royalwud

[royalwud]

Back in the union

[asbru]

I'd say most people know that our top men buckled just when we were in the strongest of positions. No doubt we could have got a better deal out of the strength we showed. But you also have to ask yourself, what would our jobs be like with no union? I know I wouldn't be working for Royal Mail if the pay and conditions were anything like our so-called competitors. At least with a union we have a chance of stopping cuts in our pay and changes in our terms and conditions that otherwise we'd just have to take on the chin. Whilst in the union you can make your votes count and replace people that perhaps value their future political careers ahead of the people they're supposed to be representing.

[jacee]

YERR THATS RIGHT , IV JUST GIVEN MI SELF A £2.80 A WEEK PAY RISE,
IV COME OUT OF THE UNION AND FEEL GREAT FOR IT,
8 DAYS STRIKE FOR WHAT ????
CAN ANNY ONE TELL ME WHAT WE GOT OUT OF IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ILL TELL YOU NOTHING

Here's a suggestion for you. Spend the money you save on some spelling lessons so that when you lose your job because you have no union representation, you won't look such a prat when you fill in your application to work at Burger King.

[DirtyHarry]

YERR THATS RIGHT , IV JUST GIVEN MI SELF A £2.80 A WEEK PAY RISE,
IV COME OUT OF THE UNION AND FEEL GREAT FOR IT,
8 DAYS STRIKE FOR WHAT ????
CAN ANNY ONE TELL ME WHAT WE GOT OUT OF IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ILL TELL YOU NOTHING

Now, unless you become a DOM's plaything, you're fair game for any amount of shite a manager might want to throw at you simply because he doesn't
like your face.

Let's hope the princely sum of £2.80p brings you much happiness.

[royalwud]

ARE COME ON NOW,
WHY GO TO BURGER KING WHEN YOU CAN STAND ON A PICKET LINE AND
GET A BACAN COB OFF YOUR UNION,
IS THAT WORTH £145.00 A YEAR,


ASK YOUR SELFS

[TrueBlueTerrier]

ARE COME ON NOW,
WHY GO TO BURGER KING WHEN YOU CAN STAND ON A PICKET LINE AND
GET A BACAN COB OFF YOUR UNION,
IS THAT WORTH £145.00 A YEAR,


ASK YOUR SELFS

You may be angry and upset with the Union that is your right. But do you have too SHOUT - Please turn off your Caps Lock it makes posts easier to read, even those with spelling mistakes. Thanks very much.

[royalwud]

Well i may not be able to spell very well but im the one thats £145 a year

better offf



woooooppppssss has off got 2 or 3 fff s

[royalwud]

Thort so
you all lost for words
as you know im right

[Vulcan]

YERR THATS RIGHT , IV JUST GIVEN MI SELF A £2.80 A WEEK PAY RISE,
IV COME OUT OF THE UNION AND FEEL GREAT FOR IT,
8 DAYS STRIKE FOR WHAT ????
CAN ANNY ONE TELL ME WHAT WE GOT OUT OF IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ILL TELL YOU NOTHING

1.You're still being paid for your D2D's, RM wanted ti increase number of D2D's with no increase in money!!!
2.Grandfather rights for Early Start Allowance, RM wanted later starts to be able to remove that allowance. i.e. PAY CUT!!!!!!
3.Last payrise & lump sum, RM originally said their was no money in the pot.
4.The lump sum payment was due to you anyway, remember how RM suddenly found the extra £millions Posties had saved RM.

That's only 4 things, there are probably more, but seeing as I retired last July I'm not up to date as other posters on here, I'm sure they will tell you more.
Hope you are Squeaky clean & good , hope you NEVER need representation against Dictatorial management decisions when they find out you're not in the UNION. Enjoy your £145.

[Dynamo 2]

royalwud, why do you have to shout? ( turn your caps off.)

You did'nt have to choose Burger King or the picket during the strike action, most pickets had bar-b-q's on the go!

You may not think the Union is value for money, and that's your choice, but some colleagues have needed their services recently regarding appeals, and will continue to do so for their ET's, I imagine those people think their union subs, are money well spent! Nobody is perfect, and I'll bet the union don't always get things right, but when they do, I think they should get the credit that's due!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

YERR THATS RIGHT , IV JUST GIVEN MI SELF A £2.80 A WEEK PAY RISE,
IV COME OUT OF THE UNION AND FEEL GREAT FOR IT,
8 DAYS STRIKE FOR WHAT ????
CAN ANNY ONE TELL ME WHAT WE GOT OUT OF IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ILL TELL YOU NOTHING

Dont get caught boiling as I don't think the CWU Rep will be too interested in representing you.

From last years position the Union has gained exactly what Vulcan says but also from the top of my head:

Royal Mail wanted - CWU Agreed

2 Hour variation in duty times enforced - 1/2 Hour voluntary
Forced Working in nearby offices - Voluntary (within reason) working in nearby offices.
If working in nearby office travel not included in duty - Union got that travel in both directions should be included.
Increase of D2Ds but no payment - Union kept it at 3 and still getting paid - though they are still talking.
Pay and Modernisation introduced immediately with no trials - introduced after trials.
Imposed Flexibility including banked hours and monthly pay - discussions about them
No payment for election material - checked your recent payslips yet
Harsher disciplinary code (including warnings after sickness - Old one kept.

So although I was a No voter and I think the Union could have got better safeguards and concessions I still think we are better off with a Union than without.

Also the biggest thing keeping me in the Union is that these 2 :lfo :cfo want a weak union or a staff association so that they can get their profit motivated agenda through instead of service/profit orientated business that I and other members probably want.

Another question worth asking is apart from the money what else do I gain from not being in the Union.

[greynut]

I'd say most people know that our top men buckled just when we were in the strongest of positions. No doubt we could have got a better deal out of the strength we showed. But you also have to ask yourself, what would our jobs be like with no union? I know I wouldn't be working for Royal Mail if the pay and conditions were anything like our so-called competitors. At least with a union we have a chance of stopping cuts in our pay and changes in our terms and conditions that otherwise we'd just have to take on the chin. Whilst in the union you can make your votes count and replace people that perhaps value their future political careers ahead of the people they're supposed to be representing.

I believe that we are missing the point here.

There was a majority vote in favour of accepting the deal. I was against it all the way, because it gave RM's top management cart blance to impose whatever they wanted. We agreed to later start times but not a much later missort run for example. Implemented in our area with out so much as a why from local reps.

But it was a majority vote and we can have an opinion about it, but it was voted in. Our local rep. asked us NOT to back the deal. So it ultimatley it was up to us, not the big wigs at head office.

But this is a good point from TrueBlueTerrier

Also the biggest thing keeping me in the Union is that these 2 :cfo :lfo want a weak union or a staff association so that they can get their profit motivated agenda through instead of service/profit orientated business that I and other members probably want.

Another question worth asking is apart from the money what else do I gain from not being in the Union.

[rhino49]

Your union contributions are not a personal insurance policy which you may judge to be necessary or not depending on the risks you take or face in your employment. They are a payment made in support of a principle and in support of those colleagues who find them selves in a more precarious situation than ourselves.

The principle involved is one of mutual support against a system and an employer that will take advantage of every weakness we show and will use us to their benefit and our detriment. Teebs and others have given many (small) examples of progress or the stopping of unrealistic changes and in total they have made our position more acceptable. The considerably above minimum wage rates that we get were not willingly given by Royal Mail but won for the most part by the CWU and they more than cover the payment we make weekly to the union that protects us.

My contribution may never need to be spent on a situation where I find myself needing the services of a union rep or solicitor but if it protects and supports the colleagues that I value so much either on this site, at Burslem or in any other situation where they are unfairly or illegally targeted then I consider that contribution to be well spent,

Royalwud – you have done what many others have done – accepted or decided on short term gain against the value of a long term investment. Some of our contributors on these forums have questioned the acceptance of the short term bonus payments in the last deal but for all I have seen in my office so far – it is Royal Mail that has made the big mistake. I would question the wisdom of what you have done but hope that it doesn’t backfire on you – if it does I will at least have the satisfaction of knowing that none of my contribution will be helping you out of a hole you dug for yourself.

[Night Tonic]

All the same, it'd be interesting to know how many have left the CWU - there are around ten in our DO that stopped paying altogether after Christmas. There seems to be a real drive from HQ at the moment to recruit members which would indicate something is up.

[robd]

Unfortunately many others have taken the view of Royalwud,that for the price of a pint the union is a horse not worth backing.
it could be argued that the pay and flexibility agreement,in terms of it's interpretation(or lack of it)is at least some sort of result for
the union,however it's a clear u-turn from their stance that you should be able to go into any office and sing from the same hymn sheet,
now i don't think you've got two offices the same in any area.
In our D/O the managers are pressing for summer lapsing(royal mail interpretation of efficient summer staffing)
some of us in the know reminded them of the different phases of the agreement,and spoke to the rep,whose response....
"i just want my £400"and is resigned to it 'happening anyway'
it's safe to say the majority in our office no longer have confidence in the union,at any level,and are simply happy to get whatever
they can out of it.