SOUTH EAST LONDON POSTAL & COUNTER BRANCH AGM 2009

[I-POSTIE]

CWU
South East London Postal
& Counters Branch

This Years
Annual General Meeting

Sunday 5th April 2009
10.30 am

Venue:
Rivoli Ballroom
Brockley Road
London
SE4


ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

SOUTH EAST LONDON POSTAL & COUNTERS BRANCH

GUEST SPEAKERS:

KATE HOEY MP

Labour Member for Vauxhall


DAVE WARD

Deputy General Secretary

BOB GIBSON

Assistant Secretary Outdoor

THE ISSUES

Pensions! Privatisation! Savings!
Ballot for industrial Action!


IT'S YOUR AGM MAKE SURE YOU ATTEND

DON'T LET OTHERS MAKE DECISIONS FOR YOU!



That is the invitation coming out of my union branch this week as near as I can replicate it from the sheet of paper I have been given. I of course will be there. I'm the one with the big red rosette for the management reading this – right! Seriously, there are some major issues to be broached and it will be the only time for grass-roots members to able to ask those awkward questions of those elected individuals whom we have placed so much faith in within the branch and from him, in the much loftier position, Deputy General Secretary, Dave Ward.

Much has happened in the past twelve months. The global financial crisis, The Hooper Report, Lord Mandlesons despicable on going attempt to part privatise Royal Mail and the general obliteration of our working conditions is enabling catastrophic circumstances for all of us in our working and private lives. There cannot be many among us whom still believe – that is if any us ever did – ex chairman, Allan Leightons slogan that this is, “Still a great job to be in.” Obviously, if the job was so good he would have no qualms about staying for the rough ride that is evidently beginning to show its momentum. However, he never got his personal piece of Royal Mail and it was plain from that point onwards that the wind was taken from his sails and his last year as chairman was more in name than in person. I watched with amusement as the heads of the major banks that were bailed out by the government as they admitted that they had no banking qualifications for the positions that they held. As they squirmed in front of their inquisitors the thought struck me that this is the manor in which Royal Mail has been operated for a very long time. The boardroom, occupied with jobs for mates whom have no qualification to be there, making bad decisions for bonuses which have no substance based in improvement. The Hooper report however glossed over or completely ignored naming and blaming and shaming the architects of Royal Mails failure under guise that it was not within its remit. How fortunate for all those idiots whom wasted millions on big but bogus ideas and are now enjoying their pensions created as if their ideas had made billions. The parallels are unmistakable and therefore it is understandable why this government is so inept at disenfranchising the bankers from their pensions which have been awarded for their failure.

I am hoping that my colleague from Peckham, will resume his onslaught upon Dave Ward which he began last year. It appears, from my perspective that any plans to rescue our pension rights has gone into a stool. I do understand there are other significant battles to be fought but we cannot afford to slack on any front.

I would like to believe attending the 2009 AGM is one of the most serious moments in every South East London members career however long that may be so far. We are the closest we have ever come to privatisation. Working at Royal Mail is an everyday struggle, whilst those whom plot against us take Caribbean holidays when the subject of their oversized bonuses should have them explaining like those bogus bankers how this should be.

[johnnyp]

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Ours is a couple of weeks later I-POSTIE Could you tell your mate to go easy on Wardy as we would like him to make it to ours But seriously your post is spot on friend and i would love to see a big turn out at our AGM from the rank and file membership as this is there chance to meet face to face with the people who will negotiate there future terms and conditions on there behalf and find out from the horses mouth what/will is in store for us and how we are going to deal with it.

[dvbuk55]

You see how it is with you lot down there - you get to see the union glitterati who speak at your meetings - but if there's no eel and mash shop within 200 yards of the venue - then tough. I've never seen an eel and pie shop because I live north of Watford. I've always thought eating eel would be like eating a snake, that I have done and it doesn't taste a lot like chicken but does eel taste of fish?

[POSTMAN]

You see how it is with you lot down there - you get to see the union glitterati who speak at your meetings - but if there's no eel and mash shop within 200 yards of the venue - then tough. I've never seen an eel and pie shop because I live north of Watford. I've always thought eating eel would be like eating a snake, that I have done and it doesn't taste a lot like chicken but does eel taste of fish?

Hayes was at Plymouth a while back,also check billys blog for where he's been.

http://www.billyhayes.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

dv,come on mate lighten up.I'm worried about ya ma friend.

[johnnyp]

You see how it is with you lot down there - you get to see the union glitterati who speak at your meetings - but if there's no eel and mash shop within 200 yards of the venue - then tough. I've never seen an eel and pie shop because I live north of Watford. I've always thought eating eel would be like eating a snake, that I have done and it doesn't taste a lot like chicken but does eel taste of fish?

Has your branch ever invited the union glitterati to its AGM dvbuk55? If not then i suggest they give it a go as you never know Wardy and the boys have been known to venture outside the M25,ive even seen pictures on this site to prove it and not an eel in sight

[lovejoy]

You see how it is with you lot down there - you get to see the union glitterati who speak at your meetings - but if there's no eel and mash shop within 200 yards of the venue - then tough. I've never seen an eel and pie shop because I live north of Watford. I've always thought eating eel would be like eating a snake, that I have done and it doesn't taste a lot like chicken but does eel taste of fish?

The officers will go anywhere they are invited and have no right to refuse unless they are booked for another meeting . It is easy to say they won't travel out of London but as POSTMAN pointed out thats not true.

I think a lot of time branches are keen to keep agms low key with no speakers of any note. If I were you i'd write to your branch requesting that they ask Dave Ward or Billy Hayes to attend a special meeting.

[dvbuk55]

Surely people haven't taken umbrage at a lighthearted gesture at AGMs - I've never been to one, have never been informed of one and really haven't the slightest interest in hearing these people talk.

[Big Daz]

dv,come on mate lighten up.I'm worried about ya ma friend.

Aye, or i will sign you up for the grumpy forum dvbuk

http://www.grumpieroldmen.co.uk/forum/phpBB3/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dvbuk55]

dv,come on mate lighten up.I'm worried about ya ma friend.

Aye, or i will sign you up for the grumpy forum dvbuk

http://www.grumpieroldmen.co.uk/forum/phpBB3/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bah humbug I think that people misconstrue what I say, the reasons behind it and the tongue in cheek - mind you that does happen in real life too - I once was on afternoons in the locker/callers office and my colleague and I were a little bit bored - so we ran off a bogus survey on van cleanliness and damage to vehicles - as each collection driver came in he/she was handed the form and asked to complete it by drawing a picture of the van, marking the places where damage was apparent and if the vehicle was dirty to go get it washed - some very good drawings too - including a yellow tie attached to one of the aerials - boy were they p*ssed off when they found out it was a joke.