The CWU let themselves down…

Here is a letter sent to Dave Ward, Deputy General Secretary of the CWU by Mark Higson, MD of Royal Mail Letters.

The letter follows on from the announcement about our completion of structural change for the year. It re-states that there is no going back on change and calls on the CWU to stop its programme of strikes. It proposes a strike-free period of calm both for our customers in the run-up to Christmas, and to conduct the negotiations to deliver Phase 4 of Pay and Modernisation 2007.

The CWU’s response is to announce more strikes next week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday!!

Dear Dave,

I have had time to reflect overnight about the position our teams have reached in the discussions. It seems that despite the many meetings we had trying to resolve the current differences between us, the union is set on a course for industrial action.  It still need not be the case and we are determined to do what we can to avert strike action and resolve the issues: we both understand the damaging and lasting impact such a strike would have on our customers and all our futures.

Whilst it has not been clear in the meetings what your view of the central issues in this dispute are, it is clear that there are two consistent but unrelated areas of debate to which we keep returning:

1)        At the heart of this dispute seems to be the concerns that the CWU in London has about the changes we have implemented in London in line with the national Pay and Modernisation agreement reached in 2007 with support from the TUC and, in the early stages, ACAS.
2)        The other area which we have been discussing at length is how we deliver the next set of changes, which we agreed would form Phase 4 of the Pay and Modernisation Agreement.

In the late summer you publicly offered a moratorium on change and industrial action in London. We announced a few weeks ago that we had finished all structural change for this calendar year so that we can focus, as always, on providing good service in the run up to Christmas and we have since been asking for you, in return, to honour your repeated commitment to a moratorium on strikes. That would give an opportunity for your local teams to re-engage with us in discussing improvements to the changes that we have already made – in line with the agreed industrial relations framework and of course recognising that there is no going back on change. Those discussions will have much more chance of success if we allow enough time, and if they take place in a period of calm which a moratorium would provide.

This dispute started out as disagreement over change in London but has evolved so that the union is now threatening national industrial action over what phase 4 of Pay and Modernisation looks like – yet this is an area where we have no current disagreement – and talks are continuing and making progress. Again, I think we both accept that our combined ability to succeed in reaching agreement in this area can only be improved by allowing sufficient time for our discussions to progress in a calm atmosphere. I think we’d also agree that, even with us both fully focused on it, we are unlikely to achieve that much before Christmas.

We are both aware of the huge damage and distraction that industrial action would cause, which would inhibit and delay us reaching agreement and would mean an even longer period of pain and disruption for customers. For all these reasons, I am proposing that we agree that the union does not activate its ballot at this stage and allows a much-needed period of calm. I know that under current legislation, the union would need to take action by 3^rd November 2009 otherwise the ballot will be invalid, unless the company agrees to an extension. So I am offering an extension on that date of 4 weeks (the maximum allowed under legislation) to 1^st December provided that:

–        the union take no industrial action until  that extension expires other than 15 minutes in the final week of the extension period should you still feel the need to validate your ballot
–        the union takes no industrial action between the 1^st December and the end of December
–        no further industrial action is taken on the back of any other current local ballots prior to the end of December
–        the union withdraws all instructions to representatives not to cooperate with change and modernisation and tells them to re-engage with the agreed industrial relations framework

As I said in my letter last week, I am happy to consider using a third party to work with us on developing our industrial relations framework in the future, which (as you know) is part of Phase 4 of the 2007 Pay and Modernisation agreement – but again we can only do so once you have shown your commitment to real progress by calling off the planned strikes, as you have publicly promised to do.

This overall proposal gives our customers much needed stability and certainty in the run up to Christmas and ensures that our people can maintain that important relationship with their customers in this important period. It also gives us an opportunity to resolve the national issues between us whilst local teams can work on their issues without the disruption of ongoing industrial action.

I very much hope that you will accept this as a sensible way forward for all of us.

Yours sincerely

Mark Higson
Managing Director, Royal Mail Letters

As you will see, the CWU are being idiots and causing you, Royal Mail’s customers, further disruption.

Putting the Record Straight

I am fed up of hearing all the rhetoric about the strikes that are currently taking place and have been since June 2009.

Due to the misinformation being put forward by the CWU, who traditionally win the propaganda war against Royal Mail, most of the UK population are unaware of the unjust strike that is staking place.

In 2007 when Royal Mail’s plans to modernise reached a head like that of an over ripe pimple they burst.  A negotiated settlement was reached and supported by the TUC.  A calm fell upon the earth and the changes were implemented up and down the country, except in London where the postman don’t feel they should work the full 40 hour week for which they are paid!!

Up and down the country, the pay elements of the 2007 Pay and Modernisation agreement have been honoured and postman now earn 6.9% more than they did prior.  But this is not enough apparently, Mr Postman, you have been rewarded for doing what most companies accept as part of staying in employment.

Do not feel sorry for the postman, they have had the rewards and are now refusing to do what they are being paid to do.  How many other companies would put up with this behaviour?

Just recently David Cameron and Gordon Brown both showed their respective weaknesses during Prime Minister’s question time.  When challenged about why he wasn’t intervening, the Prime Minister, it is reported, responded that Royal Mail and the CWU should reach a negotiated settlement.  Mr Brown you plum, they did in 2007!!

The only person who is talking any sense is Peter Mandleson, and now I am going to wash my mouth out with soap.  This strike is severely damaging from a few perspectives:

• Royal Mail is already in the shit
• The make up of mail volumes has changed beyond recognition, move with the times or go under
• Less people will now trust the postal service, less customers=deeper shit
• Royal Mail’s competitors are humping each other in glee at this strike
• More posties will now lose their jobs as there is less post!!  Are they stupid?

Junior and many senior managers have put their lives and jobs on hold to support the service.  They are working all the shifts to get as much mail as possible through, so next time you see a manager out on delivery, or collecting from a box, don’t have a go, thank him or her because they are saving not destroying your postal service!!

Watch this space, more strikes are due next week 3 days worth this time, whooopeeee !!