Page 1 of Isn`t the Post Office Bad Enough??

Re: My column -

"News item today - Consignia (the new corporate image for the Royal Mail) is going to cut 30,000 jobs from its front-line workforce to stay profitable. That`s 15% of the workforce, according to Reuters.

The bottom line to you or I is that services will suffer if these jobs are shed. We`re all aware of the p*ss-poor service Royal Mail offers when we find ourselves waiting for DVD packages. To cut costs, Consignia will employ more casual staff and we`ll see an escalation of delays and thieved packages as a result. I hope people will remember this before starting to slag off online retailers, as usually happens when the Post Office lets us down."

Anybody else annoyed by this?

Erm, yup...seeing as I`m likely to be one of the 30,000...

Me too Hodge. But please give a thought to Royal Mail, for so long now retailers and companies have used us as an excuse why they`ve failed to post items and letters. It maybe easy to blame the postie but it`s not ALWAYS our fault!!!

Its OK, Don`t worry. There is a Labour Government in power they will never let it happen. EEERRRMM AAAHHHH Will They!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the thin end of the wedge, won`t be long before in rural communities or out lying area`s you will have to pick your own mail up from the post office.Etc etc etc etc.
The Post Office or Whatever its called needs to be supported by the government as there are lots of facets to it not profit making but very important.
Wonder whats really behind it, opening more of the market out to others, nudge, nudge. How did that new car turn up in my drive etc.
Don`t want to get synical but its crazy if this happens.
Its about time this government got a grip and started supporting things that are important to us all. No option with private companies, they just couldn`t hack the whole thing.
Could ask George to ask Tony to take care of it, no shortage of money then whatever the cost.
Us dvd nuts need a good post and its about to go free-wheeling down an Almighty Great Hill.
all the best, Mark.

Daft part is, by employing casual staff costs go up.

Temp workers cost more per hour than permanent staff. The NHS is going through the same with nurses - no one wants full time employment when you get agency/temp work for similar/less hours and get paid more?!

I know nurses who work 2 nights agency and its the same as a 5 day week full time.

Anyone going to admit to voting for Mr Blair? He`s the same as the rest of them, only a little more smug.

Rachie, if you read my column you`ll know I`m on the side of Post Office workers who do a damn fine job under extremely trying circumstances. I lay all the blame at the feet (webbed, I suspect) of Post Office management.

With an organisation like the Post Office, well-trained, dedicated staff who know what they`re doing and why are the number one asset. Not the sorting machines, not the buildings, not the vans and certainly not the flashy £2million logo. You replace that staff with undertrained casuals and the Quality of Service (which RM management used to fart on about) goes out the window.

The next thing we`ll see is household delivery going out to tender and milkmen and paperboys will be delivering our DVDs (at £10 per item)

new delivery specification for 2002 buinesses b4 11 households b4 3pm

Its total madness, if you work out all the benifit costs of all those workers and families, rents etc, knock on effects on local shops etc etc it would probably be cheaper for the government to pay the shortfall the company claims its loosing, and leave us all with a decent service and decent staff.
Also hoardes of part time staff in an economy have smaller or no pensions and fall harder on benifit system when they retire, more and more cost which could go towards supporting support the service now..etc etc etc.
Long term way to look at it but there is a pounds and pence sense there.
Also loads of temporary low motivation workers will only likely mean more items going missing and not just from pilfering and of course worse service.
Its a great service as it is, has its downfalls but a first class letter to the Outer Hebrides for 27p, Spot on, and its one of the last community services left that we all value.
Just given our three Rural posties a couple of pounds each as a thank you for all the cheery waves and natters etc over the year for Christmas, would have given a bit more if not out of work.
National identity, values etc etc there will be chuff all left in this country of any real value if this sort of thing goes ahead.
Britain is one of the top richest countries in the world and yet we keep binning things we could easily support. Crackers, Crackers, Crackers.
Oh dear me, gone on a bit sick of seeing anything half decent chopped to bits.
I suppose the government can always use Johns Jags to deliver mail to each other. All the best, Mark.