Union set to endorse mail boycott

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/eu ... 26420.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Industrial action by postal workers is set to come a step closer when union leaders are expected to endorse the threat of a mail boycott.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is raising concerns about the future of the postal service as private firms "cherry pick" work, and wants the postal regulator Ofcom to intervene to protect the service.

Hundreds of CWU reps will meet in Liverpool to discuss jobs, services and performance standards, and will debate a motion which reads: "The CWU calls upon the regulator to immediately act in line with its statutory duty and intervene to protect the universal service."

The motion warns that companies are targeting profitable parts of the delivery network and calls for private firms to meet the same quality of service and performance standards as Royal Mail.

The union is warning of a "race to the bottom" on the pay and conditions of postal workers and calls for minimum industry standards, underpinned by the so-called living wage.

Details of a possible boycott of private companies' mail will be published in time for the CWU's annual conference in April.

Postal workers could refuse to handle third-party mail - which makes up almost half of all letters delivered by Royal Mail - in the next few months, the union has warned.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

CWU members vote in favour of downstream access boycott

http://www.printweek.com/news/1174570/c ... s-boycott/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royal Mail postal workers could begin boycotting mail from rival downstream access (DSA) providers such as TNT and UK Mail "in the next few months" following a Communication Workers Union (CWU) ballot.

The CWU threatened action before Christmas at what it perceives as unfair competition to Royal Mail from DSA providers - in spite of the fact Royal Mail has the freedom to set the access price it charges rivals for final mile delivery.

A ballot of CWU members representing some 160,000 Royal Mail employees, carried out this morning, returned a unanimous vote in favour of the threat of a mail boycott "if Ofcom fails to protect the UK's mail service".

It called for Ofcom to "immediately act in line with its statutory duty and intervene to protect the Universal service" and for minimum industry standards for postal workers (including DSA postal workers) "unerpinned by the Living Wage as a minimum for pay".

CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "This vote demonstrates the rising concerns among CWU members regarding changes to the postal service affecting jobs, services and performance standards.

"Competition in the postal sector is not benefitting the public - prices are going up and the regulator is actively consulting on reducing services from six days a week to five or perhaps even less."

However, a spokesman for regulator Ofcom strongly denied that it was consulting on reducing services: "We are analysing the needs of postal uses, so we've analysed how much people use and value six days a week, first class, that kind of thing and have invited stakeholders to comment on it. But we have absolutely no proposals to reduce the universal service from six days a week."

Ward went on to highlight the plight of small businesses, which he said relied on the universal service.

"Only big businesses with bulk mail contracts benefit from competition, yet we rarely see any evidence of them passing those price benefits onto their customers rather than just improving their own profits.

"Competition is being allowed on the basis of low-pay and unreliable job security in private companies. That will be a disaster for the sector if it continues. We will take this action to protect jobs and services if the regulator doesn't fulfil its duty."

The CWU has not yet released any details on how the proposed boycott - which DM printers have slammed as irresponsible and unrealistic - would work and has said it will publish further details in time for its annual conference in April.

[fishtank]

CWU's official Boycott Statement in full:

As the Nation's only Universal Service provider, Royal Mail has an historic obligation to deliver mail, packets and parcels 6 days a week to every address in the UK and to do so for the same price whatever the location. This Universal Service Obligation was strengthened in the Postal Services Act 2011.

However, the Universal Service is now under major threat directly from unfair competition and the actions of Ofcom, who refuse to intervene in the growth of End to End competition. Instead, Ofcom are proactively consulting on cutting delivery days from 6 to 5 (or less), scrapping first class mail and reducing quality of service standards. These are the actions of a Regulator who is being allowed by Government to abandon its primary legislative role of protecting the Universal Service, in favour of the marketisation and privatisation of UK postal services.

As a result of Ofcom's pro competition position, competitors such as TNT can choose where, when and what they deliver, without any laid down quality of service or performance standards and by under cutting the jobs, pay and conditions of postal workers across the UK.

In response to these actions the CWU is determined to defend the Universal Postal Service through the re-launched "Save our Royal Mail" campaign and where necessary through direct action.

The CWU has announced that unless there is a significant change in regulatory and Government policy, the Union will call upon its membership to boycott the competitors' mail in defence of the Universal Postal Service.

The CWU calls upon the Regulator to immediately act in line with its statutory duty and intervene to protect the Universal Service through the following:

To stop the cherry picking of the profitable parts of the delivery network and ensure that any competitors operate in line with the same quality of service and performance standards as Royal Mail.

To undertake an independent assessment of Royal Mails current efficiency levels, to ensure that targets set by the Regulator are realistic, achievable and not influenced by the pay and conditions of existing Royal Mail workers, as compared to other workers in the sector.

The CWU also calls upon the Government to ensure that competition in the postal sector is not driven by the race to the bottom on the pay and conditions of postal workers. The Government should address this issue by introducing minimum industry standards for postal workers, including making competitors pay the living wage as a minimum.

CWU Representatives endorse the existing policy on the boycott of competitor's mail and a further report will be published in April, detailing the terms of how and when the boycott will be undertaken, if progress has not been made in line with the objectives set out in this statement.

Prior to its Annual Conference the CWU will also publish a timetable to ballot its membership and galvanise support for the boycott policy.

A statement issued on behalf of the CWU postal executive.

[Danelectro]

To stop the cherry picking of the profitable parts of the delivery network and ensure that any competitors operate in line with the same quality of service and performance standards as Royal Mail. A solid Boycott might stop the cherry picking

The Government should address this issue by introducing minimum industry standards for postal workers, including making competitors pay the living wage as a minimum. Under no circumstances will the government allow this

[fishtank]

Dave Ward ...

When we boycott competitors mail no one will be left alone 1 boycotts we all boycott backing of the whole CWU

[feduppostie]

A ballot of CWU members representing some 160,000 Royal Mail employees, carried out this morning, returned a unanimous vote in favour of the threat of a mail boycott "if Ofcom fails to protect the UK's mail service".


erm do WE actually get a vote on this or are they now deciding what we want to do?

[Danelectro]

erm do WE actually get a vote on this or are they now deciding what we want to do?

eh...mmm good point,I had presumed that a boycott was industrial action so a ballot is required but maybe because the action is not directly taken against your employer then its not required.hopefully somebody has posted the right answer by the time ive posted this.

[Red Robbo]

I don't remember completing any ballot form, unless Dave did it on my behalf, then that's fine by me?

[Danelectro]

I don't remember completing any ballot form, unless Dave did it on my behalf, then that's fine by me?

They are voting on CWU policy,if theres solid backing from the members and then they will go forward with the action and i presume ballot if required.

[fishtank]

Prior to its Annual Conference the CWU will also publish a timetable to ballot its membership and galvanise support for the boycott policy.

Stop skipping the good bits....

[Danelectro]

Prior to its Annual Conference the CWU will also publish a timetable to ballot its membership and galvanise support for the boycott policy.

Stop skipping the good bits....

its been a long day delivering in the snow

[Phantom]

And its taken 5 months to get this far??? f***ing disgusting

[welshy808]

And its taken 5 months to get this far??? f***ing disgusting

Five months maybe,
Now is the time for action. This news must be seen for what it is, HQ want to use it as a bargaining tool, a publicity stunt. At least they have now accepted that illegal or not it's the right thing to do.Lots of action taken in the past taken to defend the rights of union members has been illegal. That does not make it wrong.

If we stick together 100% then only we can win this battle. UKMail/TNT etc. can only operate because we deliver their promises. without the ability to use Royal Mail to deliver this under priced mail, to every household in the UK, why would any customer use them. Our jobs depend on this. The future of the Royal Mail depends on this. Boycotts have been done before, we have the ability to convince customers that we are the only business that is able to provide that type of coverage.
Support the boycott and get everyone in your office to do the same. the longer we leave it, the more difficult it will be.

[Red Robbo]

And its taken 5 months to get this far??? f***ing disgusting

Five months maybe,
Now is the time for action. This news must be seen for what it is, HQ want to use it as a bargaining tool, a publicity stunt. At least they have now accepted that illegal or not it's the right thing to do.Lots of action taken in the past taken to defend the rights of union members has been illegal. That does not make it wrong.

If we stick together 100% then only we can win this battle. UKMail/TNT etc. can only operate because we deliver their promises. without the ability to use Royal Mail to deliver this under priced mail, to every household in the UK, why would any customer use them. Our jobs depend on this. The future of the Royal Mail depends on this. Boycotts have been done before, we have the ability to convince customers that we are the only business that is able to provide that type of coverage.
Support the boycott and get everyone in your office to do the same. the longer we leave it, the more difficult it will be.

Grand Old Duke of York springs to mind

[fishtank]

Grand Old Duke of York springs to mind

Why?...Are we invading Holland?
I thought we were just boycotting TNT,I didn't realise we were going after them.