A brief explanation. In the days of two postal deliveries a day the Postmen used to start between 5 and 6.30 am. They would sort their round and leave the office at 7am to make the first delivery. Much depended on the type of housing (Flats houses or whatever) but on average the postie would walk between 4 and 5 miles with his delivery. I leave out of this the inner city business deliveries which were treated differently. He would return to the office at about 10.00 to 10.30 and would then either sort a second delivery or would be on general sorting duties. The second deliveries normally combined two first delivery walks into one thus saving on the number of posties involved, leaving the surplus free to sort the incoming mail. The second delivery personnel would then make their rounds walking a further 8 to 10 miles (I know 'cos I've done it many times wearing a pedometer). No postie was ever allowed to carry more than 35 lbs weight (to avoid back injuries) and what didn't fit into one bag did not get taken except in very exceptional circumstances.
To improve productivity (ie reduce staff costs) the Royal Mail brought in single deliveries last year, something that had previously only applied to rural routes. To achieve this they said that the posties should have two or even three bags of mail to deliver and should spend longer in the office to (i) sort this extra load and (ii) to catch stuff that was arriving in the office off the first deliveries coming in from other offices. ie stuff that had been sorted overnight at the other end of the country and had previously been what was delivered on the second delivery.
The posties did not and do not like this method as they feel that it has taken away a unique and essential part of the "service" they offered. The "new start times" have nothing to do with the posties who don't like them either as they see them as all part of the giant con that is "privatisation".
Another myth that I can explode is that of "competition" The competitors will happily collect the mail from major posters (for a fee). They then sort it and take it to the nearest major town to its destination. they then hand it over to the Royal Mail for final delivery. This is what is known as the "final mile" which none of the privateers want to do as it is labour intensive and expensive. No privateer is prepared or even able to set up a post box network (think of the planning consents they would have to obtain for a start) and they certainly do not want to have to employ people to deliver a 37p letter from Brighton to John O Groats. Only the Royal Mail can do that and only the Royal Mail has a legal obligation to provide a "universal service"
I am on the side of the posties 'cos I have done the job. Sure there are "Spanish Practices" and some overtime is "negotiated" but all in all you have to admit that before the Government stuck its nose in the system worked. It no longer does.
Here endeth the lesson. May your God go with you.
