HandyNiknaks

Although it is only Autumn time in the UK the unions are flexing their muscles in traditional British Winter fashion. Resistant to any suggestions of increased productivity, CWU representing postal workers, continues to drag its heels and the entire Royal mail business into the gutter. Already into its umpteenth month, the strike has no resolution, delays continue, normal delivery guarantees are pie in the sky. Our business Handy Niknaks Knives and Accessories, received a parcel today posted on the 5th October, a pitiful 8 working days for a 20 mile delivery distance. Give us a break, small businesses such as this depend on the Royal Mail, as business owners we have no sick pay, pensions or paid holidays. We hear the British Broadcasting Corporation is undergoing a major cost saving re-structuring, the unions are planning industrial action, not the BBC, please, blank television screens, no Newsnight or 'family Guy'. The irony is unmissable in this case of the classic British Institution falling victim to the most British disease...

This on/off industrial action has been ongoing since the Summer. The current series of strikes has a higher profile, making the headlines on BBC Radio news. This may be because of the Union's singular lack of success to date in achieving anything for the workers.

Previous 48 hours strikes have gone largely unnoticed by the British public. There has been very little media coverage. A different situation now unfolds. There are announcement on BBC radio news that all Postal deliveries have been suspended for 4 days. An announcement which seems to have no factual basis. Postman are visible making morning rounds. These may be non-union members, who knows. They may be management staff, whatever, all deliveries have clearly not been suspended.

What is different today compared to the previous stoppages. Previously in this on-going industrial action scenario, post was collected from post offices by managers at the end of the day, postal deliveries also took place. Very little delay was experience by the end users of the postal system.

Perhaps the union responsible for this industrial action has had a brainwave: 'Our strikes are having no practical effect, the system can be run by managers. Lets start a a media campaign to raise awareness, even better lets have a disinformation campaign... after all public perception is the key, whether it is reality based or not...'

The postal service is an integral part of our highly successful business Handy Niknaks, we support our local sub-post office which is also run as a small business. The owner does receive a turnover-based salary from Royal Mail. The service provided by Royal Mail is unbeatable value for money. Unfortunately the Company does not make a profit, the union is making demands for the workers it represents. The Company is trying to modernise and become profitable, the dispute continues....

Since banning switchblades in the 1960's the UK judicial system continues to make its presence felt. Draconian is an apt description of UK legislature and any US citizen would agree. There are jurisdictions with even stricter sanctions, such as Denmark, where even the Spyderco UK Penknife is not allowed without modifications to the thumb-opening hole. The aforementioned knife is theoretically allowed to be carried in public in Britain as it has a non locking, sub 3 inch blade. Due to it's success as a functional working tool with a decent sized blade, a whole range of knives based on the Spyderco UK Penknife is soon to be launched by the manufacturer. Submitted by Handy Niknaks