I can only assume that some of you have never had to make the decision to sacrifice your pay in order protect the working conditions, pay, pension and security of not only yourself but also those of your colleagues ? I have, and it is not a decision that comes easily. I worked for Royal Mail for 10 years, albeit some time ago, and still have friends there. The management of Royal Mail have shed thosands of jobs in recent years, cancelled second deliveries, closed thousands of sub post offices and worked hard in order to make it attractive to the private sector, ever willing to cherry pick the most profitable parts of the business. And they accuse the union of threatening the business. There is a huge pension deficit caused by government interference which could threaten members pensions, routine bullying of the workforce and Mr Mandleson, smarting over his failure to "part privatise" waiting in the wings. Postal workers on short term, temporary contracts, minimum wage. Crozier, £3m salary, would you buy a used car off this man ?
It is illegal for agencies to recruit people to clear work caused as a result of a legal dispute. You might be grateful for such a law one day. Difficult times, dificult decisions.