My brother in law is one of the people recently employed by the PO to make the numbers work. he's a sharp boy and comes from the private sector, he says what goes on is f*ckin scandalous. The basic grievance they have is the getting rid of final salary pensions which for anyone in a non public sector job is a flight of fancy anyway and they must realise this is unachievable in todays market.
His example about the issues - it costs the PO around £32 to get a letter to the outer hebrides for example, but you pay 30p, the way they fund this is by ripping off large businesses that are trapped by their monopoly. However, other options are becoming open to these frims so the PO is struggling to keep the cost to joe public down.
The mismanagement and keeping useless people in their jobs at sorting centres etc is the biggest headache apparently. Jez's story is pretty typical but you try firing people these days, especially from a public sector job where they are still in the final salary pension contract.. not easy !!!
Last time they were on strike he was delivering mail in the city to the big clients, 2 auditors from Deloittes took the day off to join him...yes thats right, an day of their annual leave to drive a post van round the city.... :?
I'm seeing him tomorrow so I'll get an update and let you know whats going on !!