The Internet has survived for over 50 years in its earliest form and was created as a communication tool for when all else failed. I would argue that it really isn't fragile. Especially now with the technological advancements that support it. And as complicated as it might appear, at its physical layer it is just 1's and 0's.
It probably wasn't fragile when it came to fruition, but that was before the days of computer viruses, hackers, Putin, KJU, faulty
flight plans, British Airways engineers pulling out the wrong plug etc. And yes it's all 1's and 0's but if you pull the plug all those
1's and 0's mean diddly squat.
The Internet has survived for over 50 years in its earliest form and was created as a communication tool for when all else failed. I would argue that it really isn't fragile. Especially now with the technological advancements that support it. And as complicated as it might appear, at its physical layer it is just 1's and 0's.
It probably wasn't fragile when it came to fruition, but that was before the days of computer viruses, hackers, Putin, KJU, faulty
flight plans, British Airways engineers pulling out the wrong plug etc. And yes it's all 1's and 0's but if you pull the plug all those
1's and 0's mean diddly squat.
Most of that isn't the Internet. These things just run on it. Like the paths we use to deliver mail. Mike, like software might get a virus but the Dave can still use the path.
And plug-wise you'd have to spend an awfully long time pulling plugs out and while you are doing that someone would be putting them back in. The networks are built with automatic load-balancing redundancies, mirroring, and endless fail safes. Information is stored on servers all around the world just so it is accessible 3 seconds faster.
If it got to the point where the physical layer is being mass attacked then getting mail will be the last thing on anyone's mind.
The internet is hugely vulnerable. Undersea cables can be destroyed easily. If Russia can take out the Nordstream pipeline, then fibre optic cables are nothing.
There's also the possibility of cyber-warfare. RM had a taste of that not long back, nobody could send any international mail for over a week.
So if a global conflict did break out, it has the potential to disrupt a lot of the modern conveniences we are now accustomed to.
Relative to a postman carrying mail in a war zone.
Why is everyone focused on the end of the world, it is not a scenario where I'd be worried about work or getting mail.
Royal Mail's systems depend on the Internet. And as we have seen recently not that well.
Before this thread disappears up its own arse none of the threats to the Internet real or imagined would rescue the letters business for Royal Mail.
We need to look at what will happen and try to shape that to get the best possible or least worse outcome for us not waste our time dreaming about a job that has gone.
Before this thread disappears up its own arse none of the threats to the Internet real or imagined would rescue the letters business for Royal Mail.
We need to look at what will happen and try to shape that to get the best possible or least worse outcome for us not waste our time dreaming about a job that has gone.
There will always be a need for letters, predictions are they will level out, but obviously at a level less than now.
The best scenario for most of us is to be treated as a human being, to not have work loads that are unachievable & to be able to provide the service people are paying for.
That’s not dreaming about a job that’s gone!
It's pretty clear from Royal Mail's behaviour during the dispute and after the agreement was ratified that we're dealing with a far more aggressive animal than we have in the past.
The idea that there was a better deal out there to be had is delusional and the position that "we'll never know" is just hiding from the reality of where we were and are now.
The letters side of the business is dying, sending letters is dying and that will only accelerate as companies are pushed harder and harder to reduce their carbon footprint.
The USO will change and the majority of our work will be parcels, the business will be much smaller and will be competing with the minimum wage sharks.
It's time to move on from the bitterness. All the union can do in that scenario is damage limitation and mitigation but be sure without a union it will be a steep learning curve for some on here.
None of this fills me with joy but it is unfortunately inevitable.
Defeatist attitude right there and you wonder why uk is now a third world country
Go shine your bosses boots while your at it
Read loads of books on civilisation decline/collapse.
The Internet/Email isn’t a done thing it’s in fact very fragile.
As systems become too complicated they break down.
Happens time and time again throughout history.
We won’t be any different.
The Internet has survived for over 50 years in its earliest form and was created as a communication tool for when all else failed. I would argue that it really isn't fragile. Especially now with the technological advancements that support it. And as complicated as it might appear, at its physical layer it is just 1's and 0's.
The internet is hugely vulnerable. Undersea cables can be destroyed easily. If Russia can take out the Nordstream pipeline, then fibre optic cables are nothing.
There's also the possibility of cyber-warfare. RM had a taste of that not long back, nobody could send any international mail for over a week.
So if a global conflict did break out, it has the potential to disrupt a lot of the modern conveniences we are now accustomed to.
If any of them doomsday scenarios happen then Saturday letters of the uso, seasonal hours and letter volumes will be the least of all our concerns.
You won't get out of seasonal hours that easy just because world war 3 breaks out r.mail will still be wanting their 24 minutes everyday and their 30 mins flex
So let me get this right, we have gone from a discussion about the possible suspension of the seasonal hours to a possible zombie apocalypse or similar.
Now that's what i call a discussion.
What about we discus the possible loss of saturday letters and end up on some sort of terminator variation where we have to battle cyborgs to get the parcels delivered.
I know i have went to far, but you now know how this thread looks to a sensible person.
The seasonal hours start Monday, apocalypse/terminator withstanding and the world will just keep turning.
Excuse me if I don't bet my mortgage on the collapse of civilisation.
Collapse no. Deterioration yes. The high point of post industrial society in western countries was probably in the sixties or seventies. UK had it bad in seventies but in Germany they were flying, Japan too. In the sixties, generally speaking, it was possible for one wage earner to sustain the family with a good lifestyle. Mortgaged house for many, he doctor would spend time with you and house visits were normal. Young people could get on the housing 'ladder', university education was still free. And many more. Motorways were still being built, new housing was exploding. Some might argue the nineties. Civilised debate was still possible. Now there's a novelty.
Fast forward to 2023 and we now have none of that.
I'm on collections so 95% of this new nonsense doesn't affect me, I still voted NO because of the T&Cs and because I have an IQ over 16.
Another beauty is now they can use the Trimbls against you, don't be caught speeding or you'll be sacked x
Then simply don't speed, although RM will have difficulties in an Employment Tribunal hearing when they disclose the Trimble device was last checked 5 or more years ago.
Is this confirmed 100% as ending on the 17th December? According to one of our managers the delay and confusion was RM wanting it shifted back a week so it ran until the 24th.
Is this confirmed 100% as ending on the 17th December? According to one of our managers the delay and confusion was RM wanting it shifted back a week so it ran until the 24th.
It is still due to finish 17th December.
The official reason given by the union was that Royal Mail were concerned that the traffic forecast for the next 8 weeks was showing very low levels and they were worried that there would be a lot of trapped costs (us hanging around doing nothing waiting on vans) rendering the whole thing pointless. Apparently they wanted to hold off until late October /early November.
To be honest I think the whole thing would have been more efficient and more acceptable to members had it been limited to the 6 weeks before Christmas and reciprocated in the 6 weeks of late July/August when traffic is historically at its lowest.
