Re: Exec action hits Central Scotland

[taxi4leighton]

they will never "learn" as they have no morals, shame or pride . they are just an embarassment

[DUNDEEPOSTIE]

Please give a big hand to the laddies and lassies at Forfar DO for helping to sort the backlog of mailsort at Dundee West, which is working to rule and now creaking under the weight of undelivered yorks of mailsort and packets and parcels. You are a credit to Royal Mail and a disgrace to the union, if you are in it, which I hope you are not. Also known for working through strikes.

You mean they went from their own DO to the affected one too help out.

Quite the opposite. The managment have taken it up there! It is coming back in walksorted trays, which are then placed at the appropriate frame by management!Taxi For Leighton is correct, these offices never come out on strike and continuously toddy to Royal Mail! They will learn eventually!

Not quite standing up in Solidarity is it. They probably paid them OT from your DOs budget as well.

These offices unfotunately don't comprehend that word clearly!
Taken from this evening's Dundee Evening Telegraph Letters Page.
"Month wait for package delivery "


"I read with interest the article regarding the alleged backlog of mail items in a Dundee Royal Mail delivery office, a backlog which Royal Mail has denied.
I have been waiting since April 30 for a package and had almost given up all hope of receiving it.

Then, to my surprise, it was finally delivered on Saturday, May 25, almost a month late.

It is just as well it wasn’t something I needed urgently. I got the package in the end, but I don’t think it is at all satisfactory.

I am sure I’m not alone in this problem and know there are issues regarding new working practices between staff and Royal Mail management, but please Royal Mail, sort it out and give your customers the service they pay for and deserve". — D. E. Layed.

Remember, There is NO BACKLOG AT DUNDEE WEST!!

[bexhil palace]

Are there any posties on here from the Elgin area? I only ask as a friend of mine works at the DO, he feels there is Zero chance of a yes vote up there as
the union is very weak.

[andy2007]

Are there any posties on here from the Elgin area? I only ask as a friend of mine works at the DO, he feels there is Zero chance of a yes vote up there as
the union is very weak.

And that attitude, is WHY the Union is weak there. If people are afraid to stand up and be counted, because they feel there is no backup. Then they won't even try, to stand together. Perhaps it'd be worth offering the proverbial Olive Branch, in an attempt to get them to stand together with the stronger Offices?
It might turn out to be a waste of time. But you never know, unless you try.

[belle smith]

Update on Livi DO

we're having a union meeting on Tuesday morning with the Area rep, should and almost certainly will be balloting for strike action after that!
my appoligies for draging our heels so long we did have a meeting before EA was introduced but there was a very poor turnout and the branch wouldn't ballot us until we had another meeting. We don't currently have a rep so took a while for us to get our fingers out.

[brothermagrew]

Well done Mr Smith -our Dim & the linos have been in Livi last week making your office an even bigger Feck up than it is.

We had Galloway back for one day he got it really tight fae the shopfloor.
" Hear you've fecked up the Livi office as well as this yin"

Hope the weather holds for yer car park meeting on tuesday

And for those of you who didn't come across this article during the last National strike beware of the following happening at your place of work:

Royal Mail managers have been ordered to spy on strikers and staff who threaten to join the wildcat walkouts disrupting postal services across much of Britain, the Guardian can reveal.

Instructions sent to sorting and delivery offices this week marked "in strictest confidence" but obtained by the Guardian disclose plans to break the strike by gathering covert intelligence on activists and union officials. Managers have been told to identify ringleaders and eavesdrop on conversations between employees, noting in diaries exact times, dates, names and what is said. They have been told to summon union representatives to meetings when trouble is brewing, and to write down the reaction of those involved.

When representatives leave the meeting, managers have been assigned to follow them surreptitiously and closely watch whom they speak to.
All activists should be under permanent observation and will be challenged at the first rumour of a possible walkout. In addition, managers have been told to ask union representatives in advance what they are planning to say at mass meetings. Permission to hold the gatherings on the premises should be refused if a manager is not allowed to attend, and if the meeting goes ahead anyway, it should be interrupted and the names of those present taken.
And finally, if a strike starts, managers have been ordered to film, video and photograph picket lines. They have been urged to buy disposable cameras if necessary and use CCTV cameras to back up witness statements.

The operation, unprecedented by a big public employer since the 1984-85 miners' strike, is intended to stop strikes and to garner evidence for possible legal action against individuals and the Communication Workers Union. Although the union has repudiated the unofficial strikes to avoid an injunction and potentially catastrophic compensation claims, the 11-page document makes clear the Royal Mail believes CWU leaders are privately involved.
In bold type, with the warning emphasised by the use of capital letters, the document tells managers: "The evidence that you provide may be used in court so it is vital that it is as detailed and as clear as possible. Please ensure that any material is dealt with IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE."

Last night Labour MPs joined CWU leaders in condemning the Royal Mail's action. John McDonnell, chairman of the party's Socialist Campaign group, denounced their "McCarthyite tactics", and Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: "If the management spent less time spying like the Stasi in East Germany and more time trying to resolve grievances and this dispute, there wouldn't be any strikes." Evidence is being covertly gathered within what the Royal Mail calls "the matrix", a series of scenarios involving the threat and taking of unofficial industrial action.

The document sets out the steps to be taken with military precision and provides examples of actions to take. "Make a note of the reps movements, noting who they speak to immediately after leaving manager's office," it says. "Assign appropriate numbers of managers to closely observe all the reps/ committee members on site... Follow and make notes. "Observe the picket line using CCTV if available, take pictures of the picket line (buy a disposable camera if possible) and make a note of date, time and who is on the picket line. "Pay particular attention to any CWU reps/committee members or individuals who are not from the office in question... Should the picket line start to behave in an unacceptable manner then consider taking video footage."

Managers were told to send signed witness statements, including second hand accounts, photographs, leaflets, posters and other information by email or fax to a London-based industrial relations team. "Don't worry about whether a piece of evidence is relevant or not: simply pass it on," the instructions say.
Royal Mail defended the operation last night. A spokeswoman said: "We feel very strongly that our customers' mail is being disrupted and if we can take steps to end the action, we will do so."

Striking workers were later told to go back to work and "get on with the job". Roger Baynes, head of operations for Royal Mail, insisted staff were being intimidated into joining the action: "The vast majority of our employees don't want to be out on strike, they don't want to lose money, they don't want to disrupt services to our customers." He told Channel 4 News: "I am desperate to get this sorted out, for our employees to come back to work, restore services to our customers and get on with business." Peace talks continued yesterday for a fourth successive day as the unofficial action spread to Stoke-on-Trent, Bristol and Swindon.

The CWU has estimated that more than 25,000 workers had joined walkouts in parts of London, Kent, Essex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, the West Midlands and Cheshire. The dispute was ignited by disciplinary action taken against drivers in Southall, west London, after they had returned to work on October 17 after a balloted 24-hour official strike about the London weighting the day before. Postal workers accused the company of using a vote against a national pay strike in September to impose change, suspending local agreements on wages and conditions.

Mr McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington in west London, said: "This dispute is not about money or wages, its about workers reacting to provocation by management. It is appalling that Royal Mail is subjecting its employees to... intimidation and McCarthyite tactics." Hundreds of millions of letters are thought to be undelivered in a dispute costing Royal Mail an estimated £10m per day. The Royal Mail has suspended high-value special deliveries in the capital and started sealing red postboxes. Restrictions were lifted on four private licensed mail companies yesterday by the postal regulator, Postcomm, permitting them to deliver direct to homes for existing bulk customers.

[k979aaa]

As brothermagrew says it is all but impossible to organize any union activity in the workplace now in many royalmail offices!. But this site is a tremendous resource to fight royalmail at their own game WHY did they offer job and finish? Why do some think they can still do job and finish? Why give royalmail the time!. TAKE YOUR TIME LIKE OTHERS DO AND DON'T GIVE YOUR TIME TO ROYALMAIL!. say that in front of a manager and you would have a very interesting time with the DOM!.

[lovejoy]

Well done Mr Smith -our Dim & the linos have been in Livi last week making your office an even bigger Feck up than it is.

We had Galloway back for one day he got it really tight fae the shopfloor.
" Hear you've fecked up the Livi office as well as this yin"

Hope the weather holds for yer car park meeting on tuesday

And for those of you who didn't come across this article during the last National strike beware of the following happening at your place of work:

Royal Mail managers have been ordered to spy on strikers and staff who threaten to join the wildcat walkouts disrupting postal services across much of Britain, the Guardian can reveal.

Instructions sent to sorting and delivery offices this week marked "in strictest confidence" but obtained by the Guardian disclose plans to break the strike by gathering covert intelligence on activists and union officials. Managers have been told to identify ringleaders and eavesdrop on conversations between employees, noting in diaries exact times, dates, names and what is said. They have been told to summon union representatives to meetings when trouble is brewing, and to write down the reaction of those involved.

When representatives leave the meeting, managers have been assigned to follow them surreptitiously and closely watch whom they speak to.
All activists should be under permanent observation and will be challenged at the first rumour of a possible walkout. In addition, managers have been told to ask union representatives in advance what they are planning to say at mass meetings. Permission to hold the gatherings on the premises should be refused if a manager is not allowed to attend, and if the meeting goes ahead anyway, it should be interrupted and the names of those present taken.
And finally, if a strike starts, managers have been ordered to film, video and photograph picket lines. They have been urged to buy disposable cameras if necessary and use CCTV cameras to back up witness statements.

The operation, unprecedented by a big public employer since the 1984-85 miners' strike, is intended to stop strikes and to garner evidence for possible legal action against individuals and the Communication Workers Union. Although the union has repudiated the unofficial strikes to avoid an injunction and potentially catastrophic compensation claims, the 11-page document makes clear the Royal Mail believes CWU leaders are privately involved.
In bold type, with the warning emphasised by the use of capital letters, the document tells managers: "The evidence that you provide may be used in court so it is vital that it is as detailed and as clear as possible. Please ensure that any material is dealt with IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE."

Last night Labour MPs joined CWU leaders in condemning the Royal Mail's action. John McDonnell, chairman of the party's Socialist Campaign group, denounced their "McCarthyite tactics", and Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: "If the management spent less time spying like the Stasi in East Germany and more time trying to resolve grievances and this dispute, there wouldn't be any strikes." Evidence is being covertly gathered within what the Royal Mail calls "the matrix", a series of scenarios involving the threat and taking of unofficial industrial action.

The document sets out the steps to be taken with military precision and provides examples of actions to take. "Make a note of the reps movements, noting who they speak to immediately after leaving manager's office," it says. "Assign appropriate numbers of managers to closely observe all the reps/ committee members on site... Follow and make notes. "Observe the picket line using CCTV if available, take pictures of the picket line (buy a disposable camera if possible) and make a note of date, time and who is on the picket line. "Pay particular attention to any CWU reps/committee members or individuals who are not from the office in question... Should the picket line start to behave in an unacceptable manner then consider taking video footage."

Managers were told to send signed witness statements, including second hand accounts, photographs, leaflets, posters and other information by email or fax to a London-based industrial relations team. "Don't worry about whether a piece of evidence is relevant or not: simply pass it on," the instructions say.
Royal Mail defended the operation last night. A spokeswoman said: "We feel very strongly that our customers' mail is being disrupted and if we can take steps to end the action, we will do so."

Striking workers were later told to go back to work and "get on with the job". Roger Baynes, head of operations for Royal Mail, insisted staff were being intimidated into joining the action: "The vast majority of our employees don't want to be out on strike, they don't want to lose money, they don't want to disrupt services to our customers." He told Channel 4 News: "I am desperate to get this sorted out, for our employees to come back to work, restore services to our customers and get on with business." Peace talks continued yesterday for a fourth successive day as the unofficial action spread to Stoke-on-Trent, Bristol and Swindon.

The CWU has estimated that more than 25,000 workers had joined walkouts in parts of London, Kent, Essex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, the West Midlands and Cheshire. The dispute was ignited by disciplinary action taken against drivers in Southall, west London, after they had returned to work on October 17 after a balloted 24-hour official strike about the London weighting the day before. Postal workers accused the company of using a vote against a national pay strike in September to impose change, suspending local agreements on wages and conditions.

Mr McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington in west London, said: "This dispute is not about money or wages, its about workers reacting to provocation by management. It is appalling that Royal Mail is subjecting its employees to... intimidation and McCarthyite tactics." Hundreds of millions of letters are thought to be undelivered in a dispute costing Royal Mail an estimated £10m per day. The Royal Mail has suspended high-value special deliveries in the capital and started sealing red postboxes. Restrictions were lifted on four private licensed mail companies yesterday by the postal regulator, Postcomm, permitting them to deliver direct to homes for existing bulk customers.

For information this was not linked to the last National Dispute (2007).

It was happening after the no vote in 2003

[brothermagrew]

apologies to the brothers and sisters for getting the dispute wrong and thanks to lovejoy for the correction

[k979aaa]

apologies to the brothers and sisters for getting the dispute wrong and thanks to lovejoy for the correction

It is a good warning to all too be vigilant though in these times we in our office cannot have any meetings in the workplace.

[BELIAL]

Shame on you Brothermagrew, obviously RM is nowadays a far more caring sharing and socially responsible employer than in the dark days of 2003.
Fancy reposting those scandalous accusations

[brothermagrew]

Shame on you Brothermagrew, obviously RM is nowadays a far more caring sharing and socially responsible employer than in the dark days of 2003.
Fancy reposting those scandalous accusations

Suitably chastised BELIAL but now that it is 2009 and still in the dark days, there is still a modicum of truth in the posting.

[lovejoy]

Shame on you Brothermagrew, obviously RM is nowadays a far more caring sharing and socially responsible employer than in the dark days of 2003.
Fancy reposting those scandalous accusations

Suitably chastised BELIAL but now that it is 2009 and still in the dark days, there is still a modicum of truth in the posting.

Theres more than a modicum of truth mate I was just pointing out it was the wrong dispute.

If anything RM have got worse and harsher in their approach so we could probably expect more of the same.

The Union just has to get the arguments and the comms right and the massive YES vote in London will be replicated around the UK.

Members have had enough of the tired of oppotunistic sticks they are being beaten with.... economy, falling mail volumes, competitors etc!

I am sure that with the right arguments put in place the members are ready to fight back. Every rep needs to be prepared to put in the time and effort. It is too easy to say 'let other people deal with that'. Royal Mail are attacking us all on a National basis with a nationally coordinated set of policies. Our response must match this.

[k979aaa]

Shame on you Brothermagrew, obviously RM is nowadays a far more caring sharing and socially responsible employer than in the dark days of 2003.
Fancy reposting those scandalous accusations

Suitably chastised BELIAL but now that it is 2009 and still in the dark days, there is still a modicum of truth in the posting.

Theres more than a modicum of truth mate I was just pointing out it was the wrong dispute.

If anything RM have got worse and harsher in their approach so we could probably expect more of the same.

The Union just has to get the arguments and the comms right and the massive YES vote in London will be replicated around the UK.

Members have had enough of the tired of oppotunistic sticks they are being beaten with.... economy, falling mail volumes, competitors etc!

I am sure that with the right arguments put in place the members are ready to fight back. Every rep needs to be prepared to put in the time and effort. It is too easy to say 'let other people deal with that'. Royal Mail are attacking us all on a National basis with a nationally coordinated set of policies. Our response must match this.

Well said lovejoy the carrots have all gone manky and the sticks are of iron with the masters cracking the whip at a whim and will never before seen in this workplace!. Just hope H/Q GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND SOON!.

[shades]

The mail that is being sorted by Forfar and Pitlochery is a pathetic waist of time there are more missorts per tray than i have ever seen in my life and it doesnt help delivery stats in the slighhtest.
We also have managers from other dists preping and delivering walks, and packets, and running about like blue ar***d flies
WORKING TO RULE IS THE ONLYWAT TO GO.a wage every week and watching a real live farce in action