FSB: Mail strike must be stopped.

[NEWS]

POLITICS.CO.UK

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) today warned that a postal strike would severely damage the UK economy. The FSB also called on both sides in the Royal Mail dispute to meet as soon as possible to avert any postal strikes. This follows the Communications Workers Union (CWU) announcing today that their members working for the Royal Mail would take industrial action in the near future.

The FSB also asked the Government to intervene to prevent the strike if an agreement could not be reached between Royal Mail bosses and the union. This is because the stoppage would have a disastrous effect on small businesses - and in turn the whole British economy. Small firms contribute fifty eight per cent of UK GDP and trade with Government Departments and large firms further up the supply chain where the knock-on effect would also be felt.

The FSB advised all small businesses to be aware of any potential strike days so that they can make arrangements to send mail earlier or make allowances in their cash flow for the late arrival of cheques.

Clive Davenport, FSB Trade and Industry Chairman, said:

“A lengthy postal strike could be devastating for small businesses. Our survey on the postal service showed that eighty eight per cent of small firms send mail every day and ninety four per cent of small businesses use Royal Mail exclusively.

“Small businesses would be hardest hit by this dispute. They employ over half of the private sector workforce in the UK and are totally reliant on the Royal Mail. Other mail providers do not offer an alternative to small firms because of their size. A cheque delayed in the post can mean the difference between life and death for a small business, which means that this strike cannot be allowed to go ahead.

“We call on both sides in this dispute to reach an agreement to prevent the strike. If they cannot agree then the Department of Trade and Industry must step in to prevent the work stoppage. A strike would have a huge negative impact on the UK economy and the Government should not sit back and allow that to happen.â€

[ROCKY]

very nice now nomeone tell them why we are striking, and that is to protect the service they seem to hold in such high esteem,although i notice that when they have enough mail to use the competition they are quick enough to jump ship
what price loyalty

[L Tommo]

WELCOME TO THE WORLD WE LIVE IN SMALL BUSINESSES!!! SO it would cripple the country would it??? wot about our competition doing it as we are all being threatened buy RM every minute???? changed the tune now have we people????? BASTARDS!!!! NOW WE HAVE THE ACTION ON OUR SIDE LETS MAKE SURE WE PLAY THIS CORRECTLY AND STRING THIS GOVERMENT OUT TO DRY SO WE GET THE BEST DEAL WE CAN AND SHOW WE AINT PUSH OVERS!!!!! THE FRENCH WOULDNT PUT UP WITH IT!!!! I cant stand the french but they dont take any shite when it comes to rights!!!!

VIVA LA STRIKERS!!! HONOUR.. MORALS... RESPECT.. DIGNITY... BARACADE THE STREETS N STOP THE TRAFFIC.. BIT FAR FETCHED BUT THATS WOT GETS RESULTS!!! FACT!!!!

[DirtyHarry]

Well said ROCKY.

It's understandable that the FSB will look out for the interests of small businesses , but it has to equally
understand that the the CWU
will always act in the best interests of it's members. Postalworkers doing nothing but wring their hands in the
face of threats to their
jobs , pay , terms and conditions of work, was never going to be an option. The FSB would also be wise if it
were to aquaint it's self
with the fact that the CWU has always left the door to negotiations open to Laurel & Hardy, but neither can
see past the stick and no
carrot approach.

Well done , no , EXTREMELY WELL DONE , to every single postalworker in Britain who stuck two fingers up at
RM mis-management, and
didn't for one single moment , believe the utter and total tripe coming from Leighton & Crozier.


As for the NO voters , have the good sense , and the decency, to abide by the wishes of the overwhelming
majority of your colleagues
and accept the democratically arrived at result.

[dogfood]

You are so right Rocky. The one of most important part in the dispute from now on will be how the Union handle the media. Handled correctley we can get the public on our side. Give the message that we like RM are aware the change must take place and want to provide the services our customers want. ie Mail deliveried in the morning not mid/late afternoon.

The right wing media are not going to make it easy for us, as has been shown by the biased poorly researched Bullsh*t recently spouted on the BBC website and the Independent Newspaper. The Union must consistantly give the message that it is not about the money, it is about the way changes are being implemented and the consquences of these proposed changes.

[DirtyHarry]

WELCOME TO THE WORLD WE LIVE IN SMALL BUSINESSES!!! SO it would cripple the country would it??? wot about our competition doing it as we are all being threatened buy RM every minute???? changed the tune now have we people????? BASTARDS!!!! NOW WE HAVE THE ACTION ON OUR SIDE LETS MAKE SURE WE PLAY THIS CORRECTLY AND STRING THIS GOVERMENT OUT TO DRY SO WE GET THE BEST DEAL WE CAN AND SHOW WE AINT PUSH OVERS!!!!! THE FRENCH WOULDNT PUT UP WITH IT!!!! I cant stand the french but they dont take any shite when it comes to rights!!!!

VIVA LA STRIKERS!!! HONOUR.. MORALS... RESPECT.. DIGNITY... BARACADE THE STREETS N STOP THE TRAFFIC.. BIT FAR FETCHED BUT THATS WOT GETS RESULTS!!! FACT!!!!

Howdy Tommo , well said comrade , I'll have some of that mate !!!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

WELCOME TO THE WORLD WE LIVE IN SMALL BUSINESSES!!! SO it would cripple the country would it??? wot about our competition doing it as we are all being threatened buy RM every minute???? changed the tune now have we people????? BASTARDS!!!! NOW WE HAVE THE ACTION ON OUR SIDE LETS MAKE SURE WE PLAY THIS CORRECTLY AND STRING THIS GOVERMENT OUT TO DRY SO WE GET THE BEST DEAL WE CAN AND SHOW WE AINT PUSH OVERS!!!!! THE FRENCH WOULDNT PUT UP WITH IT!!!! I cant stand the french but they dont take any shite when it comes to rights!!!!

VIVA LA STRIKERS!!! HONOUR.. MORALS... RESPECT.. DIGNITY... BARACADE THE STREETS N STOP THE TRAFFIC.. BIT FAR FETCHED BUT THATS WOT GETS RESULTS!!! FACT!!!!

U2 - through the barricades ----- ah memories

[F0zziebear]

I haven't much hassle given to your friends in red at Nos. 10&11 Downing Street. They are the one's giving the loan with strings. They are the one's saying here's some money and by the way find £350M of cuts. Leighton and Crozier are guilty of agreeing to this, and attempting to force Griffiths et al. to implement it. Your Ops managers are slightly caught between what the senior management want yourselves. They are guilty of passively standing by, but their union don't have the teeth and collective bargaining power you have.

Maybe you disagree, and I also agree that our press are seriously un-educated about the industry and the issues it faces!

F0zz

[tony T]

T B T, it was Spandau ballet wot sang through the barracades mate.

[mdtomuk]

YES, U2 SANG 'WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME', AND I TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S BLOODY DIFFICULT BEING A POSTMAN WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME (for god's sake, this is sposed to be serious discussion . . . ed!). I AGREE BUT EVERYONE AT MY OFFICE ALWAYS FALLS ABOUT WHEN I MENTION 'WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME' IN FACT SOME OF THEM RUN OUT CRYING, PRESUMABLY WITH LAUGHTER . . . I THINK?

[pillar box]

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) calls on a democratically elected government to ban a strike by CWU members after conducting a lawful ballot.

I have some sympathy for their problem but as we live in a democracy banning a any lawful industrial action turns such a Democratic Goverment into a Dictatorship this would be a dangerous move for all trade Unions

[TrueBlueTerrier]

T B T, it was Spandau ballet wot sang through the barracades mate.

Blame it on my age me minds going

[robmacca]

Lets hope now that senior management will sit down with the union and get it sorted before it comes to a strike.