Postal Union Raises Concerns Over RM Financial Status

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Postal Union Raises Concerns Over Royal Mail Financial Status

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Tension continues between the Communication Workers Union and the Royal Mail this week after it was announced that worker shares, known as Colleague Shares, were likely to be worthless. The CWU is putting pressure on Royal Mail to disclose its present financial status and is deeply critical of the timing of both the share announcement and the disclosure that some London mail centres are to be shut down or see reduced staff numbers. Industrial action has not been ruled out.

The Royal Mail, which over the last 12 months has closed several mail centres across the country and introduced radical changes to distribution routes and delivery services, blames increased competition and declining mail volume.

However, the union has accused the company of failing to honour agreements made in 2010 and of trying to push through a new business plan which the CWU says could reduce the terms and conditions of union members even further and see compulsory redundancies. In particular, the union regards the apparent rapid drop in the value of Colleague Shares as a 'scam' and is holding several meetings with both Royal Mail and the government to clarify the situation.

Concerns within the company that plans to reduce operating costs are falling behind by as much as 18 months could be an indication that the financial situation for Royal Mail Letters is worse than originally thought and that the company is now having to instigate far more radical reforms to keep the business solvent ahead of privatisation.

The issue of volume decline is presently affecting all Universal Service providers with both U.S. and European operators having to close post offices and mail centres in order to back-pedal on decline across the sector. The banking crisis is thought to have hit operators hard as companies cut back on advertising spending (an area regarded as crucial for sustainability) and instead, increased spending on online advertising.

The cost of meeting the wage bill, which forms a large part of expenditure, is also thought to be under increased pressure as the Royal Mail looks for more ways to reduce its operating costs. To date the Royal Mail has always aimed to avoid compulsory redundancies but some analysts predict that it will be unable to maintain this in the longer term if the business continues to shrink.

The UK coalition government, which insists that privatisation is the only viable solution for protecting the USO, is nearing completion on its new Postal Services Act which could see the Royal Mail broken up and sold. The CWU is fighting the sale, saying that a sell off would lead to costly and reduced services as well as wholesale job losses. An Early Day Motion which seeks to lay out a firm commitment to protect the USO, is currently being supported by at least 45 MPs.


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[whistling dixie]

in the NIMC paper hand drying towels will no longer be available in the toilets,as they are too expensive.maybe this demonstrates just how bad the situation has become.

[BT2010]

in the NIMC paper hand drying towels will no longer be available in the toilets,as they are too expensive.maybe this demonstrates just how bad the situation has become.

there must be something in place to dry your hands.
get H&S rep on it.

[fishtank]

in the NIMC paper hand drying towels will no longer be available in the toilets,as they are too expensive.maybe this demonstrates just how bad the situation has become.

there must be something in place to dry your hands.
get H&S rep on it.

Just walk out of the toilets straight up to a manager and dry your hands on his nice clean shirt.
Problem solved.

[clashcityrocker]

It never ceases to amaze me that some people don't wash their hands after going to the toilet.
Perhaps they are now in charge of policy regarding the provision of paper towels.

[belle smith]

It never ceases to amaze me the state some people leave the toilets in.

[DGP1]

It never ceases to amaze me that some people don't wash their hands after going to the toilet.

I try not to piss over my hands................which helps

[johnnyp]

It never ceases to amaze me the state some people leave the toilets in.

Scum bags at your place as well belle
Bogeys on the walls and unflushed toilets are a daily thing in our bogs

[belle smith]

It never ceases to amaze me the state some people leave the toilets in.

Scum bags at your place as well belle
Bogeys on the walls and unflushed toilets are a daily thing in our bogs

Don't know about bogeys on the walls, but s**t all over the pan yes, often above the lip!

[whistling dixie]

probably should have said we have to use the hand dryers,which are ancient and take forever.sorryfor any confusion

[DGP1]

probably should have said we have to use the hand dryers,which are ancient and take forever.sorryfor any confusion

They're going to be replaced with one of the spare managers..................punch them in the nuts and use the hot air to dry your hands

[fishtank]

probably should have said we have to use the hand dryers,which are ancient and take forever.sorryfor any confusion

They're going to be replaced with one of the spare managers..................punch them in the nuts and use the hot air to dry your hands

You would have to find a manager with a pair first and by that time your hands would be dry so rather than punching them in their non-existing nuts you could just tell them you are cutting off...that usually brings on a gasping and wheezing fit anyway.....

[RedBagMan]

I thought that "when the sh*t hits the pan" was a common occurence within RM ...