In late 2009, there were a series of strikes in Royal Mail (the UK postal service) in response to perceptions of a change programme to ‘modernize’ the service. In the following short videos, Communication Workers Union members and Royal Mail managing director, Mark Higson, talk about the situation at the end of October 2009.

The view from the union subculture Thursday, 29 October 2009: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8332288.stm Saturday, 31 October 2009: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8335528.stm The view from the management subculture Thursday, 29 October 2009: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8331169.stm

● What differences do you notice between the union subculture and the management subculture in terms of values, beliefs, or assumptions?

● In 2009, do you think ‘modernization’ and ‘the strikes’ had become symbols in these two subcultures and, if so, what did they stand for in each subculture?

● How would you say the contrast between the two subcultures affected the prospects for planned change at Royal Mail?