Member Info for Scampthedog

Becoming extinct is not a sign of failure...fighting ferociously to prevent extinction is a sign of adaptability: adaptability lends itself to success. And that is just what the CWU want: for Royal Mail to mutate into something more than just a delivery company...unfortunately Rico Back, it would seem, wants just a parcel delivery company.

Typical Teutonic arrogance: believe they know better than all and everyone else.

They went the same way all species go eventually, wolves; only in our case instead of being around for hundreds of millions of years...it is very doubtful if Homo sapiens will even make the one million mark.

You show your ignorance once again, wolvesy.

Dinosaurs were around for hundreds of millions of years. They constantly adapted and were, without doubt, incredibly successful in remaining so dominant for almost countless ages.

We, as a species, on the other hand? Well......

And that just about sums it all up nicely, Broch.

And if we do get to this "mutually-assured-destruction" point...what will all the shareholders think of Rico Back's leadership and overall strategy then I wonder?

And at what point in the next couple of weeks do some of the dozen or so major shareholders start panicking and begin dumping huge tranches of shares in an effort to reduce their losses? Thus driving the price even further down.

but before I go, everyone please bear this in mind: as OliGarch and myself have being trying to explain, in both our separate ways, over the last hour or two, the consequences of a strike really are truly terrible.

And you don't need to be a city analyst to work that one out...unless you are Fruitster of course. Lol!!

"nows the ideal time for rico to sort the workforce and unions out for good, however much it costs while the corona virus takes the publicity away."

You are correct when you state: "while the corona virus takes the publicity away."
You are wrong when you state: "nows the ideal time for rico to sort the workforce and unions out for good, however much it costs".

Why are you wrong? Because you obviously have no idea whatsoever just how much that "cost" truly would be.
But just to point you in the right direction -- astronomical!!!!

There are only two outcomes here in my opinion...and my opinion, as always, is most certainly not a humble one.

1. A massive and crippling strike resulting in thousands of job losses (mine being one of the very first to go) and the almost complete meltdown of the companies future prospects over a time period of, at the very least, a decade or more.

2. A very costly settlement with the CWU which will cost hundreds of millions of pounds...and therefore necessitating a further reduction in the dividend -- or perhaps cutting it altogether even!

Whichever one...it all adds up to the same thing: a huge extra expense to be imposed upon RMG's current finances.

And that is something that will weigh heavily on the current s.p for the foreseeable future...whatever the outcome.

Tens of thousands of posties are shareholders...and most don't give a tinkers toss for the share price. What have the shareholders got to do with this dispute? Answer: the only shareholders who really matter in any strike action here are the posties themselves...mind you, in retrospect, thinking about it for a moment, that is not quite correct...

There is actually one other group of shareholders who can bring a massive influence to bare upon this escalating problem:-

the small group of major shareholders who own the vast majority of shares in RMG...for instance, how about if they vote Rico Back out at the next AGM?

The pressure will be mounting on Rico now...he cannot win this dispute without causing this company almost irreparable damage.

Let us see what those major shareholders think when the s.p collapses down to say £1.30 a share. some of them have spent hundreds of millions on purchasing this stock. Pressure mounting on Rico Back -- you bet there is!!!

If this industrial action turns into one that is both drawn out and nasty...then you can forget the present share price and any short to midterm dividend payments. It will just completely wreck this business...and you yourself, OliGarch, know this far better than me it has to be said.

As for buying here at these prices thinking you are buying at the bottom? I would say to anyone reading my comments: I could not advise it. If this does escalate into industrial action you might only guess at how much further this stock should very quickly fall. In other words: you could not reasonably fix a price to it.

"Falling knife" comes readily to mind.

My own guess: I think there is more chance than no chance that the two sides will very soon meet for fully committed talks.
But, of course, just like everyone else on here...I am just guessing.

"Anyway, I hope this spells the end of the CWU (and other Unions) as they aren't in line with current company structures..."

More than likely, farhantahir...unfortunately, a strike , whether long and bitter or short and low key, will do serious damage to this company's short to mid term profitability...indeed if it is a protracted and hard-hitting strike then RMG's "Five Year Plan" will be completely wrecked. Under these circumstances it might take a decade or more for Royal Mail to even regain the market share it lost during the dispute...never mind make up the lost ground.

In short, farhantahir: a complete tragedy both for the company and the workforce. The CWU, a greatly reduced force? Yes, most certainly! But it also works both ways. As I so fond of stating: MAD -- mutually assured destruction!!!!!

And if you or anyone else thinks differently...you are very badly mistaken. Very, very badly mistaken.

As for my own job at Royal Mail...what has that got to do with anything I have ever wrote?

Can I change what the majority (vast overwhelming majority that is) of the workforce think regarding the present direction the board is heading in regarding this company? Answer: "No".

Should I cross the picket line if indeed it does come to a strike? Answer: "No". (well, "No" if you have any commonsense that is)

Whether the CWU engage in a strike or not is my own job fully protected, taking into account my own personal circumstances, at Royal Mail? Answer: "No".

If perhaps the CWU was to win a confrontation with RMG through the actions of industrial action would this then secure my present employment long term? Answer: "No".

You can see where this is going can you not, Ringo? Well, just in case you don't, let me expand on that somewhat: whatever I do at work or say here on this board will not alter my long term prospects at Royal Mail one little bit.

So why put the proposition to me: "I'd worry more about your job Scamp Doggy Dawg!" ?

As if I can change anything. You might as well tell me to try and stop a tidal wave...because that is what is coming Royal Mail's way...and it is coming fast. And there is absolutely nothing, I, personally, can do about it. And that would include voting "No" to industrial action. Cheers, Gunslinger!

Ringo, please allow me to say how very much I really do enjoy your own unique and special brand of candid humor...a little levity on this particularly solemn board is always greatly appreciated. Well, by me it is.

Max, me old china...you really do need to get yourself a more healthy hobby. Stalking people is not generally considered a respectable or laudable kind of pastime -- you saddo individual you!! P.s I would hazard a guess you have invested a sizable amount of your wealth here, Max? Ah well. Try not to fret is my advice...you won't be the first one amongst us all to make a bad investment. Cheers!

Quite obviously there will be no support from the general public for a CWU strike...not under present circumstances at any rate. But that would not change the terrible impact upon RMG's immediate profitability and future prospects for advancement under the "Five Year Plan"; in fact...it would be nothing short of disastrous. If Rico Back does not take personal charge of what is fast becoming a complete meltdown for this company (and the s.p) and take decisive and immediate action to steer us all away from what could turn out to be the most damaging and protracted strike in the UK since the miners strike...then...well...God help us regarding our investments. Because for sure...nobody else will.

There are quite a few people making rather a lot of money from this stock...especially some of the chief rampers over on the "other" board...not so for the poor chumps who keep swallowing the same old gumpf: each time grabbing as many shares as they can possibly (or should that be "cannot possibly"?) afford when deceived into believing the stock is on the verge of rising sharply in value and they really do need to "get on board"...the "train is leaving the station" so to say. And what do the chief rampers do? why, they just wait a while of course, let it rise up 10 pence -- and then dump a whole load more!!

Until VRS comes through with a RNS that promises more than just the same old same old...then this stock is going to continue its progressively downward slide. And no amount of waffle now is going to change this in the long run.

In regard to madasaballon's link: yes indeed it certainly make for very unhappy reading; although on the plus side of things it does mean more shares for me through the employees share plan scheme...tax free and devoid of any noticeable broker fees of course. Oh, and not forgetting the extra 120 free shares -- all rather nice!

Need to somewhat readjust my outlook from "long term" to "longer term"...but what the heck...I can afford to wait. Unlike others, and not mentioning any chief rampers up to their ears in borrowing, I am in no rush to cash them in.

On a brighter note: just put a great big X into the "YES" box; I have no particular appetite for a fight with RMG...but the bigger the "YES" vote the more chance of imposing upon them an urgency, one fervently hopes, for serious and determined negotiations at the very highest executive level.

I confess I don't hold out much chance of that now. Common sense, it seems, has now been replaced by illusive double-talk and deceitful innuendo...all of it coming from the company I might well add.

And what on earth is being implied here? I cannot see any recent "Directors Deals" being executed...or is someone on here referring to "free" director shares?

Still talking the price up, Fruitster, I see...and still refusing to acknowledge the impact of impending industrial action. What a strange chap you truly are.

Well , today is the day: the day the strike ballot papers start landing in thousands of hallways that is. This is going to be a fast "turnaround"; in two weeks time we will all get to know the result...but there again we already know the result don't we.

Hovering around the "all time low"? That's a laugh! :) There will be a "new" all time low sometime very soon if there is no resolution to what seems to be, at present time, a complete impasse.

Everyone who has been investing here over the last 12 months or so will just have to take it on the chin. We all got it wrong...and no one more so than me it has to be said. We all took a gamble that common sense would ultimately prevail; it did'nt...and thus we come to this. And that, by the way, is the fault of both sides -- not just the CWU!

If indeed industrial action does take place you can forget the present s.p...compound it with an outbreak of the coronavirus ripping through RMG's tightly packed ranks whose 58,000 foot soldiers come into direct and indirect contact with the UK's populace nearly every single day of the week...and wow -- Armageddon scenario!!!

It will not matter one jot if an outbreak occurs at any one particular Royal Mail site and the authorities instantly respond to attempt to contain it. The fact that infected victims can pass on this virus whilst incubating it (therefore completely unaware they are carrying this insidious and deadly pathogen) will mean it will be much too late...the posties will have spread it far and wide. Worse still if it breaks out in a cross-docking centre: the drivers will then unwittingly ensure that that virus is spread all over the country...just as any other big haulage company will also adversely contribute in their varying and many differing degrees.

Two factors have therefore contributed to our common and shared misfortune regarding the s.p: the complete breakdown of relations between employer and employees -- and just plain awful bad luck!!!

And you can dribble on about market forces and present company fundamentals as often as you choose, Fruitster. In relevance to the bigger picture it is just complete nonsense and totally irrelevant to RMG...and it always bleedin was.

A disaster for companies like RMG? Time will tell...as it always does of course. But if coronavirus does takes a grip on Royal Mail's aging 130,000 plus UK workforce...then you can forget even the effects of industrial action. Why? Because it will be a mere sideshow to the real cost...and I don't mean in financial terms either.

Redceo's "Nice moves".
166.30 GBX +5.15 (3.20%)
550.00 GBX (Redceo's s.p forecast for 2020) - 166.30 = 383.70 deficit.
3 Mar, 8:17 am...and counting.

What do I mean by "anything near", PostmanPorsche? Well, certainly not £5.50 that is for sure. Perhaps you or some other person(s) on here might like to offer a view on what the s.p might possibly rise to by the end of 2020? Have not got a clue myself...but if pushed? Perhaps, if both the coronavirus and industrial action are both restrained, it might achieve somewhere near the £3.00 mark...there again -- who knows!? Certainly not I.