FULL UPDATE FROM CWU HQ - DATES NAMED

[lovejoy]

Letter to Branches




No. 830/07 Ref 60000 Date:20th September 2007

To: Branches with POSTAL Members


Dear Colleagues

Royal Mail Dispute

In response to Royal Mail declaring executive action on a number of fronts, the Union has made a decision to escalate strike action.

The Postal Executive have agreed the following strike dates:

• A 48 hour strike on the 5th & 6th October covering all employees.

• A 48 hour strike on the 8th & 9th October covering all employees.

• Week commencing 15th October a rolling programme of functional strikes to continue weekly until the resolution of the dispute.

We know this strike action requires a big commitment from our members. However, it is a proportionate response to an employer that is completely out of control. Rather than running the business, Royal Mail’s actions demonstrate they are intent on destroying it.

In the last week the company has announced the following:

• Executive action on their pension proposals - Royal Mail will be communicating this to staff next week.

• Executive action through the imposition of later starts on the 8th October.

• Executive action through the imposition of network changes on the 23rd October.

• Executive action through the cessation of Sunday Collections on the 28th October.

• Executive action against Engineers, the net effect of which will mean a reduction of 10% of posts.

• Executive action through the cessation of Employee Share of Savings Scheme (ESOS) on the 10th October.

These announcements are on top of the fact that Royal Mail will not settle a pay rise owed to members from the 1st April 07.

Instead, they now demand any pay deal must include total flexibility and be dependent on us agreeing outrageous pension’s proposals. This includes closing the Final Salary Scheme for existing employees, attacking past service benefits and increasing retirement age to 65. The company’s proposals would lose our members thousands of pounds.

The truth is central to the problems in this industry is the people running the company want our members to pay for their mistakes.

Given the seriousness of the situation, we have no alternative other than to escalate strike action and bring this dispute to a conclusion. We will also be re-launching the ‘Doing the Job Properly Campaign’ on the 1st October.

The Postal Executive has also decided to ballot Parcelforce, Romec and all Group Wide Businesses for industrial action over the pension’s issue.

In announcing further strike dates we have given Royal Mail one final opportunity to reach a negotiated settlement.

A Reps Brief will be sent out later today and a letter to members’ home addresses next week.

Yours sincerely


Dave Ward Billy Hayes
Deputy General Secretary (P) General Secretary

[BELIAL]

Thank you! Lesson learned , no suspension of IA, strike until RESOLUTION

[mdtomuk]

I DONT WANNA STRIKE , I WANT TO GIVE MY CUSTOMERS THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE THAT I CAN - BUT I'M NOT ALLOWED TO, AND NOW MY WHOLE FUTURE, MY WHOLE LIFE IS BEIN THREATENED BY THESE EVIL MEN.

I WILL BE PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES TO FIGHT FOR OUR WORKING/WHOLE LIVES. BRING IT ALL ON.

AND THIS TIME THERE IS NO EXCUSE, NO EXCUSE WHATSOVER - NO strike breakers!!!!!!!

:cfo :lfo

[Carla]

Only this time we stay on strike even if RM calls CWU to the table that way them two :cfo :lfo will soon realise that you can never beat people power

[frankie]

[postiebob]

This information is a bit late, last night at Doncaster I was told about these dates, also I was also told by the Hull driver and the Sheffield driver said it was on there notice board, who opened there mouth first. Talk about communication, shouldn't this have been made public in one swoop, not just some having the privilage.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Now BREAKING NEWS on Sky News

[donut]

AND ON BBC NEWS 24

[Carla]

You would think that the union would have informed us before it went out on the news

[donut]

IT`S ON THE CWU WEBSITE NOW.

[Carla]

Thanks donut as it wasn't earlier

[postie28]

we could be just a few days away from a massive victory. so lets make sure we get these strikes exactly right. they will no doubt swamp us in the days leading upto the first strike to try to minimise the backlog. so lets all remember to work to our hours and do the bare minimum . the more cut offs on the thursday the better. i know we can and will win this dispute. but each and every one of us has to play our part.
COME ON POSTIES . LETS FINISH THIS BIG TIME.

[Wilbur Spoons]

Now we must make it clear to our friends and colleagues how important it is that we stand strong during this renewed action. Too long have we been trod under the heel of RM upper management, and for too long have we taken it on the chin (or up the arse some may argue) and folded under the most minor pressure. This is the big one people, for the first time we know exactly what we are fighting against, we have all seen the 'offer' and know exactly what it means for the future of everyone who passes through Royal Mail's doors for the forseeable future. We can only fight this if we stand side by side, on the gates until we get a fair deal for everybody.

People who scabbed last time, ok you didn't really know what we were fighting against, I implore you all to look at what Royal Mail are trying to force on us and think again, you will be welcomed onto the picket like the prodigal son, we all make mistakes, and as I say, we have knowledge now of what we are trying to resist. Even if you don't want to picket, stand strong, stay at home, enjoy your family, just don't let Royal Mail think that ANYBODY is happy with the way that their livelihood is about to be compromised!

Everybody please, spread the word, pass on the belief that the Union are fighting for us all and lets see a 100% walk out on the 5th!

[wont cross the line]

FINNALY TOP CWU HAS GOT BALLS WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS B4 AND NOT STOPPED FOR 5 WEEKS POWER TO THE PEOPLE NOW SUPPORT YOUR PICKET LINE

[goinpostal]

here here!