So what exactly does the joint statement mean?

[k979aaa]

Look if they don't comply with the statement your rep should be on to head office of CWU. If you don't have a rep get one and do the same. Then there is the rule 13 ballot and take it from there.

Why is the onus being put on unpaid reps to challenge RM in an already tense and stressful situation.

Dave Ward and Andy Fury get paid the big bucks, they should be taking charge and threatening/calling strikes.

This joint statement was a load of tripe just meant to change the face of the dispute from being the CWU HQs problem to out on the shop floor.

So you expect dave and andy to go around the whole country putting out fires in offices and be at the table getting a deal. Be realistic here we just have to tell it's not working and being imposed executive action and a RULE 13 ballot will ensue.

[sixfoottwo]

Look if they don't comply with the statement your rep should be on to head office of CWU. If you don't have a rep get one and do the same. Then there is the rule 13 ballot and take it from there.

Why is the onus being put on unpaid reps to challenge RM in an already tense and stressful situation.

Dave Ward and Andy Fury get paid the big bucks, they should be taking charge and threatening/calling strikes.

This joint statement was a load of tripe just meant to change the face of the dispute from being the CWU HQs problem to out on the shop floor.

I've sensed a change from the Dave Ward 'we'll strike til next Christmas' rhetoric to the Dave Ward who looks to be now relying on Brendon Barber to get him out of this god awful hole.

I just don't see how they can go from nowhere as we are now, to all the issues being resolved in this dispute by next Sunday.

Exactly, not a chance this will happen they can't even stop EA even after the joint statement managers are still forcing it through heard our Com (cock) is on a 10k bonus to get it through by mid March.

[datasaint]

Look if they don't comply with the statement your rep should be on to head office of CWU. If you don't have a rep get one and do the same. Then there is the rule 13 ballot and take it from there.

Why is the onus being put on unpaid reps to challenge RM in an already tense and stressful situation.

Dave Ward and Andy Fury get paid the big bucks, they should be taking charge and threatening/calling strikes.

This joint statement was a load of tripe just meant to change the face of the dispute from being the CWU HQs problem to out on the shop floor.

I've sensed a change from the Dave Ward 'we'll strike til next Christmas' rhetoric to the Dave Ward who looks to be now relying on Brendon Barber to get him out of this god awful hole.

I just don't see how they can go from nowhere as we are now, to all the issues being resolved in this dispute by next Sunday.

I think the company is going belly up, and the CWU don't want to be seen as the culprit, so they want to make friends again and have a deal in place before the new financial year, so when the massive losses are reported it won't look as bad.

That's my take on why they are trying to rush it through now.

[theargyspy]

Same in our office, managers thought the joint statement a huge joke, still bringing in all the changes on Monday....there should be a PEC meeting this afternoon and announce strike dates from 14 days time until the six month renewal

1. These revisions are designed to align hours to workload and improve productivity, recognising that there has been significant overall volume decline.

Given that the agreement allows them to improve productivity, why would all the changes be stopped from being brought in on Monday?
All revisions to be completed by the end of March.

After I have picked myself of the floor laughing, Our office is understaffed by around 70 +, most of the walks fail on a daily bases, yet on Monday they want to cut even more walks across the office, the morale of the staff is at an all time low, cutting off every day to just be told to put it back in the frame and make sure you do the cut off mail first the next day. Then to be told your losing your walk, becoming spare while all walks in the office that are left will be given 150+ calls extra from Monday. So, last minute CWU/RM release a joint statement commiting to taking a step back and with the help of the union having a fresh look at the unagreed revisions, only for the next day, Today, management, thinking the whole 'joint statement' a huge joke and bringing in the unworkable lapsing plan anyway

[hfcbkk1875]

We where told this morning that our office is complying with the joint statement and nothing will be done untill the negotiations end on the 12th .
Apparently 8 duties coming out but no one is certain as our management are keeping it to themselves for now .
At the very least our management are doing the right thing and abiding by the statement .

As for the show lastnight well I have zero sympathy for RMs financial woes .Dave talks about a possible longer term deal ...this is where we get shat on big time .
On a 3 year deal I reckon we should be looking at between 15-20% yeh I know it ain't happening.how do I come to the figure .
2% imposed plus 5% for last year
5% this year
5% next year
No chance of that from RM .
Just call the strike dates now and make it a week to start off with .
This company is rotten to the core and the next 9 days aint gonna change there outlook enough to get a deal over the line .

26years walking the walk in Scotland's capital .

[clashcityrocker]

.... and a RULE 13 ballot will ensue.

Forgive me if I am wrong but doesn't a rule 13 ballot have to be authorised by national officers.
Are they likely to grant a rule 13 ballot while we have a live national ballot?
Are they likely to grant one given the desire to have a mutually agreed end to this dispute?

[Woody Guthrie]

How many of these offices who are having revisions "forced through" have actually lodged coherent disagreements, pushed those disagreements up to divisional level and requested a Rule 13?

For those bleating about how the union should be calling more strikes... you always had the opportunity to call your own.

The day after I received a revision proposal I lodged a full disagreement over all of the unagreed changes with a three page covering letter.

Within 3 days that disagreement was at divisional level and within a week I had requested the use of a rule 13 ballot for local strike action.

Changes to start times have now been binned.
Changes to attendance patterns have now been binned.
All the changes to duty content will be reviewed with joint involvement.
The revision will still go ahead because I'm not blind and can see the drop in mail but it will look entirely different and will be a much better outcome for our members.

You can defend your own or come on here and whine about why others aren't doing enough to defend you. The union gives us the tools but if you can't be arsed using them or even forcing your rep to use them then you get what you get.

[k979aaa]

We where told this morning that our office is complying with the joint statement and nothing will be done untill the negotiations end on the 12th .
Apparently 8 duties coming out but no one is certain as our management are keeping it to themselves for now .
At the very least our management are doing the right thing and abiding by the statement .

As for the show lastnight well I have zero sympathy for RMs financial woes .Dave talks about a possible longer term deal ...this is where we get shat on big time .
On a 3 year deal I reckon we should be looking at between 15-20% yeh I know it ain't happening.how do I come to the figure .
2% imposed plus 5% for last year
5% this year
5% next year
No chance of that from RM and I haven't even looked at back dates pay .
Just call the strike dates now and make it a week to start off with .
This company is rotten to the core and the next 9 days aint gonna change there outlook enough to get a deal over the line .

26years walking the walk in Scotland's capital .

Who knows what inflation will be as to your speculation of 7% and 5% and 5% is just that but it is better than 2% and 0% and 0% so it it is just speculation. And we should not blame our union or even royalmail on the cost of living but the elected government of the time!

[Woody Guthrie]

Are they likely to grant a rule 13 ballot while we have a live national ballot?

They specifically instructed offices facing imminent executive action to use a Rule 13 and informed them that the national change ballot would cover them as far back as October.

So.... Yes.

[Martin Walsh]

I don’t normally post nowadays but some of you do need to read between the lines :

1. Royal Mail need an agreement , their finances are in the worst possible position , one if not addressed has serious consequences for everyone.

2. They need access to the 1.7 billion loan and can only achieve that by way of an agreement to resolve the dispute and to reduce costs.

3. In Royal Mail Workload and revenue has reduced but costs have gone up and therefore they want to cut costs, hence the revisions.

4. Royal Mail’s. PLC board has intervened and two non executive directors now head up the negotiations replacing Simon Thompson in the talks to try and get an agreement.

5. When the CWU announced the new ballot result we made it clear that in order for us to try and negotiate an agreement there had to be a pause of executive action and an independent process for reps and members who have faced conduct for cases related to the dispute.

6. The joint statement gives a commitment to an independent review into all conduct cases , suspensions and dismissals relating to the dispute. This had been refused previously. Remember Simon Thompson confirmed at the select committee that a three tier process had been set up in handling cases. We believe there has been interference in cases , suspensions and dismissals which is outside of the agreed conduct code and is outside of natural justice.

7. These revisions which have not been introduced already will noe be subject to intense talks which has a two week escalation process. Whilst Royal Mail will have their target aspiration , the CWU can also engage on the revision job reduction number , the change itself and wether it will achieve , quality , USO and whether there will be a resolution to surplus issues.

8. Unless there has been a mail centre change or their is a lack of workload no start times will be changed unless agreed and only by a maximum of 30 minutes.

9. No attendances patterns will be changed unless agreed.

10. There will be a review into all executive action imposed in units , based on quality , USO , MTSF and start times. No if your achieving quality , USO and efficiency then don’t expect any change. However where you have quality , USO , surplus issues , DPR or start times the joint statement allows for your unit to review it. A resign can also take place in line with the normal agreement.

11. There is huge tensions in the field. A lack of trust at all levels and remember it will take time for those managers who have been told for months it is their business to run and they don’t need the union to change and suddenly abide by mere words.

12 Royal Mail and the CWU will now enter into intense talks to resolve all issues in our dispute. That is pay and change.

So those calling for action or those criticising the JS , it is important you understand the context which it has been agreed under.

The next week will be the most important in the dispute yet.

[norris9]

After I have picked myself of the floor laughing, Our office is understaffed by around 70 +, most of the walks fail on a daily bases, yet on Monday they want to cut even more walks across the office, the morale of the staff is at an all time low, cutting off every day to just be told to put it back in the frame and make sure you do the cut off mail first the next day. Then to be told your losing your walk, becoming spare while all walks in the office that are left will be given 150+ calls extra from Monday. So, last minute CWU/RM release a joint statement commiting to taking a step back and with the help of the union having a fresh look at the unagreed revisions, only for the next day, Today, management, thinking the whole 'joint statement' a huge joke and bringing in the unworkable lapsing plan anyway

Do you currently have a union rep at your office?

He/she needs to get onto Dave Ward ASAP.....


Looks like we are going to have to strike. Royal Mail aren't serious about that joint statement based on what you have just written.

Royal Mail can shove it up their......

Time to strike again!!!!

[norris9]

3. In Royal Mail Workload and revenue has reduced but costs have gone up and therefore they want to cut costs, hence the revisions.

Do we have any figures of number of employees at Royal Mail year by year, surely the numbers are down dramatically. Our office is 30% understaffed and has been for 2 years. They must have been saving a fortune on having a purposefully depleted workforce.

[Poppyellie69]

Most issues have been sorted,big dave and Andy have just buttered us up from what's coming, pathetic pay rise in a week that saw tesco n m @ s reward their workers with a 7% pay rise we have to do with 3% !!!

[Kenfandango]

The problem the CWU faces is that if they call a strike (of any length) when the revisions are all going live, the inevitable USO failure that ensues will be blamed entirely on IA and not the shambolic, rushed revision.
If we strike in April, come June when it's much quieter RM will say "look the revisions are all totally manageable and we should add absorption onto all the routes until December"

[clashcityrocker]

They specifically instructed offices facing imminent executive action to use a Rule 13 and informed them that the national change ballot would cover them as far back as October.

So.... Yes.

Where agreement cannot be reached by Friday 10th March 2023 the Unit will move into a fast-track escalation process outlined in section 8 of this joint statement.

So they are now saying there will be a fast-track solution to any disagreement.
Where will a rule 13 ballot be sanctioned?

Agreement by next Friday.