Does the current ODM-lite ways of working strengthen the CWU's bargaining position?

[postslippete]

Whether we like it or not, de facto ODM (optimised delivery model) type working has been happening for the last few years and I've noticed that our office has once again appeared on the naughty list....

On the one hand, RM's say that its labour costs are too high and keeping new entrants on worse terms makes them more competitive. But on the flip side the two-tier workforce seems to be driving a higher churn with recruitment and retention problems, staff absence, lower morale, more mistakes and weaker service standards as experience is lost.

Given that parcel volumes have exploded and duties are already oversized, it’s hard to see how a cheaper, higher-turnover workforce is sustainable in the long term. But the irony is that RM has returned to profit while workloads have increased - yet they still claim that its profits depend on reducing labour costs further.....

So does the current situation actually weaken RM’s position with the CWU by showing that two-tier is hurting delivery and retention? Or does it strengthen RM’s hand by normalising a cheaper workforce?

Interested in how others see it, especially reps.

[A2B]

Told today that a version of ODM has been agreed on BUT RM will not agree to enhance the terms of new starts so the CWU will not sign off on ODM.

Now I don't know how reliable this info is but we do appear to have been at stalemate with little to no official information for a while.

[Acca Dacca]

Told today that a version of ODM has been agreed on BUT RM will not agree to enhance the terms of new starts so the CWU will not sign off on ODM.

Now I don't know how reliable this info is but we do appear to have been at stalemate with little to no official information for a while.

The CWU have said for months they will absolutely not agree to the ODM in the form that was trialled

Now, planners are already undertaking work to implement this ODM in more offices right now so.......whats going to happen?

[A2B]

The CWU have said for months they will absolutely not agree to the ODM in the form that was trialled

Now, planners are already undertaking work to implement this ODM in more offices right now so.......whats going to happen?

But it has been tweaked in at least one trial office with CWU input which appeared to work but obviously isn't bringing the savings RM want.

[Acca Dacca]

The CWU have said for months they will absolutely not agree to the ODM in the form that was trialled

Now, planners are already undertaking work to implement this ODM in more offices right now so.......whats going to happen?

But it has been tweaked in at least one trial office with CWU input which appeared to work but obviously isn't bringing the savings RM want.

Whats the tweak?

Its the original ODM thats being planned to be implemented here - not the 'heavy and light' proposal

[A2B]

Whats the tweak?

Its the original ODM thats being planned to be implemented here - not the 'heavy and light' proposal

Sorry, I don't know the details

[Mr Rush]

Whats the tweak?

Its the original ODM thats being planned to be implemented here - not the 'heavy and light' proposal

Sorry, I don't know the details

It's Lapsing 3.0. On the light days you take a bit of another walk. That way everyone can stay on their own walk... except the person whose walk gets lapsed, of course. Yay!

[buchanpeter]

Told today that a version of ODM has been agreed on BUT RM will not agree to enhance the terms of new starts so the CWU will not sign off on ODM.

Now I don't know how reliable this info is but we do appear to have been at stalemate with little to no official information for a while.

I thought something like this might happen.
Cwu was rushing through agreements with the new owners last year. New owners was fresh faced and was agreeing to the majority of it.
Now that the new owners have been in the game for almost a year. The old management regime have clearly been whispering in their ear.
Suddenly everything went to a crawl around September. Nothing done for section5 for about 5 months now.
Looks like the cwu are back to square 1 with the company.
But also like u say, might not be the correct info.
If the new contracts don't get made up. It'll only be a few years until it's pushed onto the remaining legacy staff.

[Saturn1]

Company "agreeing" deals then going back on them is out of the 2022 management regime playbook, all designed to discredit the union and make them look inept to the members.

[chickenwittle]

Told today that a version of ODM has been agreed on BUT RM will not agree to enhance the terms of new starts so the CWU will not sign off on ODM.

Now I don't know how reliable this info is but we do appear to have been at stalemate with little to no official information for a while.

I thought something like this might happen.
Cwu was rushing through agreements with the new owners last year. New owners was fresh faced and was agreeing to the majority of it.
Now that the new owners have been in the game for almost a year. The old management regime have clearly been whispering in their ear.
Suddenly everything went to a crawl around September. Nothing done for section5 for about 5 months now.
Looks like the cwu are back to square 1 with the company.
But also like u say, might not be the correct info.
If the new contracts don't get made up. It'll only be a few years until it's pushed onto the remaining legacy staff.

I hate scaremongering nonsense like this .

[Mcclinton]

I did not think it was scaremongering nonsense at all, just a reasonable assessment of what has happened.

[chickenwittle]

I did not think it was scaremongering nonsense at all, just a reasonable assessment of what has happened.

Saying legacy staff will be moved onto new contracts terms is complete nonsense and scaremongering.

[SpacePhoenix]

I did not think it was scaremongering nonsense at all, just a reasonable assessment of what has happened.

Saying legacy staff will be moved onto new contracts terms is complete nonsense and scaremongering.

I think it will actually happen once the number of staff on legacy contracts drops enough.

[hewittinspain]

Union is finished. RM will go ahead and changes similar to the trials will happen. People won't strike anymore.
I care for workers but glad I jumped ship recently.

[Pidleypoo]

This will probably be an unpopular opinion but I don’t think the union need to fight Royal Mail on equalisation.

I’ll say that I absolutely think that we should all be on the same money and terms but if Royal Mail want to have the incredibly high turnover of staff and all of the costs associated with that and the productivity hit then let them.

They will come to a position on their own that they’ll have to pay more for newer staff or they won’t keep any and the pool of people they can employ will shrink every single week.