Who’s pulling the strings (Is it the UK Government)?

[CamPostie]

I have kept finding it curious how a lot of the details surrounding the RMT strikes seem to following a similar pattern to ours.

Another thing I found odd was Rishi Sunsk’s comments at PMQ’s a few weeks back on our situation and how “the public couldn’t afford” inflation matched pay rises - because of course workers pay wouldn’t effect the treasury.

HOWEVER these two things got me thinking - I believe the government still holds the quite considerable liability for the Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme.

My understanding is the pension fund is a ‘unfunded’ defined benefit scheme - meaning that money isn’t ring fenced within the scheme, pensions and death benefits are just paid out of government funds as and when needed - on a final salary style basis (the gold standard for pensions that’s no longer being used these days because it’s been found to be unaffordable).

The last set of accounts (March 22) for the fund suggest the schemes liabilities were around £3 billion.

Now of course for those who are in the scheme and still working for Royal Mail - and I can imagine it’s a significant number - an inflation matched pay rise would be a bit of a headache for the government because not only would it inflate the governments liability - chances are those workers are pretty close to retirement too, so it would also need to start paying out that liability soon too - not the ideal situation for a government that has already racked up a huge deficit.

So perhaps Rishi did not ‘misspeak’ as we thought he did - because I’m sure he knew Royal Mail is a private company.

But maybe he did ‘misspeak’ by inadvertently pointing to it being his own government that is one of the influential parties that is stopping an agreement being reached?!?

Do I add that the government possibly has a similar tricky situation in terms of the railways pension schemes - because whilst it doesn’t have quite the same direct liability as above - if the private companies fail, the government would end up having to pick up the tab.

Oh and it’s also interesting that Mike Lynch has been publicly calling out the government during the RMT’s negotiations given he was having a previous director of the Railway Pension Scheme.

Thoughts?

[Binsey]

Yes 100%

Problem, Reaction, Solution…

[Acca Dacca]

If it was just pay and govt wanting inflation to come down that was the issue then you could make the connection but the issue isnt pay - its what RM wants in return for the 9%

That has no bearing on the government here nor there - why do they care if we are or arent working till 6pm etc?

Ward has already said he would agree 9% backdated and RM have said they would give close to that, just not backdated and only if we agree to the changes - so the argument that we are where we are because the government dont want us getting a payrise close to inflation because it will keep inflation high doesnt wash. If that was the case 2% is the most that would ever have been offered.

The changes are now the key issue - and the government has no skin in the teeth when it comes to them.

[funkflex55]

May well be correct, to add, there may also be influence due to 2 more factors.
When the company eventually gets split up or collapses, the letters will end up in government hands and that will need employees. Obviously the lowest they can pay the better they'll see it.
And, the government repeatedly warns that pay rises increase inflation further so there's pressure on all big companies to stop this. Not that I've ever seen evidence of this.
It's a coordinated reduction of living standards being forced upon the population. I remember documents about the great reset at the very start of the pandemic. It was called a conspiracy then but is it?

[Binsey]

Well if it wasn’t they wouldn’t be drafting Emergency Draconian Anti Trade Union laws!

There all part of the same Managerial Class especially Hunt one of the most dangerous people here in the UK.

[RobertT]

As of the last report and accounts(2021/22), the RMSPS has liabilities of £50.9 Billion.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... ssible.pdf

[Slim2none]

I've said it before....
If you think there seems to be similarities between the RM & RMT disputes then you need look no further than who is involved at the highest level in both of them.
Ladies & Gentlemen, Keith Williams.

I know some will say it's a conspiracy theory. But the facts are the facts. The man has form for meddling in government policy.

[scoobydo79]

I've said it before....
If you think there seems to be similarities between the RM & RMT disputes then you need look no further than who is involved at the highest level in both of them.
Ladies & Gentlemen, Keith Williams.

I know some will say it's a conspiracy theory. But the facts are the facts. The man has form for meddling in government policy.

Definitely. Also let’s not forget British Airways too. New starters on inferior contracts. Self funding pay rise etc the similarities are all in there for you to see.