Decision looms on Royal Mail strike

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5bc89b28-f5d4 ... z2a9hS4mAO" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postal workers’ leaders are to decide next week whether to hold a national strike ballot to protect jobs and pay as the fight over the government’s plan to privatise Royal Mail approaches its climax.

Ministers are aiming for a stock market flotation over the coming months that could value the world’s oldest postal service at up to £3bn, but the Communication Workers Union is threatening rolling strikes if terms and conditions are not protected.

About 500 CWU representatives, at a two-day forum in London, will on Thursday discuss a possible timetable for holding a ballot of 115,000 Royal Mail employees by September.

Royal Mail has offered an 8.6 per cent rise in basic pay over three years and a legally binding contract with the CWU to protect pay and conditions over that period.

But Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said the offer on job protection “wasn’t worth the paper it was written on”. The union is holding out for a 10-year pay and conditions agreement, formally underwritten by government.

Its demands also include no franchising or outsourcing of Royal Mail delivery routes and no two-tier workforce with different conditions for new joiners.

Mr Ward said: “Patience is wearing thin and, unless we can secure robust protections for jobs, pay and terms and conditions soon, we are asking our reps to endorse a policy of holding a national industrial action ballot no later than September.’’

Militant members in places such as London, Glasgow and Liverpool are keen on a conflict, but the appetite for confrontation among the wider membership has yet to be tested.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: “UK postal services are facing unprecedented change and threats. We will always embrace innovation and changes in the industry, but only on terms that maintain decent jobs and protect quality services.”

Ministers hope to go ahead with a flotation of a majority holding, which could happen this autumn if market conditions remain favourable, but are keeping open the fallback option of selling an initial stake to an investor such as a private equity house.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/07/26/mail- ... rike-vote/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

Postal workers' leaders are to decide next week whether to hold a national strike ballot over jobs and services as the Government presses ahead with controversial plans to privatise the Royal Mail.

Around 500 Communication Workers Union officials will hold a two-day policy forum in London from Wednesday to discuss a possible timetable for a ballot of 115,000 Royal Mail employees in the coming months.

Issues will include alternative business models to privatisation, pension changes and job security.
CWU general secretary Billy Hayes said: "UK postal services are facing unprecedented change and threats. We will always embrace innovation and changes in the industry, but only on terms which maintain decent jobs and protect quality services.

"This policy forum is all about anticipating what may lie around the corner and how CWU can react to protect the interests of our members and customers they serve in the increasingly changing world of postal services."

Deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "We want to secure the best possible protections for our members' jobs and we will stop at nothing to ensure that their future, and that of the UK's postal services, are protected.

"The offer on job protection made by Royal Mail earlier this month wasn't worth the paper it was written on. Patience is wearing thin and, unless we can secure robust protections for jobs, pay and terms and conditions soon, we are asking our reps to endorse a policy of holding a national industrial action ballot no later than September."

[fishtank]

Militant members in places such as London, Glasgow and Liverpool

Glasgow...militant?

[blue1873]

Militant members in places such as London, Glasgow and Liverpool

Glasgow...militant?

Aye, Fish they used to sell that paper in Glasgow

[clashcityrocker]

Militant members in places such as London, Glasgow and Liverpool

Glasgow...militant?

Red Clydeside.
You might have heard of it.

[fishtank]

Red Clydeside.
You might have heard of it.

I should do.
My Grandfather,a card carrying communist was arrested frequently during that period but that was 90 years ago and he's been dead for 25 years and militancy in Glasgow died long before he did.

[UnhappyGremlin]

Postal workers’ leaders are to decide next week whether to hold a national strike ballot to protect jobs and pay as the fight over the government’s plan to privatise Royal Mail approaches its climax.

It's not about deciding whether to hold a national ballot, it's about deciding WHEN to hold it, should RM, as expected, refuse to budge.

But Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said the offer on job protection “wasn’t worth the paper it was written on”. The union is holding out for a 10-year pay and conditions agreement, formally underwritten by government.

Exactly. As for the second bit about 10 years etc., can't see that happening at all. Any new owner would surely see that as a deal breaker, takes away a vast part of the opportunity for them to cut costs. And still find it hard to believe it would be enforceable, except via the threat of IA by us.

Its demands also include no franchising or outsourcing of Royal Mail delivery routes and no two-tier workforce with different conditions for new joiners.

Stunned. Agree with the sentiment, and it would be good, but can't see this happening either, cuts off another way of cost cutting for any prospective new owner.

Ministers hope to go ahead with a flotation of a majority holding, which could happen this autumn if market conditions remain favourable, but are keeping open the fallback option of selling an initial stake to an investor such as a private equity house.

And for the big finish, a threat/bit of bullying, our way or else.

[Puppetmaster]

Hope Dave and Bill have read their History ,they are now playing with the TOP HITTERS .

Look what happened to the last Union leader who thought he could take on a Woman ,whilst history tells are Scargill was right in what he said how he went about it was wrong .
I understand Moya has lots of experience of Unions in Canada.

What Billy and Dave need to rember , after selling out the delivery staff of the last strike ,we have not heard or seen any national official till now ,where were they when wee had 5 D2d to prep and to deliver to houses even when we had no mail for those houses?

Most people are against privatisation , But do not trust the Union HQ after the settlement last time which Billy and co declared was "The deal of the Century"
Privatisation has been on the cards for years and was originally Brown and Blair idea.

Obviously the deal we got last time was crap or else we would not be in this mess now. What we need are new leaders of the Union ,plenty of talent in local and area reps, the present team should resign and let more capable people take on the challenge