It's a simple fact that if management actually knew anything about the job involved, instead of relying on spreadsheet projections, theory, and - in my view - devising ways to bump up their bonuses even further (Royal Mail managers and especially upper management are probably the highest paid in the public sector) then this would not be happening. Management demands are unworkable, unsustainable, and are in complete defiance of pre agreed standards and practices. They are incredibly Dickensian in their views of how to treat people.
The ordinary posty at the bottom is just being dumped on again and again, all the time losing money, rights, and priveleges, while they get richer off our backs. The argument that mail volume has gone down or that we have time to do more is rubbish, and we have had enough of taking it.
The government (for doing nothing about what is a public service after all) and the management are totally to blame for the friction and to date have not accepted requests by the union to discuss the future jointly. The union, with the majority backing of members, is using the only tool we have to fight back, the right to strike. That doesn't mean there will be any strikes.
In all honesty, what is wrong with standing up for what you believe in rather than rolling over and taking it? Why is it that the unions (not just Royal Mail - look around and it's other concerns too) can get slagged for this, accused of it all being down to them, and that the "other" side is in the right?