Latest update from CWU & Royal Mail

[Cichlid]

NATIONAL DISPUTES – CWU/RM MEETING ON MONDAY 10TH OCTOBER

Following a meeting earlier this week with the Postal Executive and conversations with the company, CWU and Royal Mail have agreed to meet on Monday 10th October to establish exactly where we are and to try and find a way forward in our national disputes.

Although we welcome this development, given how bitter these disputes have become, it is important that we do not raise any expectations that this meeting will be fruitful.

The reality is there remains huge differences over the company’s unilateral change programme and Royal Mail’s unacceptable actions and behaviours have led to unprecedented levels of mistrust.

The union’s position going into these talks is set out in the attached letter to the CEO. You will see from this that as well as offering a constructive approach, we are also asking fundamental questions about Royal Mail’s future plans.

The National Briefing will take place next week on Tuesday 11th October, where Branches will be updated on the meeting with Royal Mail and receive reports from the National Officers on all aspects of our current disputes.

The industrial action programme notified last week will be continuing, with the next strike scheduled for Thursday the 13th October. It is essential that all Branches and representatives focus all their efforts on ensuring legal pickets are in place and that we deliver the same fantastic levels of support from our members, as in the previous strikes. There will be further communications to our members and a live Facebook session next week.

Dave Ward General Secretary

Andy Furey Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

………

Dear Simon

ROYAL MAIL/CWU TALKS

Further to our conversation this morning and for the purpose of complete clarity, I am setting out the CWU’s offer to engage in face to face meetings this week and next week to find a way forward in our current disputes.

The CWU will come to the meeting ready to talk about pay and change, subject to the assurances you are aware we are seeking from the company that you will not challenge our legal ballots on the basis of these discussions.

We also believe that the purpose of our meeting should be to discuss the following as part of a structured agenda.

1. Royal Mail’s Change Programme

Given the speculation, claims and counter claims from both parties about what your agenda involves, it is now crucial that we go through each item and identify any areas of potential common ground and the areas where substantial differences exist between us.

As part of this, Royal Mail need to be honest with the union on your plans for the new Parcel Network. Specifically, we want to know where Parcelforce and self-employed owner drivers fit into this and whether or not it is your intention to set this up separate from Royal Mail and brand this as Parcelforce and/or GLS.

As things currently stand, based on the company’s actions to date, including the serving of notice on our legal protections, the CWU can only conclude that your objective is to break up the company, introduce a levelling down agenda and operate on the same basis as your competitors in the parcels market.

You know we will not agree any proposals based on the above concerns and we cannot emphasise enough how important it is for you to unequivocally clarify your position on these issues.

We also want the company to be clear on whether or not you remain committed to the Pathway to Change agreement and if not, clarify the issues that you are walking away from and the further changes you are looking for above and beyond that agreement.

As part of the discussion on change, the CWU are also ready to discuss the policies agreed at a CWU Forum earlier this year.

2. Pay

You have made clear on numerous occasions that the company is willing to increase its offer on pay. We expect the company to put forward an improved offer, including as you have stated, the change you see as part of this. We also want to discuss how you intend to progress our joint commitment to further reductions in the working week.

3. Facilitated Talks

If we can be clear on the above mentioned, the union is willing to discuss the potential for facilitated talks going forward. However, for this to be meaningful, we must also discuss the ground rules for these.

4. The USO as a Cornerstone of Modernisation and Growth

As you know, the union has major concerns that Royal Mail are once again putting all their eggs in one basket and that you are seeking to focus on parcels in a way that will see the rest of Royal Mail and the vital services it provides to the public, wither on the vine.

The CWU want to put forward and elaborate on why we believe that the future success of the company must be built around the competitive edge you already have in daily deliveries to 32 million addresses throughout the UK.

Developing ideas, products and services, to expand the role of postal workers in growing regional and local economies, offering tailored services to businesses and adding social value to society, was an integral part of the strategy we agreed under Pathway to Change. Reinvigorating this strategy must now become a central aim in resolving our current disputes.

5. Royal Mail’s Letter of the 22nd September 2022

I will be writing separately to you on the above mentioned letter and why the union and our members find this latest attack completely unacceptable. However, it’s also crucial that we discuss this at the meeting and that you set out the real reasons why you have served notice on all our agreements. You must understand that this has opened up a chasm between the parties and we want to discuss all aspects of your letter and in particular how this will affect our members’ terms and conditions and the relationship between Royal Mail and the union.
The above is a necessary and constructive agenda that means that we are not hiding away from the issues between the parties and that we jointly focus our efforts on finding an agreed way forward. We are of course willing for Royal Mail to add to this as you see fit.

Finally, given the seriousness of this dispute, it is essential that these talks are led by you and me and that our respective teams are in attendance.

I await confirmation that Royal Mail are willing to meet the union either by a call, as you said earlier today, or by letter.

I am also happy to discuss with you over the phone the content of this letter.
Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary

[POSTMAN]

Simon Says

Meeting with CWU on Monday

Following a number of conversations with CWU this week, Royal Mail and the CWU have agreed to meet on Monday to review where we are, and see if we can find a way forward.

We have already spent more than five months talking to CWU, so I do not want to raise expectations around this meeting. We are still miles apart on many issues.

However, I know that the prospect of 19 days of industrial action is worrying many people and, from the many messages I have had from staff, I also know there is a strong desire for this dispute to get resolved.

I have always said we are ready and willing to talk to CWU, but it must be about change and pay.

I remain of the view that the best way to progress these discussions will be through Acas. I believe we need independent facilitation and conciliation if we are to really make progress. We plan to discuss this topic again on Monday.

[hans solo]

Do not go to acas they will only facilitate the employers position
Let him deal with it

[sledger]

the tone of royal mails letter tells me that they have no intention of agreeing anything unless its what they want,acas is just a smokescreen designed to stall any talks,something tells me the only thing they will take notice of is an all out strike over xmas.

[norris9]

these talks will get nowhere in terms of getting a deal...

this is just to try to get something out of Royal Mail as to where the company is actually heading.....a takeover.....

[claystones]

Dont go to acas they are just trying to get christmas out of the way the only leverage we have on our side is striking over christmas dont fall for Simons trick

[Cichlid]

" We have already spent more than five months talking to CWU, so I do not want to raise expectations around this meeting. We are still miles apart on many issues."

This quote from ST plus the fact he still wants to involve ACAS tells me this meeting will not be productive.

I believe the end game is the splitting up of this company, already threatened by Keith Williams.

[Martin Walsh]

As someone who has been involved in negotiations with ACAS facilitating, I think you have the wrong impression of what ACAS does.

It is not their call to suspend strike action or indeed executive action. The only people in charge of suspending industrial action is the 17 National Elected Postal Executive members.

ACAS attempt to try and find common ground between both parties and to facilitate an agreed solution. ACAS do not have the power to insist anything of either party.

The fact Royal Mail want to use ACAS suggests they are willing to compromise on parts of their change agenda, either that or it is just a gimmick. We will soon find out.

The main drawback from using ACAS that is can be very long winded other both parties are in separate rooms whilst ACAS does shuttle diplomacy between both Parties trying to find common ground.

Let also be clear that the 19 days of strike announced has also shocked Royal Mail and on last Friday strike date Simon Thompson made a workplace comment about meeting his local postie and saying that he listened and know we have to try and get into talks.

There is huge differences between us , but we must start somewhere. Let’s see how talks get on Monday and whether it will lead to further talks.

[Schiff]

As someone who has been involved in negotiations with ACAS facilitating, I think you have the wrong impression of what ACAS does.

It is not their call to suspend strike action or indeed executive action. The only people in charge of suspending industrial action is the 17 National Elected Postal Executive members.

ACAS attempt to try and find common ground between both parties and to facilitate an agreed solution. ACAS do not have the power to insist anything of either party.

The fact Royal Mail want to use ACAS suggests they are willing to compromise on parts of their change agenda, either that or it is just a gimmick. We will soon find out.

The main drawback from using ACAS that is can be very long winded other both parties are in separate rooms whilst ACAS does shuttle diplomacy between both Parties trying to find common ground.

Let also be clear that the 19 days of strike announced has also shocked Royal Mail and on last Friday strike date Simon Thompson made a workplace comment about meeting his local postie and saying that he listened and know we have to try and get into talks.

There is huge differences between us , but we must start somewhere. Let’s see how talks get on Monday and whether it will lead to further talks.

A lot would depend on whether ACAS were used for binding arbitration or merely conciliation to try to bring the 2 sides closer together. Also, the union must not under any circumstances agree to suspend strike action as we approach the Christmas peak "as a gesture of goodwill" while the potentially prolonged ACAS talks play out.

[derricksmyth]

As someone who has been involved in negotiations with ACAS facilitating, I think you have the wrong impression of what ACAS does.

It is not their call to suspend strike action or indeed executive action. The only people in charge of suspending industrial action is the 17 National Elected Postal Executive members.

ACAS attempt to try and find common ground between both parties and to facilitate an agreed solution. ACAS do not have the power to insist anything of either party.

The fact Royal Mail want to use ACAS suggests they are willing to compromise on parts of their change agenda, either that or it is just a gimmick. We will soon find out.

The main drawback from using ACAS that is can be very long winded other both parties are in separate rooms whilst ACAS does shuttle diplomacy between both Parties trying to find common ground.

Let also be clear that the 19 days of strike announced has also shocked Royal Mail and on last Friday strike date Simon Thompson made a workplace comment about meeting his local postie and saying that he listened and know we have to try and get into talks.

There is huge differences between us , but we must start somewhere. Let’s see how talks get on Monday and whether it will lead to further talks.

A lot would depend on whether ACAS were used for binding arbitration or merely conciliation to try to bring the 2 sides closer together. Also, the union must not under any circumstances agree to suspend strike action as we approach the Christmas peak "as a gesture of goodwill" while the potentially prolonged ACAS talks play out.

I agree , striking in Nov and Dec has to be maintained, until a satisfactory resolution is found.

[grchpo]

Do not go to acas they will only facilitate the employers position
Let him deal with it

If we don't go to acas will Thompson use that against us, i.e. we have tried everything & still no agreement so fire & rehire.

[Woody Guthrie]

It is not their call to suspend strike action or indeed executive action. The only people in charge of suspending industrial action is the 17 National Elected Postal Executive members.

That doesn't answer the question of what these 17 National Elected Postal Executive members do if ACAS asks the two sides nicely to suspend hostilities during the conciliation process as an act of good faith and Royal Mail agrees to halt executive action.

So no they can't force us to suspend industrial action but they can sure as hell pile on the pressure to do so and make us look like intransigent dinosaurs if we don't.

[Surreypostie]

My personal opinion and I don't care if it goes against the more militant people on here, we are pissing in the wind, this guy is on a mission.

I had numerous people ask me this week, why have they stopped me all this money? I only work 5.3 hours a day, how can I have been stopped £175 for 2 days? These are the people that may break 1st, they cannot afford it long term. I am quite happy to do a day a week indefinitely, I might even ask to go down in hours so I can do a 4 day week forever, I can afford it. The nearer it gets to christmas the harder it will be to keep them onside.

After all this time and we are still miles apart is worrying. For me, I want more money and their annualised hours can do one, I'm not happy about the sick pay changes either. Sundays and later starts, I could live with. This is just a personal opinion for others it will be a major problem.

Disputes are always settled through compromise, this guy seems hell bent on full steam ahead, both sides in this dispute have said don't expect much to change on monday. I thought the 19 days would have him peeing in his pants, it doesn't seem to have but who am I, I know nothing. I am entitled to my opinion though and I don't care if people don't like it, just like the more militant are entitled to theirs.

I hope to be proved wrong and we achieve the deal of the century, heard those words before but the one thing you can be sure of is there will be change, change we don't like but we will have to adapt to. We can only hope our side can get something out of it that we can live with. Too bury your head in the sand and say we don't accept anything and I would rather bankrupt the company than accept any of this is deluded, even the CWU accept change.

[Slim2none]

"The fact Royal Mail want to use ACAS suggests they are willing to compromise on parts of their change agenda, either that or it is just a gimmick. We will soon find out."

Martin, maybe it's just me but this suggests that we are going to ACAS, no?

[daveyeff]

Martin, do you REALLY believe he listened to his local postie. ....did he F***. he's an out and out lying bastard who couldn't give 2 f***s about the postie or any of us. he's a hatchet man hired to do us over. ''about time we tackled the CWU'' were on HIS agenda board. remember?