MAIL BOSSES SNUB UNION

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-storie ... -21111258/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Sulking Royal Mail bosses have scrapped rescue talks with union leaders - blaming stories in the Daily Mirror.

They were due to meet The Communication Workers Union today to thrash out proposals for modernisation.

But they cancelled the summit last night in a fit of pique, it was claimed.

The row comes after our exclusive story last Friday revealing the company's plan to axe thousands of jobs to slash costs by 10 per cent.

Yesterday we told how the struggling firm planned to spend £1million on luxury furniture for its new London HQ overlooking the Thames.

Cwu leader Billy Hayes said: "It's extraordinary. Boss Adam Crozier is obviously more concerned about what chair he is going to sit on than the future of the business.

"We were to meet them for two days but they cancelled, accusing us of conducting industrial relations through the pages of the Daily Mirror."

Royal Mail was particularly upset when we exposed its plans to slash its wage bill by £470million. Unions said it would mean 16,000 job losses - a tenth of the workforce.

Bosses claimed the cuts were "about central costs and overheads and certainly not our front-line people".

Yet a letter seeking volunteers for redundancy or parttime working was being sent to all front-line staff.

Another damning document details a 15 per cent cut in staff at one of the three main call centres in the City of London. The plan, dated February 4, proposes cutting the workforce at the East Central sorting and delivery office from 362 to 308.

The row comes as Peter Mandelson faces a backbench rebellion over plans to part-privatise the service.

The Business Secretary believes selling a stake in Royal Mail is the only way to guarantee its future.

But many Labour MPs fear it will be the first step towards the full privatisation.

More than 100 have signed a Commons motion against plans to sell even a minority stake in the public service.

To avoid a Government defeat over the Bill, ministers are looking at including a promise that the Royal Mail will never be totally sold off.

Urgent talks were being held before a crucial vote tomorrow afternoon.

But it may not be enough to win over the rebels. One said yesterday: "There is everything to play for."

[Big Daz]

Bosses claimed the cuts were "about central costs and overheads and certainly not our front-line people".


Bollocks!

My DOM told me today that his superiors have increased the amount of savings they want from the delivery office, what they gonna do ? Turn ther lights off? Unplug the vending machines? Turn the raidators down?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

When I first read this article I thought what bunch of unprofessional childlike business men do we have in charge. Just because of a bit of bad press, and for once the Union playing them at their own game, they go off like spoilt children who don't like what they read and sulk in the corner

Grow up and follow the recommendations of Sawyer and Hooper and start talking to the Union.

[MickR]

:cfo Diddums, pity you haven't got a picture of Crozier/Manuel-(Fawlty Towers -I know nothing!) sucking his thumb

[norbert]

When I first read this article I thought what bunch of unprofessional childlike business men do we have in charge. Just because of a bit of bad press, and for once the Union playing them at their own game, they go off like spoilt children who don't like what they and sulk in the corner

Grow up and follow the recommendations of Sawyer and Hooper and start talking to the Union.

thought it was in the RM manual ? - on Planet RM it's a moral crusade , yet another media shafting for being duplicitous and underhand again - let's face it you're dealing with huge but very fragile egos which usually means a boardroom bully , and they in turn usually show their inadequacies .

to be fair to RM , if they are spending money on the lavatories , it'll be money well spent as it will the only place where people know what they are doing

[rockytony67]

The latest

Date: 10th February 2009

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS


Dear Colleague,

CWU / Royal Mail Meeting - 10th & 11th February 2009

We can confirm that stories in the press today regarding Royal Mail cancelling a crucial meeting on the company's modernisation plans because of media coverage in the Daily Mirror over the last few days are true.

However a meeting did take place between the Managing Director and myself and as a result the National Officers will meet tomorrow with a view to getting constructive talks back on track.

Further developments will be reported in due course.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)

[Big Daz]

Thanks for the update Rockytony