LTB 692/13 Industrial Action Ballot and Privatisation ? Next

[Pinky 1]

To: All Branches with Postal Members


Dear Colleagues


Industrial Action Ballot and Privatisation – Next Steps


Further to today’s announcement on the yes vote, the following will set out our next steps.

We have offered the company the opportunity for intensive negotiations over the next couple of weeks to conclude a final settlement on all outstanding matters. If the company are not prepared to make further concessions and conclude the agreement our members deserve – we will hold a 24 hour strike on the 4th November. This strike day is intended to coincide with a mass demonstration for postal workers and provisional arrangements for this are in hand.

We have also announced that if an agreement cannot be concluded, we will soon commence a second ballot for action short of a strike enabling a boycott of the competitors’ mail. The timetable for this second ballot will be finalised on the 28th October, when notice is due to be served for the 24 hour dispute. If this takes place, the second ballot will also be used to open up options for other tactics such as work to rules, overtime bans and non co-operation with unrealistic efficiency demands.

In adopting the aforementioned course of action the Union is taking a responsible and determined position to achieve the industrial objectives agreed at Policy Forums and communicated to CWU members both before and during the ballot process. Our aim remains to secure an agreement before any industrial action is required and if a private Royal Mail really wants a settlement this is achievable.




Privatisation in Context

The privatisation of Royal Mail is a setback. The CWU has fought harder and longer against privatisation than any other UK Trade Union but in the end two key factors have brought us the result we did not want.

Firstly, in recent times all mainstream political parties have initiated and supported privatisation. There was no serious Parliamentary opposition to the Government’s plans and defeating privatisation in this scenario, was always a very difficult ask.

Secondly, as we have witnessed with the disgraceful scramble to make money on the opening days of trading, the Royal Mail Group has been massively undervalued and deliberately sold on the cheap. This was always the Government’s plan to ensure that the threat of industrial action would never deter private investors.

The CWU will continue to develop strategies to minimise the impact of privatisation, including how we prevent the remaining Government stake falling into private hands and by exploring the potential for a separate trust to co-ordinate voting rights and maximise the influence of postal workers in the new ownership structure.

Crucially, the CWU must also continue to recognise that the postal industry still faces equally important challenges from unfair competition, structural decline in our traditional markets and the need for growth in a rapidly evolving communications sector. In the coming weeks and months these issues will be prioritised.

Finally, we are aware that there has been very vocal criticism amongst representatives and members over the position adopted by the Labour leadership. There is no doubt that Labour’s leaders have let us and the public down through their original proposal for privatisation and latterly by their lack of any serious political fight against it. The CWU will hold a special NEC meeting in the near future to address this situation.


Summary

Despite the setback of privatisation, the CWU is in a strong position to deal with the impact on CWU members’ terms and conditions and determine the strategy, principles and values of how Royal Mail will now operate as a private entity. The resulting industrial landscape from the Government’s decision was always going to be the key battleground.


It remains the primary role of a Trade Union to protect its members’
interests, regardless of who owns the company, or whether it is in public or private hands. The CWU campaign and strategy to connect industrial and political agendas has not only achieved a very good yes vote, but ultimately means the industrial strength of the Union will prevail over whatever the future holds.