A New Understanding

[dvbuk55]

I have highlighted this in another thread but I feel it is an important enough point to raise as a new topic for discussion particularly for those who believe that this new agreement is the dawning of a new age between the CWU and Royal Mail.

This contains a helpful list of questions and answers but crucially has no mention of consulting with the CWU at any stage or level. It also contains a section on resourcing which states that it is up to the DOM to decide the most appropriate approach for their office. Again, there is no reference to the CWU or to existing National Agreements, particularly the Way Forward.

This is a passage from LTB 279/10 with regards to Enquiry Offices but despite the subject I think it puts the whole issue of what we should expect if this agreement is ratified by the membership. This is nothing more than executive action and should this agreement go through then it would be just more of the same for whatever Royal Mail want to implement WITH OR WITHOUT CWU involvement.

[eian687]

i think this whole agreement is a way of the CWU trying to save face ( a very bad attempt )

[Big Daz]

dvbuk55

I must admit when I read the LTB I was

I fully expected that some local level managers might need dragging into the bold new era by the scuff of their neck but to have RM HQ acting in a manner that is not in line with transforming relationships means I have to think extra hard now about the trust issue.

[dvbuk55]

dvbuk55

I must admit when I read the LTB I was

I fully expected that some local level managers might need dragging into the bold new era by the scuff of their neck but to have RM HQ acting in a manner that is not in line with transforming relationships means I have to think extra hard now about the trust issue.

Trusting RM, for me is a non issue, a leopard never changes its spots BD - it would appear they are now being given the green light.

[k979aaa]

dvbuk55

I must admit when I read the LTB I was

I fully expected that some local level managers might need dragging into the bold new era by the scuff of their neck but to have RM HQ acting in a manner that is not in line with transforming relationships means I have to think extra hard now about the trust issue.

Trusting RM, for me is a non issue, a leopard never changes its spots BD - it would appear they are now being given the green light.

And CWU H/Q sit on their hands well if this is the kind of representation we are looking forward to receive we may as well do as the Americans did after the Boston tea party NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION a lot of people will leave if they do not not see action if demanded by our members in OUR union the CWU!.

[dvbuk55]

You are right K9 - it seems that HQ will stand aside and let the local reps fight their battles for them - what follows that though?

[k979aaa]

You are right K9 - it seems that HQ will stand aside and let the local reps fight their battles for them - what follows that though?

Its back to last spring all over again you could not make this up i can see a thousand strikes up and down the land for even if the local reps branches and divisions think this is a good deal they will be evicted from representation if we stayed in the union but if not it will be the end of the CWU!. Lets face it the deal SUCKS and H/Q are trying to sell it how many reps think it is the best thing since sliced bread ? but more importantly is how we all see this deal WE ARE THE ONES WHO WILL HAVE TO DO THIS IF THIS AGREEMENT IS VOTED FOR!. Not any of them.

[dvbuk55]

You are right K9 - it seems that HQ will stand aside and let the local reps fight their battles for them - what follows that though?

Its back to last spring all over again you could not make this up i can see a thousand strikes up and down the land for even if the local reps branches and divisions think this is a good deal they will be evicted from representation if we stayed in the union but if not it will be the end of the CWU!. Lets face it the deal SUCKS and H/Q are trying to sell it how many reps think it is the best thing since sliced bread ? but more importantly is how we all see this deal WE ARE THE ONES WHO WILL HAVE TO DO THIS IF THIS AGREEMENT IS VOTED FOR!. Not any of them.

I don't know about strikes k9, there is another little fillip in this agreement that says customer service and continuity of service are of paramount importance - and paramount means:

Having the highest rank or jurisdiction; superior to all others; chief; supreme; pre["e]minent; as, a paramount duty

Now the words are the words and the agreement will be implemented on those words - and in some instances they are weasel words.

[Danelectro]

Which topic has LTB 279/10 in it? cannae find it

[fishtank]

LTB 279/10 Enquiry Offices

To: Branches with POSTAL Members
Dear Colleagues,


Enquiry Offices
Branches will recall that Annual Conference 2008 carried a proposition calling for a campaign to reverse the reduction in Enquiry Office opening hours. Since then we have continued to pursue this policy with little success.

However, at the beginning of this year, Royal Mail contacted CWU HQ to indicate that they had reconsidered their position, mindful of the mounting level of customer complaints they had been receiving. A meeting was arranged in February at which they indicated that they were looking to extend enquiry office opening hours to 20:00 on Wednesdays and 14.00 on Saturdays in around 50% of all offices. They stated that during April they would begin to identify the offices where they wished to deploy the change in opening times and that they hoped to deploy by June. Whilst welcoming the move, the Union requested the opportunity to have input in the final choice of offices and to be fully involved in any developments, including having advanced notice of any communications. This was agreed and we were promised a further meeting in the near future to discuss further details.

That meeting has yet to take place but last week we received an e-mail detailing the first batch of offices, some 160 in total, where the business were looking to extend opening hours. The list of offices is attached for your information. Along with this was a letter explaining that the list was subject to discussions with local managers but no mention of CWU input. We also received a copy of the manager's brief from our Divisional Reps in Anglia (not Royal mail) which is also attached. This contains a helpful list of questions and answers but crucially has no mention of consulting with the CWU at any stage or level. It also contains a section on resourcing which states that it is up to the DOM to decide the most appropriate approach for their office. Again, there is no reference to the CWU or to existing National Agreements, particularly the Way Forward. To be clear, the CWU has no interest in either blocking or delaying this project. On the contrary, we would wish to see it extended. What we are insisting on though is meaningful involvement and to that end we have requested an urgent meeting with Royal Mail to deal with our concerns.

In the meantime we would appreciate comments on the list provided with any alternative suggestions sent to headquarters without delay. Divisional and Area Reps should approach their respective managers and inform them that until we have had our opportunity to input, the list cannot be regarded as final and that no action at local level should take place until then. If however proposals are received at local level on staffing changes that arise as a consequence of the change to opening hours they will be subject to the terms of the Industrial Relations Framework and the disagreement procedure. We will of course update Branches on any developments as soon as possible.


Any enquiries to Bob Gibson's Office, quoting reference 530

[Danelectro]

cheers fishtank.

[dvbuk55]

Much better than my effort ft - I was only trying to point out that RM couldn't give a toss about the CWU, Not last April, Not last November and Not this April either - so the analogy to Chamberlain returning from Germany in 1939 is not so far removed really, especially the "we had asked for a meeting for input and involvement" and what they actually got was sweet FA. Which is exactly what we will get if this deal goes through.