Obviously we are PO pensioners so we are still interested in what happens RM wise and in particular how the Pension fund is being treated. With 'people' like FA chairmen and ex FA secretaries in charge we can look forward to more chaos.
Yesterday we were having lunch with a dozen or so friends (some French) who questioned the wisdom of the strike. Some are raging tories - one an ex-councillor - but it was surprising how quickly they realised that their knowledge and views, being based on the Daily Mail etc was pretty far off the truth. Many were willing to change their views when they heard us expounding on our experiences of what went on in Offices.
Its a strange feeling watching people like Mandelson (he who will obviously know all there is to know about being a postman) and Alan Johnson as Home Secretary in particular and remembering AJ (in a tank top!) when he was a bit of a kid in his first year on the EC. So where is his influence now and how does he sleep at night being party to the destruction of the business he so successfully defended against Maggie at her craziest? Truth to tell he owes his current position to the support he received from the Union and his colleagues - apart from his eventual demise - and his membership of the Labour Party EC which must have given him enormous influence when looking for that safe seat.
Here in France, La Poste is being threatened with privatisation and it seems pretty unpopular. Perhaps we will be able to get involved in some of the demonstrations which they do so well over here. We love the fact that it is important in France that any demo especially one by an important Union is 'protected' by the Gendarmes in large numbers and in full riot gear. If not, the Government is promptly accused of not taking the demonstrators seriously and public sympathy rises by a notch or two, As our village Maire is a postman and the local Sorting Office is nearby it would be good to show support if necessary. Especially as one of the most important aspects of a good demo is the provision of the food and wine - I jest not
In the meantime, the very best of luck with your efforts on behalf of us pensioners and here's to your success - hang in there. From someone who's been there, done it, not enjoyed it particularly but has always felt it worthwhile fighting for what you believe in.
If any customers are reading this, I would like you to believe that I for one can vouch for the fact that when postal staff refer to their concerns about the damage to customers businesses and the inconvenience a strike causes they are not empty words. They have daily contact with customers and understand what that really means unlike most managers who are generally protected from any contact and are far more likely to be influenced by threats of lost bonuses or promotion.
ExSG
