Communication Workers Union 'failing to engage the public'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.prweek.com/news/939236/Commu ... ge-public/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A crisis management expert has criticised the Communication Workers Union for failing to properly communicate the reasons behind its spat with the Royal Mail.

The CWU said yesterday that it was sending ballot papers to its members proposing a national strike at the Royal Mail over pay and job cuts. The move comes after it organised a number of localised strikes over the past week, causing an estimated backlog of 20 million letters and parcels in London alone.

Former Porter Novelli global crisis and issues speciality leader Jonathan Hemus said the CWU was failing to use media opportunities to get public support for its cause.

‘The CWU spokesmen are still using the language of the 1970s and too much union management speak,' said Hemus. ‘They are failing to communicate and engage properly with the public.'

Hemus, who currently heads up his own agency Insignia Communications, added: ‘The CWU is missing the opportunity to communicate with the public by speaking in a jargon-filled language.'

Hemus advised the union to speak more plainly in order to get its points across.

‘This topic affects everyone who lives in the UK and the CWU needs to focus on the human element,' he said.

[dvbuk55]

No arguments there - they have difficulty communicating with the membership - as Billy said on his views of the ballot "Erm, Erm, well it's a sort of referendum".

[stokes11eg]

How very true--if anything Bumbling Billy is killing our cause--all he has managed to communicate is his indecision,and his kow-tow attitude to R/M---should now do the honourable thing and fall on his own sword.

[POSTMAN]

I have it on good authority that certain people at HQ,no names were mentioned had their head in the sand,and did not realise the magnitude of what was going on.

We said this in 2007,and we now say it again now,there needs to be a serious shake up at wimbledon,too many cushy numbers going on.

[opgpat]

Have to agree, they need to AT THE VERY LEAST hire someone to 'face' the campaign who has media skills and dare I say it, not a regional accent. Some people might say a big FO to that but if we want to win over the nation we need a face and voice that 'middle-England' can relate to. That's simply how it goes. :cfo :mfo

[dvbuk55]

Have to agree, they need to AT THE VERY LEAST hire someone to 'face' the campaign who has media skills and dare I say it, not a regional accent. Some people might say a big FO to that but if we want to win over the nation we need a face and voice that 'middle-England' can relate to. That's simply how it goes. :cfo :mfo

You are absolutely right - presentation is all - one of the reasons Labour won the election was because Blair with all his faults appealed to the masses and so will Cameron at the next election - we need to hire media people who understand how to get the point across, they must appear to be neutral with regards to a geographical accent and be plausible.

[andy2007]

I just hope that they get a Producer and Director, who know what they're doing. That last DVD, showed just how harmful a little knowledge can be.

They tried to exploit a tried and tested psychological technique, to emphasise how sincere they were being. But overused it, and then made things worse, by having closeups of his eyes, sweeping across the screen. They basically, turned it into a farce.

I just hope that enough people can get past the terrible presentation, and listen to the message. Because they did a good job on that bit.

[kingtubby]

May I suggest Derren Brown

[DGP1]

They'd probably end up with Alan Smithee

[opgpat]

Or stage magician Kenny Craig-
Look into my eyes, look into my eyes, not around the eyes, look into my eyes, your under!

[dvbuk55]

Well on a more serious note - the driver who supplies our DO was an hour late this morning and I enquired why that was - his reply was a total surprise - "BLAME YOUR COLLEAGUES DOWN SOUTH FOR STRIKING - I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THEY'RE STRIKING"

Now that could be acceptable from an agency driver but this guy was Royal Mail and in a further incident there are RM drivers now collecting British Gas boxes and dropping them off - I mentioned the strike to him and he said - "YEAH THAT SORT OF THING DOESN'T AFFECT US"

Now those sort of remarks don't exactly instil any confidence in the fact that the message is getting through. Our office is still waitiing for a meeting with branch.

[kingtubby]

They'd probably end up with Alan Smithee

- I had to look that one up

[DGP1]

They'd probably end up with Alan Smithee

- I had to look that one up

One of the most famous directors in Hollywood

[Ahebban]

Posties will always enjoy public support because for the majority the job is, and always will be, more than just stuffing junk mail through a letterbox. The only criticisms I received during the last campaign were when birthday gifts were delayed and home businesses were awaiting delayed cheques etc. For the most part people and businesses were supportive and sympathetic to our cause. They realize how tough the job can be on a day-to-day basis.

It was not lack of public support, or the public turning against us posties, that gave us the poor Agreement that we ended up with. The blame was rightly attached to the ppor management of the dispute by CWU HQ and the fact that around 40,000 of our own members failed to register a vote at all on the Agreement!

The lesson to be learned from 2007 is that you have to engage your own members first before you worry about the wider public and business interest in any dispute. For the most part it is the usual media frenzy that is whipped up during any local or national dispute.

It cost us dear in 2007, can we please not make the same mistake in 2009.