To all postal workers in the UK- get back to work!

Posted by: ErikL on 30 October 2003

I received this email from Soul Jazz minutes ago, after inquiring about an order placed 2 weeks ago:

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Hello Ludwig

We sent your order on the 17th october to <street address> (yup, it was correct)

We have been having a lot of postal strikes here in the U.K. over the last 2 weeks, and this maybe the reason for the delay

Kind regards

<firstname> - Soul Jazz
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Mick, can you help a brother out?

Big Grin
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by Mick P
I have spent several days bused into London humping mail about in order to keep it flowing. I ache everywhere.

Regards

Mick
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by Lo Fi Si
quote:
Originally posted by Mick Parry:
I have spent several days bused into London humping mail .....
Regards

Mick


It might keep you happy, but it's not going to get it delivered!

Simon
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by Derek Wright
Mick

I guess that makes you a "black leg"

I bet your mates from the machine shop in Manchester were you worked decades ago would not be imopressed <g>

Derek

<< >>
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by ErikL
Mick,

Perhaps Mrs. Mick owes your ailing parts a massage while you listen to some music and swill some whiskey tonight?

PS- Do you carry one of your shotguns when you cross the picket line over yonder at Greenford?
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by matthewr
Its an unofficial dispute so techncially Mick is not a scab.

Matthew
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by ErikL
Matthew, I understand that. The headlines I quickly scanned mentioned picket lines, chaos, bullying, etc. I'm concerned about Mick's safety.
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by Matthew T
Mick,

Your dedication to the cause is laudable.

If you could do something about some photos that I am expecting that would be much appreciated.

Matthew
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by Alex S.
Mick, please deliver my Zerogain elephant penis asap, its withering in some dank Deptford depot.
Posted on: 31 October 2003 by domfjbrown
Yeah - and unless someone's nicked the userid, somewhere in London (I assume) is my Sheep on drugs "Greatest hits" on vinyl from Ebay - I want it NOW!!!

What are they striking for btw? My friend's mate (the postie) in Reading's always bragging about how he massages the system and gets loads of overtime by not doing very much...

__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.

Posted on: 31 October 2003 by David Stewart
quote:
What are they striking for btw? My friend's mate (the postie) in Reading's always bragging about how he massages the system and gets loads of overtime by not doing very much...

Fairly typical of heavily unionised work-forces I'd suggest. They tend to get very uppity when their 'nice little earners' and 'old Spanish practices' are removed and they're expected to do a full day's work for a change Smile
Cue Matthew (Pinko) Robinson with monologue on the humiliation and abuse of the working man by the powers of evil (i.e. capitalism).

David

PS: Mick - respect for doing your best to keep the system going - don't overdo the humping though - Mrs Mick'd never forgive you Wink
Posted on: 31 October 2003 by matthewr
As opposed to your reasoned, objective and well informed assessment of the dispute David?

And why call me "Pinko"? Should I call you Fascist or Nazi in response?

"on the humiliation and abuse of the working man by the powers of evil"

Well one unofficial strike earlier this month was caused by Post Office managers pinning racist comments from a employee survey (e.g. "Blacks are lazy and stupid", "Indians do no work but get more overtime", etc.) on a canteen noticeboard so there would be at least some justification for that.

As for my views on the dispute a lot of this is part of a wider dispute and friction between the PO employees in London and the rest of the country. The vast majority of the PO employees and their union representatives are decent hard working people who will do their very best to strike fair -- but hard won -- agreements in the best interest of the Post Office as it faces major changes and restructuring.

Most of the problem lies in the London area where the CWU is run by some very stupid people still living in the 70s along with people who talk of "Spanish practices". These people are effectively holding the rest of the workers to ransom as much as the public despite the national workforce repeatedly voting for more moderate action.

I must confess to some links with both Allan Leigthon and Adam Crozier and beleive them to be decent and highly capable men with a very difficult job to do. I note, for instance, that they officially reprimanded the managers involved in the racist messages dispute and agreed to pay the striking workers for the 4 days they withheld their labour even though it was an unofficial strike wihtout the appropriate ballot. ON the whole I have generally supported what they have been doing at the PO as have the majority of the workers throughout the coutry.

Matthew
Posted on: 31 October 2003 by garyi
F**k I am getting complaints from ebayers that their items havn't arrived.

Doh.
Posted on: 31 October 2003 by Berlin Fritz
I noticed today at my local post office that they now have three daily collections ? The Germans are coming boys, don't forget it !


Fritz 2007 de-regulation innit.

Graham Ricketts
Posted on: 01 November 2003 by ejl
Plans to break strike revealed! Eek

Mick,
In case you need it, I've still got my "Pocket Spy Cam" from when I was a kid. It fits in the palm of your hand and really works -- pics aren't great but are o.k.

Let me know and I'll send it to you..... oh, wait. Nevermind. Wink

Eric
Posted on: 01 November 2003 by Berlin Fritz
Hey Delta, I was a kid once.

Cheers, Fritz

Piss. What do you call Postman Pat when he loses his job ?

Pat.

Graham Ricketts
Posted on: 01 November 2003 by john rubberneck
Don’t forget the 30 day compensation claim rule, in my experience they will take forever to respond so I would get doing it now.


Stuart
Posted on: 06 November 2003 by ErikL
I received my order from Soul Jazz today. Everything arrived in perfect condition.

New York Noise is on right now, it's brilliant, and I see myself listening to it several times while eating chili for the third consecutive night.
Posted on: 07 November 2003 by matthewr
My insound orders arrived as well although, post strike or not, whatever service InSound uses apparently takes 2-4 weeks to get from the US to the UK. As I type my caopy of The Shins album is no doubt being loaded onto a pack mule to make the perilous journey across the Andes...

Which is a shame as I quite like to use them rather than Amazon to support the smaller independeny specialist retailer but having to wait up to a month is just not on. Consequently I only use them for stuff that Amazon quotes long lead times on (like the Shins album which amazon says is 4 to 6 weeks).

Also very annoying as when I start ranting about The Shins in mid-Decemeber Ludders and ejl will be all "The Shins were so last month" Wink

Matthew