10-09-2007, 10:31 PM
Nah, sorry but i don't agree... My mum was really ill recently after having a stroke and the first wave of these strikes meant she received her appointment for a critical scan a day after she was due to attend. We had to wait a further 2 weeks for another appointment because our health system is also backed up. Luckily, her scan was clear but we were kept on edge and told to expect a possible second and more severe stroke for 2 weeks longer than we should have been. During this time i pretty much had to move in with her to ensure she wasn't alone in case of a repeat attack. The scan was vital in telling us if there were more clots there, and her life was pretty much put at high risk because of these strikes. I also read in one of our daily newspapers that a young girl who was tested after suffering chest pains died from a heart attack during the strike. A week after her death, her family received an urgent letter calling her in for immediate preventative surgery which could have saved her had the appointment arrived in time. The operation was scheduled for a couple of days before she died. The postal workers are striking for better pay and working conditions, but they are also putting lives at risk to make their point. I'm sure any of them would see things from my point of view if they were in that situation. I worked for them a few years ago, and the pay is ok, the conditions are ok too... It wasn't the worst job i've had. When they take on employment, they are told their rate of pay so i can't see why they moan when they feel it's too little. They should maybe go find another job if they think their services are worth more. And this most recent strike has ballsed up all my Halloween orders like many of you U.K. guys. My pity for the postal workers is wearing a bit thin now to say the least.