dingo wrote:BingBong wrote:Rumour going around today about union giving rm another 7 days meaning another ballot if things aren't sorted out. Just a rumour mind. Not a good one at that.
You would not want to rely on your office for hearing the truth amongst all the rumours.
Look Royal Mail have said they do not want to give a further extension on the ballot because of the pressure they are under. Now if we get close well maybe they will but at this point we are still some distance apart.
So unless there is significant progress today then the CWU will have to meet with the PEC to decide on the strike action open to them. There are a range of options open to the CWU.
Now wandle the CWU have taken more strike action then all the other unions put together and know we have to serve notice before 1700 tomorrow.
For the life of me , I dont why people expect regular updates on the talks , that never happens and quite frankly anyone who has been involved in high level negotiations before know that a lot of time your not actually in the room together but drafting words and sections or ACAS and Roger Poole are doing their mediation process trying to get the parties closer. Equally a lot of issues are dependent on each side agreeing on all issues. Imagine if the CWU put out an LTB on the talks and all of sudden there is uproar in union circles over some supporting the CWU and some opposing. When in reality you have not seen the full agreement and words covering all issues. Equally what if Royal Mail updated their members and shareholders and they demanded harsher changes to the proposals. It just will not work.
Members voted in the industrial action ballot to give the PEC the authority to protect their pay , pensions , job security and issues from the impact on privatisation and thats exactly what our negotiators are trying to do. You did not vote yes to simply go out on strike cause it feels good and you can let off steam. If the CWU needs to sanction a strike tomorrow then it will be because we cannot get the best agreement possible.
If the CWU was going to sell you out , then they would have accepted the first pay rise, the pension changes with out any safeguards , without the improvement in the DC scheme , accepted the 3 year legal guarantee and not held out for a delivery agreement.
When you speak to your DOM or shift manager do they automatically do what you want ?? Of course not and negotiations at the level the CWU are involved are challenging with both parties trying to get the other to accept their agenda. Its complex because there is no other union who has sought the legal protections we have from privatisation and that includes Bob Crow and the RMT.
Now lets get things in perspective this is not the CWU wanting to stop absorption in its entirety as others have quite rightly pointed out that Royal Mail see this a cash cow and is a major part of their business strategy and is in line with their policy of paying for all the hours paid. The difficulties in these talks are that Royal Mail want to go a lot further then they do currently with more flexibility , continuous improvement and more efficiency.
Now Wandle you make out that if we dont win this dispute before christmas we have lost it. What is that based on ? More people order things on the internet on christmas day and boxing day then anyother day of the year. Revenue from parcels is lost whenever their is a strike.
If the issue is important enough and is explained right then they will support any strike.
