Postal workers in talks over possible strike action

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpoo ... -22417357/

LIVERPOOL’S postal union leaders were summoned by their national officers for talks in London on Monday about possible strike action.

The Liverpool workforce narrowly supported a call for industrial action, up to and including a strike, in protest at plans to close the city’s Copperas Hill sorting centre and move its work to Warrington, with the loss of 600 Liverpool jobs.

But the ballot resulted in further talks between the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) national executive and Royal Mail on Thursday and yesterday, with further talks possible.

[NWpostie]

if the ballot went the other way , you can bet RM would feel they can do what they want, its always worth voting yes for extra negotiating tool and being prepared to carry it through.

RM always wait and see what the ballot result says before proceeding to the next stage.

[weetrogg]

the offices that have voted yes are bolton,stockport,crewe,liverpool,milton keynes,coventry and oxford,also manchester distribution will be out at the same time over a seperate issue. no doubt rm will try to take legal action to prevent industrial action, injunction or no injunction the mcs that got a yes vote must still go out on strike, and if the business(government) try to take legal action then the rest of the country need to walk out!!!!

its my personal opinion that unless we make the stand and force rm into serious negotiations concerning the nw region they will use this as a blueprint for the rest of the country to shut mcs and next year probably do s, its vital that we win this battle because this isnt a dispute about terms and conditions this is about rm taking peoples jobs and livleyhoods away where ever they see fit, and without any involvement or negotiation with the employees concerned and affected

its been clear over the last few years that senior managements main aim has been to destroy the union. a union is only as strong as its members!!! the way rm has treated "our people"(as big al likes to call us) during the nw review has been disgraceful, its now time for local members to fight for their jobs and futures. i hope and think that the strikes will be excellently supported, after all if your office is closing and your jobs going you have not much to lose(2 or 3 days £ maybe) and everything to gain!!!

we are the union!!!

ps,anybody tell me why my caps lock button aint working???

[Night Tonic]

Not "we are the union again"? All a Christmas strike will do is really piss off the public who will have no quarms about pissing on us after that, and RM will simply rub their hands together on yet more closures, all supported by customers and business ofcourse. If the CWU can roll over and play dead during the last strike, don't expect any stamina for a repeat. All you'll get is a few choice phrases from CWU leaders to show willing, and then immediately back to where you were - minus some pay. Old St knows only too well that the last strike cost the CWU a lot of members as well as money and unless it can recruit new members it won't take much to put the union on its knees altogether.

If strikes are intended to get RM to negotiate, don't expect any, they won't negotiate as we already know. If they're designed to get the public 'on side' don't expect any support either from them or the press. If its designed to rally the troops for an all out, forget that, too many offices sick of the union and lots have left the union now, especially in my area which at one time was as militant as they come. New year, yes, that makes sense but pre-christmas no.

[dvbuk55]

Not "we are the union again"? All a Christmas strike will do is really piss off the public who will have no quarms about pissing on us after that, and RM will simply rub their hands together on yet more closures, all supported by customers and business ofcourse. If the CWU can roll over and play dead during the last strike, don't expect any stamina for a repeat. All you'll get is a few choice phrases from CWU leaders to show willing, and then immediately back to where you were - minus some pay. Old St knows only too well that the last strike cost the CWU a lot of members as well as money and unless it can recruit new members it won't take much to put the union on its knees altogether.

If strikes are intended to get RM to negotiate, don't expect any, they won't negotiate as we already know. If they're designed to get the public 'on side' don't expect any support either from them or the press. If its designed to rally the troops for an all out, forget that, too many offices sick of the union and lots have left the union now, especially in my area which at one time was as militant as they come. New year, yes, that makes sense but pre-christmas no.

Unfortunately NT I have to agree with you on some points. I believe the majority at Liverpool was 6 and I would be extremely reluctant if I was the CWU leadership in calling a strike with such a slim margin - I would question the outcome of a call out. I haven't forgotten the excellent fight last year but these are isolated local issues not National issues - and even so look what happened after the last strike - we went out, the agreement was made and we have been buggered about ever since - getting Royal Mail to the table isn't really the issue - it's getting them to abide by the agreements made in a fair and just manner. Even with the dissatisfaction of the workforce with current events, I seriously doubt that any strikes will change anything and there would, I think, be a reluctance by many to take action.

[bogstandard]

Why hasn't the result been posted ?

[philippo]

I work in an office that is closing, the staff have been given no idea about their future or jobs with RM this is totally unacceptable so in this office we have nothing to lose. The point i was making is that those offices that have voted for strike should go ahead regardless of any legal attemps by RM to stop the strikes, then IF? RM try to seize union assets i think it would become neccesary for a national walk out on the basis that it would a become legal for a company to de-recognise a union if RM succeeded!!!! If the battle is lost in the North West that it will have major implication for the whole of the workforce and i feel none of these will be for the betterment of us employees!!!

[dvbuk55]

I work in an office that is closing, the staff have been given no idea about their future or jobs with RM this is totally unacceptable so in this office we have nothing to lose. The point i was making is that those offices that have voted for strike should go ahead regardless of any legal attemps by RM to stop the strikes, then IF? RM try to seize union assets i think it would become neccesary for a national walk out on the basis that it would a become legal for a company to de-recognise a union if RM succeeded!!!! If the battle is lost in the North West that it will have major implication for the whole of the workforce and i feel none of these will be for the betterment of us employees!!!

You're right to suggest that if the closures go ahead in the North then others will follow and a lot closer to the Capital - what I wonder is how much NATIONAL support thre will be if it does come to a head. I'm sure the CWU will do all in their power to avert industrial action on a local basis to avoid a confrontation with RM and THAT I'm afraid means the usual..............compromise and appeasement. It makes you wonder what the HOOPER Report will say about rationalisation - if it comes out in support, then that will be the Government in support too.

[dogfood]

I wouldn't hold out much hope on the Hooper report. My understanding is that it was ready for release and then Mandy wormed his way back in and demanded that it be held up for a while. My cynical view is that the reason for this is that it probably agreed in general with the CWU standpoint, which is directly opposed to the views of Mandy himself.

Just my opinion.

[BELIAL]

You know what ,me as an ordinary delivery postie ,| I could not give a flying fish fart about Hooper ,flex ha stuff it ,phase 97.g ,up your bum ,peggy georoute ditto ,
What I want is a clear set of national guidelines that you don't need a phd to work out. Simple ,clear:not .oh it's the members fault they ain't up to the task

[pinewood]

we as union should all come out.not strong enough action on your own .