Following the recent Royal Mail strikes called by the CWU I had a certain amount of sympathy for our Australian readers when I heard that they were suffering industrial action too.
Then I read the and I have to admit I like the way they do things down under. Unlike our posties who the union called upon to down tools and walk out, in Australia their way of protesting is simply to refuse to check stamps on letters meaning the chances are that you can send your mail for free.
eBay are advising online sellers that it’s probably not worth taking a chance that unpaid mail will be delivered, and certainly I can’t image large companies would risk their reputations by not franking their post. However I’m betting that there’s more than a few Aussies who’ll be sending their Christmas cards without stamps and Australian posties who’ll quite happily deliver them for free.
Now why can’t the UK posties follow suit next time they feel they have no alternative but to strike? The Aussies have been creative and found a way to make their point which is almost certain to hurt Australia Post in lost revenue but at the same time is likely to gain more than a little support from the man on the street.
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