UNITE LETTER TO MEMBERS REF BALLOT ( MANAGERS )

[Geezer]

CMA House Tel : 0845 6052194
Ruscombe Business Park Fax: 0118 9070713
Twyford
Reading
Berks
RG10 9JD

CMA Sector

25th October 2010


To all Unite Members
Royal Mail Group & Post Office Limited



Dear Colleague

Royal Mail Group, incl. POL, Compulsory Redundancy

Further to previous correspondence on this matter, we have met again with Royal Mail Group and as mentioned at the end of the letter of the 15th October, the full time representatives have met to debate the situation and to consider the next steps.

At the full time reps meeting on Wednesday the 20th October, I presented an update to the representatives on what has happened to date. Part of this update was on the debate that took place the day previous when we met Royal Mail. At this meeting we invited Royal Mail Group to give a commitment not to implement their stated policy of dismissing individuals on the grounds of compulsory redundancy where they had rejected a voluntary redundancy offer. Royal Mail refused to give this commitment.

Accordingly, at its meeting on the 20th October, the full time representatives unanimously agreed that a campaign be initiated, including a ballot for industrial action, in opposition to Royal Mails policy of compulsory redundancy. That campaign will consist of actions such as, for example, a work to rule, a go slow, an overtime or call out ban and up to and including strike action. However, it has to be said that this is the very activity that we do not wish to take and we take this decision extremely reluctantly but given the actions of the employer we have no alternative.

From feedback received so far it is clear that there is a groundswell of opinion of opposition to the imposition of compulsory redundancy. This opinion is much stronger than we have ever had previously. But of course we have never before been directly threatened with this action. It has also been said that the members should have the opportunity to decide and that opinion was reflected at the full time reps meeting.

Preparations are being made for the ballot to be undertaken and we will continue to meet with Royal Mail and Post Office Limited to discuss the reorganisation and to impress upon them the need to step back from this unacceptable policy.

At long last Royal Mail has announced its figures for potential redundancy. This now stands at 1063 managerial posts or 40% of the affected audience. This is on top of the number of the 90 announced for REMCO and SLP and those 305 possible redundancies in Post Office Limited.

Royal Mail has a long way to go to demonstrate the reasonableness of these figure and we will continue to challenge them. However, it is going to be extremely difficult, even if we accepted voluntary redundancies of this magnitude which we do not, to identify sufficient volunteers to reach this number. It is even more obvious therefore that the threat of compulsory redundancy could become a reality. Even more reason for our campaign of opposition and for us to seek your support for it.

Further information will be communicated in due course. In the meantime can I ask you to consider the position carefully and assess what is at stake for all members across Royal Mail Group. What is being imposed on non operational managers to day could be imposed on operational managers’ tomorrow. We must not fall into the trap of being narrow minded and only consider our individual positions. For Royal Mail Group to be able to implement this policy without our opposition can only result in even lesser terms for the future and a more antagonistic approach from the employer.

These changes in approach by Royal Mail, should they go unchallenged, will flow through the organisation like wild fire and at some point soon affect everyone. Nobody is safe from the less caring policy which the business appears to be adopting. We must act now and all act together in support of all Unite members in Royal Mail, Parcelforce and Post Office Limited.


Yours sincerely



Brian Scott
Assistant National Secretary





Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley http://www.unitetheunion.org.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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[bensonhedge]

Preparations are being made for the ballot to be undertaken and we will continue to meet with Royal Mail and Post Office Limited to discuss the reorganisation and to impress upon them the need to step back from this unacceptable policy.

[POSTMAN]

Nice one Geeze.

[fishtank]

a go slow

That aint gonna be hard to organise...
As you were boys.

[DirtyHarry]

a go slow

That aint gonna be hard to organise...
As you were boys.

Oh, I do hope it spreads as far as DOs, I really do. DOMs on a go slow, I'd pay good money just to see if it were really posible they could go any slower without grinding to a halt.

[baldrick]

a go slow

Their coffee would go cold.

[tojobevred]

pay back time i say u know when you crossed our line
wot comes around goes around
looking fwd to ur picket line i hope you get 100% support frm the posties
not good luck again turn the lights off pls boss
ha ha

[mondeoman1]

Qoute from the last paragraph, "Nobody is safe from the less caring policy which the business appears to be adopting".
As workers on the front line we have been subject to this less caring policy since 2007, welcome to the real world!

[westlondonpostie]

I don't know why some people are getting so excited about this ballot,
It would be the worst thing that Management could do is to go on strike and they know it!
The reason they haven't gone on strike for 30 years is because when they did no one noticed.
They know we won't back em, and thats what matters,

[britwrit]

Sorry. What's the difference between operational managers and non-operational managers?

[DGP1]

Sorry. What's the difference between operational managers and non-operational managers?

Coffee consumption???

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Sorry. What's the difference between operational managers and non-operational managers?

Operational Managers are involved in the Pipe line so are at Mail Centres, DOs, RDCs etc - basically anywhere that handles mail (MDeC as well I think)

Non operational Managers are those that work in HQs and within Support Functions such as Call Centres, HR, Uniform, Accounting etc.

The actual difference probably not much as most managerial work is the same whatever company/function you operate in. Watch others doing the work whilst claiming the glory. Its a joke BTW.

[britwrit]

Oh, cool. Thanks.

The CWU should probably go out as well over this. I know that sounds really, really upappealing but we don't want the business to get into the habit of conpulsory redundancies.

[femrep]

My DOM told me of this, then said (out loud) I wonder if staff will come out in support! Considering the response to the Have Your Say this year I would say its unlikely.

[heapsy]

Always promised myself I would never cross a picket line. But on this occasion I will be making an exception.