The CWU and the 'Warchest' - explanation needed

[LouBarlow]

It's not all a illusion, your contract of employment is just that, what they can or cannot do within this contract i would imagine is stipulated in said contract or when being negotiated with your representative (Union) during pay negotiations.
No agreement means your current contract is still valid in my opinion.
A yes vote will mean a change in your contract to allow for the new terms.
Don't know or think that in layman's terms its any more complicated than that.
Although i am sure someone will correct me.

How is signing this agreement any more likely to lead to Sunday working for those of us on old contracts, than the previous agreements we have all signed before after disputes? The agreement states it will remain voluntary. If what Woody and Acca are saying is true, then they can’t change that aspect. I remain unconvinced however, but we will likely find out in the future.

[scotchy1962]

What makes it complicated is changes that are not specifically covered in your contract.

If just as an example your contract simply says you will work 37hrs any 5 days from 6, Monday to Saturday between the hours of 6am and 6pm changes to start times would only be contractual if they moved you outside of those terms.

I think if Royal Mail were to force through changes to start times without an agreement they would probably do it in smaller incremental steps, probably 30 mins at a time would be enough to be considered reasonable by an employment tribunal but they could easily do that every six months or so until they get us to where they want us.

Possibly right Woody, 30 mins would be acceptable to a tribunal. The changing every 6 months over a sustained period might not as to change by 3 hours would mean 3 years of changes twice a year.
That might get seen differently as its a sustained constant change, but who knows certainly not me.