Strike Ballot Must be Defended in Milton Keynes!

flyingfish · Post by **flyingfish** » 12 Dec 2008, 19:16

Strike Ballot 2008 Must be Defended in Milton Keynes!

Milton Keynes Mail Centre voted “yes” in the ballot alongside six other mail centres. This was a secret ballot sent to people’s homes. People expressed their own views, free from pressure.

The petition circulated after the ballot was neither secret nor anonymous. People could sign it for all sorts of reasons; peer pressure; fear of management noting whose name is on it and whose is not; fear of being isolated from other workmates and increasing uncertainty and confusion caused by the petition itself, especially when it is encouraged and supported by some local union reps. It also cannot be overlooked that management turned a blind eye whilst signatures for the petition were collected from the key locker and elsewhere. Has the well known collusion between certain CWU reps, Section and Branch officers and management in Milton Keynes been at work again? Remember they have just stitched us up by agreeing with management to change Lates' hours on Xmas Eve from 8-4 to 10-6.

The petition has led to MK selling out the December 19th strike. This is now being used by Royal Mail to undermine the five offices who are still striking on that day. They are saying “call off your strikes ‘cause Milton Keynes aren’t going to strike”.

For these reasons the petition cannot be allowed to override our ballot result. If we allow this to happen it will set a precedent for Royal Mail to ignore future votes in Milton Keynes. The petition is a tool against our ballot result and has played right into Royal Mail’s hands.

Stop and remember what the main issues are. We need to maintain the principled position of securing a negotiated agreement to protect our terms, conditions,VR, and jobs.

We have an industrial action ballot, are we now going to give that up for a couple of days pay, overtime, and a percentage of the Christmas bonus? Do we want to make it easy for Royal Mail to close offices and to renege on the MTSF,VR, allowances and RRIS money etc? If we allow this to happen we will end up losing a hell of a lot more money in the long term.

New strike dates for December 2008 in MK need to be set now. All local CWU reps, Section officers, or Branch officers who fail to do this should immediately resign their positions as they will no longer be upholding official union policy and will have betrayed workers in MK and everywhere else.
UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL!

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 12 Dec 2008, 19:29

Agreed and i could not have put it better myself this affects everyone who work's for royalmail group and the customer's and business of this land!. WE WILL NOT STAND IDLY BY WHILE DESTRUTION OF THE POSTAL SERVICE IS DEMANDED BY THE POWER'S THAT BE :cfo & :lfo

Post by **philippo** » 12 Dec 2008, 20:11

We on SK nightshift heard the rumour about MK last night. Yes it did cause some confusion and defeatism but we refuse to be soldout by anyone - No matter who.
The idea of another strike date pre-christmas is an imperative, our choice is Monday 22nd and it needs to be booked now. Managers are using this and other rumours and threats to undermine the staffs confidence in the "union". This is expected and its up to us reps and activists to combat it.
We are still calling on our branch officials to help organise a demo in the town, leaflet the public and make contact with M/cr to get their support. (We believe tha M/cr drivers are also striking on the 19th over another issue - nice one).
The delay over time of the ballot (4 weeks too late) as well as the way the campaign was run was at best lacklustre if not sabotaged by a nu labour bureaucrats. Not dissimilar to last years cop out.

So the staff at MK we support you in your attempt to make your reps act on your behalf and your battle with the management.
Solidarity - Philippo!

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 12 Dec 2008, 23:04

Sorry can anyone give details on this petition stuff, You balloted for strike action and this was superseded by some "petition'?What gives?

Post by **wranglered** » 13 Dec 2008, 11:20

You can see it....bent officials undermining the democratic vote....but it doesn't suprise me with PM pulling the strings...loved bigging himself up on the tv with his little scarf roud his neck and on the march next to Wardy with his little whistle....must have shat himself when there was such a big yes vote...cowards....

elektra3050 · Post by **elektra3050** » 13 Dec 2008, 16:27

Your criticism of PM is totally unfounded, the MK section pulled out of the strike date which PM was very dissapointed with, but the decision was not his, I know for certain PM wanted the strike to take place, a position he argued for on weds morning on the local radio. I think you should check you facts before you have a pop at anyone in the future.

Post by **wranglered** » 14 Dec 2008, 08:42

a leopard never changes his spots.....

Night Tonic · Post by **Night Tonic** » 14 Dec 2008, 15:13

Cripes times have changed. You wouldn't have heard that kind of talk over a year ago.

Post by **rockytony67** » 14 Dec 2008, 18:20

Night Tonic wrote:Cripes times have changed. You wouldn't have heard that kind of talk over a year ago.

And how you must love it

but as we all know, everything is not always as it seems

The Chain · Post by **The Chain** » 15 Dec 2008, 13:35

Shame about small minded bitter people hiding behind a chat site without having any of the facts, they need to get there information and facts from a proper source, not making it up to suit there own ends. PM, BJ & JF did all they could to support the members' for strike action in MK, for record none of them as you put it 's**t themselves far from it. Instead of your constant self rightious opinions and negative responses regarding the union, locally, regionally and nationally try supporting. If it was left to people like you with guarded comments and underhand hidden agendas then of course there would be no union and no support. MK is up for a fight and will deliver, it doesnt need personal comments about individuals who have whole heartedly supported from the begining. Get your facts right 'wrangler', or do you have a personal hidden agenda in constantly attacking the union any chance of something positive in the future, if not move on! Your ill informed comments regarding the CWU and individuals are unhelpful to anyone.

The Chain · Post by **The Chain** » 15 Dec 2008, 13:38

mr militancy wrote:Orginal post as quoted has been removed it broke the rules

You would know!!!!!!!!!

Post by **wranglered** » 15 Dec 2008, 13:40

SORRY I UPSET YOU BUT THE TRUTH HURTS.....INTERESTING TO SEE IT IS YOUR FIRST POST....YOU SOUND VERY OPINIONATED....I WONDER WHO YOU ARE?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 15 Dec 2008, 14:12

The Chain wrote:Shame about small minded bitter people hiding behind a chat site without having any of the facts, they need to get there information and facts from a proper source, not making it up to suit there own ends. PM, BJ & JF did all they could to support the members' for strike action in MK, for record none of them as you put it 's**t themselves far from it. Instead of your constant self rightious opinions and negative responses regarding the union, locally, regionally and nationally try supporting. If it was left to people like you with guarded comments and underhand hidden agendas then of course there would be no union and no support. MK is up for a fight and will deliver, it doesnt need personal comments about individuals who have whole heartedly supported from the begining. Get your facts right 'wrangler', or do you have a personal hidden agenda in constantly attacking the union any chance of something positive in the future, if not move on! Your ill informed comments regarding the CWU and individuals are unhelpful to anyone.

Correct - and as soon as I saw it I removed the offending post.

Would all members who find a post offensive or one that they think breaks the rules please use the "Report Post" icon and the Admin team will address any concerns and issues raised.

If everyone does this we have 4 options available to us.

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Of course if someone use the report feature in an unfair or malicious way we can address that in the same way.

Post by **wranglered** » 15 Dec 2008, 14:16

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:

Of course if someone use the report feature in an unfair or malicious way we can address that in the same way.

I will hold you to that, especially when postings are forwarded to the NDC to instigate false disciplinary charges against members.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 15 Dec 2008, 14:36

wranglered wrote:
TrueBlueTerrier wrote:

Of course if someone use the report feature in an unfair or malicious way we can address that in the same way.
I will hold you to that, especially when postings are forwarded to the NDC to instigate false disciplinary charges against members.

Anyone doing that should be ashamed.

We have no way of knowing if anyone has forwarded postings to any outside organisation but we would obviously take a dim view if such an accusation could be proved. In fact I would always recommend a permanent ban if any member was proven to be carrying out such actions.

However, we do highly recommend to all members that they .

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and ultimately its the members own responsibility to make sure that they keep their identities secret, and RMC cannot accept any responsibility if your identity becomes known to others, or if in the process of posting you break the rules and outside agencies decide to take legal or disciplinary action as a result.