UPDATE ON MEETINGS WITH ROYAL MAIL

[lovejoy]

We are at a cross roads thats for certain. I applaud the actions of London and Scotland (although it is worth noting that some parts of Scotland aren't on board from what I hear).

Dingo you call for a National Response but that can only be led Nationally. CWU HQ have been nowhere near open enough with their opposition to RM over the last 12-18months. I know there are worries over IA wrecking the fights against privatisation but it is no good being a public company but allowing the members to be savaged in the workplaces.

Now though I feel is not the time to look back. Those citing various reasons for not standing up - Pay and Mod agreement, economy, members lost fight -are looking for a way out. Every one of these issues can have a positive spin if there reps are prepared to stand up and be counted.

It is clear that RM have a number of key policies including

- Complete de-recognition of the National Union - leaving the weaker offices to be completely picked off. You may think things are bad now but they would be a damn sight worse without the CWU

- Forcing through changes without agreement - longer delivery spans, more D2Ds with no more payments, an all out attack on FT work, Delivery office and Mail Centre closures on a local basis leading to member being exposed like they are in the North West right now.

- No more national agreements. Threats such as regional pay, terms and conditions will become a reality.

- Pay Freeze - If we let RM get away with this tactic in 2009 then a precedent has been set. It is clear that they have seen an opportunity and are making a cheap shot. Its as simple as this...... The senior managers bonuses are paid out based on profits and company position. As always the big fat bonuses will be paid this year and there is no cash problem in RM (except to few people are getting to much of it). Also it is interesting to not they are citing the 0% inflation as a reason to not offer a pay rise. I don't ever recall the company being keen to pay us 4 or 5% when inflation was at that level do you???

We all have different views on some of things that have happened recently to lead us to this point but what is vital is that we unite moving forward.

We all know that it would be easy to shy away from comflict at this time. It always is!! People will also be worried about the media portraying us as greedy during difficult economic times. With a lot of hard work we can turn this around and make it a fight for jobs. This will force the Government into a corner as they can hardly be seen advocating further jobs losses at this time.

With the right campaign, comms and leadership (at all levels) it wont be just London and Scotland ready to fight. A postal worker is a postal worker wherever they are based. The issue is the campaign thus far has not been good enough. That has to change or in 12 months time the 'good old days' forum on here will be the only one we are all using as RM and the Government would have crushed any last resistance.

As Dingo says..... There is a National Briefing on Thursday. All Area reps, branch secretaries etc are invited. When they get back you need to demand information from them. THIS IS YOUR UNION, THIS IS OUR FIGHT.

[dvbuk55]

I applaud that post Lovejoy, absolutely to the point. I personally feel that in the Northwest we have been hung out to dry. It is difficult to have an informed opinion without information. If it was possible to mount a successful national campaign there would probably be enough support to cause serious problems to RM. The meetings can't come too soon because it is going to take a fair while to organise a ballot and any action following.

[randompostman]

Down south we had a meeting about Royal Mails plans and our rep was talking about dealing with them on savings. show of hands showed we would take ia to protect our jobs by ballot and it was 100%. After stage 3 he has the mandate for a ballot for ia but will let it ride in the hope rm cock it up and hope he can get something after that! What can we do as members?

[ronpetetrevchris]

Point in case.

Unity - im a union activist and i dont even know what the ballots are about, majority at our office didnt even know anything about ballots.

I ask my dom he says its just the big offices that are dragging their feet on issues weve already implemented the changes, no one is telling me any different, no wonder we arent as one we dont even know about it, oh and im the office rep!

How can i get the members organised and in the picture when my greatest resource is this unoficial site?

[robd]

I

How can i get the members organised and in the picture when my greatest resource is this unoficial site?

It seems our branch is also relying on this wonderful resource.
http://www.cwuleeds1.org/Links.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[POSTMAN]

I

How can i get the members organised and in the picture when my greatest resource is this unoficial site?

It seems our branch is also relying on this wonderful resource.
http://www.cwuleeds1.org/Links.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We should be top of that list