Again, this is looking at things from the inside inside the business. The mentality that a dispute can only be won by causing a backlog during an annual event, is misguided. If this was the case RM wouldn't even be talking now, let alone making concessions. They'd be doing whatever they like, however they want to, in full knowledge they've 11mths till the next event. Instead they're still negotiating and clearly trying to reach some sort of compromise.
The union are treading a fine line of keeping the longevity of this dispute sustainable, for many of the members who aren't in the position to readily 'up the ante'.
I think we can agree that RM have no threat from competition in the letter's business because no other company delivery's to every house.
The threat is from parcels. If Rm can assure companies that they will cover strikes, as they did over a much busier Christmas period, then the argument you put forward isn't likely.
Did they fail over Christmas with tracked packet's? Not sure about other offices but Tracked were prioritized over everything other than specials. So when we strike they just pay agency to cover.
If I had a contract with Rm & they honoured the packets delivery over that hectic Christmas period, I'd keep doing business, cause we won't be as busy for the upcoming months.
It's the small businesses that don't use tracked that are suffering & switching to other courier's.
Every customer that does that, is lost custom, regardless of whether they come back or not. What sort of business is going to continually take these hits, week after week, month after month?
While I agree you, we need to remember that RM are trying to throw away 40% of their income to concentrate solely on packets. Lost custom doesn’t seem as important as breaking the union
I think that's the fine line RM are walking. Union busting/financial damage. Unless u believe they have the £1.7b war chest, then there's going to a breaking point, one way or another.
Again, this is looking at things from the inside inside the business. The mentality that a dispute can only be won by causing a backlog during an annual event, is misguided. If this was the case RM wouldn't even be talking now, let alone making concessions. They'd be doing whatever they like, however they want to, in full knowledge they've 11mths till the next event. Instead they're still negotiating and clearly trying to reach some sort of compromise.
The union are treading a fine line of keeping the longevity of this dispute sustainable, for many of the members who aren't in the position to readily 'up the ante'.
I think we can agree that RM have no threat from competition in the letter's business because no other company delivery's to every house.
The threat is from parcels. If Rm can assure companies that they will cover strikes, as they did over a much busier Christmas period, then the argument you put forward isn't likely.
Did they fail over Christmas with tracked packet's? Not sure about other offices but Tracked were prioritized over everything other than specials. So when we strike they just pay agency to cover.
If I had a contract with Rm & they honoured the packets delivery over that hectic Christmas period, I'd keep doing business, cause we won't be as busy for the upcoming months.
It's the small businesses that don't use tracked that are suffering & switching to other courier's.
They may promise, and there may be customers who go for it. Personally, I find it unlikely they would be able to uphold the promise, with continuous 3 day weeks. Either way, it's not a healthy business model. It doesn't bode well for any sort of reliable service, to be continously warning of possible delays due to IA, or to be in the news every week cos your workforce are standing at the gates. I don't particularly disagree with you, with regards to backlogs, etc... Any backlog created can only exacerbate issues for RM, and create even more pressure.
They may promise, and there may be customers who go for it. Personally, I find it unlikely they would be able to uphold the promise, with continuous 3 day weeks. Either way, it's not a healthy business model. It doesn't bode well for any sort of reliable service, to be continously warning of possible delays due to IA, or to be in the news every week cos your workforce are standing at the gates. I don't particularly disagree with you, with regards to backlogs, etc... Any backlog created can only exacerbate issues for RM, and create even more pressure.
Fair point, I've been on websites that I've ordered from warning of potential delays due to Rm strikes. It's not the best, but personally I'm not too fussed if my order arrives a day or 2 late. Depends on the situation though.
I reckon Curry's cancelled cause many of their customers wanted those gifts well in time for Christmas. They probably wanted to reassure their customers their order's will be delivered on time. Now Christmas has ended that might change.
Just have to wait & see. My bet is union are gonna have to make some big concessions. We've already been told of mass revisions & later start times before any strike ballot happens. Union has said squat about it, probably cause they are powerless to it.
You said Rm have already conceded. Don't agree mate. They said no compulsory redundancies but didn't give a date to uphold that to. So they could bring in cr by July if they wanted to. The sunday allowances isn't a concession either.
Did they fail over Christmas with tracked packet's? Not sure about other offices but Tracked were prioritized over everything other than specials. So when we strike they just pay agency to cover.
They failed every strike day at our office. They also failed the specials 5 or 6 times.
They may promise, and there may be customers who go for it. Personally, I find it unlikely they would be able to uphold the promise, with continuous 3 day weeks. Either way, it's not a healthy business model. It doesn't bode well for any sort of reliable service, to be continously warning of possible delays due to IA, or to be in the news every week cos your workforce are standing at the gates. I don't particularly disagree with you, with regards to backlogs, etc... Any backlog created can only exacerbate issues for RM, and create even more pressure.
Fair point, I've been on websites that I've ordered from warning of potential delays due to Rm strikes. It's not the best, but personally I'm not too fussed if my order arrives a day or 2 late. Depends on the situation though.
I reckon Curry's cancelled cause many of their customers wanted those gifts well in time for Christmas. They probably wanted to reassure their customers their order's will be delivered on time. Now Christmas has ended that might change.
Just have to wait & see. My bet is union are gonna have to make some big concessions. We've already been told of mass revisions & later start times before any strike ballot happens. Union has said squat about it, probably cause they are powerless to it.
You said Rm have already conceded. Don't agree mate. They said no compulsory redundancies but didn't give a date to uphold that to. So they could bring in cr by July if they wanted to. The sunday allowances isn't a concession either.
I probably wasn't clear enough, I said they made concessions, in order to progress talks. They done this when they agreed the reintroduction of the pathway to change agreement, and to bring the union into the revision process at local level, etc... I believe RM have done this to hold off strike action till the ballot result. They'll be hoping for a 'no' vote or, at worst, a very low turnout 'yes' vote. This next ballot will, in my opinion, be what decides this dispute.
I probably wasn't clear enough, I said they made concessions, in order to progress talks. They done this when they agreed the reintroduction of the pathway to change agreement, and to bring the union into the revision process at local level, etc... I believe RM have done this to hold off strike action till the ballot result. They'll be hoping for a 'no' vote or, at worst, a very low turnout 'yes' vote. This next ballot will, in my opinion, be what decides this dispute.
Your probably right mate, the next vote may decide it. It seems a foregone conclusion to me though cause they've sacrificed alot of revenue during Christmas. If they buckle now it will be a complete balls up on there part. The board will be thinking "we lost all of that revenue for what?"
How can you still be optimistic when they have already announced the time changes & mass revisions? You really think there's still a win to be had? Maybe we can get a win on pay if we're lucky. The actual job is done for though.
I want to see a no strings inflation payrise,no changes to sick pay ,no later finish than 3pm,if these 3 red lines are not met i can not and will not vote for a deal.
I probably wasn't clear enough, I said they made concessions, in order to progress talks. They done this when they agreed the reintroduction of the pathway to change agreement, and to bring the union into the revision process at local level, etc... I believe RM have done this to hold off strike action till the ballot result. They'll be hoping for a 'no' vote or, at worst, a very low turnout 'yes' vote. This next ballot will, in my opinion, be what decides this dispute.
Your probably right mate, the next vote may decide it. It seems a foregone conclusion to me though cause they've sacrificed alot of revenue during Christmas. If they buckle now it will be a complete balls up on there part. The board will be thinking "we lost all of that revenue for what?"
How can you still be optimistic when they have already announced the time changes & mass revisions? You really think there's still a win to be had? Maybe we can get a win on pay if we're lucky. The actual job is done for though.
In my office, up to now, the revision has just been a bit of paper on a board. When the it was pinned up, there was mass hysteria in the office, I can't help think that was it's purpose.The one to one interviews were suspended when as soon as talks restarted. The revision plan has been taken down, as it's now being re-revised, with CWU input... I assume, I don't know, no one knows anything. I can't speak for all offices, I don't know how progressed others are in this process. For me there is a big difference from announcing plans to actually implementing them. Again, though, I'll say I don't know what has actually been implemented elsewhere along with people who've actually been VR'd. I know of none.
I want to see a no strings inflation payrise,no changes to sick pay ,no later finish than 3pm,if these 3 red lines are not met i can not and will not vote for a deal.