I dont know how much i can say on this topic, maybe I'm slightly ignorant to the goings on within royal mail purely because i'm a new member of staff
i worked in retail, after 9 years i HATED it with a passion, i knew a couple of postpersons, and a girl i used to work with jacked her job in and became a post woman and told me she loved it and i should go for it, i did some thinking and only a couple of years later i decided to apply, didnt get the original post i went for, but was put on a waiting list and was called up 7 months later and walked straight into a postie job in a perfect location not far from home!
its only this week that i've been there 6 months, and have just had a pay rise, as i believe that on trial period (12 months) they start us on just less than basic standard hourly rate, increased at 6 months, then again at 12 months on completion of trial period, which then ties in with standard rate.
now i dont know exactly which parts of royal mail are kicking off over pay and i'll be honest, after working in my previous jobs for the pathetic pay i got, i'm MORE than happy that i get what i get now. I love my job, i love the easy life its given me, if i'm honest its not the most challenging job, and i really take pride in my job
I dont want to strike at all, i'm happy pounding the streets for a few hours and talking to some of the really nice people i deliver to, and more importantly it pays my bills and keeps a roof over my head.
one day when i'd just started working for royal mail i accidentally put some mail thru a door which should have gone to the next door neighbour (habit meant i walked up the first path i came to not realising i had no mail for them) and i had a chat with the woman and apologised and she still wasn't happy, i was embarrassed and devastated that i'd ballsed up. and i know there must be some postpersons who dont care that much, but i do. I didnt realise how much concentration it takes to make sure you miss out the houses you dont have mail for!

i havent managed to get any overtime this week for tomorrow's strike but the last 2 i managed to clock up at least 6 or 7 hours through the week so i wouldnt lose out due to the strikes
the only problem i have with my job (and its a problem that will never be solved) is that if someone is expecting a parcel or birthday card, and it doesnt arrive on time (in their opinion), then its suddenly automatically my fault, not understanding that all i do in the mornings is collect the mail that is waiting for me, and deliver it, and that there are several processes involved in getting the mail from where it was posted to, to my delivery frame, the only way i'd lose someone's mail is if i follishly drop it out of my bag without noticing!
as for the postman who gets £5 per hour...?
CHRIST ALMIGHTY!!!!!