Managers strikes!

[jessicarabbit]

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-even ... wer-wages/

Unite preparing the ballot. Bet Simon is absolutely quaking in his boots...

Strike looms at Royal Mail as company seeks to sack 1,000 workers and `fire and rehire’ on lower wages
Wednesday 30 March 2022

Royal Mail could soon be hit by UK-wide strikes over plans to sack nearly 1,000 managers and bring in lower rates of pay in what Unite the union says today (Wednesday) is yet another case of ‘fire and rehire’.

Unite is preparing an industrial action ballot, which would see strikes begin as soon as April, after an initial consultation with its membership found almost seven in ten (67 per cent on an 82 per cent turnout) backed strike action.

Unite says that their members’ position has hardened in recent weeks because the employers “kept moving the goalposts” during negotiations on the proposed changes.

Royal Mail is looking to introduce a new band for managers, paid less but also with the salary capped so eroding its value year-on-year, while cutting hundreds of existing postal manager jobs – akin to fire and rehire, according to the union.

The union claims that the job cuts are driven by shareholder greed, despite the service returning a record £311 million in profits only months ago (see notes to editors) and that the business’s real plan is to eventually cut the six day delivery service altogether and move to the three day service model found in some European countries such as Denmark.

In 2021, the Royal Mail cut 1,600 jobs, leaving the service seriously understaffed. Unite says that the company is already struggling to make the quality targets on delivery and service set by the regulator Ofcom and cannot afford to shed yet more business-critical jobs.

A strike will hit letter and parcel services across the UK as 3,000 Royal Mail members at 1,500 workplaces will walk out.

Calling on Royal Mail to step back from yet more job cuts, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Royal Mail has no excuse for announcing these job cuts, especially at the same time as introducing ‘new’ bands on lower pay. That is just ‘fire and rehire’.

“They are not even losing money. Royal Mail’s private shareholders are doing very nicely out of the UK. This is shameless boardroom greed looking to ruin a great UK name and a 500-year old essential service.

“Our members are determined to prevent this destruction and they have the full backing of their union every step of the way.”

A survey of Unite members has revealed that the current service is built on unpaid work by the postal managers and so it can ill-afford to lose 1,000 from the workforce. Members regularly go without lunch breaks, work unpaid at weekends and even forego annual leave to provide the public with a service.

Unite national officer with responsibility for Royal Mail, Mike Eatwell added: “The Royal Mail service is now running on the goodwill of our members but they’ve had enough. Royal Mail keeps moving the goalposts but it is clear to our members that the employer’s vision for the future is a slashed service and a low-waged workforce.

“It’s high time the owners came clean with the UK public. Tell them that the priority is not the daily delivery of the letters and parcels that they rely on but to extract even more profit for a handful of greedy shareholders.”

[jessicarabbit]

A survey of Unite members has revealed that the current service is built on unpaid work by the postal managers and so it can ill-afford to lose 1,000 from the workforce. Members regularly go without lunch breaks, work unpaid at weekends and even forego annual leave to provide the public with a service.

This is my favourite bit of the article. No lunch breaks....bless them

[Acca Dacca]

[steve1873]

Haha, if it wasn't for unpaid work from weak willed staff members, half of them would have been sacked years ago!!!

[lofarl]

Can't see that happening. Lots of them want the VR and will be pissed that its taking so long. Posties will never go out on strike with them. Those of us that have worked here long enough can remember their attitudes when it was us out for our T&C's.

The work will still get done, probably even more efficiently. Due to a combination of being left alone,spite by the postal workers and those new CSM's willing to cross the picket line. That would make for a great office mood, when those out on the pickets are back as CSM's with those who didn't support their colleagues. So say there was a strike and things get done with minimal impact.

Is Unite's position stronger? No.
If the strike ballot fails. Is Unite's position stronger? No.

Seems a desperate throw of the dice and a shout of well we did try guys.

[SpacePhoenix]

Here's a thought, if the managers did go on strike and that left a given office with no qualified PIC, would that office then have to close for the duration of the strike?

[Acca Dacca]

Have managers ever actually went on strike?

[chickenwittle]

It won’t happen .

[the beautiful bd south]

Have managers ever actually went on strike?

Yes a long time ago.
Place ran like clockwork

[Clappedoutpostie]

As long as they leave a clipboard of 552’s our office will still function.

[Phantom]

Managers have never, ever backed 'us' in any dispute and I will never back them. 90% are rotten to the core and I don't give a bollocks what happens.

But when RM are finished with them then they'll come for 'us' and 'us' is all that matters so get ready.

[POSTMAN]

Response to Unite/CMA's ballot preparation announcement


It is disappointing to hear that Unite/CMA is preparing to ballot its members for industrial action.

After two months of constructive discussion, we are now moving consultation into the next phase of deployment and implementation. This does not mean that our willingness to continue discussions and engagement will stop. We will of course stay close to our union colleagues throughout, we have both committed to a progressive relationship, regardless of the challenges that face us.

A ballot and any subsequent industrial action would result in further uncertainty for our managers and damage to our business. Whilst change can be difficult, we firmly believe that our Delivering for the Future proposals have a number of benefits for our managers and will be a significant step forward in the reinvention of Royal Mail:

• A strong reward offer for our new roles that will see many managers increase their pay and earning potential as well as protected pay for all. We have simplified our approach and reduced complexity.
  
  A new structure to support the ‘right to switch off’ with dedicated parcel Customer Operations Managers and a robust cover arrangement
  Customer and colleague focused roles that enable local decision-making, and allow managers to develop their teams to maximise customer service and grow the business
  
  Support with planning and managing complex people management cases reducing managerial workload
  
  Roles dedicated to provide support and coaching including the Operational Performance Leader role and the Delivery Performance Team
  An investment in the development and professional growth of our managers through our dedicated Academy, building skills and increasing career progression and opportunity
  
  The opportunity to take voluntary redundancy for a substantial number of managers who are ready to leave the business – an offer which has been over subscribed
  
  A commitment to redeployment for any managers displaced as a result of the change

We have not yet received formal notification of a ballot from Unite/CMA and would urge them to reconsider and continue helping us to build a strong delivery function that is fit for the future.

[Cucumber]

As long as they leave a clipboard of 552’s our office will still function.

Could put it on your PDA when you log in.

[POSTMAN]

What you're forgetting is...

Unite’s post managers – part of Unite’s Communications Managers’ Association (CMA) group – are the heart of our postal service. Without them, the public will not get the service that they pay for and rely on.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=103831&start=105

[EdRush]

Ah good. The post might get delivered for once