RMCtv: More reward for more change - A new two-year offer worth 9%

[Schiff]

* I will accept this new deal but the 3.5% has to be backdated to April - that should be what our Union should be fighting for not more strikes and loss of wages and business

It really doesn't matter that you would accept this deal. The vast majority wouldn't even consider it.

Time to close Royal Mail down for December.

[fixxxer85]

I'm sorry pal, but none of these changes are minor. To state this is just ridiculous.

I have worked my backside off for RM for ten years and now that is just not enough.

My and other offices are understaffed and RM, now apparently will not pay to cover the workload. Yet they want more hours cut from offices and the staff to cover even more workload in their time. It is not possible.

I am not in the union, yet even I understand that this job will become a thankless task, on poorer pay, to be micromanaged about every level of your performance.

As they have announced today, they want the job done on the bare minimum of pay and reward. Later starts, poorer sick sick pay and annualised hours are all major sticking points for anyone, let alone me.

This job is hard and RM want to reduce your efforts to even less. If u like the job as it is, do you accept it is going to be worse. For me, no thanks.

[Acca Dacca]

What planet is Thompson from??

The same one as chrisj

[norris9]

Let Ofcom know how badly Royal Mail are at failing sticking to the USO. Purposefully understaffing us for years and now sacking off 10,000 workers.

[Mungeys]

It isn't even a group wide offer, they've told PFW that there's no money for a pay rise so the 2% is all they're getting.

So we keep hearing how Royal Mail is a parcels business now, but the actual parcel business that the group run has been run that badly that they've got no money

[arsenalbob]

Where’s my special delivery? It was meant to be with me before 1pm. Sorry sir. Would you mind standing outside your house as your delivery driver is not very good at reading addresses. You’re looking for a short man named Derek. He’ll be wearing a flat cap and driving a yellow Reliant Robin…….

[Mungeys]

Changes we need in Parcelforce and what it means for you

In the past six months, you and our customers have had to suffer eight days of costly strikes called by the CWU. Losses in Royal Mail – including Parcelforce - have already reached £219 million. That’s well over £1 million a day in the first half of 2022-23. And now they’re mounting. Some analysts are suggesting Royal Mail could lose nearly £1 billion this year if CWU continues to take strike action.

We are losing customers. You are losing pay. And yet we’ve been trying for six months to get the CWU to discuss the changes we all know Parcelforce needs to compete and win in the market. As the strikes went on, we had no choice but to cut costs. We’ve already had to announce that we will need to reduce our workforce across Royal Mail and Parcelforce by about 10,000 full time equivalents (FTEs) by August 2023.

Now a declining workload and worsening finances mean we must make bigger changes. We will have to review the size of our network, our methods of sortation at all points of the journey, and how we procure and maintain our fleet.

That means a lot of change, and I want to make that very clear to you, by putting everything on the table. With the lifting of the owner driver cap from 24 October, we are moving ahead with using more owner drivers. And as we’ve already explained, we need to tighten up how much we spend on things like overtime and reduce the level of absence.

Further strike action means we will lose more customers, be a smaller business and, I am sorry to say, that means more people will lose their jobs.

What does it mean for Parcelforce?

This is a very serious situation.

Parcelforce does not have value as an independent business and has been underperforming for some time. This means it’s not currently a viable business in its own right.

As a result of industrial action the financial performance of Parcelforce has further deteriorated and we are now materially loss-making. Any further industrial action will worsen our position still.

If we are to have a long-term future, we have to change and get back to being profitable. It is not optional. And we have to transform so that we can start to win in the market again. And winning in the market is good for everyone.

Such is the seriousness of our financial situation, I am sorry to say that following the 2% pay rise you have already received, at this time we can no longer afford to offer any further pay increase.

The changes we need in Parcelforce

The lifting of the owner driver cap is an important change to give us more flexibility in managing peaks and troughs in volume and to better position us to adapt to changing market conditions. But we need to go further.

There have been many things said about the changes that we need. It is time to have a very straightforward conversation about what we are actually asking you to do.

Later this week we will provide a summary of how the changes we have asked the CWU for will apply to you. Your manager is ready to discuss it with you in detail and do their best to make it work for you. That’s the way we can both change to survive and continue to be the best employer in our industry.

A critical moment for Parcelforce

Let’s be honest, the last six months have been tough for everyone. Many of you have told me personally how you understand there needs to be change. We all need to recognise that we are in a hyper-competitive market. Constant change is a necessity.

We will do all we can to support you to come back to work safely on strike days. We know that while in the main those of you who have stood on picket lines have been respectful of your colleagues, a few of our people have suffered disgraceful harassment, threats and even violence from CWU reps. We won’t tolerate this from anyone and will continue to protect you, by rapidly following our conduct processes whenever such behaviour occurs. If you have any concerns and would like to report them in confidence so we can continue to make your workplace safe, please do report them to the Speak Up hotline on 0800 090 3154 or the Security Help Desk on 020 7239 6655.

And from this moment, we will open all our offices on strike days, whether or not we have the numbers necessary to make them work efficiently. We won’t turn you away if you want to come in and earn what’s due to you.

So please think about the changes we need to make. Talk to us and the CWU. And let’s end this damaging strike action.

[Simondavid]

I'm just waiting for a new deadly strain of flu to come along in November we will all advised to become the 4th emergency service again and ST will be rubbing his hands in joy

[TopperGas]

I don't want anymore strikes because it will just be more losses and we are not going to get what we want except crush the business and get even less. I like my job and will rather stick with it even with the small changes:
No more compulsory Sundays - that was always going to be a part of the negotiation IMO - the Sunday service is not that important at this stage and they have enough volunteers in addition to those on new contracts or Sundays exclusive staff...
Later starts - accomodation of those with severe needs was something the Union should have gone for instead of saying No to that and other things
Sick and absence - no brainer; it had to change and this change is minimal
SISO and Annualised hours was also not going to be a deal breaker - Royal Mail can still monitor how much work is done and cut down on overtime. Also, they now allow Posties to leave mail and parcels; so it was never going to be work till it is finished - we are not slaves!
The rest is up to them how they run the business - it is a private company not a public service anymore!

* I will accept this new deal but the 3.5% has to be backdated to April - that should be what our Union should be fighting for not more strikes and loss of wages and business

The changes to the sick pay are hardly minimal?

We've no idea what's planned for us if we accept the new T&C's but the clear suggestion by the management was that they expected us to compete with the likes of Amazon and deliver everything we took out.

[fmrPOSTIE]

Wow. Just wow… I really am shocked into disbelieve at how a CEO can threaten and cagoule a workforce that has been loyal for many years. Clearly he values this at f**k all and is willing to become subservient to his new Czech bosses.

I left RM in the mid 00s when it felt like the good days. Xmas bonuses , unlimited O/T )1k bonus PBS suppliments etc etc.

Just utterly shocked at the behaviour of a senior management team - more of its tone and language than anything else!

A two tier workforce is storing up huge problems in terms of moral , workforce cohesion. Trust. But more importantly what happens in the future when things are “reviewed” due to “worsening market conditions”

Every day that passes there is anew twist in this dispute. BOTTOM LINE - the pay “offer” is dire. Absolutely DIRE. I hope the CWU and and all postal staff rise up against this. Keep the faith guys !

[Chitchat]

Is this offer some sort of joke? After six months, this is royal mails offer to avert the most damaging strikes royal mail will ever have seen.

[GRS]

I'm convinced Thompson has been bullied for most of his life and now he's got himself into a position of power he's determined to make someone pay for his life of misery.

He's a horrible greasy weasel. I bet even his family think he's a twonk of the highest order. Imagine that - your own kids thinking "Christ my dad is a real bell end". We already know what his grandfather would think of him

[Mrs Postman]

His tone is what gets me the most- take it or we'll shaft you anyway.

Bloody shocking to think we all will accept that lousy offer Simon must go

[chrisj]

* I will accept this new deal but the 3.5% has to be backdated to April - that should be what our Union should be fighting for not more strikes and loss of wages and business

It really doesn't matter that you would accept this deal. The vast majority wouldn't even consider it.

Time to close Royal Mail down for December.

Are you sure? Do you speak for the vast majority including the silent ones? I was at an MC today and most were thoughtful and more inclined to accept the offer - yes, I know most will of the changes do not affect them and no conditions on their 2% lump sum... But still

So what will you accept?
Actually, what is the CWU fighting for - for real?

RM has jumped them again with an offer that they could have achieved themselves without the ballots and rancour many many months ago - and it would have been backdated too. CWU have still no communicated what they want - they could have gone high publicly and then accept something a bit more than what we now have but they just keep saying No and more strikes - Enough!

You have to know when to fold a bad hand - ask the Gambler...

[sindba]

* I will accept this new deal but the 3.5% has to be backdated to April - that should be what our Union should be fighting for not more strikes and loss of wages and business

It really doesn't matter that you would accept this deal. The vast majority wouldn't even consider it.

Time to close Royal Mail down for December.

Are you sure? Do you speak for the vast majority including the silent ones? I was at an MC today and most were thoughtful and more inclined to accept the offer - yes, I know most will of the changes do not affect them and no conditions on their 2% lump sum... But still

So what will you accept?
Actually, what is the CWU fighting for - for real?

RM has jumped them again with an offer that they could have achieved themselves without the ballots and rancour many many months ago - and it would have been backdated too. CWU have still no communicated what they want - they could have gone high publicly and then accept something a bit more than what we now have but they just keep saying No and more strikes - Enough!

You have to know when to fold a bad hand - ask the Gambler...

*Do Not Feed The Troll*