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What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

lindisfel said:
It is the same all over the country in Royal Mail the managers are just carrying out the instructions of the management.

If he doesn't support the union he will have no protection for his loyalty to Royal Mail who will exploit him further and dismiss him he is long term or intermittently sick.

My S.i.L is a postman and has been over 30 years
D.
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I know that it would be better to support the union but he rather went off that idea when he asked for help with a problem that they could have at least advised, but they were totally uninterested in his situation and refused to help. The local posties also feel that the strike is about mainland issues and when they required support in their almost unique situation, again the union refused to consider their issues. There is little love lost there. They pay their union dues in the hope that maybe, one day, the mainland posties will at least acknowledge what happens here.

My father was a postman, starting in 1932 and staying with the Royal Mail until 1956. He was a loyal member of the union at that time (organised it in his local office, in fact. Even asked by the union to stand for Parliament on their ticket - he refused.) That was when posties had to work all hours, 3 deliveries a day, high days and holidays. He was also a boxing champion for the Post Office and a swimming champion. That was when it wasn't just a job. Rules were strict and pay was poor but they took pride in the service they provided. Staff welfare was pretty good then. Many of the posties here feel that they don't matter either to their employers or to their union. A bit less than half of the posties here are striking, although pretty well all of them are in the union.

Alistair is not very techie and doesn't use social media at all, or e-mail but was a bit put out when he turned up for work at the beginning of the strike and found that he hadn't been told that there was a strike at all. He has never been informed of the strike days because the announcements are all on Facebook. That's another reason why he is unhappy with the strike, if they can't even be bothered to let him know the dates. For a union for communication workers, it's a strange attitude.
 
Hi Ann,
What you said is common in England.

Recently quite a few under managers were sacked because they had outlived their usefulness.

They are planning on making the workers work more hours on dark winter evenings when they are fully loaded, than in mid summer when the need them less.
Walking round in the dark outside the normal working day is more risky for getting injured.

The management have repeatedly gone back on previous agreements
D.
 
lindisfel said:
Hi Ann,
What you said is common in England.

Recently quite a few under managers were sacked because they had outlived their usefulness.

They are planning on making the workers work more hours on dark winter evenings when they are fully loaded, than in mid summer when the need them less.
Walking round in the dark outside the normal working day is more risky for getting injured.

The management have repeatedly gone back on previous agreements
D.
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I appreciate that things are different in the towns and cities on the mainland and that it's all about the greatest good for the majority, but the majority shouldn't ignore the fate of the minority. The local office has suffered all the cuts going as well. They no longer have an under manager and their manager is seriously stressed trying to cover routes that no longer exist, so the posties have to combine bits of other routes with their own. If someone goes off sick, it's a real drama to get their route covered. It's a country area as well, so it takes far longer to get around, plus they can't sort the mail until the plane brings it - or not, as the case may be. If not, it might come on the ferry around lunchtime. By that time, they've all gone with whatever there is of local mail, then start again with sorting when they get back. They are all quite used to working in the dark in the winter - that's pretty well most of the day here in winter. The manager has to decide quite often whether to send out parcels or first class mail to keep within the specified hours. Doing everything will mean overtime so first class mail is usually left behind on those days.

It is a huge problem, and, although I don't like strikes because I don't think the workers ever win long term and all they do is create hardship for themselves and their families, it is a shame that some feel that the solidarity is all on their side and is not reciprocated. If the union wins this strike, and it is a big if (much like the miners strike), all that will happen is that more will lose their jobs and the remainder will be forced to work harder for less (short hours in the summer not paid because of winter overtime so no money for the families in the summer, when the kids are home from school). Maybe I'm a defeatist, but I think I am a realist and they are on a hiding to nothing. I guess that's what Alistair thinks as well.

I still think 25-30 years service should count for something when it's during those years that damage is done to the physique of the posties.
 
Annb said:
With your permission, I am going to have a rant.

Alistair was just in with the post and he had to sit down because his injured knee was so painful he was having difficulty walking. The knee has a swelling the size of a tennis ball on it and he shouldn't really be walking on it at all until he knows what the cause is. But he works for the private company that used to be a public service, though they still try to kid everyone on by calling it Royal Mail. Alistair has struggled to work while he had serious problems with his gall bladder. Then he had to have the gall bladder removed and he was off work for 2 weeks in total, including his stay in hospital (went back far too quickly to be lifting and carrying things but he didn't want to let his employers down). Then came covid and he stayed off for 2 days while he felt really ill. But it was only 2 days because his manager phoned and said people were coming in to work with the virus. After both episodes he went back to work, dragging himself around and ensuring a longer recovery process than necessary. When I suggested that he really shouldn't be walking with that knee he told me that he is already on a final warning for taking sick leave! He does have an appointment with the physo department at the hospital but wasn't allowed time off to go during the working day, so has a very late appointment after work today.

He has worked for Royal Mail for getting on for 28 years, was Highland and Islands Postman of the Year in one of those. He doesn't strike, even though he is a member of the union - partly because, being low paid, he can't afford to and partly because his Manager depends on him to keep things ticking over (along with some others who also don't support the strikes voted for by mainland offices).
And this is how they treat him (and the others).

I thought, under employment law, an employer couldn't penalise an employee in a case of genuine illness. I also thought it was illegal to call in an employee who is off sick. If it isn't, it should be.

I know the Royal Mail is now a privatised company (part of the "family silver" sold off by the government, which never should have happened) and so they have to make money for their shareholders but to my mind they are exploiting workers. As are the employers in the Social Care sector; not that they can help it since they are so short of money themselves. Although management at the Royal Mail claim to be losing money, they are still paying their top officials and shareholders plenty. I always thought that, if you invested your money in a business and it failed to pay, you lost your money, you didn't get a bonus or a dividend. I guess I'm just old fashioned.

DIL has gone back to working as a home care worker, travelling all over the Island to clients. She is still in severe pain with her slipped disk but feels that, since she has the skills and training, she really has to try to help out. But the council pays 2 months in arrears and after working 98 hours in October, she will receive pay only for the 9 hours she did in September, while she was off sick.

I hate exploitation in any form!

OK. Rant over.
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I am shocked that this is happening. but sadly not surprised. It is not right at all.
 
Good morning everyone on a wonderful quiet start here in the dark and dangerous north. It’s phlebotomy time this morning, I shall be playing Tony Hancock and in a surprise twist, Dr MacTaggart will be played by Floella Benjamin. I know, a member of the House of Lords pretending to be a doctor. We looked at all the festive foods on offer by M&S yesterday - how we laughed! Probably going to be sea kale and line caught crabs again unless we go for the cheaper option and order in from Fortnum’s. Art bit - moving along. Bin day today and it’s a double dip day - that garden bin feels heavy. Mrs Miggins has been playing Percy Thrower again. Have a wonderful day if you can. I shall drink koffy and then get off for my blood letting.


1667460807739.jpeg
 
Yesterday the winds were gale force in the afternoon and it poured down again.
Today a dry calm day with sun in prospect and no more than 10deg c all day.
So I shall be off to fill up the Fabia, get some potatoes and pay the council tax at the paypoint.

Yes I can't give up on a baked potato every day and the pots from a local farm are very tasty.

Oh and yes I don't drive at night unless I have to and certainly not with one eye.
atb
D.
 
dunelm said:
Good morning everyone on a wonderful quiet start here in the dark and dangerous north. It’s phlebotomy time this morning, I shall be playing Tony Hancock and in a surprise twist, Dr MacTaggart will be played by Floella Benjamin. I know, a member of the House of Lords pretending to be a doctor. We looked at all the festive foods on offer by M&S yesterday - how we laughed! Probably going to be sea kale and line caught crabs again unless we go for the cheaper option and order in from Fortnum’s. Art bit - moving along. Bin day today and it’s a double dip day - that garden bin feels heavy. Mrs Miggins has been playing Percy Thrower again. Have a wonderful day if you can. I shall drink koffy and then get off for my blood letting.


View attachment 57298
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The arch draws one in to an earlier world. Excellent.
D.
 
dunelm said:
Good morning everyone on a wonderful quiet start here in the dark and dangerous north. It’s phlebotomy time this morning, I shall be playing Tony Hancock and in a surprise twist, Dr MacTaggart will be played by Floella Benjamin. I know, a member of the House of Lords pretending to be a doctor. We looked at all the festive foods on offer by M&S yesterday - how we laughed! Probably going to be sea kale and line caught crabs again unless we go for the cheaper option and order in from Fortnum’s. Art bit - moving along. Bin day today and it’s a double dip day - that garden bin feels heavy. Mrs Miggins has been playing Percy Thrower again. Have a wonderful day if you can. I shall drink koffy and then get off for my blood letting.


View attachment 57298
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Art bit...something mysterious...
Enjoy your blood letting day @dunelm
 
lindisfel said:
Yesterday the winds were gale force in the afternoon and it poured down again.
Today a dry calm day with sun in prospect and no more than 10deg c all day.
So I shall be off to fill up the Fabia, get some potatoes and pay the council tax at the paypoint.

Yes I can't give up on a baked potato every day and the pots from a local farm are very tasty.

Oh and yes I don't drive at night unless I have to and certainly not with one eye.
atb
D.
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It was bad yesterday afternoon.

Enjoy your baked potato @lindisfel
 
gennepher said:
Fbg 6.7

The weather was bitter yesterday. So much rain and wind. And there were some large flakes of snow in it.

You Tube video...
Midnight (cat) follows Ghost Cat...

Cats

Creative is autumn again, in Procreate.
Have a good day.
And plenty of hot cuppas...

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A cold, wet autumn - reflecting the kind of day you had where you are. Cold, wet but beautiful.
 
Good national bin day Morening Ladies and Gentlemen and those disgruntled ones or severals. This is the thread to air your grievances along with your blood sugars, me, me’s and myself are far too confused to do left or right wing.

Bloods this morning were 5.3

Later this morning I have been told I am being taken to the local supermarket, oh deep joy, bet I get banished to the koffy shop within 5 minutes. My track record this morning is good, I have been informed I am an “illegitimate person in the mornings”, what’s wrong with humming the dambusters theme running round the lounge with your arms outstretched, Mrs J is a trifle tetchy in the mornings.

Hugs where required, stay safe all.
 
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