Postal conference afternoon round-up

[fishtank]

Postal conference afternoon round-up

Delegates held a second discussion on the controversial issue of World Class Mails (WCM) this afternoon and resolved to include it as a key subject in the forthcoming national policy forum.

After having narrowly voted against a motion of outright opposition to WCM yesterday, conference unanimously approved this afternoon's resolution, which committed the union to establishing a firm policy position at the forum and winning a comprehensive national agreement on this and other "engagement and improvement" programmes.

In an at times humorous debate, WCM was variously described as a "farce" a "mockery" and a "waste of time and money" as speakers gave conference their own experiences of how their own managers have applied this Japanese-style "team-building" philosophy in the workplace.

Bristol's Dave Chapple (pictured right) brought laughter from delegates when he recounted how he had stumbled upon a WCM team practising the "Postman Pat" song.

"Management were trying to set up a WCM choir to compete with other workplaces," Dave explained, adding that local bus drivers - also apparently undergoing a similar initiative - were planning a performance of the children's favourite "The Wheels on the Bus."

Manchester delegate Bruce Devenport (pictured left) said that managers had started a WCM initiative in his area "and they put down some lovely-looking laminated instructions on the ground." But unfortunately, the location they'd chosen was outside and "the first time it rained, everyone was slipping over on them."

At a south west mail centre, Chris Webb told of how the workforce had been seen "apparently marching repeatedly up and down some stairs.

"When we asked what was going on, the manager in charge replied that they were being taught the 'best way to walk'."

Along with the silly side to WCM, there are also some serious safety concerns from many areas of the country, particularly from workplaces where there are fears that the proliferation of WCM notices and other items may be interfering with the operations.

Kenny Wright from Edinburgh, Dundee and the Borders recounting a recent occasion when a visiting safety officer whom he had been showing around a mail centre.

"She was going to put a prohibition notice on a machine unless the engineers stripped every bit of 'WCM crap' off it," he recalled.

Deputy general secretary Dave Ward (pictured right) spoke for the motion and stressed that in every workplace - whether involved in WCM initiatives or not - "safety must always be the number one priority.

"I don't doubt for one minute that Mark Higson - for example - is anything but sincere when he says that safety is his priority too - but it isn't what's happening on the ground in some areas."

Any new national agreement on WCM initiatives will depend, Dave continued, "on the company accepting that we need to be in there in an industrial relations capacity, and the issue of reward must be there too."

In a lighter vein, Dave also commented on the earlier comments about a "WCM choir" and joked that if he were singing in the same choir "perhaps we'll sing the same song."

Other debates covered a wide range of motions around issues concerning sick absence, special leave and early ill-health retirement.

Various allowances were also discussed, with the aim of either increasing the sums or consolidating them, where appropriate, into full pensionable pay.

A resolution seeking to bring the Christmas Supplement in Royal Mail Letters up by a minimum of £5 won approval after a speech in favour by Eastern No 4 delegate Steve Butts, who criticised the lack of progress over this matter, while Merseyside Amal Branch received conference's support for its proposal that "future pay negotiations adopt the strategy of encompassing Scheduled Attendance (SA) payments as part of pensionable pay."

Huw Davies (pictured left), from London North West, called for appropriate payments to be made to employees deputising for Post Office Product Specialists.

"Let's get some money into the deputies' pockets and let's win justice," he urged, and won the backing of Mahmood Ali from the executive, who thanked the branch for "highlighting this anomaly.

"We'll raise this with the employer and hopefully achieve a resolution," he added.

[fishtank]

At a south west mail centre, Chris Webb told of how the workforce had been seen "apparently marching repeatedly up and down some stairs.

"When we asked what was going on, the manager in charge replied that they were being taught the 'best way to walk'."

Worth re-quoting it's that funny.

[5plusbonusball]

Next we'll have to knock on every door, shake hands , smile and say "have a nice day now Mrs Bumfluff, here's your mail, see you tomorrow , I love my job, bye"! yanks!

[Cut Off King]

Various allowances were also discussed, with the aim of either increasing the sums or consolidating them

Oh great, thats my driving money gone next ! ( along with my NDA, SAT attendance, PHG and D2D money ) .

[feduppostie]

should they not be discussing what they are going to do about us being ripped of over colleague shares rather than spending a day having a laugh about WCM?

finger on the pulse of the membership again


Or is it just me??

[POSTMAN]

It is funny,in fact it's very funny,almost as funny as them taking the piss about it on the official union website but yet Royal Mail have steam rolled it in without a wimper from the local union it affects.
Very funny.

And Fed,Moya is looking at a new share scheme thingy,for the life of me I can't find her quote on it ,but get the holiday booked,da money is a coming.

[lovejoy]

A decent Conference this year.

The policy forum in 6 weeks will be a critical moment for the CWU....

[General Mannerheim]

A decent Conference this year.

The policy forum in 6 weeks will be a critical moment for the CWU....

Lashings of ginger beer and sarnies?

[lovejoy]

A decent Conference this year.

The policy forum in 6 weeks will be a critical moment for the CWU....

Lashings of ginger beer and sarnies?

Never been a fan of ginger beer, myself. Like the odd sarnie though.

[dvbuk55]

A decent Conference this year.

The policy forum in 6 weeks will be a critical moment for the CWU....

TBH lovejoy there have been a number of critical junctures in the recent history of the CWU and it's not what you'd call glorious. To the ordinary member they have lost their way and membership will continue to fall to the the point, in the not too distant future, when they could lose all credibility in any negotiating..............if they haven't already.

[dvbuk55]

A decent Conference this year.

The policy forum in 6 weeks will be a critical moment for the CWU....

Lashings of ginger beer and sarnies?

Never been a fan of ginger beer, myself. Like the odd sarnie though.

More like bubbly and prawn sandwiches probably..........after all, it is free - well when I say free, I mean for the ones quaffing and scoffing, those of us at the window do the paying.

[Glenno]

A decent Conference this year.

The policy forum in 6 weeks will be a critical moment for the CWU....

Interisting to see how this pans out TBH

[BoltonPostie]

A decent Conference this year.

The policy forum in 6 weeks will be a critical moment for the CWU....

Interisting to see how this pans out TBH

Same as it always does...lots of hand wringing and shite deals.

[Glenno]

BoltonPostie
You da man

[Cut Off King]

A decent Conference this year.

The policy forum in 6 weeks will be a critical moment for the CWU....

The critical moment came with passing of the BT2010 agreement, we have gone passed the point of no return, the CWU has joined the RM board and are helping to manage the terminal decline of our T&C's.