What is the point of negotiation?

[POSTPERSON50]

Royal Mail have declared that the business has changed forever.
It isn't a little tinker here and there, the whole job as we know it has already changed forever. No amount of negotiation will change that fact.

They have ripped up agreements, terms and conditions because they can. They are allowed to do it.

We are powerless to that change apart from one factor. If we don't turn up for work the mail stops. If we strike intermittently the mail is disrupted, but that isn't going to be enough. It won't change a thing.

Thompson won't be taking any backward steps in negotiation because the bird has already flown.

We have already lost more than a weeks' pay in getting to this point, (which is nowhere) the correct action was to strike for a full week and maximise the immediate impact on the operation.

Don't bother negotiating with an employer who has already made the decision to fu*k us all over come what may.

[norris9]

The Union keeps saying 'We aren't going to accept it'....

What does that actually mean....

Do we have the power to stop all of this change?

I'd assume yes, based on the 115,000 work force we have. It's a massive risk to Royal Mail to force the change in when 99% of us are unhappy with it and have no trust in the CEO. They could end up with a severe shortage of staff.

[MURPHYBROWN]

This is assuming RM wants to keep the current workforce.

It's a big assumption.

[POSTPERSON50]

The Union keeps saying 'We aren't going to accept it'....

What does that actually mean....

Do we have the power to stop all of this change?

I'd assume yes, based on the 115,000 work force we have. It's a massive risk to Royal Mail to force the change in when 99% of us are unhappy with it and have no trust in the CEO. They could end up with a severe shortage of staff.

Yes, we have the power.. but only if we use that power in the correct way.
The longer this dispute goes on, the weaker our position becomes. That has been borne out already with the CWU making mistakes and forever changing the scheduled strike action.

[POSTPERSON50]

This is assuming RM wants to keep the current workforce.

It's a big assumption.

It doesn't want to keep the current workforce, they want a cheaper more subservient workforce, but at the moment they are stuck with us. Use our power in numbers and call out the members for a week.

Use all possible measures to help struggling families with the wage loss. Advise the members how to budget their finances to cope with the financial hit. Yes it's tough, but we will lose more money and get nowhere with the current strategy.

Do it now while we still have some clout.

[chickenwittle]

People will not strike for a whole week in a cost of living crisis with mortgages/ rent / bills to pay , you are living in cuckoo land and there is more chance of losing the members and the dispute that way. Targeted action like what has been announced is the right way to go for now along with talks at acas to try to find a breakthrough.This forum shows everyone has different ideas of how to go about it , which is why the union have such a tough job keeping everyone happy.

[redlen]

Call me cynical but Royal Mail already has a large alternative workforce inplace ready to fill any gaps.

Am talking about the Royal Mail Christmas Casuals starting to appear. Extending their temporary contracts will be a formality.

Then we have Angard Staffing Solutions who work all year round.

Angard support for the strikes has been solid but they now feel angry and rejected. The Christmas casuals are taking their shifts and are being stood down. The CWU has done nothing about this. They have bills to pay and are now talking about working strike days as they have no other form of income after being stabbed in the back. Many of Angard staff are members of the CWU and their voice is being ignored.

Royal Mail staff might lose a days pay here and there due to industrial action, Angard have nothing to lose as they are not working.

[broughts]

It’s all about getting the best deal we can by the best means we can everyone has different ideas and opinions and after 32 years never seen a ceo so hell bent on breaking the union or at least by passing it I feel they are in the driving seat and we are running behind trying to catch a breath and at the end of the day they have the one thing in there favour that most people need the power of money they pay your wages not the union and people are already breaking the strike for financial reasons

[walthmstowman]

Royal Mail have declared that the business has changed forever.
It isn't a little tinker here and there, the whole job as we know it has already changed forever. No amount of negotiation will change that fact.

They have ripped up agreements, terms and conditions because they can. They are allowed to do it.

We are powerless to that change apart from one factor. If we don't turn up for work the mail stops. If we strike intermittently the mail is disrupted, but that isn't going to be enough. It won't change a thing.

Thompson won't be taking any backward steps in negotiation because the bird has already flown.

We have already lost more than a weeks' pay in getting to this point, (which is nowhere) the correct action was to strike for a full week and maximise the immediate impact on the operation.

Don't bother negotiating with an employer who has already made the decision to fu*k us all over come what may.

So we're finished then ?

[walthmstowman]

It’s all about getting the best deal we can by the best means we can everyone has different ideas and opinions and after 32 years never seen a ceo so hell bent on breaking the union or at least by passing it I feel they are in the driving seat and we are running behind trying to catch a breath and at the end of the day they have the one thing in there favour that most people need the power of money they pay your wages not the union and people are already breaking the strike for financial reasons

If we accept this deal, according to the union last night management have already mentioned there will be compulsory redundancies.

[Martin Walsh]

As someone who has been in the job 38 years and been on countless strikes nationally and locally , we would never have gad strikes if we accepted Royal Mail’s final offer is really their final offer. They say this every time and our strength is to continue to put pressure on them to change.

Support the CWU and you will get a better deal. Why ? Because the level of change Royal Mail want cannot be done by executive action. It can only be done by compromises and by agreement and we are accepting what they have put on the table.

[parforthewalk]

No you/we are not finished. There will still be a job if you want it? (as ST has already said). The pay & conditions are changing.
Basically like it or lump it.

I've worked for company for 20+ years & I'll be finding alternative employment, as I guess quite a few will be doing & very soon given the current state of affairs.

What RM will lose is the knowledge & experience of the job, I E deliveries/rounds, ips sorting skills etc. It all takes time to learn & casual staff will struggle & it will have a massive impact certainly short term, which those in Ivory towers don't see & don't care.

[heraldmoth]

Then this message needs reinforced by the union not just sitting there and asking for blind faith while we lose 500 quid in one weekend

[POSTPERSON50]

Royal Mail have declared that the business has changed forever.
It isn't a little tinker here and there, the whole job as we know it has already changed forever. No amount of negotiation will change that fact.

They have ripped up agreements, terms and conditions because they can. They are allowed to do it.

We are powerless to that change apart from one factor. If we don't turn up for work the mail stops. If we strike intermittently the mail is disrupted, but that isn't going to be enough. It won't change a thing.

Thompson won't be taking any backward steps in negotiation because the bird has already flown.

We have already lost more than a weeks' pay in getting to this point, (which is nowhere) the correct action was to strike for a full week and maximise the immediate impact on the operation.

Don't bother negotiating with an employer who has already made the decision to fu*k us all over come what may.

So we're finished then ?

If we continue as we are, yes.

They want rid of the union. This is no ordinary dispute, and negotiation isn't an option.

If the CWU agrees to even a portion of the changes we are dead.

[redlen]

We are at Boot Hill already now the green light has been given to sell GLS.