Executive action hits London

[rogue]

ballots will be underway in Anglia and Essex within the week

[Pmn]

So for a relative newbie to all this: how are we balloted on this? Will we get ballots through the post?

[Martin Walsh]

London reps have agreed the timetable for the ballot yesterday and notice will be served next week. It will be an indivdual member ballot of the membership and yes a postal ballot. In London we are ballot N1 -22 delivery offices and collection hubs , NW1 -11 delivery offices and collection hubs , W2 -14 delivery offices and collection hubs , SW1 -20 delivery offices and collection hubs , SE1 -28 delivery offices and collection hubs , E1-18 delivery offices and collection hubs, EC1 -4 delivery offices , WC1-2 delivery offices and W1 delivery office along with the House of commons postal staff and Buckingham palace ( yes the queens postmen) In addition we will be balloting Nine elms mail centre , Mount Pleasant mail centre , East London mail centre. Plus PRDC and East LondonRDC.
Also East London Voc , PRDC Voc , Greenford VOC and Nine Elms Voc. Finally we will be balloting LAMU. (London Airport Mail unit )

Due to the employment laws we will balloting all units indivdually and the results can be aggregated. So there are no hiding place. We have done the work and we are confident of getting yes votes in all the above units. After all why would an office vote no and essentially make themselves open to an attack by the employer who will see them as a weak touch .

I am very concerned the union is not all on the same page on what this fight is all about. Some areas and divisons have broken national policy and basically have surrendered to the employer on terms and conditions including delivery spans , total lasping , one pass in the mail centre reducing hours and allowing further closures.

Now who do we blame well I think Divisonal Reps and Branch`s have to have a close look at themsleves. This union has never been about the Headquaters dealing with everything thats why London, Scotland , Liverpool, Oxford , Covertry etc have got such good reprtuations for standing together and getting good terms and conditions.

In my experience it is the same people and same members who are always willing to fight and put themselves on the line for the union and the greater good of the whole membership.

Now where I do blame CWU HQs is a lack of comms about what London`s strike and Scotlands strike is really about. A national briefing will be called shortly I understand. The dispute is about fighting for our futures and a national agreement which ensures our policies like shorter working week , paying for change , improved pay etc will be agreed.

With Royal Mails letter to the CWU on the pay freeze which has some wiggle room on the letter Ie we do not envisige being in a postion to offer a pay rise . This will test who are up for the row further around the country. Hopefully the ballots will create a domino effect around the country and at last some areas will get off their knees and fight and stop agreeing longer spans and part time jobs.

Belial personally I have always been up for the fight on pensions and London at last years Northampton briefings pushed this issue forward. Sadly the appertite for this was not as strong around the country. However if the Government does take on the pension deficit then it changes the ball game completely as Royal Mail will no longer be able to argue about having to pay 40pence in every pound back to plug the pension scheme deficit. I know the area I cover will be up for the fight just let me know when you have your area on board for the fight.

[dvbuk55]

"Now who do we blame well I think Divisonal Reps and Branch`s have to have a close look at themsleves. This union has never been about the Headquaters dealing with everything thats why London, Scotland , Liverpool, Oxford , Covertry etc have got such good reprtuations for standing together and getting good terms and conditions."

Aren't these the ones that are being closed though? Perhaps that is because they make an individual stand unsupported nationally by the union.

A pay freeze would have automatically solicited a national ballot in the past - so CWU HQ - where are you now? Lets not have small areas standing alone and ultimately losing - no - put our cards on the table:

No pay freeze
No to job cuts
No to savings
No to bullying
No to closures
No more part time contracts
No more conciliation
No more cooperation

Get your act together, unite the areas behind sensible proposals and ballot for action nationally - and do it now!

[Martin Walsh]

Dvbuk why do you think they have annouced the pay freeze now. Could it be that they know London will achieve a yes vote and they want to broaden the fight. Knowing that a protential national fight would take weeks if not months to organise. Time enough to weaken the union.

T

[andy2007]

Now where I do blame CWU HQs is a lack of comms about what London`s strike and Scotlands strike is really about. A national briefing will be called shortly I understand. The dispute is about fighting for our futures and a national agreement which ensures our policies like shorter working week , paying for change , improved pay etc will be agreed.

I couldn't agree more! What we need is better communication. To quote TBT's Signiture (sorry I can't remember who he quoted): For Knowledge Itself is Power.

We need as much power as we can get, if we're to stand any chance of protecting ourselves, and the service we provide!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Francis Bacon, Meditationes Sacrae (1597), "Of Heresies". Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
(English translation: For also knowledge itself is power.)
(often quoted just as: "Knowledge is power")

[dvbuk55]

Dvbuk why do you think they have annouced the pay freeze now. Could it be that they know London will achieve a yes vote and they want to broaden the fight. Knowing that a protential national fight would take weeks if not months to organise. Time enough to weaken the union.T

It wouldn't really matter - we never get a pay rise til October anyway. How would it weaken the union - what you are saying is LONDON is ready to go now - so lets go. Perhaps it is because there is serious doubt a national vote would be successful. Whatever form industrial action takes in London I would imagine there is sufficient slack to offset any disruption particularly as it is the slackest part of the year when many offices will be lapsing duties as per the 2007/9 agreement. I wonder what RMs reaction will be - in 2007 they negated the action with waffle, in 2008 they negated the mail centre actions with more waffle. And 2009?.....................

[lovejoy]

I am very concerned the union is not all on the same page on what this fight is all about. Some areas and divisons have broken national policy and basically have surrendered to the employer on terms and conditions including delivery spans , total lasping , one pass in the mail centre reducing hours and allowing further closures.

Now who do we blame well I think Divisonal Reps and Branch`s have to have a close look at themsleves. This union has never been about the Headquaters dealing with everything thats why London, Scotland , Liverpool, Oxford , Covertry etc have got such good reprtuations for standing together and getting good terms and conditions.

In my experience it is the same people and same members who are always willing to fight and put themselves on the line for the union and the greater good of the whole membership.

Now where I do blame CWU HQs is a lack of comms about what London`s strike and Scotlands strike is really about. A national briefing will be called shortly I understand. The dispute is about fighting for our futures and a national agreement which ensures our policies like shorter working week , paying for change , improved pay etc will be agreed.

.

I agree with most of your points Dingo but the lack of leadership and cohesive policy from CWU HQ is at the crux of this debate. Still to this date you will not get the same answer from any of our officers if you asked them where we should be going with these issues. For example how long did it take for CWU HQ to get the LTB out stating their should be no agreements to savings?? MONTHS!! By that time many units had made agreements as they felt isolated. I'm not saying thats right and in my area we haven't made agreements but it is easy to see how its happens with a split membership and a weaker rep/branch.

This dispute is definitely about fighting for the future of the Union but how many reps / members have had that reported to them? We are kept in the dark and hear snippets about London balloting over cuts and some areas following suit. Then all of a sudden Nationwide support is needed to support the Union.

CWU HQ seriously need to look at their communications, unity and campaign techniques.

I don't think its right that London and other areas lead the fight. I believe that the time has come to call a National Briefing and lay out a short, sharp timetable for a national ballot. The issue of the Pay Freeze should be used but not as the major factor or the media will crucify us as 'greedy posties' again. We should be fighting for the right to negotiate. That way strong offices will always support you and the weaker offices will come on board as they know without national agreements they will be picked off.

It's not always the same people willing to fight. Most people would be willing to fight if given the right information, inspiration and leadership.......... AT ALL LEVELS OF THE CWU.

[Martin Walsh]

Lets be honest the only ever strike this union has had on pay was the great strike of 1971. Royal Mail`s pay freeze will anger lots of members but will it mean that they will fight ?? I dont think so. But I do think the unions strategy is right that we ballot those offices who are ready on getting a national agreement putting pressure on Royal Mail whilst we then try and get everyone ready for a national dispute.

With regards whether a london strike will have an impact. Well 70% of all the uk postal system goes through London. Our network drivers service mail centres across the country. Our mail centre have the outward for all areas. Our delivery offices deliver to some of most improtant bussiness in the UK including all the government biulding, the house of commons, 10 downing street. So yes it will effect Royal Mail and it will put pressure on them. Quite frankly your negativity at others who are up for the fight and willing to lose money in order to gain a national agreement for everyone including yourself is quite disturbing.

I think its sad that some people will use pay and mod as an excuse not to fight. In fact even worse some people use pay and mod as an excuse to give in to management on part timers and a whole range of other things.

[Martin Walsh]

Lovejoy my understanding is a national briefing will be called within the next two weeks which will hopefully not only explain the fight but also be used a platform for a national campaign to get a yes vote in a national ballot.

I also accept that all our national offices dont have the same agenda and hopefully this can be sorted out. As we have to get our agenda ie shorter working week , basic pay reaching in line with the national average , payment for change along with no complusory rednudancies and protection of full time jobs at the same time we need agreements in all functions which are part of a fully intregated plan. As something agreed in mail centres like one outward plan has a massive impact on delivery offices and network drivers.

Yes the LTB did take to long to come out. But it was annouced at the national briefing and all divisonal reps have had meetings and conference calls with the officers and should have made sure all branch`s were infromed and the line held. Some have like London , Anglia and Scotland and some have not like the midlands , north west. So I think some have used the LTB as an excuse because at the Divisonal reps meetings it was clearly stated that there would not be an LTB and it was down to divisons to do the comms to Branch`s etc. The LTB only came out when it became clear some divisons were not doing what they should have been.

[lovejoy]

at the Divisonal reps meetings it was clearly stated that there would not be an LTB and it was down to divisons to do the comms to Branch`s etc. The LTB only came out when it became clear some divisons were not doing what they should have been.

Agreed but why didnt the LTB come out. It was almost as if reps were being told to disagree but cwu hq were having a phoney war with RM. To me it is clear. They want to run the industry into the ground leading to privatisation and massve pay outs to senior management. We want a publically owned RM that rewards employees.

We shouldn't be afraid of putting that message out!

There may well be branches using the no LTB as an excuse............ Sadly there are also senior union officials using the branches as an excuse as well.

[andy2007]

Francis Bacon, Meditationes Sacrae (1597), "Of Heresies". Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
(English translation: For also knowledge itself is power.)
(often quoted just as: "Knowledge is power")

Thanks.

[andy2007]

Lets be honest the only ever strike this union has had on pay was the great strike of 1971. Royal Mail`s pay freeze will anger lots of members but will it mean that they will fight ?? I dont think so. But I do think the unions strategy is right that we ballot those offices who are ready on getting a national agreement putting pressure on Royal Mail whilst we then try and get everyone ready for a national dispute.

With regards whether a london strike will have an impact. Well 70% of all the uk postal system goes through London. Our network drivers service mail centres across the country. Our mail centre have the outward for all areas. Our delivery offices deliver to some of most improtant bussiness in the UK including all the government biulding, the house of commons, 10 downing street. So yes it will effect Royal Mail and it will put pressure on them. Quite frankly your negativity at others who are up for the fight and willing to lose money in order to gain a national agreement for everyone including yourself is quite disturbing.

I think its sad that some people will use pay and mod as an excuse not to fight. In fact even worse some people use pay and mod as an excuse to give in to management on part timers and a whole range of other things.

Why do you find his negativity disturbing?
It is a disturbing fact of life. But to be disturbed that he's saying it, is surprising.

As I, and others have said before: Faith in the leadership of the CWU, during a Strike, was badly damaged in '07. Unless we do something about it, and have decisive, cohesive, and above all strong, leadership. That is unlikley to improve. Recognising the problem, is the first step towards repairing the damage.

That's why it's important that some areas show the way. And hopefully, the rest will join in soon after. I just hope that we all get balloted ASAP, after it all hits the fan.

[weetrogg]

I represent an office in the NW that is facing closure, we balloted for I/A and returned a 78% yes vote. with less than 12 hours before the action was due to commence we were informed by the MCM that the action had beed postponed, this was confirmed to us 2 hours later by HQ, the reason being the national officer had "made meaningful progress" when the time for the I/A ballot had expired RM told us they were to continue with there original plan. It took HQ nearly a month to arrange a meeting with our area and divisional reps and explain what was going on, we were then informed that the real reason for the action be pulled was because the EC decided we were in "a weak position" so in my opinion the "meaningful progress" statement was a LIE!!

Our area rep and branch sec recently went down to HQ and meet with martin collins who basically informed them that its no longer an issue of bricks and mortar but more a peoples issue, he told them to all intents and purposes that our office will close and that we should get involved with the gradual closure of our office. It was pointed out to him that following the LTB regarding non cooperation on savings etc, we felt that we should not be negotiating with RM to which is reply was "the NW review was a seperate issue" and advised us that we should co-operate, funnily enough this is what our MCM said to us when we approached him to inform him that due to HQ advice we could no longer negotiate with him

During the 16 months or so that the NW review has been on the table not once has a national officer been down to talk to the members!!! So dingo i would be very grateful if you could advise me where we go next because the way things seem to me and the members is that we are left isolated and basical told by HQ to cooperate with the closure of our MC

I believe that all of the above is a direct consequence of the capitulation by HQ regarding the pay and modernisation agreement, i know this was 2 years years ago but the effects of that agreement are long lasting and widespread and are the sole reason that this union and this industry are in such a perilous position.At my MC and infact probably across the whole country we have lost complete faith in our leadership. On a positive note the actions by london, scotland and various other regions appear to be lead and supported by the rank and file, this is how it should be. its about time the dog started wagging the tail not vice versa I believe that actions like these are the only way this union can rebuild its self.I firmly believe that your action will encourage the rest of the members to get off their knees and dust themselves down and begin to fightback against the never ending attacks on our terms and conditions.

WE are the union