There's a postal strike coming. Support it - the postmen and women are being painted as lazy, reactionary troublemakers rather than hardworking people who aren't opposed to 'modernisation' - they're opposed to reduced services with inadequate staffing.
Personally, it means going cold turkey. No books in the post. Worse than that, the university post is suspended while new pigeonholes are constructed (they look too small for more than a single paperback - more dumbing down). I had to scavenge in the school office to get my fix today: two Angela Carter novels (Love and Several Perceptions) from the 1960s and (finally) Colfer's Hitchhiker's Guide novel, And Another Thing… Wonder if I'll hate it as much as Cynical Ben (here and here).
4 comments:
Perhaps you could take this opportunity to read some of the 3 and a half bookcases of unread books you already have.
You could do a sponsored read to raise money for the CWU, I'd give you 50p per shelf, double motivation.
I'll match that so that's £1 a shelf already!
The problem with the strike is that some companies will move toward private carriers to avoid the disruption and then not go back.
I fully support the postal workers but wish they had come up with a more sophisticated plan. They could have targeted the strike so that they only stopped post to certain locations (national and local government, MP's, and a few other carefully chosen targets) and kept public support much more easily.
Their protest is valid. No, their protest is essential, but unfortunately they are currently playing right into the hands of those who want to carve up the postal service.
You cannot 'modernise' a national postal system. The only way to save money is to not deliver to people who just happen not to live in cities and housing estates. This is what privatisation will lead to; a poorer service which costs the public more.
Trains, Water, Gas, Electricity, Student Loans, Education, Health... As a nation we stubbornly refuse to learn our lessons don't we?
Ooh look at that Vole; I am in complete agreement with you! We agree! We agree!
Oh, yeah, and you will hate the Colfer. Trust me.
Excellent, I await the money pouring in.
I hate the way people in this country would rather not pay taxes then moan about it going to the dogs, rather than accept that public services need to be paid for. They manage it in Scandinavia.
Postal workers can't stop individual pieces of mail - it's a criminal offence. They could do things more smartly though.
I read the Colfer book last night. See my latest blog post.
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