What is CWU's game plan if the strikes carry on beyond 12 weeks?

[goneaway]

The first strike was on 26 August. It's not long until 12 weeks have elapsed since then (the date will be 11 November, only 4 weeks away now). As some of you may know, workers only have 12 weeks where there is legal protection for being dismissed for taking part in strike action (see: https://www.gov.uk/industrial-action-st ... ial-action).

CWU have already announced strike dates going through to early December (and the 12 week protection period expires about a fortnight before Black Friday and Cyber Monday). Realistically, Royal Mail are unlikely to start dismissing workers as soon as the 12 weeks have elapsed, given the peak period would have already started and would still be reeling from the rolling strikes. But if the dispute still hasn't been resolved by the New Year, what would stop Royal Mail dismissing workers en masse as soon as the New Year arrives, when the parcel work drops off, without having to pay any redundancy? Is this Royal Mail's ultimate aim, to cut down the existing workforce on the cheap and rely on recruiting new staff on inferior pay, terms and conditions?

Have the union got any contingency plans for this? Hopefully they'll be some resolution by then. Or does the 12 weeks just refer to a non-stop strike of that duration, or can non-strike days be deducted from the 12 weeks specified?

[matthew68]

I believe as it’s two separate issues pay and contract changes it can be double that time scale

[hans solo]

They also have to prove they tried to negotiate an agreement
Think there ducked with that when they rip up t&c at will

[wandle]

I’ll be amazed if we haven’t had a resolution to the dispute by Christmas.
You really think that people not coming to work, causing backlogs of mail, will result in mass sackings, causing an absolutely horrendous collapse of the postal network. Not a chance.

[robking]

Action has been programmed up to 2nd of December. If there is no settlement by then, the only reasonable conclusion would be that the dispute is lost and the CWU will have to try to get the best deal that is available.

There will be those who want to die in the last ditch, fight to the last bullet etc. but they can get on with it, I won't be taking part in any further action after December 2nd.

If the union do call further action for the new year, I might as well cancel my membership and save myself £3.44pw whilst I look for a new job.

[Bellaber]

Don't want to sound pessimistic but I can't see a resolution at all,Thompson will just let us wither on the vine

[kazardaimenu]

If no resolution then rolling strikes through December is our best course of action. If Simon still won’t negotiate he’s got brass balls.

[koolishy67]

Action has been programmed up to 2nd of December. If there is no settlement by then, the only reasonable conclusion would be that the dispute is lost and the CWU will have to try to get the best deal that is available.

There will be those who want to here die in the last ditch, fight to the last bullet etc. but they can get on with it, I won't be taking part in any further action after December 2nd.

If the union do call further action for the new year, I might as well cancel my membership and save myself £3.44pw whilst I look for a new job.

Same here only afford till 2dec

[moonjaguar]

Action has been programmed up to 2nd of December. If there is no settlement by then, the only reasonable conclusion would be that the dispute is lost and the CWU will have to try to get the best deal that is available.

There will be those who want to here die in the last ditch, fight to the last bullet etc. but they can get on with it, I won't be taking part in any further action after December 2nd.

If the union do call further action for the new year, I might as well cancel my membership and save myself £3.44pw whilst I look for a new job.

Same here only afford till 2dec

I think this is why there will be no deal by Dec 2, they think most people will cave by then. I'd say cancel the upcoming strike days and announce all out for the two weeks before Xmas. That would freak out the shareholders and get some proper talks going wouldn't it? It would make the news too.

[timbo1234]

Simon has one agenda item - to destroy the CWU as functioning union. He can then impose any changes he wants to t&c's with no organised opposition. He is prepared to take the s**t and play Mr Nasty as that is exactly what he was hired to do. If he achieves his aim he will leave RM with a very large golden handshake. BUT if we stay united the other board members will buckle. They know they will be blamed for the death of a British institution and will have to sort out the chaos he will leave behind when Simon fails in his agenda. The rolling strikes will cause utter chaos. The effect will be instant unlike one day strikes. Let's see how the board and the major shareholders feel like when they start to see their investment going down the toilet.

[Surreypostie]

Action has been programmed up to 2nd of December. If there is no settlement by then, the only reasonable conclusion would be that the dispute is lost and the CWU will have to try to get the best deal that is available.

There will be those who want to here die in the last ditch, fight to the last bullet etc. but they can get on with it, I won't be taking part in any further action after December 2nd.

If the union do call further action for the new year, I might as well cancel my membership and save myself £3.44pw whilst I look for a new job.

Same here only afford till 2dec

I think this is why there will be no deal by Dec 2, they think most people will cave by then. I'd say cancel the upcoming strike days and announce all out for the two weeks before Xmas. That would freak out the shareholders and get some proper talks going wouldn't it? It would make the news too.

It would also cause a collapse in the strike, I have done them all and will do them all, call an all out then bollocks to it, I'll go back, I won't be the only one, I can afford to do it, I am not prepared to do it and I don't give a monkies who calls me what, I come to work because I cannot afford to stop working. I will do a day a week until hell freezes over. There are many that can't even afford a day a week.

[Clappedoutpostie]

If the rolling strikes go ahead Christmas won’t get delivered until into the new year, there will be no catching up until then.

[CRIBMAD]

i think this will be my last read on this site ! I cant believe how weak people are, forever whining about the odd day a week strike , Jesus H you lot should have been a miner in the 1980's then you would have a right to whinge ! With people like you working for RM this job is fooked for everyone. Go cross the picket lines and stop crying

adios

[ebbzie]

i think this will be my last read on this site ! I cant believe how weak people are, forever whining about the odd day a week strike , Jesus H you lot should have been a miner in the 1980's then you would have a right to whinge ! With people like you working for RM this job is fooked for everyone. Go cross the picket lines and stop crying

adios

[derekm]

i think this will be my last read on this site ! I cant believe how weak people are, forever whining about the odd day a week strike , Jesus H you lot should have been a miner in the 1980's then you would have a right to whinge ! With people like you working for RM this job is fooked for everyone. Go cross the picket lines and stop crying

adios

Well said mate