days when the rain was coming down in stair rods it was a great job. Fringe benefits included half a dozen freshly baked morning rolls if I delivered to the bakery that day and a three course lunch in the local colliery canteen for less than the cost of a poke of chips when we had a delivery there.

Happy days! :)
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 26 August 2022, 11:54:16 PM
Anyone who has been Post Office knows that you 'Wear Mail'. Pride and burden.
In 'Old Days' Managers may have once delivered Telegrams across Murmansk Ice. Now... 'different'.
YOU WERE POST OFFICE. Somehow, think I'm stuck with it!
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Leon on 27 August 2022, 12:03:57 AM
Our posties have always been excellent, all friendly people who just get on with their jobs.  They've helped us out with extra collections when we've needed them, waited happily when our printer isn't playing ball, taken larger parcels to the depot to save us booking separate collections, etc.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: John Cook on 27 August 2022, 04:27:38 PM
Quote from: Orcs on 26 August 2022, 04:09:39 PMThe problem is they have wandered off down other walkways/ pedestrian avenues to houses that are not directly on the highway. They could be 500 yards away. That is my issue.

I have also had them parking on my drive so I cannot get in.


Parking across your drive or on it is unreasonable and thoughtless.  Ask them to stop it and see what happens.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: John Cook on 27 August 2022, 04:29:21 PM
Quote from: Ithoriel on 26 August 2022, 09:45:48 AMWho? Me!

I get annoyed with Evri (TCFKA Hermes) when they don't deliver anything. As the local wags say, Evri - every parcel lost, damaged or stolen!

I'll take post/ parcels whenever they can deliver them. Every day is Saturday now I'm retired.

At last! something we agree on! :)


I agree with all your points including the last one. ;D
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: John Cook on 27 August 2022, 04:31:10 PM
Give them their pay rise in line with inflation, then reduce their pay when inflation return to 2% and see how that goes.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 27 August 2022, 07:49:34 PM
'Real World' does not work like that. Not in a 'semi' Public sector. For about 20+ years,'real' pay falling. Pay deals... on or below inflation would be haggled over for up to a year... all the while, Business coffers earning Interest and Gov't creaming off profit...while staff paying out more in costs. Real World. But, at least we GOT some sort of pay rise... many others did not.
One year... JUST ONE YEAR...a relatively quick pay deal... and inflation FELL to below agreed rate! Someone will NOT have been Happy!
I reckon that after 30 years, 'real' value of pay was about 70% of when I started.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Gwydion on 27 August 2022, 09:03:08 PM
QuoteGive them their pay rise in line with inflation, then reduce their pay when inflation return to 2% and see how that goes.

You know what 'inflation' means right?
If and when we get to 'deflation' then you can talk about cuts.
Until then the increase in pay may reduce but pay should not decrease.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: John Cook on 27 August 2022, 11:00:56 PM
Yes, of course, I was being facetious. 
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 28 August 2022, 12:26:34 AM
No worries, John Cook. Sometimes, at over 60, facetious can be all you have to enjoy!  ;)  :)
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: FierceKitty on 28 August 2022, 12:31:14 AM
Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 28 August 2022, 12:26:34 AMNo worries, John Cook. Sometimes, at over 60, facetious can be all you have to enjoy!  ;)  :)

There are still cats and string quartets.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Gwydion on 28 August 2022, 12:39:09 AM
Quote from: John Cook on 27 August 2022, 11:00:56 PMYes, of course, I was being facetious. 
I presumed so, I was pointing out how inappropriate it was.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 28 August 2022, 03:49:52 AM
QuoteThere are still cats and string quartets.
M
There are times when My Furry Purry could well be Strung Up In Quarters... but He's The  Cat!  ;D
And Emily... my old dog, Loves him!
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Orcs on 28 August 2022, 06:55:28 AM
Quote from: John Cook on 27 August 2022, 04:31:10 PMGive them their pay rise in line with inflation, then reduce their pay when inflation return to 2% and see how that goes.


Very few prices will fall when inflation drops back to 2%. 
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Orcs on 28 August 2022, 07:03:24 AM
Quote from: John Cook on 27 August 2022, 04:27:38 PMParking across your drive or on it is unreasonable and thoughtless.  Ask them to stop it and see what happens.


I have done, it had little effect as our postmen change on a daily basis.

It's also not much use when they have parked across your drive blocking one side of the road and you are on the other lane wanting to pull in with a queue of traffic in both directions, one side blocked by their van the other by you want to get onto the drive. so you cannot even pull over and park on the side of the road.

I finally put in a written complaint which stopped it for a while.

What is most annoying is they have plenty of room to park a few yards forward or back and leave my drive free. or they could park on the other side of the road facing the direction in which they are travelling
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: steve_holmes_11 on 28 August 2022, 09:14:10 AM

QuoteThere are still cats and string quartets.
You can't have one without the other.
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: John Cook on 28 August 2022, 03:54:34 PM
Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 28 August 2022, 12:26:34 AMNo worries, John Cook. Sometimes, at over 60, facetious can be all you have to enjoy!  ;)  :)

Oh, I can also do sardonic and sarcastic  ;)
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Heedless Horseman on 31 August 2022, 07:00:17 AM
On 'Strikes'... NOW, many will not understand. My Own 'politics' changed from right wing, anti Union in early 80s, to recognition that Union was only thing holding Post Office together, against background of 'Privatisation'... and 'cuts', sell offs... and Govt taking profits.
In 'Crown Office' closure 'franchising' of late 80s, many of the 'Old Post Office' managers quietly Proud of Staff 'pulling together' in defence of 'The Post Office' for picket line, etc. Long before 'Team Building' became a thing. Sadly, they retired and management recruited for 'Business Orientation'.
I once glimpsed a Staff Assessment on a good 'Acting Manager'... (IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LEFT ON DESK!)... saying "Too Staff Oriented".
Public were also supportive in the main. I remember a coloured Wallsend Shipyard worker... still in Hard Hat... actually crossing street to Thank Us for 'doing our bit' on picket. Shipyard closed... and, eventually NO Crown Post Offices in Newcastle, either.
Yes, Union could be stupid on occasion... but the utterly ridiculous 'Pay Bargaining' situation...!  Bl**dy Silly 'offers'...'Bargainers' on both sides getting paid... while haggling drawn out with staff losing out... and strikes affecting all.
Times and attitudes have changed. Royal Mail now privatised... but by how much did a Stamp shoot up after privatisation? Hmm???
I'm just 'old'. And it is History.  :(  :(
Title: Re: Mail Strike.
Post by: Norm on 31 August 2022, 07:37:24 AM
I hope Royal Mail can go from strength to strength. My service is very good. I know a few of the blokes to speak to and there are some older guys pushed hard on the bigger rounds, especially as the services evolves from being letter based to becoming more parcel centric.

Tough running any organisation, big or small in the current climate and times are set to get a somewhat harder, all we can do is hope for the best for everyone concerned.