Letter from Dave Ward to Mark Higson

[Pat Ostman]

Dear Mark

I am writing to confirm that on Thursday 15th October 2009, the Union will serve the relevant notice in line with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidated) Act 1992, announcing national strike action.

However, given the seriousness of the situation we are prepared to make a fresh offer that will avoid the planned strike action and assist in finding a resolution to this dispute.

The CWU offer comprises of the following:-

• That Royal Mail will reveal their business plan for the whole of the planned transformation programme. This will create an open environment that will allow Royal Mail and CWU to reach a 3 year agreement aimed at providing long term stability for the business, employees and our customers.

• That Royal Mail recommit to the key principle which underpinned the 2007 Pay and Modernisation Agreement i.e. that “change will be introduced by agreement”. This means Royal Mail will unequivocally agree planned 2010 change, including the rollout of new walk sequencing machines.

• That we agree, in principle, that improved Job Security arrangements and a new benefits package that rewards postal workers for delivering success for the business will form part of the final agreement.

• That Royal Mail agrees the principle that budgets should not drive staffing levels and that what constitutes a fair days workload will be based on transparent and agreed standards with the Union. We should jointly consider utilising independent experts in the field of work measurement to facilitate a resolution to all workload issues.

• That Royal Mail are prepared to step back from imposed change and resolve all current local disputes by agreement.

• That Royal Mail agrees to an independent enquiry into the bullying and harassment of postal workers and immediately ceases the use of unagreed HR procedures.

• That Royal Mail are prepared to jointly approach the Government on the urgent need to find a resolution to pensions and regulatory issues.

• That the national parties clear our diaries to allow for an intense period of negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues and conclude a comprehensive national agreement.

Your commitment to the aforementioned will enable us to restore customer confidence and provide a genuine opportunity to resolve this dispute without the need for any further strike action.

Separately and in addition to the above offer, the Union are proposing, without any preconditions, that the national parties jointly explore the possibility of third party mediation. As well as seeking third party mediation to resolve the dispute, the Union would also be prepared to engage third party assistance to help bring about a fundamental long term improvement to industrial and employee relations.

The Union is available for meaningful negotiations for the remainder of this week.

I look forward to your prompt response. If Royal Mail really is sincere about reaching an agreement with the Union that aligns the interests of our customers, employees and the company as a whole, then you will pick up this offer.

Yours sincerely



Dave Ward

[PrestwickPostie]

should have started the letter Dear Mark ya c*** :cfo

[DGP1]

should have started the letter Dear Mark ya c*** :cfo

Or Dear Mark ya fawning sycophant

[postghost]

All worder pretty well tbh and most of it is feasible.

I just don't trust RM to honour ANY of it.

[Stormproof]

Wheres the bit about treating the workforce with respect and stopping managements constant bullying and intimidation

[the dragon]

Wheres the bit about treating the workforce with respect and stopping managements constant bullying and intimidation

I suggest you read the letter again..for what its worth i think Wards letter is spot on , only trouble is it will get a negative response from :cfo :cfo and his minnions!!!!!!!!!!

[OnAFlyer]

Wheres the bit about treating the workforce with respect and stopping managements constant bullying and intimidation

I suggest you read the letter again..for what its worth i think Wards letter is spot on , only trouble is it will get a negative response from :cfo :cfo and his minnions!!!!!!!!!!

It already has, RM have refused to deal. Higson was on CH4 news half an hour ago saying RM won't go to ACAS because there is no compromise on change.

[Stormproof]

Wheres the bit about treating the workforce with respect and stopping managements constant bullying and intimidation

I suggest you read the letter again..for what its worth i think Wards letter is spot on , only trouble is it will get a negative response from :cfo :cfo and his minnions!!!!!!!!!!

thanks for that, got a stinking cold and must've been sneezing when i got to that bit

[Edward Hunter]

I hope people can see that its RM who are being unreasonable here. The only way to resolve this is to go to arbitration because the 2007 deal was so vague, and both parties will argue that they are right till the cows come home.So why wait for yet another 14 weeks of IA which is no good to anyone, before it gets sorted by independant people, because that is what its gonna take?
I like the letter, well thought out and presents us in the right way - wanting it sorted out

[The Jarvie Ward]

I sincerily hope this is our last 'fresh offer'. Fact is we've taken enough s**t, we've voted and the results are in, name the date and if needs be lets go ! Let Royal Mail's so called 'management' come to us with offers, we are Royal Mail, not these greasey here today gone tomorrow faceless clowns at the top creaming millions off our PUBLIC SERVICE !

[dudleylicious]

"However, given the seriousness of the situation we are prepared to make a fresh offer that will avoid the planned strike action and assist in finding a resolution to this dispute."

Big Dave give them feck all I have come this far for the CWU to bottle it

[POSTMAN]

make a fresh offer that will avoid the planned strike action

And you think RM are going to take it? Think about it.

[opgpat]

THIS LETTER IS SPOT ON - THIS IS WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR.

IT IS TOTALLY FAIR, TOTALLY REASONABLE, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH RM??? WHY CAN'T THEY GIVE US A STANDARDISED WORKLOAD AGREED BY INDEPENDENT EXPERTS?? SURELY THAT'S THE WAY TO MOVE THE COMPANY FORWARD WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR ALL AND A HAPPY WORKFORCE DOING A FAIR DAYS WORK FOR A FAIR DAYS PAY. DO THESE MEN WANT TO HALF KILL US WITH THE WORK THEY WANT US TO DO?

ARE WE GONNA CAVE IN? OR FIGHT FOR THESE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS TO A FAIR WORKING LIFE??? COME ON TROOPS, LETS DO IT!!!