we had a visit from one of the senior managers from POL to tell us about our branch becoming a franchisee. the way they explained was using management tricks and showing lots of empathy. But most of us worked for over 20 years and this has been an absolute shock for us. they said there is no EVR, and the only available options are
moving to the new employer,
if any vacancies in the crown network we could get a job, but only if we are happy to relocate,
or leave POL
Is this an exercise to make POL looked good on the balance sheet, so that the senior managers can justify their large bonuse
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Franchising 70 Post offices?
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- POST OFFICE
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Re: Franchising 70 Post offices?
TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS
Dear Colleague
POST OFFICE: PAY 2012 AND BEYOND AND THE FUTURE OF THE CROWN OFFICE NETWORK
Further to LTB 67/13, dated 5th February 2013.
Today the Post Office announced their plans to franchise 70 Crown Offices (nearly 20% of the network). This is devastating news for over 700 members who work in these Crowns. It is important to note that there has been NO dialogue with the CWU in terms of the criteria used for determining which Crowns are to be franchised.
The Post Office have said that those Crowns being considered for franchising will have transferred to a new operator by the end of the Crown Transformation programme in March 2015. So, effectively, this is a rolling franchising programme that the Post Office expects to take up to two years to complete. This means continued uncertainty for members and, no doubt, ongoing stress. A list of the Crowns affected by the Post Office’s decision is attached.
The Post Office has confirmed that TUPE will apply and, as there are no actual job losses, voluntary redundancy is not an available option. At this stage, there has been no discussion with the Union with regard to the people issues, although the Union fully acknowledges that TUPE should apply as this is a legal requirement.
This time, in comparison to 2007, the Post Office is claiming it doesn’t have any retail partners lined up to operate these franchised Post Offices and this is why the franchising programme will take up to two years to complete. Today’s situation is in direct contrast to 2007 when the Post Office announced that 70 Crowns were to be franchised to WH Smith. Therefore, in the current absence of any franchise partner, our assumption is the earliest any Crown could be transferred is in six months time.
The Post Office strategy in regard to Crown Transformation is farcical; they are announcing Crowns to be franchised without full details on which the future operator(s) (new employer) will be for our members. Also, they’ve selected the offices without certainty and there is no guarantee they will be able to find suitable commercial partner(s).
This whole situation has been managed in an unprofessional way. This is demonstrated by the fact that only last Thursday (31.1.13) an email sent to the Union by Angela Van Den Bogerd, Head of Partnerships, stated the following:
“We have committed to letting Crown teams know the future of their branch by the end of March. When we communicate this it will be done as an entity and cover all of our Crown branches. We will of course share this list with you at this point. “
Yet, just a week later, the Post Office embarked upon a full blown communications exercise with senior managers in attendance at all 70 Crown Offices announced for franchising. Clearly, this activity conflicts with the statement above. It should be noted that the Union was only advised yesterday afternoon of the Post Office’s intention to make these announcements and the actual detail of the Crowns involved was only received this morning.
It follows that we can only assume the Post Office has reacted in a knee jerk way, following our decision to ballot for industrial action - this implies that their decision-making is flawed. In essence, the Post Office fast-tracked the announcement for franchising and this smacks of panic and indicates that the business is in disarray.
The above situation is extremely unsatisfactory for our members and early feedback we have received indicates that members are very distressed by the way they are being treated by the Post Office. The uncertainty faced by our members is outrageous and, of course, this impacts on morale
The franchising programme is clearly going to take a long time; accordingly, for the members impacted, pay is still a live issue. Whilst members will naturally be upset at the franchising situation, we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that all members deserve their pay, terms and conditions to be enhanced. And this is just as important for any member facing TUPE. The Post Office tactics seem to be about creating a diversion and, where possible, division.
The Union will, therefore, be doing everything possible to reverse this dreadful decision; consequentially, it’s imperative that all Union representatives in the Post Office work hard to ensure that our members deliver an excellent ‘yes’ vote.
A press release has been published today and is attached to this LTB.
Further developments will be reported.
Yours sincerely
Andy Furey Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
Dear Colleague
POST OFFICE: PAY 2012 AND BEYOND AND THE FUTURE OF THE CROWN OFFICE NETWORK
Further to LTB 67/13, dated 5th February 2013.
Today the Post Office announced their plans to franchise 70 Crown Offices (nearly 20% of the network). This is devastating news for over 700 members who work in these Crowns. It is important to note that there has been NO dialogue with the CWU in terms of the criteria used for determining which Crowns are to be franchised.
The Post Office have said that those Crowns being considered for franchising will have transferred to a new operator by the end of the Crown Transformation programme in March 2015. So, effectively, this is a rolling franchising programme that the Post Office expects to take up to two years to complete. This means continued uncertainty for members and, no doubt, ongoing stress. A list of the Crowns affected by the Post Office’s decision is attached.
The Post Office has confirmed that TUPE will apply and, as there are no actual job losses, voluntary redundancy is not an available option. At this stage, there has been no discussion with the Union with regard to the people issues, although the Union fully acknowledges that TUPE should apply as this is a legal requirement.
This time, in comparison to 2007, the Post Office is claiming it doesn’t have any retail partners lined up to operate these franchised Post Offices and this is why the franchising programme will take up to two years to complete. Today’s situation is in direct contrast to 2007 when the Post Office announced that 70 Crowns were to be franchised to WH Smith. Therefore, in the current absence of any franchise partner, our assumption is the earliest any Crown could be transferred is in six months time.
The Post Office strategy in regard to Crown Transformation is farcical; they are announcing Crowns to be franchised without full details on which the future operator(s) (new employer) will be for our members. Also, they’ve selected the offices without certainty and there is no guarantee they will be able to find suitable commercial partner(s).
This whole situation has been managed in an unprofessional way. This is demonstrated by the fact that only last Thursday (31.1.13) an email sent to the Union by Angela Van Den Bogerd, Head of Partnerships, stated the following:
“We have committed to letting Crown teams know the future of their branch by the end of March. When we communicate this it will be done as an entity and cover all of our Crown branches. We will of course share this list with you at this point. “
Yet, just a week later, the Post Office embarked upon a full blown communications exercise with senior managers in attendance at all 70 Crown Offices announced for franchising. Clearly, this activity conflicts with the statement above. It should be noted that the Union was only advised yesterday afternoon of the Post Office’s intention to make these announcements and the actual detail of the Crowns involved was only received this morning.
It follows that we can only assume the Post Office has reacted in a knee jerk way, following our decision to ballot for industrial action - this implies that their decision-making is flawed. In essence, the Post Office fast-tracked the announcement for franchising and this smacks of panic and indicates that the business is in disarray.
The above situation is extremely unsatisfactory for our members and early feedback we have received indicates that members are very distressed by the way they are being treated by the Post Office. The uncertainty faced by our members is outrageous and, of course, this impacts on morale
The franchising programme is clearly going to take a long time; accordingly, for the members impacted, pay is still a live issue. Whilst members will naturally be upset at the franchising situation, we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that all members deserve their pay, terms and conditions to be enhanced. And this is just as important for any member facing TUPE. The Post Office tactics seem to be about creating a diversion and, where possible, division.
The Union will, therefore, be doing everything possible to reverse this dreadful decision; consequentially, it’s imperative that all Union representatives in the Post Office work hard to ensure that our members deliver an excellent ‘yes’ vote.
A press release has been published today and is attached to this LTB.
Further developments will be reported.
Yours sincerely
Andy Furey Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
I Wrote
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
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Re: Franchising 70 Post offices?
things to come http://www.newsrt.co.uk/news/consultati ... 01891.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
SHEFFIELD’S main Post Office branch is set to move from Castle House.
A six-week consultation has been launched into the proposals to relocate to the Wilkinson’s store on nearby Haymarket.
Martin Rouse, Post Office regional manager, said: “We understand how important Post Office services are to people in Sheffield and we want to make it easier for customers to do business with us through opening a new open- plan branch offering longer opening hours.
“We are confident this new Post Office will meet the needs of customers in the area and help us to secure services for the future.”
The Post Office said its new branch will be modern, whereas the existing site is ‘difficult to access and in need of updating’.
The proposed new branch would include two self-service terminals and a private consultation room for people wanting to discuss the Post Office’s financial services.
A Post Office spokesman added: “The proposed new branch is part of the Post Office’s drive to modernise its network in order to ensure its long term viability and in turn maintain easy access to Post Office services for customers in the future.
“The Post Office plans to make its large Crown branches profitable by 2015 and ensure customers will benefit from modernised branches that meet their needs.
“During the public consultation, Post Office Ltd welcomes feedback on any issues customers would like considered before a final decision is taken on this proposal.”
The consultation will close on March 21.
SHEFFIELD’S main Post Office branch is set to move from Castle House.
A six-week consultation has been launched into the proposals to relocate to the Wilkinson’s store on nearby Haymarket.
Martin Rouse, Post Office regional manager, said: “We understand how important Post Office services are to people in Sheffield and we want to make it easier for customers to do business with us through opening a new open- plan branch offering longer opening hours.
“We are confident this new Post Office will meet the needs of customers in the area and help us to secure services for the future.”
The Post Office said its new branch will be modern, whereas the existing site is ‘difficult to access and in need of updating’.
The proposed new branch would include two self-service terminals and a private consultation room for people wanting to discuss the Post Office’s financial services.
A Post Office spokesman added: “The proposed new branch is part of the Post Office’s drive to modernise its network in order to ensure its long term viability and in turn maintain easy access to Post Office services for customers in the future.
“The Post Office plans to make its large Crown branches profitable by 2015 and ensure customers will benefit from modernised branches that meet their needs.
“During the public consultation, Post Office Ltd welcomes feedback on any issues customers would like considered before a final decision is taken on this proposal.”
The consultation will close on March 21.
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- EX ROYAL MAIL
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Re: Franchising 70 Post offices?
"a new open- plan branch offering longer opening hours" - but longer opening hours aren't much use if the final collection of the day isn't any later, and I'm sure it won't be.
Longer opening hours on lower wages of course.
Longer opening hours on lower wages of course.
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Re: Franchising 70 Post offices?
Another slight of hand for the over 55 in the NEW compromise agreement
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- POST OFFICE
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- Gender: Male
Re: Franchising 70 Post offices?
"The Post Office plans to make its large Crown branches profitable by 2015" says Martin Rouse.
When will the morons at the top of POL realise that their plan just isn't working?
They have been aiming to make Crown Offices profitable for at least the last ten years without success; it just ain't gonna happen!
Somebody at the top, may I suggest NOT Kevin Gilliland, needs to show a bit of enterprise and come up with 'Plan B', rather than simply ploughing ahead with their (proven to be) ineffective 'Plan A'.
When will the morons at the top of POL realise that their plan just isn't working?
They have been aiming to make Crown Offices profitable for at least the last ten years without success; it just ain't gonna happen!
Somebody at the top, may I suggest NOT Kevin Gilliland, needs to show a bit of enterprise and come up with 'Plan B', rather than simply ploughing ahead with their (proven to be) ineffective 'Plan A'.
"They couldn't see what should have been so obvious".
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