Re: should we (the workers) have more say over the universal service obligation

[postslippete]

RM has always rid of the USO stating that letters have declined and that it is unaffordable even though they have continually made duties bigger and increased postage. The billions in revenue that is generated by us have either been pumped into parcel automation or eaten up by shareholders and management who pay themselves huge bonuses while staff struggle to make ends meet.

The Union originally suggested taking a full day off the universal service rather than RM's proposals of delivering the 2c every other day. In discussions with RM our union leaders appear to be, once again, giving us no alternatives. We are all aware that universal service reform will go ahead regardless due to OfCom. However, OfCom are still considering two primary options for this:

1. Making changes to existing 1st and 2nd class so most letters are delivered that take up to 3 days or longer, with a next day service still available for any urgent letters, and

2. Reducing the number of delivery days offered from six days a week down to 5 or 3 days.

Whilst we don't know what goes on behind closed doors with our union and RM, I can't help thinking that the CWU is surrendering their initial position on the USO in return for "harmonising" new entrants ready for an agreement next year.

We are the Union and my point is should the CWU put out a ballot or at the very least do a survey to see whether postal workers agree with the Union regarding a more wholesome universal service obligation change?

[Rommagic]

Agree.

[A2B]

As I've asked before how do you force a private company to offer a service which they no longer want to do?

[Smoothbackground]

As I've asked before how do you force a private company to offer a service which they no longer want to do?

And to turn the question around, how do you force companies and the public to start sending letters, cheques and giros in the post in the quantities they once did? How do you convince them that what they really want is the old cheque in the post, not payment into their account within seconds via bank transfer? Or an important clinic appointment letter or medical results delayed a week in the post, or sent securely by email within a day of the clinic?

[Londonsburning]

The real problem is the USO hasn't been followed for years now I've seen mail left in frames for upto a week regularly since at least 2019

[norris9]

With how much I hear about mail volumes dropping it surprises me how much mail people still get. Most houses on my round get mail every single day and multiple letters too...

I don't get it. What information could you possibly need so regularly when we have been in the digital/online age for a good 20+ years. What are people actually getting through the post these days?

If the average person got as many letters as I do (1 a month) and typically it's something I don't need.... Royal Mail would be dead as a letters company.

[SpacePhoenix]

With how much I hear about mail volumes dropping it surprises me how much mail people still get. Most houses on my round get mail every single day and multiple letters too...

I don't get it. What information could you possibly need so regularly when we have been in the digital/online age for a good 20+ years. What are people actually getting through the post these days?

If the average person got as many letters as I do (1 a month) and typically it's something I don't need.... Royal Mail would be dead as a letters company.

With the 2C extract, wave 2 volumes on the CSS are getting so low on some batches that I think it's only a matter of time before we do away with wave 2 and it just gets sent as manual

[Playmail]

What gets me is why do they still accept d2ds this time of year if mail isn't profitable surely they get less for them then letters

[kazardaimenu]

They should just make Saturday a non service day with only parcels and tracked/ SG specials getting cleared. Anything urgent send it T24 or SG. People would appreciate more Saturdays off and some Mondays the mail is so thin it makes you think is this profitable?

[scoobydo79]

They should just make Saturday a non service day with only parcels and tracked/ SG specials getting cleared. Anything urgent send it T24 or SG. People would appreciate more Saturdays off and some Mondays the mail is so thin it makes you think is this profitable?

And what about all the lost jobs that will happen because of that?

[kazardaimenu]

Stop hiring and offer VR, plus people retiring. The numbers will even out.

[heraldmoth]

They should just make Saturday a non service day with only parcels and tracked/ SG specials getting cleared. Anything urgent send it T24 or SG. People would appreciate more Saturdays off and some Mondays the mail is so thin it makes you think is this profitable?

And what about all the lost jobs that will happen because of that?

Most people on here don’t like the job anyway so the simple answer is get rid of those ppl. Since the cwu surrender it’s been a downward spiral anyway

[clashcityrocker]

If RM needs to reduce the workforce it doesn't need to offer VR to anyone.
A slightly more draconian use of the conduct code would see the back of many who turn up late continually, have been caught speeding on numerous occasions, sign for things they shouldn't etc etc.
There are many people out there who don't seem to want to keep their job. It wouldn't be too hard to dismiss them.

[Mr Rush]

Something that I thought of recently: what if it went back to a six day job and Tuesday and Saturday were half-days? Tuesday is an exercise in dragging things out till you can scan out and Saturday attendance is deeply unpopular (fifteen years ago it was my favourite day because of the 11AM finish whereas that's my first letter now).

[A2B]

Looks like the CWU are trying to sell the opposite, less days but with longer attendance