General Chat

Our postie numbers have been reduced too, Sylvia.

Comments from postal workers early in lockdown:

'But, because the Royal Mail see Mothers' Day cards as essential work, apparently we all have to risk our lives and the safety of the country now.'

'The CWU decided we could be an emergency service but we don't even have the ability to clean our hands.'

They knew the state of their business.

They wanted to deter letter volumes and concentrate on parcel volumes with no junk mail, prioritising parcels such as groceries, medical supplies, toiletries, cv testing kits - in other words things to keep people alive.

There were calls for more PPE and hand-sanitiser facilities and hand sanitisers for posties themselves - under threat of walk-outs in sorting offices.

A more recent (May) recent statement from Royal Mail quoted

'..... we are currently experiencing increased levels of employee absence due to illness and self-isolation. Absence rates are currently significantly higher than what we normally expect this time of year.

Our delivery operation is key part of keeping the country moving. So we have chosen not to avail ourselves of the U.K. government's furlough scheme except in some very limited circumstances. In fact, we have put ever more resources in to keep delivering. This includes additional overtime provision and a very significant investment in protective equipment for our colleagues.'

We have lost postal workers to the virus, as one would expect. It hits anywhere and everywhere.

Recent good news for Royal Mail is that Rico Back has stepped down and share prices have risen.

Couldn't have happened at a better time for Royal Mail. :-D

I decided as I cant get out to go online to a shop called Card Factory and order all cards I need for Birthday Anniversaries etc up til Jan next year.

Today the package arrived and...wow!
The cards are huge and most were only £1.49. They really are lovely cards and worth every penny. Even with the delivery charge they are still very good value.

I have a shop in town and to buy the size and style of cards there, each one would have been at least £4-5...
So have a look at the site. you can personalise cards too at no extra cost.

Florence in the hebrides :-D