Why do we need local agreements? surely national is the way

[shrew1]

agree. If the yes vote campaign by the union had mentioned local agreements being a possibilty again we would never have got such a big majority for a yes vote. We can't have a situation where only the big or well represented offices get a good deal. All of us up and down the country are out on strike whether big or small office, we should all be able to benefit from a national deal. Any local agreements that are negotiated should be a bonus on top of a water tight national agreement.

[Martin Walsh]

I am one who always believe that no one size fits all and it is important that a national agreement allows for a range of options for local negotations within a framework. This has been the way the cwu has always been and the way conference has always insisted.

It is a myth to suggust that local agreements play into Royal Mail hands. Royal Mail do not want local agreements they want standirsed operating pratices. That would be a disaster for the union. Remember that means the same start and finish times , the same Saturday times , the same duty patterns (no more one in 6 ,no more 4 day weeks , no more fixed days off ) the same price per letter , the same level of part timers and the same delivery span. The same call rate and same walking speed for all offices .

Local agreements allow for a rep of where there is not a rep the area rep the opportunity to discuss with the members the types of start times, attendances , earnings and methods and level of full and part time ratios which their members want. It would be unacceptable to most if 150 the Broadway imposed those kind of things on all 1500 offices around the country.

Thats why all National agreements allow for local circumstances to be taken into account.

[shrew1]

Local agreements allow for a rep of where there is not a rep the area rep the opportunity to discuss with the members the types of start times, attendances , earnings and methods and level of full and part time ratios which their members want.

Good post dingo. makes it a bit clearer to understand. these are the type of issues I'm concerned about. Difficult question here.....So do you think any deal will allow the local reps the power to negotiate what each unit wants. Will it put a stop to Royalmail doing what they want? What about cozier saying "there's no going back on change". will reps be able to reverse some of the changes that have been imposed such as start times, attendance patterns and not replacing full timers when they leave?

[spilie]

thanks for that dingo but all you have said is what i was saying, strong local areas will get a better deal, and as has been seen scotland for example where i work get the shaft, we got less per election material than the supposed minimum!! we get test areas on a regular basis and dont negotiate a very good deal whenever they become normal practice, i feel the big issues like pay,holidays,delivery spans and special payments e.g(election material) should all be standard

[Funked!]

Local agreements only serve to help RM management in its "divide and conquer" strategy.
No more passing the buck down to local reps, we want a National deal that's fair to every postal worker from Land's End to John O Groats.
No postal worker, no rep, no unit, should feel isolated. Not this time.

We're all in this together.... right!

I've worked in a strong office that years later has turned into a weak office, so don't you strong offices think it's always gonna be that way, & yes, weak offices can become strong.