ALL MEMBERS:VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:PLEASE READ.

[POSTMAN]

This announcement will be posted in all of the major forums,you will be able to reply to this in the one posted in the Blue Shirts forum.

We have had a member threatened with disciplinary action for a video posted on you tube.
This has also happened to another member on here,he has been threatened with the conduct code.
One member has deleted his posts.
One has had to leave here fearing his job.
And another one has been pulled into his DOM's office about comments he has made on here.

Not all of the above are related to RMC but i have had PM's from members regarding sarcy comments made to them from Managers regarding posting on here.

I welcome Managers on here and i have always said that,as i feel that it is important to hear their side.
But apart from the odd one or two they haven't been posting and just seem to lurk the site.That's not a major problem as Posties do the same,but it seems some are coming on here to catch some of you guys out.

So to start off with,if anyone wants to change their username then pm me.Do not pm the mods,pm me.
Also some of you it would be wise to perhaps change your location in your profile/sigs if you have your office in there.

I have been looking into the legalities of what we do on here but it's hard to find any substantial advice.
One bit of advice i got is below.

[1] The posts made are the ownership and views of the poster - not the hoster/owner of the forum.
BUT do make sure you have a rules topic that spells that out to make sure its understood.

[2] In spite of [1] if any post is deemed to be offensive etc - you should pull it. So no personal abuse of a manager etc should be acceptable, or of the company as a whole.Try to keep discussions about issues - not personalities.

[3] Libel and slander are still illegal even if they can say whatever they want. They need to be careful that what they are is not libel or slander otherwise they open themselves up to disciplinary measures much worse than being told off by their boss. Those measures have the potential for you (RMC)to end up being subpeoned.

So on the basis of this and feedback from some members we have to change the way we use the site slightly.
We are NOT going to turn into a Namby Pamby site but we do have to change the way we use it for all our sakes.

Regarding some of the feedback that has been posted i have decided to edit this post.

Again i will state that there is NOT a zero tolerance stance on here but we just have to be careful at times.
Yes it's not fair but then Royal Mail aren't fair to us as a rule anyway as you know.
Regarding [2] We are gonna slag Managers and the business off along with other things,but keep it on a level,don't go too over the top.

Perhaps take on board a great post by rhino49:

We should continue in the vein we have started but always be aware that those who are cornered will use desperate means to escape and if the truth and the facts hurt them (RM) then they may try to retaliate or at least discourage us from contributing.



You are on the biggest and busiest UK Postie site on the net,make the most of it.

Thanks again.

POSTMAN

[Codebreaker]

Dear Postman and all members of RMC,

Postman, I have read your post and totally agree.

I have been a member on here for a short while. I have been quite careful about what I say. I have made a few posts directed at the Chairman and CEO of Royal Mail. I have emailed some of my posts to the Prime Ministers Office and direct to Allan and Adam.

It was never my intention to identify myself to anyone. But I, like many of us on here, have been overwhelmed by our feelings around this dispute with Royal Mail. At the end of the day it is incredibly frustrating that the Chairman and CEO of Royal Mail seem to blindly disregard not only what we say on here but more importantly what we said to them in the ballot.

I, like Postman, would encourage people to protect themselves whilst also exercising their individual rights when expressing their opinions. I do not believe I have said anything on here that I cannot defend in a meeting with any of my managers. It is clear to anyone I work with who I am and I am actually quite proud that is the case.

As a member of the CWU and a Rep I am amazingly proud of us all. What I don't want is to have someone represent me or any of you around what goes on here. Let us all be careful about what we say without losing heart, without losing our energy, without losing hope.

I don't mean to dampen anyones spirits - God knows Royal Mail try to do that on a daily basis. Like Postman, I am worried that some people may get carried away with their thoughts and emotions. Let us not be carried away to an office and suffer.

Let's be careful.

I would like everyone to be able to defend their position and be proud of making a stand. I am and I think you are too. We need to be aware that RM Managers do watch this site and with that in mind, we do not need to put our heads on the (very bloody) block.

We all need to keep posting, keep replying and, whilst being careful, keep our voices being heard.

There is not one of us on here more frustrated, more angry and more unhappy than me. This is an historic time. When it is over I want all of us to be able to hold our heads up high and be pleased with our behaviour during this dispute.

I have been laughed at for my positivity around this dispute being settled. I felt that way beore the 1st strike day. And the 2nd. I think I was a tad hopeful but now, with the rolling and long strike on the cards and all its consequences I am VERY hopeful that an agreement be reached and the strike dates be called off.

Let's all be careful in what we do.





GOOD LUCK TO US ALL AND HAVE FAITH

[bristolchris]

Codebreaker, good `post`, I concur with what you have said, I would `defend` any statements I have made about Royal Mail Management from the Top to the Bottom. They have only been prepared to `Slash & Burn` as a short term fix to our COST`S, and have adopted in my opinion a very consistent Anti Trade Union Agenda.

I will not change my `Profile` anything I have said `on site` I have already said to my DOM in one form or another already. I would as has already been stated be careful about any of us `going over the top` when we talk /post about other Persons. I do not think we should change anything else on site, and the only reason to take any action against it would be because Royal Mail Management can not cope with THE TRUE depth of feeling against their attitude towards US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stubaby]

sorry but i disagree
if we cannot have a forum where we the ones who are being affected in this dispute cannot discuss openly the way is which members are being openly harassed and bullied by managers and our free speech is being censored then the wtf is going on?
are we bending over far enough so that RM really do run our lives?

[POSTMAN]

sorry but i disagree
if we cannot have a forum where we the ones who are being affected in this dispute cannot discuss openly the way is which members are being openly harassed and bullied by managers and our free speech is being censored then the wtf is going on?
are we bending over far enough so that RM really do run our lives?

I see you've changed your 1st post!

Because of censorship we cannot tell you where we are from
Cheers

the scarlet pimpernel

You are not being censored have a look through the site if this aint open discussion i don't know what is!
As you know most of you you wouldn't last 5 mins elsewhere on the net.
Because of what has been happening to some of our members i am advising you on what you can do to help yourselves,and at part the site.
Regarding username changes,your location in your profile ect it is up to you how you want that to look.

The rules and registration aggreement that you all signed clearly states what you can or can't post.
Of course we've been lax on it and we will still be,there is NO zero tolerance on here as stated.
But certain things just need to be calmed as mentioned.
You are quite welcome to slag off Managers,strike breakers,Laurel and hardy,the business,the Union and whoever,but there has to be a limit.
Sometimes it's crossed so we have to be careful.
If one of our members has been pulled in for a video of his mate sleeping at a wtll session!! what chance has some of us got with some of the postings on here,including me!
It's only a calming exercise,not censorship.

[stubaby]

sorry but i disagree
if we cannot have a forum where we the ones who are being affected in this dispute cannot discuss openly the way is which members are being openly harassed and bullied by managers and our free speech is being censored then the wtf is going on?
are we bending over far enough so that RM really do run our lives?

I see you've changed your 1st post!

Because of censorship we cannot tell you where we are from
Cheers

the scarlet pimpernel

You are not being censored have a look through the site if this aint open discussion i don't know what is!
As you know most of you you wouldn't last 5 mins elsewhere on the net.
Because of what has been happening to some of our members i am advising you on what you can do to help yourselves,and at part the site.
Regarding username changes,your location in your profile ect it is up to you how you want that to look.

The rules and registration aggreement that you all signed clearly states what you can or can't post.
Of course we've been lax on it and we will still be,there is NO zero tolerance on here as stated.
But certain things just need to be calmed as mentioned.
You are quite welcome to slag off Managers,strike breakers,Laurel and hardy,the business,the Union and whoever,but there has to be a limit.
Sometimes it's crossed so we have to be careful.
If one of our members has been pulled in for a video of his mate sleeping at a wtll session!! what chance has some of us got with some of the postings on here,including me!
It's only a calming exercise,not censorship.

I changed my post simply because of what you said even though i disagree thats what a forum is all about surely? Debate? If we cannot speak our minds on here a place where frontline postal workers come to air their grievences and give their opinions then its a very sad world.
Its okay for a site like hell mail to slag us off and tell lies about us and our Union but its not okay for us to respond in kind
I am not having a pop at you or the site as i feel it has real opinions and real views from the peole that count i just think we maybe falling into the way of the world as decided by RM.

[postie28]

maybe some people do not like to sound off in public so they use this site to get things off their chest. you can hardly blame them for going over the top sometimes

[stubaby]

Author Message
cruisey

Gender:

Joined: 24 May 2007
Member No:809
Posts: 227
Posts per day: 3.66
Location: BIRMINGHAM


You tube disciplinary
We live in a democracy with freedom of speech. Whatever you do on this site is outside work hours. If RM threatens conduct dismissal, go to CWU area and ask to speak to an industrial solicitor.


another good post

[ulster postie]

Jesus and there was me thinking we dont live in a POLICE STATE. If the tossers who censer the internet or sites like this one can even think off closeing it down then GOD HELP US ALL. With the filth you can download, should it be PORN ,SOME POOR HUMAN BEING BEHEADED OR WORSE, I cant understand why we should back away from telling the truth, should it be about the way the buisness is being run by the two bigest plonkers the UK has seen in many a year. IF this is the case then we all should get on the next boat & head to BAGDAD at least there you could take the fight to them :cfo :lfo :cfo :lfo ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

[rhino49]

sorry but i disagree
if we cannot have a forum where we the ones who are being affected in this dispute cannot discuss openly the way is which members are being openly harassed and bullied by managers and our free speech is being censored then the wtf is going on?
are we bending over far enough so that RM really do run our lives?

I see you've changed your 1st post!

Because of censorship we cannot tell you where we are from
Cheers

the scarlet pimpernel

You are not being censored have a look through the site if this aint open discussion i don't know what is!
As you know most of you you wouldn't last 5 mins elsewhere on the net.
Because of what has been happening to some of our members i am advising you on what you can do to help yourselves,and at part the site.
Regarding username changes,your location in your profile ect it is up to you how you want that to look.

The rules and registration aggreement that you all signed clearly states what you can or can't post.
Of course we've been lax on it and we will still be,there is NO zero tolerance on here as stated.
But certain things just need to be calmed as mentioned.
You are quite welcome to slag off Managers,strike breakers,Laurel and hardy,the business,the Union and whoever,but there has to be a limit.
Sometimes it's crossed so we have to be careful.
If one of our members has been pulled in for a video of his mate sleeping at a wtll session!! what chance has some of us got with some of the postings on here,including me!
It's only a calming exercise,not censorship.

Good guidance Postman - and thank you. Comments I have made on these forums have been prompted by the freedom of expression available and the encouragement of my colleagues around the country who I like to think are becoming friends, not just through the common injury to us all but through humour and shared hopes. I paid a visit to Hellmail but have never made a contribution as I felt it would be like using sign language to the blind whereas here we have a great and productive freedom. Although membership of RMC is less than 2000, many thousands more receive news and information from those who access the site and are more aware and determined because of that. We should continue in the vein we have started but always be aware that those who are cornered will use desperate means to escape and if the truth and the facts hurt them then they may try to retaliate or at least discourage us from contributing. There are a few brilliant contributors in here who could never hide their style and may never want to, but I would rather have fun trying to guess their new ID than lament the fact that they had been unjustly punished for lifting our spirits by being a bit too OTT.

[DirtyHarry]

Understand what you're saying.

To any DOM looking at this post , guess what I'm thinking.

[stubaby]

Understand what you're saying.

To any DOM looking at this post , guess what I'm thinking.

and me :cfo :lfo s**t thats give it away

[DirtyHarry]

Yes stubaby , bit of a giveaway , that.

[vigilante]

I think it's sad really,
Im always going to be thinking-------now should i have wrote that-----is that going to get me in trouble??
what are the limits to what you can get away with???
What can you call strike breakers and managers and RM??
Freedom of speech hardly think so.
I do understand to a certain degree postman and i also think it's pathetic that managers
are disciplining people over this site.

[IWW Fellow Worker]

Before we know where we are, they'll have pubs bugged in case a couple of us have a pop at them over a pint.