ROYAL MAIL DISPUTE: LEAKED ROYAL MAIL STRATEGY DOCUMENT

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No. 911/2009
Ref.
Date: 16th October 2009



TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleague

ROYAL MAIL DISPUTE: LEAKED ROYAL MAIL STRATEGY DOCUMENT

Branches will be aware of the media coverage of a leaked Royal Mail internal presentation of the company’s strategy in the current dispute, obtained by the BBC News Night” programme.

We have now seen the document in question. There can be no serious doubt about its authenticity. The document reveals an approach to the dispute, which while worrying and disappointing, comes as little surprise. In essence, the approach is to seek an agreement solely on Royal Mail’s terms. If this cannot be achieved Royal Mail will put in place “a framework for delivery of change without agreement”. This will involve various measures to “actively down dial the role of the Union” including “serve notice on the current Industrial Relations Framework and facilities/release arrangements and substitute the legal minimum”.

This approach – change driven through aggressively solely on Royal Mail’s terms is exactly what we have described throughout the dispute.

Media coverage has focused on the role of the Government. The document assumes “share holders support” for the company’s position but it is not clear how well founded this assumption is. It would be a matter of grave concern if a Labour Government had knowingly brought into a strategy designed to effectively de-Unionise a major publicly owned industry. We will of course be seeking immediate clarification of the Government’s position.

The document clarifies the reasons for Royal Mail’s rejection of the CWU’s offer of mediation. Its strategy sees a referral to mediation only as a last resort if “political will” to support Royal Mail’s aggressive approach of change by imposition evaporates.

Royal Mail does not want to adapt its plans by negotiation with the Union and it is not prepared to have its plans examined by a third party – such is the company’s fear of this option that it sees it only as a last resort if all else fails.







The document is conspicuous in its lack of concern for customer service. The only references to customers are in relation to the political risk of losing support.

The Union’s strategy remains unaffected. We will continue to work to seek change by genuine agreement, which protects the jobs, earnings and working conditions of our members and preserves a real commitment to customer service.

Given that the document is now in public domain, we have attached a copy. We would ask Branches to share the themes within the document with the membership. If anyone did have any doubts about the importance of supporting the union this document should be sufficient to dispel them.

To watch the coverage on BBC Newsnight please click on the following link: http://bbc.co.uk/i/ndtnq/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Yours sincerely


Billy Hayes Dave Ward
General Secretary Deputy General Secretary (P)

[Pat Ostman]

Kill the Union, Longer Saturdays and D2D Payment ending and monthly pay for phase 4. The future's bright

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Kill the Union, Longer Saturdays and D2D Payment ending and monthly pay for phase 4. The future's bright

It it was not about pay it is now. Not paying for D2Ds that's £25 - £30 a week for me.

[Stammerking]

The D2D issue and longer Saturdays will hopefully bring the maybe picket crossers back on side!!!!!!!!!!

[IWW Fellow Worker]

In this day of telephone and email, there is not much that would really inconvenience me with the strike.

Then don't let the door hit you on the arse as you goose step out!

[kingtubby]

In this day of telephone and email, there is not much that would really inconvenience me with the strike, it will just encourage me to go with paperless options for billing and statements, and any packages I need can be delivered by other providers.

If a strike is no inconvenience to you, why are you wasting time posting here?

[jaja]

Well having read the document, as a customer I wholly support the Management's view.

I dont see why the union should get anything more than they are required as a minimum under law.

The restrictive practices should be renegotiated. Transformation programmes must be pushed through.

This document looks like a breath of fresh air, the management and government should have had the bottle to sort this out years ago.

As a customer I can live with a bit of disruption for a few months if we get a modernised service at the end of it.

In this day of telephone and email, there is not much that would really inconvenience me with the strike, it will just encourage me to go with paperless options for billing and statements, and any packages I need can be delivered by other providers.

The postal workers need to realise they are shooting themselves in the foot, and that they will lose business and lose more jobs the longer they strike. The only people who will be seriously inconvenienced by this are the postal workers themsleves.

Bring it on.

I want to see a modern postal service I can be proud of as a British consumer.

This sounds like RM Managment posing as a customer???

[OnAFlyer]

This sounds like RM Managment posing as a customer???

Not at all. I have absolutely no links to the Royal Mail other than as an ordinary citizen who wants a value for money postal service.

And you seriously think RM's plans are going to give you more 'value for money'

Do you think the service is better now than it was a few years ago?

[IWW Fellow Worker]

This sounds like RM Managment posing as a customer???

Yes. Let's hope the plank is soon in need of the modernised NHS and his local A&E has been modernised into closure just as our one has been. All being well, he'll miss his place on the operating table by minutes as the long waited for ambulance speeds to the next town. What a laught that would be!

[IWW Fellow Worker]

Do you think the service is better now than it was a few years ago?

With two deliveries a day, the first one completed by 09.30? Of course he doesn't. With Sunday collections? Certainly not! With three or four collections from boxes a day instead of one or two? No chance! Thank goodness Anal Satan and Sadam Crozier did away with that type of thing. Providing a service! The very idea of spoiling the public like that! No sir. The current modernised service is way better! That's right isn't it Postal_Customer?

[*The Lone Postie*]

Why do i get a bad feeling were walking into a trap by striking!RM/Govt seem to be all geared up for this.However their plan can only work if we cave in after a few weeks national if we can last we have a chance!!?

[kingtubby]

In this day of telephone and email, there is not much that would really inconvenience me with the strike, it will just encourage me to go with paperless options for billing and statements, and any packages I need can be delivered by other providers.

If a strike is no inconvenience to you, why are you wasting time posting here?

Because I am interested in finding out what is going on, the background, and in seeing the royal mail modernised, and making sure it delivers its service objectives.

I'm afraid that sounds straight from the RM propaganda sheet.

Ever since meeting a postman on the train about 10-15 years ago and being told at length about all the dodges wheezes and scams and restrictive practices that went on, I have been a keen advocate for change, and for the restrictive practices to be thrown out. There was clearly too much union power in the Royal Mail and it was crippling efficiency.

Well, the job has changed a huge amount in the last 10-15 years, the "dodges wheezes and scams and restrictive practices" you speak of are long gone - just a convenient sound bite spouted by Crozier.

[MailHater]

The leaked document in PDF format - http://rubbishroyalmail.co.uk/viewtopic ... 9&t=51#p71" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[norbert]

In this day of telephone and email, there is not much that would really inconvenience me with the strike, it will just encourage me to go with paperless options for billing and statements, and any packages I need can be delivered by other providers.

If a strike is no inconvenience to you, why are you wasting time posting here?

Because I am interested in finding out what is going on, the background, and in seeing the royal mail modernised, and making sure it delivers its service objectives.

I'm afraid that sounds straight from the RM propaganda sheet.

Ever since meeting a postman on the train about 10-15 years ago and being told at length about all the dodges wheezes and scams and restrictive practices that went on, I have been a keen advocate for change, and for the restrictive practices to be thrown out. There was clearly too much union power in the Royal Mail and it was crippling efficiency.

Well, the job has changed a huge amount in the last 10-15 years, the "dodges wheezes and scams and restrictive practices" you speak of are long gone - just a convenient sound bite spouted by Crozier.

This all stinks of Hellmail ? -if it's not RM ? - the union bashing site - they have a good relationship with RM's press office - let's just say that certain people's identities are a bit ? dubious , same goes for the plants on Postman Fluffy

too rhetorical , dogmatic and strident - then there's all the cliches straight out of The Express , Mail or that Murdoch rag - interesting ?

" Postal Customer " - " I met a postman on a train - I've no links with RM "

[IWW Fellow Worker]

all those shop stewards who fought modernisation to feather their nests.

Name the delivery offices where they were based.