Union calls ballot over Royal Mail cuts

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=17570" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

by Yuri Prasad

The likelihood of a London-wide strike at Royal Mail took a big step forward this week as leaders of the postal workers’ CWU union sanctioned a ballot of the region.

Senior figures in the union also report strong signs that the mood for action is spreading across Britain

Attempts by post bosses to ram through cost-saving measures – including job cuts, reduced hour contracts and voluntary redundancies – without the agreement of the union are the trigger for most disputes.

In some areas that will lead to strikes, in others there are ballots for action short of a strike.

A strike in a region the size of London would be a major blow to the government’s attempt to privatise Royal Mail, which many activists believe lies behind management’s assault.

Resistance

Managers around the country are meeting stiff resistance from the union. In the last two weeks the CWU has received at least 20 requests for industrial action ballots – including all of Scotland, with the exception of Glasgow.

“Royal Mail bosses talk of ‘modernisation’ but these cuts are really about trying to destroy the CWU,” London division rep Martin Walsh told Socialist Worker.

“Under Royal Mail’s plan we stand to lose around 1,600 jobs in London almost immediately, with the prospect of thousands more to follow.

“More delivery workers’ jobs will become part-time, making it harder to fight for full-time jobs in the future. There are even rumours of another London mail centre closure.

“The bosses are deliberately breaking our national agreements and trying to marginalise us. But we are not going to stand by and allow that to happen. We are going to fight for a national agreement.

“In the run-up to the ballot we will be organising meetings in every office and all our reps will be putting the case for the strike.

“We’ll tell the members that we are fighting to ensure that Royal Mail cannot walk all over the union and to protect full time jobs, and terms and conditions in the future.

“We are absolutely confident of winning an overwhelming yes vote for strike action. We know that postal workers in many other parts of the country are facing similar assaults.

“Together we can ensure that we win a national agreement with the company for all postal workers.”


Woolwich strike

Postal workers in Woolwich, south east London, are preparing for a second day of strike action this Saturday in defence of a sacked colleague.

“Management know they don’t have a case but they are continuing to victimise our member,” CWU union branch secretary Roy Vargerson told Socialist Worker.

“We’ve offered talks, and a way for Royal Mail to back down, but so far they’ve refused our offers.

“But if management are hard, we are harder. The mood among workers here is extremely determined – and we will win.”

© Socialist Worker (unless otherwise stated). You may republish if you include an active link to the original.

[stodgy88]

our union is non existant and everybody just excepting what management says

[michaelstott26]

Look everybody get over this modernisation, if nobody is happy with royal mail, go elsewhere, we are paid as much as it is for doing nothing, so working hours we should do shouldnt matter, we have jobs like paper boys, its a doddle. Everybody needs to wake up, its not hard doing what we do, you dont have to be skilled

Wake up and look to the future, or apply for redunancy and go do a job your happy with

If your not happ
Go

[POSTMAN]

we have jobs like paper boys, its a doddle.

Completely disagree with that comment.
Oh and welcome to the site.

[pinstripe]

"Wake up and look to the future, or apply for redunancy and go do a job your happy with

If your not happ
Go"

Or, if like most of us, you believe that we should fight to protect our jobs, pensions, terms and conditions, then we should stay. Not only for our jobs, but for the very future of Royal Mail, wholly owned by the British public (who will be left with the losses, while the Corporate Pirates pillage every penny for their own pockets). We (public and posties alike) pay for it, we should defend it, we should receive the benefits, not those muppets.
Alternatively, if you don't like us, go work in McDonalds and tell them how lucky they are.

[axeman]

michaelstott26 and pray what side of the fence do you sit ? i think i already know the answer have a view by all means but please try not to demean the already overstretched staff if you get my drift .......

[BELIAL]

Lets show a bit of empathy folks ,clearly if the guys experience of working for RM is as he describes ,he must hold a senior management position. In his position and with his experience those comments would seem fair and accurate ,he just needs his horizons broadening

[TrueBlueTerrier]

If your not happ
Go

Happ - as in Hap Arnold - it would be a very small forum and there would not be enough posties to deliver all the mail .

If the job is so easy why are RM trying to make it so complicated. OK lapsing on sickness/absence it time permits, but why lapse all the time. Why bring in 2 in a van when there are enough "off the shoulder" solutions out there. Why question when posties say they can't complete, either believe them and provide assistance or instruction and if its a common problem test the walk. Its so simple yet management seem to complicate it.

Yes we need Modernisation on sorting, yes we need modern delivery methods, yes we need to be more flexible but not just Postie but the whole of Royal Mail from the CEO to the 1hr Part Timer. But the 1 single thing that needs Modernisation more than anything is Royal Mail Management. It needs to change its approach to the Union, it needs streamlining, its top-down autocratic style needs radical reform, local management needs more authority to respond to local situations rather than act by dictate, let them manage not supervise. We also need to decide if Royal Mail is a Service or a Business - we cant successfully be both yet for the last decade that's exactly what they have tried to be and it aint working.

[Stormproof]

Look everybody get over this modernisation, if nobody is happy with royal mail, go elsewhere, we are paid as much as it is for doing nothing, so working hours we should do shouldnt matter, we have jobs like paper boys, its a doddle. Everybody needs to wake up, its not hard doing what we do, you dont have to be skilled

Wake up and look to the future, or apply for redunancy and go do a job your happy with

If your not happ
Go

Paper Boys!!!!!!!!!!????????????
You've made a good impression with your first post, idiot!!

[baldrick]

I think it may have been his first, only, and last post,
as he only came on for 10 minutes. Probably another
drive-by posting.

[kay_thebigbird]

Look everybody get over this modernisation, if nobody is happy with royal mail, go elsewhere, we are paid as much as it is for doing nothing, so working hours we should do shouldnt matter, we have jobs like paper boys, its a doddle. Everybody needs to wake up, its not hard doing what we do, you dont have to be skilled

Wake up and look to the future, or apply for redunancy and go do a job your happy with

If your not happ
Go

A Doddle what sort of walk have you got when I get home I am knackered my knees, my hips I ache everywhere, walking solid for 4 hours up & down hundreds of steps you should try my walk mate it's a bloody nightmare, you should try a proper walk.A paper round I wish.You must be a RM manager.

[madelin4]

Peeps , dont be letting this Michael guy annoy you!!! Lets see how many posts he puts up

[norbert]

Lets show a bit of empathy folks ,clearly if the guys experience of working for RM is as he describes ,he must hold a senior management position. In his position and with his experience those comments would seem fair and accurate ,he just needs his horizons broadening

to be a RM senior manager he would sound like Colonel Blimp or Dennis Thatcher - you'd have to look at the calender as well to check the year is right too .

The RM Trolls don't last very long - there's a thin line between bravery & stupidity

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Peeps , dont be letting this Michael guy annoy you!!! Lets see how many posts he puts up

As someone said it has all the hallmarks of a drive by post as total time spent on the board including making his post 2 minutes.

[Night Tonic]

On that basis he did well to stir folks up so easily then