So maybe ST wants to announce on 17th November half year results they there is an agreement with the CWU and the dispute is resolved and that the agreement will help turn around the company finances.
Is it realistic for there to be an agreement finalised by the 17th given thats 11 days away and the membership would still need to be balloted on it?
I can see a scenario where a deal is agreed before the 17th and recommended to accept by CWU negotiators as another 'Deal of the Century'
'It's the best we're going to get' even if it can't be put before the membership to vote on by 17th. That way Si gets to give the good
news to the shareholders. And if then the membership was to subsequently reject it in a vote then where does that leave us? Up s**t creek!
If ST said to shareholders that ‘we have a deal with the CWU’ he would be obliged to state that it is subject to a vote by the membership, and the more savvy investors would know there is always a possibility - however small - that it could be rejected.
Martin.
A question for you.
Let’s assume a deal is concluded on 16th November.
Thompson tells shareholders everything’s errrm… sorted. We send out ballot papers, closing date 3 weeks later: 7th December.
A ‘NO’ vote is returned.
Even if the CWU served notice of a new strike date or dates, the earliest action could be would be 21st December. Any delay deciding what to do after a no vote would mean the chance to hit RM before Christmas would disappear.
Now I’m assuming the ballot-counters are not allowed to leak how the votes are going during the counting process? So if things aren’t going well, there is no opportunity to set a strike date earlier than late-December?
All getting way ahead of ourselves here. There’s going to be no deal RM are leading the union up the garden path. Royal Mail added there own lovely little question and answer to last Fridays joint statement saying there is no extra money and the offer is final and the best they can do. With that in mind just what these “intense talks” are about is anyones guess. Either the union are giving us false hope or they are completely delusional.
Wandle if the officers bring back an agreement it would first go to the 17 voting members of the Postal Executive who can reject it , accept it or demand amendments to the agreement.
Only if the Postal Executive agree will it then go to an individual member ballot.
There are Postal Executive elections next year so everyone on the PEC will be ensuring it is going to be a good agreement which members and Branch’s will support.
In my 38 years of being in Royal Mail there has only been one major agreement which has been rejected by an individual member ballot and that was the way forward and I was part of the campaign to reject it.
A few months later with a few minor amendments and with a new section added the working time directive the members voted it through on the second ballot.
If the Postal Executive do endorse a negotiators agreement then there will be no strikes until after an individual members ballot and any agreement would need a communication program with Branch’s and the members before the ballot.
However we are a long way at the moment from any agreement.
To be fair, the PEC just rubber stamp everything that comes their way now. That is either disputes or policy.
You only have to look at the pigs ear with the Agenda for Growth and the issues that is causing with the current dispute. The Way Forward was 22 years ago and under a different administration.
Martin, I was one of those who voted against the Way Forward agreement. If memory serves me correctly, that was despite a recommendation to accept.
With the way the law stands, surely it would make sense after starting a ballot on any agreement reached, to give formal notice to Royal Mail of a strike date say 2 days after the ballot closes.
Both options are then covered.
If people vote to accept, cancel the strike.
If members vote no, we move immediately to a strike
If there is no deal agreed by early next week, then the CWU will look stupid and members will be angry with them which is exactly what RM want so yeah there is a very good chance RM are leading CWU up the garden path in order to turn people against CWU. It doesn't make sense how CWU stated how much more sincere RM seemed to be on Friday, only for RM to release a statement stating there will be no improved pay offer
As one of the PE who was not on there when the Agenda for Growth Agreement was agreed but was when the Pathway to Change Agreement was , can assure you that is not how the PE works.
You might see the agreements which have been endorsed, you never see the ones which have been rejected and there have been quite a few in the last year.
Martin,
Do you know if the CWU are still fighting for the the reduction in hours for FT to 35 hours (pathway to change), is it a red line or has Royal mail completely abandoned it with the potential new recruitment at 40 hours.
Martin Walsh So with regards to 1 to 1 Meetings what would happen if for example My MC Shift Manager decided to have 1 to 1s with a group of staff disguised as those it was to be a Work Time Briefing and then handed us our Individual forms after the fact. I would go to my Unit Rep but as he is currently on holiday and his Rep is not being allowed to replace what is my course of action and does this not show that Royal Mail have no intention of honouring any agreement struck at this point and everything they want will be enforced by Executive Action.
Martin Walsh So with regards to 1 to 1 Meetings what would happen if for example My MC Shift Manager decided to have 1 to 1s with a group of staff disguised as those it was to be a Work Time Briefing and then handed us our Individual forms after the fact. I would go to my Unit Rep but as he is currently on holiday and his Rep is not being allowed to replace what is my course of action and does this not show that Royal Mail have no intention of honouring any agreement struck at this point and everything they want will be enforced by Executive Action.
It's shocking what RM are doing, on the hand they are releasing a joint statement claiming they in "intensive" talks with the CWU but on the other intend continuing with the 1to1 talks, seemingly, on the basis that all the changes will eventually be enforced. Regardless I'd imagine most employees know what the changes entail so I'm not sure what RM will gain by telling us in a 1to1.
Martin Walsh So with regards to 1 to 1 Meetings what would happen if for example My MC Shift Manager decided to have 1 to 1s with a group of staff disguised as those it was to be a Work Time Briefing and then handed us our Individual forms after the fact. I would go to my Unit Rep but as he is currently on holiday and his Rep is not being allowed to replace what is my course of action and does this not show that Royal Mail have no intention of honouring any agreement struck at this point and everything they want will be enforced by Executive Action.
It's shocking what RM are doing, on the hand they are releasing a joint statement claiming they in "intensive" talks with the CWU but on the other intend continuing with the 1to1 talks, seemingly, on the basis that all the changes will eventually be enforced. Regardless I'd imagine most employees know what the changes entail so I'm not sure what RM will gain by telling us in a 1to1.
Probably looking for what our reactions would be and how many staff they may have too recruit!
So what can they do if, on being asked to attend a 1to1 interview, you just say ‘no thanks, I’m doing my job today’. Conduct Code you for ‘present at point of duty’ ?
