LTB 080/23 - ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTE - NATIONAL ONLINE BRIEFING

[POSTMAN]

LTB 080/23 - ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTE - NATIONAL ONLINE BRIEFING
No: 80/23

24th March 2023

TO: ALL POSTAL BRANCHES

Dear Colleague

ROYAL MAIL GROUP DISPUTE – NATIONAL ONLINE BRIEFING

Branches and Representatives will be aware that since the Joint Statement was concluded there has been an intense series of negotiations with RMG to reach an agreement.

Talks have been difficult and protracted, although some progress has been made; however, this is insufficient to conclude an agreement. The Postal Executive have met this evening and are supportive of the Officers’ rejection of the current position advanced by RMG. The Postal Executive have also taken an in principle decision in relation to strike action. It is therefore crucial we make significant progress in the coming days.

To reach an agreement, there has to be a genuine change in attitudes from management in the Field in relation to both Executive Action and the continued attacks via conduct and suspensions on our members and Representatives which must cease.

In view of the position facing the Union and its members in RMG, a national online briefing of Branches and Representatives will be held at 11:30 hours tomorrow (Saturday 25th March). This will provide our activists with an opportunity to hear an overview of the negotiations as well as the in-principle decision taken by the Postal Executive to take further strike action after Easter.

Whilst acknowledging this is exceptionally short notice, it is vitally important that as many Branches and Representatives as possible are in attendance – the link to join will be sent via our Communications Department.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Andy Furey
A/Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

[DGH]

Hmm. 1130 on a Saturday. Many DO reps will be out on delivery . . . Surely late afternoon would be better?

[derricksmyth]

Hmm. 1130 on a Saturday. Many DO reps will be out on delivery . . . Surely late afternoon would be better?

That's what I was thinking!

[ted_e_bear]

Hmm. 1130 on a Saturday. Many DO reps will be out on delivery . . . Surely late afternoon would be better?

That's what I was thinking!

Same here, surely they know we work Saturdays.

[11aaa222]

anyone care to share and post the link so we can all get an insight into the negotiations?? as we are information and detail starved !

[toonshola]

Why does this have to be a secret club just for the reps? Just give us all a proper live update tomorrow after 4pm. It’s the least we deserve.

[Postmanham]

Totally agree. Looks more and more like top brass in union trying to save their own necks

[CamPostie]

Why does this have to be a secret club just for the reps? Just give us all a proper live update tomorrow after 4pm. It’s the least we deserve.

It’s a standard practice of cascading.

Inform reps so they know and are able to answer questions they may get from members to them after it’s fully briefed.

[lobsterhands]

Well are office rep who also covers the area aswell who told everyone not to participate in the preference exercise Back in September/October ( I can’t remember when to be honest ) low and behold finishes tomorrow, guess what yep he took it. The office rep who currently was too replace him has thrown the towel in already he’s leaving ( already )
We have no representation at our office as from Monday with over 100 staff working there. Before anyone suggest the union line of any other union phone number ( inflatable dartboard comes too mind )
Stay strong everyone.., this is going to be one hell of a rollercoaster.

[claystones]

Striking after Easter is a joke the CWU should have announced dates last week (14 days notice) we could have announced Thursday before good friday and the saturday after plus the tuesday after easter monday which would have given us a nice break poor again by our union

[1617mel]

OK, you know I've said this before all at RM, except the posties have had a settlement pay and conditions deal.Im not sure what RM want from us for them to provide a deal agreement for our pay and conditions, NOW as before , if there is no agreement in the forthcoming days, I will be on the PICKET LINE when the time comes ,along with the rest off us 115,000 people fighting for their future.

[rambo1]

Why does this have to be a secret club just for the reps? Just give us all a proper live update tomorrow after 4pm. It’s the least we deserve.

Exactly. Well said.

[rambo1]

OK, you know I've said this before all at RM, except the posties have had a settlement pay and conditions deal.Im not sure what RM want from us for them to provide a deal agreement for our pay and conditions, NOW as before , if there is no agreement in the forthcoming days, I will be on the PICKET LINE when the time comes ,along with the rest off us 115,000 people fighting for their future.

Sorry if it's bursting your bubble but I seriously doubt 115000 people will be on strike this time. Many people have lost more money than any pay deal, if there is to be such a thing, could even recoup in 2 yrs. The best thing people can do is just go to work bang on time, do the job right, no corner cutting, then finish bang on time. Let royal mail deal with the results of that action. It makes for a much less tiring and stressful day.

[rambo1]

Striking will do no good whatsoever if the past yr is anything to go by. All it's done is weaken the companies finances further thereby making any deal on increased pay or less change impossible. Thompson and his cronies in parliament have just made it worse too, as now the general public know what a shocking service we are providing, the regulator will probably have to hand out big fines.
I suggest anyone who thinks RM is feeding BS to them about the financial state of the company should just look around. Open your eyes, look at the state of people's uniform who can't get replacements, the state of our vans. Does this company look like it's thriving? Yes they paid a dividend last yr in response to the profit we made the yr before, that's what private companies do. It's compensation for risking your capital buying shares in a business. Also Thompson's bonus was linked to shareholder value, so that was maybe a deciding factor too. Anyone holding shares now can say goodbye to future divis for the foreseeable .
I think it's entirely possible that the company will bring the administrators in if we go to strike. An alternative is a cash raise via a rights issue but shareholders would never go for that without a total remodel of our business including ditching the USO and along with it 30-40,000 jobs. This would probably be the best way forward for the company but as of yet, the USO stands.
There is literally no good way out of this to make everyone happy. That's why it's still going on. My gut feeling is it will carry on until there is no business.

[dakka86]

I think realistically this is the last throw of the dice by CWU they should of done it much earlier but it is what it is.
Striking will achieve nothing there blatantly failing the USO everyday to save money so what will striking do save them more money

500 years of a company destroyed in no time at all. This has been the plan all along give the CWU offers they know they can’t accept. Buying time to get the ultimate goal the complete break up Royal Mail

Privatisation handbook