UPDATE

[lovejoy]

Dear Colleague,

Royal Mail Talks Update – Communication from the Independent Chair

Please find attached the latest communication from Roger Poole, the Independent Chairperson mediating talks between Royal Mail and the union. Further information will be sent out in due course.

Yours sincerely



Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)


ROYAL MAIL TALKS UPDATE – COMMUNICATION FROM THE INDEPENDENT CHAIR


Statement from Roger Poole

Monday December 14th 2009

On Friday we held the latest formal review meeting, helping Royal Mail and the CWU in handling their modernisation negotiations.

Progress is being made and agreements are being reached on some issues, or are close to agreement; some topics still have a way to go.

In our meeting on Friday we discussed what the key issues are across the process and all parties are committed to an intensive series of negotiations this week.

Our next formal review will be held on Tuesday 22nd December when we hope significant progress will have been made towards a final agreement.

[robd]

Cheers lovejoy,i realise there's not much meat on the bones,but where it says..
"Progress is being made and agreements are being reached on some issues, or are close to agreement; some topics still have a way to go."
How much pressure are all parties under to wrap this up before xmas?

[Stormproof]

Is that a London update or a National one?

[Lincox]

It says that on Friday they discussed the key issues. If thats as far as they have got, god help us. They expect us to move a f...ing site quicker than that on our walks.

[Ahebban]

I believe a fully negotiated National Agreement before Xmas is still the AIM, but not necessarily cast in stone .. we can only speculate as to what the major sticking points are because we are being kept in the dark over the specifics.

With everyone seemingly committed to the negotiations the likelihood of industrial action being revisited seems remote, so i guess we shall have to be patient and await our fate in the new year if the Xmas deadline passes.

[shrew1]

Statement from Roger Poole

..."Progress is being made and agreements are being reached on some issues, or are close to agreement; some topics still have a way to go.

....Our next formal review will be held on Tuesday 22nd December when we hope significant progress will have been made towards a final agreement"

Personally speaking i'd find the above a lot more helpful if it told us where agreements were being reached and where there were problems. I am grateful for knowing when the reviews are taking place though. Just why is the union not allowed to disclose any details? It's not as though our national security is at risk. Looks like there will be another week of rumours doing the rounds.

[BELIAL]

Any bets on agreement before xmas,then RM do what they want on Jan. 2nd

[dvbuk55]

Are we still in early December - because it seems mighty close to Christmas to me. How long are we expected to keep putting up new speak updates before we actually get some indication as to what agreement has been reached on, something like:

D2Ds Agreement reached

Delivery Span Agreement reached

It might give us some idea as too how long we are going to be waiting for a final agreement to vote on.

Or how about RM suit themselves Agreement reached.

[Godric]

Are we still in early December - because it seems mighty close to Christmas to me. How long are we expected to keep putting up new speak updates before we actually get some indication as to what agreement has been reached on, something like:

D2Ds Agreement reached

Delivery Span Agreement reached

It might give us some idea as too how long we are going to be waiting for a final agreement to vote on.

Or how about RM suit themselves Agreement reached.

maybe Hayes/Ward & PEC should do our job for a week before agreeing with Royal Mail to dump more D2Ds on us ... after all it is us posties that deliver them and not the union

[peterloo]

Are we still in early December - because it seems mighty close to Christmas to me. How long are we expected to keep putting up new speak updates before we actually get some indication as to what agreement has been reached on, something like:

D2Ds Agreement reached

Delivery Span Agreement reached

It might give us some idea as too how long we are going to be waiting for a final agreement to vote on.

Or how about RM suit themselves Agreement reached.

They cannot release info like that yet because those agreements will be dependant on reaching agreements on the other
issues I.E D2Ds depndant on shorter working week etc so we wont see jack till its all done

[k979aaa]

Are we still in early December - because it seems mighty close to Christmas to me. How long are we expected to keep putting up new speak updates before we actually get some indication as to what agreement has been reached on, something like:

D2Ds Agreement reached

Delivery Span Agreement reached

It might give us some idea as too how long we are going to be waiting for a final agreement to vote on.

Or how about RM suit themselves Agreement reached.

They cannot release info like that yet because those agreements will be dependant on reaching agreements on the other
issues I.E D2Ds depndant on shorter working week etc so we wont see jack till its all done

We wont see jack after christmas believe me we are going to get screwed big time!.

[dvbuk55]

Yes that seems to be the line taken by both parties, they knew once we hit the pressure we would be too busy to be bothered about their misdealing, notice how it is quiet now - no back biting, information by the dribble, can't wait to see the deal of a lifetime.

I think the deal is actually done, what is taking the time is how to couch it in terms that are going to be acceptable and make it look like a victory, of Pyrrhic proportions probably.

[mucker]

prepare yourselves to bend over and get shafted comrades

[BELIAL]

Yes that seems to be the line taken by both parties, they knew once we hit the pressure we would be too busy to be bothered about their misdealing, notice how it is quiet now - no back biting, information by the dribble, can't wait to see the deal of a lifetime.

I think the deal is actually done, what is taking the time is how to couch it in terms that are going to be acceptable and make it look like a victory, of Pyrrhic proportions probably.

I think you could be right there. The ballot wording must be tricky to get the right result

We your union have safeguarded FT jobs(who wants PT's anyway not enough subs)
We have secured the opportunity to minimise pay reductions with the chance for all to enjoy the extra security and achievement with the introduction of the 5 hr walkspan .
For the first time ever we have succeeded in negotiating away the payment for D2D (though we did manage to protect you from any increase in payment for over a decade) And after bitter ,hard fought and acrimonious negotiations we have triumphed in achieving the goal of unlimited D2D.

Vote YES to accept no to reject

YES














no

[machineman]

Any bets on agreement before xmas,then RM do what they want on Jan. 2nd

nope because what ever the christmas elf brings the new year will take away YOU know that I know that WE all know that apart from unfortunattly our PEC who still believe in santa and the tooth fairey !!!