ALL STRIKES CANCELLED EXCEPT BRIDGEWATER

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 18 Dec 2008, 17:34

Post workers call off strike action

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... q2EzmyNazg

29 minutes ago

A 24-hour strike planned by postal workers in five mail centres, which would have threatened disruption to Christmas deliveries, has been called off, it was announced.

Members of the Communication Workers Union in Crewe, Coventry, Bolton, Stockport and Oxford had planned to walk out in a row over office closures.

The union had originally threatened strikes in seven offices, but workers in Oldham and Liverpool called off their action earlier.

Dave Ward, deputy general secretary of the CWU, said: "For the last five years we have been fighting attempts by Royal Mail management to chip away at the foundations of a universal postal service.

"We are calling off the strikes as some progress has been made, justifying the continuation of more meaningful discussions."

Mr Ward said the Government's plans to partially privatise the Royal Mail meant the stakes were "even higher", adding: "This is no longer a local or regional dispute. What we face is the prospect of losing a much loved British institution. We want the public to join with us in a nationwide campaign to defend a vital public service."

A ministerial aide quit on Wednesday in protest at the Government's plans for the Royal Mail and a number of backbench Labour MPs warned they would fight to keep the organisation wholly publicly owned.

Jim McGovern, who resigned from his position as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Business Minister Pat McFadden, said: "I believe a PPS has to be fully supportive of proposals of the department which they serve. In this case, I do not support what looks to me like partial privatisation of the Royal Mail.

"In his statement Pat McFadden said he welcomed an expression of interest from the Dutch postal company TNT. For me, it simply beggars belief that we would employ the services of a company from abroad to tell the Royal Mail in this country where they are going wrong."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We are very pleased that all our people will be focused on delivering the Christmas mail for our customers."

Post by **weetrogg** » 18 Dec 2008, 18:37

what a democracy we live in!!! firstly rm management take out an injuction to stop i/a in liverpool after a democratic ballot took place, but whats even worse is the ec pulling i/a at the other offices without gaining any agreement with rm and without any consultation with branches and members involved

this union needs a clearout at the top and that includes the gs,dpgs and the who;e of the ec. i believe these people live in a bubble and have no idea what its like to work on the front line. i think the gs and dpgs should be elected every two years and also the ec should only be allowed to serve for three years and then return to their jobs on the front line, all of the above should only be paid the average postpersons wage, maybe then they might wake up and get into the real world and stop running this union as their own personal fiefdom!!!!

dave ward said something along the lines of "privatisation is now the issue" well dave, as a rep at one of the offices which is closing i can assure that people in my office are far more concerned about the fact they may be jobless within the next three months.on the issue of privatisation, maybe if we stopped giving vast amounts of £££ to the twats(new liebour) that are proposing it then it might not happen, oh i forgot their our friends well with friends like these who needs enemies

i agree privatisation is a major issue and we should fight with all our effort to resist it, and the start of that resistance should be dissafiliation from the people who have put us in this mess, new liebour

over 50.000 job losses, rush into liberalisation and now part privatisation all under new liebour, a record like that would make the tories proud

we must end the political levy now

ME!! · Post by **ME!!** » 18 Dec 2008, 18:39

How predictable!! Before taking evr I spent 18 yrs with RM and every year at Christmas there was a strike called somewhere and every year before the off the CWU called it off as "some progress had been made." Total bull!!
I wish everybody good luck in the coming months I went through two mail centre closures in my time and to be honest (I hope I'm wrong) I think there is no chance of reversing the tide, maybe you'll be able to delay it a little but stop it I don't think so. Let's hope the Union pull out thier finger and make sure those who are forced out are properly look after.

robmacca · Post by **robmacca** » 18 Dec 2008, 19:14

Boooooooooooo!

I was looking forward to a night on the town drinking.

spilie · Post by **spilie** » 18 Dec 2008, 19:36

once again the union are shot in the arse advancing. the shape of things to come when we look to our strong leadership on the next big changes facing us

Night Tonic · Post by **Night Tonic** » 18 Dec 2008, 20:56

Lot in one breath. Don't like the union, don't like RM, don't like the government and some wanted to piss off customers. Stick behind one of them for goodness sake or all this chatter is a waste of time.

axeman · Post by **axeman** » 18 Dec 2008, 21:23

We know who your behind nighty !!

it'll be a shame when you retire as one they can rely on will be lost but the rest of us will not miss the unbiased slant you have on the union and anything that oposes royal fail bullshi*

Post by **fmrPOSTIE** » 18 Dec 2008, 21:50

Just as well these strikes have been called-off, and fair play to Royal Mail serving the injunctions. If the CWU can't do things legally than thats their problem. Royal Mail has got one over the union onthis occasion. A more pressing issue is obviously the threat from Mr Mandelson. If Mail Centres have to close to make RM more efficicent then so be it. Cant posties see this?

So what if you've gotta travel a bit further, who gives a toss. Everyones been offered a job...

norbert · Post by **norbert** » 18 Dec 2008, 22:25

fmrPOSTIE wrote:Just as well these strikes have been called-off, and fair play to Royal Mail serving the injunctions. If the CWU can't do things legally than thats their problem. Royal Mail has got one over the union onthis occasion. A more pressing issue is obviously the threat from Mr Mandelson. If Mail Centres have to close to make RM more efficicent then so be it. Cant posties see this?

So what if you've gotta travel a bit further, who gives a toss. Everyones been offered a job...

it's the mistrust of RM's underhand way of doing things - the route will be supercentres but RM has to do it properly and pay people up . I would not trust any of RM's hype and spin whatsoever .

the injunctions were over technicalties in the wording - petty was one word used - pity that RM can't put that energy into half decent IR .

robmacca · Post by **robmacca** » 18 Dec 2008, 22:43

fmrPOSTIE wrote:If Mail Centres have to close to make RM more efficicent then so be it. Cant posties see this?

So what if you've gotta travel a bit further, who gives a toss. Everyones been offered a job...

Many in our office will be forced to leave without any offer of redundency because a 50 mile round trip on a daily basis is hardly reasonable - if you don't drive, then tough luck is what RM say.

The Union have always maintained the need for change, but it needs to be changes that are fair and right. We are slowly slipping back into Victorian times (in my opinion)

norbert · Post by **norbert** » 18 Dec 2008, 22:47

robmacca wrote:
fmrPOSTIE wrote:If Mail Centres have to close to make RM more efficicent then so be it. Cant posties see this?

So what if you've gotta travel a bit further, who gives a toss. Everyones been offered a job...
Many in our office will be forced to leave without any offer of redundency because a 50 mile round trip on a daily basis is hardly reasonable - if you don't drive, then tough luck is what RM say.

The Union have always maintained the need for change, but it needs to be changes that are fair and right. We are slowly slipping back into Victorian times (in my opinion)

In that case all people will get is a grilling off the Social when they go to sign on for apparently leaving RM without good reason

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 18 Dec 2008, 23:09

robmacca wrote: We are slowly slipping back into Victorian times (in my opinion)

More like, faster than greased weasel s**t.

Post by **weetrogg** » 18 Dec 2008, 23:11

Night Tonic wrote:Lot in one breath. Don't like the union, don't like RM, don't like the government and some wanted to piss off customers. Stick behind one of them for goodness sake or all this chatter is a waste of time.

i totally believe in the union but was just expressing my dismay with its continued support of new labour, the leadership of this union seem to have divided loyalties between the members and the government. the main aim of a union should be to protect and improve terms and conditions of its members, not sign up to terrible deals to appease political "friends". i dont like rm for the simply reason that in all my dealings with them over the last 2 years i find them on the whole to be a bunch of incompetent liars.

as for pissing off customers well that ceases to be an issue when youre jobs gone and i think the customers are already pissed of with receiving their mail mid-afternoon or not being able to pick up a dib because the callers office closes at 2. chatter by its very nature is a waste of time and i completly agree that whats needed it action not chatter, and i will try to get my branch to put forward motion concerning a few of the changes i mentioned

Post by **fmrPOSTIE** » 18 Dec 2008, 23:11

I have to travel 50 miles a day too, i dont moan about it, i enjoy the commute, seriously. Posties expect everything on a plate, c'mon get a second-hand car and get a few mates to chip in, problem solved and you carry on working for the company you love...

If you dont like it leave chaps.

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 18 Dec 2008, 23:15

fmrPOSTIE wrote:I have to travel 50 miles a day too, i dont moan about it, i enjoy the commute, seriously. Posties expect everything on a plate, c'mon get a second-hand car and get a few mates to chip in, problem solved and you carry on working for the company you love... If you dont like it leave chaps.

That is meant to be an ironic piss take yeh?