CWU: personal observations / thoughts

[stevejm]

But it goes beyond that. There must be thousands of daily conversations everyday between staff and managers regarding workloads and those who simply want to work to their time which can lead to potential conduct issues and that is something which the Union desperately need to look into, especially with extended deliveries and everything else that we are tasked to do. COMs are trained up to try and coerce/force staff into taking the work and some of them simply won't take no for answer even if it means we are forced to do overtime; and that to me is wrong. Whenever managers need support and advice they ring up HR and they give them advice on what to do and how to proceed on the spot - is there anyway that the CWU could do the same for its members?? It's clear that just relying on your unit rep isn't always viable. Partly, because some of them have opted for the good life and have decided to work more in line with the managers for their own ends and partly because in many offices there just isn't a rep available when you want one. if you really want the trust and the backing of its members the Union should always be there for them 24/7 in my view.

And if it isn't there for its members, what is the point of belonging to a trade union in the first place?

Great post!!!!!!!!

But really, how complicated is it to finally lay out the legal position regards working to your time? I think it was either Filthy Bloke or Dirty Harry (lol at the names) who laid out the conversation they have with their lino or COM - I can't deliver everything in my frame in my scheduled hours. I'm not working overtime. What do you want me to do - leave some in the frame or take it all out and bring some back?

A reasonable manager will tell you which of the two to do. An unreasonable manager will say that you are legally obliged to work some overtime - what are the legalities of this? How much is 'some' overtime?

How difficult is it for the Union to produce a definitive stance on this and then inform their reps to back all members to the hilt?

[Constance]

I think the comments are fair regarding CWU performance in this dispute. They were dragged into this with the 2% pay rise and failed to see the chess game RM played. RM already knew what the CWU would do. The CWU decision for a day off here and there was absolutely the wrong move.The CWU legal team were poor in this dispute and either didn't know their limitations or Dave and the Exec failed to get decent legal advice before every move they made. You'd have thought they'd have learnt from the Comms debacle encouraging people to vote yes in the workplace about 4 years ago. Royal Mail were on that like lighting. Yes Dave had some good public appearances but my god, he says the same stock phrases EVERY time he speaks. Boring people don't make good leaders. He can't read the mood of the workers he represents. And Andy Furey? what he brought to the table I've no idea. Certainly no leadership qualities because all he does is repeat exactly what Dave has just said. Drives me to sleep. We know what Dave earns what about Andy Furey?

[postslippete]

A reasonable manager will tell you which of the two to do. An unreasonable manager will say that you are legally obliged to work some overtime - what are the legalities of this? How much is 'some' overtime?

How difficult is it for the Union to produce a definitive stance on this and then inform their reps to back all members to the hilt?

In my experience, an unreasonable manager will come back to you and then try and apply some more pressure on you to take the work. For example, its only 9am...there isn't many parcels..so and so has no problem with it....there are gaps in your frame... etc etc You do get a few that won't take no for answer because they are pressured to clear so I just have to say "look, I will take everything out with me and I will give you a call at say 1pm to tell you where I'm at and what work you want me to bring back".

All I'm saying is that this really shouldn't be happening and its why so many people get stressed out with the job, its why many of them opt to come in early, forfeit their breaks and rush round to get finish. Everything that this Union really don't want them to do!!

[anini]

The Tories have made sure shareholder profit is never challenged. That is the bottom line. We all knew this was coming. They've given us a grace period until the dpr network is up and running and they will restart where they left off.
Could the CWU have done things differently?
Yes... In hindsight yes, but ultimately we are swimming against the tide.
Show me any privatised industry that had its T&C protected after privatisation.
Show me any privatised industry that has had better renumeration after privatisation.
Only essential industries have had decent pay deals but that will now change due to the minimum service requirements.
YOU NEED POLITICAL POWER TO STAND A CHANCE
Blame the 14 million people who voted Tory at the last election. There are a lot of people on this site that voted against their own financial interest in 2017 and 2019.
If Labour had won we would have had a re-nationalised RM and been in a much better position. But yeah, at least we got hard Brexit done .
The CWU did their best given the circumstances.
We collectively lost on the political arena and there is no denying it.
Get over it. The Tories are at you

[Postie93]

Too much nit picking on the CWU Executive and reading too much into this strike campaign/settlement.

It was a very difficult and complex set of negotiations with a bull headed Simon Thompson and tough Royal Mail negotiators, armed with elite lawyers by their sides.

This Deal is actually a victory for the CWU who forced Royal Mail to compromise in the end
and get rid of Thompson who was the deal breaker.

We got an 8% pay rise, 2% + 6% this year, £1,400 plus lump sum, back dated pay to April and job security and safeguarded terms and conditions.

How anybody can say this is a defeat for the CWU beggars belief.

Not only is this a defeat for the union, it's a total calamitous SURRENDER of it's members terms and conditions, and Ward & Furey unashamedly threw everyone of us under the bus...and told us to ne grateful????

[Tman]

If Labour had won we would have had a re-nationalised RM

Dream on...

[anini]

It's an opportunity missed. Not a dream. Starmer is against renationalsation so we'll never know alternative histories.

[enskied]

The postal service is no longer recognised or needed.

I believe you are wrong . My own family circumstances prove it.

Bowel cancer, arrhythmia, stroke.

All done by letter. You think email is more efficient.

[Nickvilla20]

There is no reason to renationalise Royal Mail. The only thing we do that no one else does is deliver letters and they are in decline.

Even if we were publicly owned the cuts would still be as bad.

[anini]

I disagree. The plan was to join it with Post office and add a post office bank. No shareholder dividends. We could have been in a better place. Alas, we'll never know.

[Denman17]

The union as a force in the workplace have lost any power it had, they allowed themselves to be bullied into agreeing something they had already said they wouldn't, and lets be real here they have completely u-turned to save themselves and tossed us to the wolves.
Don't know if any of what RM told them was true, personally i doubt it, but they folded quicker than superman on laundry day.
Thing is they had one of the biggest yes votes in history and wouldn't use it.
Their communication is abysmal in this modern era, the least you can do when you say we will talk to you on a certain date is to talk to them on said date.
I am not sure how the union get the workplace back on side, how can you trust them after this, any calls for support will probably just get the apathy they wanted for the agreement vote and they will fall flat on their face.
I am nearing the end of my worklife but i fear for those i leave behind and their future.
The union need to change, they need a top to bottom clear out and they need it now.
Just like governments who have been in power too long they become lazy, corrupt and complacent that's why we vote them out eventually.

Exactly.

[CamPostie]

One obvious thing to point out here - even if an agreement has been reached, the CWU’s job for this deal isn’t over.

They need to be watching and listening to everything RM are doing and making sure they stick to their side of the agreement.

They should also be making plans for what the strategy is if RM break the agreement.

I would also suggest that in a few months time the CWU beginning angling for either an increase in the 2% for 2024 OR an additional lump sum payment.

[hans solo]

Just like they have done the past 10 years
I don’t think so
If you haven’t got a strong office your f****d
Nationally they only care about London and south east

[Binsey]

100%

One Branch especially.

[rubberbond]

The cwu really needs to up its game. It’s a totally different company they are taking on who’s only interest is shareholders. they brought in union busting lawyers to destroy it and the workforce’s will to strike. With the amount of subs coming in it’s time they employed top lawyers and people who know how to fight back against the attacks that came our way.

They haven’t brought in union busting layers at all, they’ve just used and understood the legislation correctly , whereas the union failed to do so , therefore failing us as members.