Where are things now? Can an outsider participate during strike days?

[Meredith2k5]

Just to clarify as I seemed to have some people believing I'm looking for a scoop or something in my last post, I neither work for royal mail or a news company and have no benefit to posting here other than curiosity (feel free to tell me to mind my own business ) and I hope I'm breaking no rules by being here.

Now that Christmas and new years is over the media seems to have lost interest and we've heard nothing on the public side of these strikes. It seemed to be at a deadlock however with no progress on either side.
Quite frankly I'm surprised it's gone on for so long, I cannot even imagine how some of you guys are coping with the lack of income and public + management pressure. Hopefully the workload has normalised a bit since December at least.
As a customer I have lost faith in Royal Mail but still have alot of respect for my posties. My issue is not directed at the workers themselves but with the company and its management in general. With such lack of seeming disregard for their staff - the very pillars that work the hardest within the company to keep it running and profiting how do I expect them to care about us customers? Support was none existent during all the missed mail during December. They had no answers, no apologies and left it to those working in support to deal with the complaints with no way to resolve them. It was a frustrating time for all and I would bet it was the workers that had to take all the flack for it further demoralising them whilst manegment probably saw little of this.
Now that December is out of the way and Christmas/NYE was a disaster it seems they are banking on the public losing interest and sweeping it under the rug like it never happened. I'm trying to see things from both perspectives but I cannot actively defend or agree with RMs upper management with any of the information I have.

I feel a little embarrassed to ask as some people here seemed to think I have a hidden agenda but what can those of us outside the company do to support royal mail workers during the strikes? Would turning up during the strike days with say some snacks, drinks and just to show a bit of support make any difference for example? Perhaps royal mail will be more likely to settle the dispute if they see that the public's side are with the posties in some capacity at least, perhaps not but I'd love to show support in some manner if it would help somehow.

[Grads75]

I only read the first 2 lines and thought get a life

[49erman]

So explain who you are?

[aiden01]

So explain who you are?

Does say in his post he's a customer.

[aiden01]

I only read the first 2 lines and thought get a life

Why do they need to get a life asking some genuine questions.

[portadown]

I think u would be more and welcome to come up and meet the men and women and speak to them and hear what's going on and if ur going to bring buns would be most welcome

[eggraidonmojo]

Just to clarify as I seemed to have some people believing I'm looking for a scoop or something in my last post, I neither work for royal mail or a news company and have no benefit to posting here other than curiosity (feel free to tell me to mind my own business ) and I hope I'm breaking no rules by being here.

Now that Christmas and new years is over the media seems to have lost interest and we've heard nothing on the public side of these strikes. It seemed to be at a deadlock however with no progress on either side.
Quite frankly I'm surprised it's gone on for so long, I cannot even imagine how some of you guys are coping with the lack of income and public + management pressure. Hopefully the workload has normalised a bit since December at least.
As a customer I have lost faith in Royal Mail but still have alot of respect for my posties. My issue is not directed at the workers themselves but with the company and its management in general. With such lack of seeming disregard for their staff - the very pillars that work the hardest within the company to keep it running and profiting how do I expect them to care about us customers? Support was none existent during all the missed mail during December. They had no answers, no apologies and left it to those working in support to deal with the complaints with no way to resolve them. It was a frustrating time for all and I would bet it was the workers that had to take all the flack for it further demoralising them whilst manegment probably saw little of this.
Now that December is out of the way and Christmas/NYE was a disaster it seems they are banking on the public losing interest and sweeping it under the rug like it never happened. I'm trying to see things from both perspectives but I cannot actively defend or agree with RMs upper management with any of the information I have.

I feel a little embarrassed to ask as some people here seemed to think I have a hidden agenda but what can those of us outside the company do to support royal mail workers during the strikes? Would turning up during the strike days with say some snacks, drinks and just to show a bit of support make any difference for example? Perhaps royal mail will be more likely to settle the dispute if they see that the public's side are with the posties in some capacity at least, perhaps not but I'd love to show support in some manner if it would help somehow.

Hi Meredith, on our picket line we always have some members of the public turning up and showing support - some with a toot of the horn, some drop by and bring some snacks etc, some try and sell their socialist newspaper!

All support most welcome. Things generally start early (around 07:00), and get finished by late morning (although everywhere varies).

A large office will generally have a livelier picket line.

You might find postal workers are a bit surly around strangers who turn up to their pickets (or messageboards), but they get a bit more friendly once they see you do not have ulterior motives.

There may well be some more strike dates announced this afternoon.

Good luck!