Postal Strike - Do you have sympathy for the the posties?

[Dong]

I have 2 different postmen that come once a day from different companies, both reliable as clockwork and friendly. The refuse collectors come at least 3 times a week. The rag and bone man comes once a week. The market gardener also comes once a week. The pubs are open decent hours without the threat of instant violence and you can smoke in a lot of them. You can drive at decent speeds on the motorways. A fair bit of the population speak a smattering of English while a good percentage speak very good English. Contract rates are pretty good here and there seems to be no lack of roles to fill. I presume this is because I live in a civilised country

Apologies, really curious now. May I ask what a rag and bone man is?

[Paddy]

One of the spooky things I found in Denmark is that day to day I meet more people who can speak English than I do when I'm in England. Was really quite disturbing for a while before I realised the truth: the UK truly is a tuliphole.

Even worse, coming back to Blighty, after working in the Netherlands I got off the Heathrow Express at Paddington. I wanted to get an onward ticket but I could not understand the ticket clerk who had a strong Indian accent. I decided to get the ticket from a machine but when I asked an attendant what platform; I could not understand him too.

The standard of english is better in mainland Europe.

[TimberWolf]

I have 2 different postmen that come once a day from different companies, both reliable as clockwork and friendly. The refuse collectors come at least 3 times a week. The rag and bone man comes once a week. The market gardener also comes once a week. The pubs are open decent hours without the threat of instant violence and you can smoke in a lot of them. You can drive at decent speeds on the motorways. A fair bit of the population speak a smattering of English while a good percentage speak very good English. Contract rates are pretty good here and there seems to be no lack of roles to fill. I presume this is because I live in a civilised country

How are the Germans coping with immigration? Is it affecting low paid workers for example? And does everyone in German parks seem to be speaking Polish?

[Ruprect]

I'm guessing Mr Griffin wouldn't have got such a hard time if you lot were in the audience

[threaded]

I'm guessing Mr Griffin wouldn't have got such a hard time if you lot were in the audience

Where I am one of the parties in the parliament says way worse and have instituted some policies he would love.

How's about foreigners have to attend language lessons and if they fail to attend 85% of classes they get kicked out of the country, if they fail to pass the exams within 3 years they get kicked out of the country. (The level is pretty darn high too, better than 85% of the population.)

Foreigners not allowed benefits for 7 years, even if they've worked.

Foreign spouses have to stump up a bond, which is used to pay any benefits they may claim, and when it is about to run out the remaining is used to buy them a ticket, out of the country.

He's pretty tame considering what similar parties get up to in Europe.

[TimberWolf]

Why doesn't Adam Crozier set a good example by paying himself £5 / hour instead of £millions + more £millions in bonuses? And do some real work.

Anyway it looks as if postal worker managers are joining the strike - I didn't see managers being keen to help do the longer walks that postmen do these days.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...in-action.html

[Flashman]

Funny thing is the posties Communication Workers Union has contributed over £5 million quid to Labour party funds since 2001.

Well done Comrades!

[TinTrump]

Funny thing is the posties Communication Workers Union has contributed over £5 million quid to Labour party funds since 2001.

That reminds me. Is NuLabour still in massive financial debt? I'll do a bit of checking.

[Moscow Mule]

A posties view:

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n18/maya01_.html

[darmstadt]

Apologies, really curious now. May I ask what a rag and bone man is?

An explanation here although I do have to admint I haven't got a clue what this guy shouts. In winter he also collects the ash from boilers. I still remeber the guy who came round our estate in Essex years ago shouting 'any old iron' with a horse and cart. It was a very good way of getting rid of defunct white goods.