UNOFFICIAL ACTION

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 07 Aug 2007, 17:51

As we are about to embark on later starts and my guess is that there are going to be a few more wildcat strikes, and after a request from a member I thought it best to start a separate thread on Wildcat Strikes.

So if your unit does go out unofficially please post details on here. If you don't want to identify which Unit you work at then PM me and I will post the details on your behalf - without mentioning names.

dogfood · Post by **dogfood** » 07 Aug 2007, 18:18

As we are about to embark on later starts and my guess is that there are going to be a few more wildcat strikes, and after a request from a member I thought it best to start a separate thread on Wildcat Strikes.

Does this mean the union have agreed to early starts without consulting its members?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 07 Aug 2007, 18:37

dogfood wrote:
As we are about to embark on later starts and my guess is that there are going to be a few more wildcat strikes, and after a request from a member I thought it best to start a separate thread on Wildcat Strikes.
Does this mean the union have agreed to early starts without consulting its members?

No. The rumour is that RM will force in Later starts in September now without Union agreement if needed, so I thought we would have a central thread so that anyone going out can see how much support they are getting.

billypants · Post by **billypants** » 07 Aug 2007, 18:53

we've been told late starts will be in nationwide, in delivery offices, 17th September whether we like it or not . . . . well we don't like it so fight we will

larsson1971 · Post by **larsson1971** » 07 Aug 2007, 20:26

This will cause a straight walk out they just playing with our lives . when it suits them . :cfo :cfo :lfo :lfo

Post by **POSTMAN** » 07 Aug 2007, 20:29

We've been told down our way SE Lon NOT to go out unofficial regardless what they throw at us.
I'm suprised it's been happening elsewhere,cause tbh there's been times i was praying for a walk out at my place.

billypants · Post by **billypants** » 07 Aug 2007, 20:32

unofficial walkouts are not the answer as they give Royal Mail the upper hand, legally speaking, they could even insist we return on new contracts which would, of course be 6am starts . . . . . . but there's more than one way to skin a cat . . . . doing the job by the book nationwide would cripple them, so why aren't we all doing it ?

larsson1971 · Post by **larsson1971** » 07 Aug 2007, 20:33

We have not been briefed as yet by the union but we were told at our WTL today , what a load of shite. :cfo :lfo

The Sarge · Post by **The Sarge** » 07 Aug 2007, 20:42

billypants wrote:unofficial walkouts are not the answer as they give Royal Mail the upper hand, legally speaking, they could even insist we return on new contracts which would, of course be 6am starts . . . . . . but there's more than one way to skin a cat . . . . doing the job by the book nationwide would cripple them, so why aren't we all doing it ?

Right on Mr. Pants.

Throw in an OT ban to boot.

billypants · Post by **billypants** » 07 Aug 2007, 20:44

The Sarge wrote:
billypants wrote:unofficial walkouts are not the answer as they give Royal Mail the upper hand, legally speaking, they could even insist we return on new contracts which would, of course be 6am starts . . . . . . but there's more than one way to skin a cat . . . . doing the job by the book nationwide would cripple them, so why aren't we all doing it ?
Right on Mr. Pants. Throw in an OT ban to boot.

and top it off with the removal of all goodwill and "favours"

beltov · Post by **beltov** » 07 Aug 2007, 22:24

This thread is a very good idea. Hope it comes in useful!

POSTMAN wrote:We've been told down our way SE Lon NOT to go out unofficial regardless what they throw at us.
I'm suprised it's been happening elsewhere,cause tbh there's been times i was praying for a walk out at my place.

Who told you that? The union or management?

billypants wrote:unofficial walkouts are not the answer as they give Royal Mail the upper hand, legally speaking, they could even insist we return on new contracts which would, of course be 6am starts . . . . . . but there's more than one way to skin a cat . . . . doing the job by the book nationwide would cripple them, so why aren't we all doing it ?

Unofficial action - controlled by the workforce through mass meetings - can be very effective in getting the management to back down quickly. That's why it's illegal, like secondary picketing! It's the workers showing real active solidarity with each other that scares the s**t out of them!

The problem with this dispute is that it's in the hands of the union, whose main concern is not the interests of the workers but the efficiency of the boss, Royal Mail. The union don't want to 'cripple' Royal Mail, which is why they aren't calling effective action. The union's job is to work hand in glove with the management to keep RM competitive.

So, against the unionâ€™s attempts to make â€˜negotiationâ€™ the goal of the struggle, postal workers need to find the real sources of their strength:
* organising their own struggle through mass meetings open to all workers. Mass meetings need to decide when to strike, how to strike and what demands to raise
* seeking the active support and solidarity of other workers. Immediately by linking up directly with the Crown Post Office workers who are facing the same rotten deal. But other workers in the public sector are facing exactly the same attacks. In fact the postal workers are being set up as a test case in order that these attacks can go forward. No sector of workers can gain from struggling in isolation. Real solidarity means waging a common struggle.

The wider the resistance, the less the chance of the ruling class picking us off one by one.

B.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 07 Aug 2007, 23:04

beltov wrote:This thread is a very good idea. Hope it comes in useful!

POSTMAN wrote:We've been told down our way SE Lon NOT to go out unofficial regardless what they throw at us.
I'm suprised it's been happening elsewhere,cause tbh there's been times i was praying for a walk out at my place.
Who told you that? The union or management?

SE London union branch,tbh i was a bit pissed with it,especially seeing on here the unofficial ones going out.
Not sure whether it came from HQ,might of done,but seems others aint taking any notice anyway,good luck to them.

catch · Post by **catch** » 09 Aug 2007, 20:22

I wonder whether this thread will come in handy over the next 3-4 weeks.

Post by **semacsorter** » 10 Aug 2007, 13:46

Well the fun begins!
Last night our M/C night shift were all phoned just after 1600 and onwards and told the I/A had been called of and they were expected/required to turn up for their dutie's at 2100. All apart from about 30 people turned in and commenced work only to find 11 managers from other offices had been called in to sort mail due to the I/A and us not there! if they phoned us how come they didnt phone them !! anyway the union rep objected to there presence and the area rep and office rep were called in, The Shift manger was asked to send the DOM's home but refused saying they were sorting mail all night, after a meeting off all the members with the reps it was decided not to walk out unofficially this time. however the shift manager then informed the members they would be docked an hour and 20 mins pay for the meeting and us not working!!

Methinks the devide and seperate line is comming where they will try and force us to walk as individual offices as they failed as a whole.
Reps beware i think you will be targeted.
It looks the recriminations have begun it would be interesting to hear if any other offices have had any probs in the first 24/48 hours of return

Post by **POSTMAN** » 10 Aug 2007, 14:24

One office has walked out this morn,i'm waiting for one of them to come on here.

ROYALMAILCHAT