Member Info for OliGarch

Redceo, who was it that was consigning IDS to the history books? I seem to have missed that one. I seem to remember that both the BoD and CWU were telling everyone that the UK operation could go into administration if there was more industrial action or a deal couldn't be reached however in reality was this ever going to be an option?

Redceo, personally, I would be concerned about the UK operation handling double the normal volume over the Christmas pressure period as previous years have usually generated at least a fivefold increase in letter box collection volumes (a nice little earner at 75p a pop) and fourfold for parcel volumes according to data from my previous workplace, even taking an adjustment for the pandemic into consideration. Still, at least double is better than quits?

According to the Dorset Echo.....

"A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are committed to restoring our quality of service to our customers. We have plans in place and dedicated teams responsible for improving deliveries in Weymouth and at our delivery offices nationwide".

“Over the last 12 weeks, we have recruited around 6,000 postmen and women and are continuing to recruit c.500 permanent positions a week in delivery. To support the health of our employees and assist them in their return to work, we have introduced a wellbeing programme which provides colleagues with free, confidential, and independent healthcare support, including unlimited 24/7 access to an online GP".

“In the lead-up to Christmas, we are taking on 16,000 temporary workers, more vehicles and additional parcel sorting sites to handle double the normal volume of parcels we expect over the period".

Brendyboy, you just had to go and spoil it with the "Royal Mail is so over managed and grossly mismanaged it’s untrue".....lol....it was all positive up until then, now Newdealz is gonna have to hand my crown of doomsayer over to you.....lol

Yes, Royal Mail could be more profitable however petty things like the USO, staff wages and terms and conditions tend to get in the way. If it wasn't for the pesky union, RM could be paying minimum wage on zero hours contracts.....lol

Redceo, as has previously been pointed out, the UK operation balance sheet currently reports that the business has cash and liquidity in the coffers. Initial outlay for the financing of the festive operation is/should already be factored into the accounts however due to the sums involved, just a small tweak here and there could result in some decent cost savings.

Hurtsparrow, does office clearance not form part of the DOM/COM bonus? If so then I would have thought that reporting a clear office would be beneficial all round, however you wouldn't want to be caught out by a spot check.....lol

CityWatcher, your issue may have been that you sent your item as a letter? What you should have done is to send it as a small parcel and it would probably have arrived on time.

This November and December is quite possibly going to be the most important festive period in the history of RM and the UK operation cannot afford to screw it up.

2020 was scewed by the pandemic and social distancing, so excuses were accepted.

2021 was a total disaster due to the failure by Achim Dunnewald to order enough extra vehicles plus RM were sending casuals home halfway through a shift if there wasn't deemed to be enough work although that was later proved to be a cost saving exercise that failed but was covered by social distancing..... again.

2022 was another disaster as RM due to industrial action. The business asked for 10,000 casuals and also ran the "friends and family" scheme however partly due to the previous years shenanigans the once loyal casuals voted to work elsewhere.

2023 and RM are reported to be asking for 3,000 casuals (less than three per delivery office) which tells me that someone in the know isn't anticipating massive volumes of mail this year? The other alternative is that someone isn't quite in the know and RM will be swamped with parcels again with no hope of getting everything delivered on time which would be a massive PR faux pas.

I'm not sure which option would be the worse but let's hope that the senior management has done it's homework this year as another Christmas clusterfeck isn't going to help the SP?

Just received a message from the CWU regarding the new Christmas incentive scheme. If units meet their targets then there's a monkey per head up for grabs which would equate to £60m if every unit meets their target. Very generous but will this money be recouped from the cost savings?

Newdealz, it looks as though your prediction of 236 is looking likely to happen?

Https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/royal-mail-say-dedicated-team-8840692?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

Newdealz, are you day trading this at the moment? If so, you must be taking the profit home by the barrow load.....

TMS, it looks as though keeping the shareholders in the loop is not important to the board at the moment or perhaps it's only the big shareholders that get to know?

I hear that Chris Grayling is stepping down as an MP and will be looking for a new challenge.......

With the Easter Bunny......lol

......and your chicks for free?......lol

Redceo, RM has always been top heavy with middle managers. I believe that the ratio was one in twenty, however the workplace coaches have always been under utilised in my opinion. A year on year saving of £50m would be a much needed boost to the finances.

Redceo, "just thank whoever that non of us were ukrainian villagers today".....Amen to that. There's a much harsher life outside of this forum and indeed these borders.

To be born an Englishman is to win the lottery of life.

Redceo, sadly Christmas always seems to take RM by surprise. Regrettably, I will be playing no part in this year's clusterfeck however it is worth noting that Evri started a 10,000 employee recruitment drive during the summer and currently there are issues in many sectors with staff recruitment. I currently have a builder that has a couple of vacancies, my local family owned service station and MOT station is staffed by sixty somethings who want to retire after many years but cannot recruit any youngsters, the local Post Office is always closed in the afternoon due to lack of trained staff and even the pub has stopped serving food between Monday and Thursday because they can't get enough staff even though demand is there.

Hopefully RM have secured enough hire vehicles for this festive season (unlike a couple of years ago when Achim Dunnewald would not release the funds) otherwise it's going to be another brown trouser event.

TMS, "I am wondering though if since the end of the dispute and Martin’s appointment if the BoD have gone into a period of hibernation?......It’s been wall to wall silence for a number of months….."

When Thompson dropped the bombshell in July 2022 that the business had lost £92m during Q1, I messaged him on the official RM internet Workplace app to ask why there had been radio silence over this. I should have realised that something was up as several significant projects had been quietly shelved in my area. The response was that they (the BoD) couldn't let anything slip due to stock market regulations.

Now I assume that this cuts both ways for the possibility of good or bad news? I guess that we are going to have to be pleasantly surprised or infuriatingly disappointed on results release day?