Yes, that's right, you've missed it. You should have posted your Christmas cards last week.
The current stand-off between Royal Mail, the Communication Workers Union and now the organisers of a number of wildcat walkouts means 21st century Christmas shoppers may have to revert to the high street rather than rely on deliveries from online retailers.
News on Tuesday that employment relations minister Pat McFadden had rejected calls to play a bigger role in settling the dispute as well as the confirmation from the CWU of further action next week will be little comfort to those most affected by the industrial action.
As I understand it the flexibility issue at the focus of the dispute centres on whether the job of the postman is time-based or task-based.
As a former evening paperboy I would back the latter... If I cycled the village at speed I could be back in time for Neighbours. If Mr Gresham at the paper shop suddenly told me to reorganise the confectionary given that I had a spare post-round 15 minutes, I might have told him where to put his £5 per week.
Perhaps I'm oversimplifying things but I can see why the posties are angry. That said, the effect the strike is having should not be underestimated, not least on the workers of small businesses who are facing dark times as goods-out and payments-in are delayed.
The CWU needs to win the backing of the public and this it seems to be quickly losing, with increasing calls to liberalise the market further and allow full competition.
Perhaps SJ Howard's suggestion for the Royal Mail to stop electronic payments to its workers in favour of cheques delivered by their own staff might put a cat among the carrier pigeons.
Comments (1)
I initiate a ensemble knot of soups that inquire grand, and can be made in big batches and frozen.
Is there any interest?
Posted by KarrieTamsin | November 28, 2008 8:44 AM
Posted on November 28, 2008 08:44