London Mail Centre Rationalisation:CWU LTM

[POSTMAN]

TO: ALL CWU MEMBERS IN MOUNT PLEASANT, NINE ELMS MC, EAST LONDON MC AND RATHBONE PLACE

Dear Colleague,
We are writing to explain the reasons why the union are undertaking an industrial action ballot, why it is crucial that you
vote ‘yes’ and what it is we are determined to achieve on your behalf.

In doing so we understand that CWU members will be very worried about the current situation. This is not a position any
of us wanted to be in – but none of us can allow Royal Mail to get away with the appalling manner in which they
are treating employees.

Royal Mail’s approach to Mail Centre Rationalisation in London is completely outside the terms of our National Agreement
and unlike any other previous Mail Centre Rationalisation in the United Kingdom. This is the first time the company has
gone ahead with closure plans without all employees who wish to do so having the opportunity to either relocate with
the work or move to a suitable, alternative Royal Mail job.

If Royal Mail continues to press ahead regardless – then their plan will eventually lead to compulsory redundancies.

The facts are straight forward. Under their existing plan, with two out of three Mail Centres closing, the best scenario
(with full take up of VR) will be a full time surplus of approximately 1,040 employees and a part time surplus of
approximately 96 employees. Even in Mount Pleasant, which is staying open, there is already a surplus of approximately
534 existing employees because of transfer of international work to Langley and proposed increases in productivity levels.

Royal Mail’s recent actions in writing to home addresses with a preference exercise for voluntary redundancy – but no
choice of alternative jobs – is compelling evidence that the threat of compulsory redundancy is now real.

Not only was this type of preference exercise a breach of all existing agreements, but it was also a cynical and calculated
move to frighten employees. In a further dishonest act the company then told employees that unless they confirmed
acceptance of VR by the 5th May, VR offers would be withdrawn. The union forced Royal Mail to backtrack on this and
the company has now confirmed that VR will not be withdrawn and will continue to be on the table beyond the 5th May.

There can be no excuses for the actions of Royal Mail and the faceless senior managers responsible for this bullying
behaviour must be dismissed. What they are doing has nothing to do with looking after people and everything to do
with trying to break the resolve of CWU members.

The right response is to reject Royal Mail’s approaches. This will leave the company with no where to go and force them
to reconsider. The reality is VR will still be on offer for those who genuinely want it – but all of us must support those
who want a job by voting ‘yes’ in the forthcoming ballot.

What CWU are Seeking on your Behalf

Put simply, our key demand is that Royal Mail must finally accept that people come first. This requires new management
thinking alongside a new London Mail Centre Rationalisation Plan.

• There must be an upfront guarantee within any regional plan that it will be achieved without recourse to compulsory
redundancy. Royal Mail must immediately confirm that all full time and part time employees who want to remain in
employment will be guaranteed a decent job. This must also cover Engineers, Doorkeepers, LA’s, Romec and
Quadrant employees.

• We must increase and maximise the genuine choices and jobs available to all employees affected by any regional plan.
This must be delivered through a jointly agreed preference exercise that is fair to everybody.

• As the most modern purpose built Mail Centre currently in London, East London should remain open and its future
reviewed post the 2012 Olympics. This would enable Royal Mail to take full advantage of the opportunities for growth
of new products and services.

• In South London there should be a revised phasing plan for closure that moves more work to Croydon, Mount Pleasant
and East London. This will create a greater choice and increased number of good jobs for employees.

• The formula for London Weighting Pay Protection for employees who choose to relocate should be up-rated to reflect
today’s values. Employees should be given the choice of either the up-rated and significantly enhanced lump sum,
or the opportunity to maintain existing London Weighting payments on a personal reserved rights basis in perpetuity.

• We also require tailored solutions to satisfactorily address all outstanding issues in Mount Pleasant and Rathbone Place.

The aforementioned would meet all the requirements of our National Agreement and offers less risk to quality of
service than Royal Mail’s flawed plan. It is in line with a very similar solution to that which was recently highlighted in
an independent report. In accordance with the above the CWU will continue to press for a negotiated settlement with
the assistance of Roger Poole (Independent Chair) and ACAS.

In the meantime, it would help our case if you continue to debate and raise the profile of these issues with your
workplace colleagues. Let Royal Mail know that you stand firmly behind the principles of fairness and solidarity.
A ‘yes’ vote will really strengthen our hand and secure a much better outcome for everybody.

The union will be holding further workplace meetings to update you and explain our plans to galvanise support
elsewhere.
Yours sincerely

Dave Ward/Phil Brown

INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOT TIMETA BLE
Legal Notice Served 5th May 2011
Ballot Papers Dispatched 12th May 2011
Ballot Closes 23rd May 2011

03443 London Mail Centre Rationalisation.pdf

[ziko]

I will be offering my full 100% support - however if this was happening outside of London would i still be asked to offer my full support?

[pickaname]

I will be offering my full 100% support - however if this was happening outside of London would i still be asked to offer my full support?

London forst the rest of us second

Two tier union

[gb93]

Has someone got a not so subtle agenda

[studmuffin]

are 'network drivers' going to be dragged into a 'london dispute' again like 2 years ago ???? because all i did last time was, to sit on the picket line all day, everyday, at ndc, and watch a agency driver do my duty and me lose money for something that didnt affect me....

[Martin Walsh]

are 'network drivers' going to be dragged into a 'london dispute' again like 2 years ago ???? because all i did last time was, to sit on the picket line all day, everyday, at ndc, and watch a agency driver do my duty and me lose money for something that didnt affect me....

Network drivers were not dragged into the London dispute , you were fighting against their network 2009 executive action and lets be real here that the rest of us stood by you when you were fighting for professional drivers pay. Sometimes in stikes we all see managers or agency doing our work that does not mean the strike is not effective or otherwise the employer would not bother with reaching an agreement. Network drivers will soon be recieivng their 2 per cent plus their pay increase instead of taking the reduction of the working week.

[Geezer]

From Midland Region CWU



Jim Kirwin
London Regional Secretary

Dear Jim,

I am writing to send you the fraternal greetings and full support of the Midlands Region as colleagues in London ballot for strike action over the issues facing you on Mail Centre closures.

Without a shadow of a doubt the tactics being deployed by Royal Mail are identical, but on a much larger scale, to those deployed when Royal Mail closed Stoke. Never have I seen such intimidation and bullying. Options exercise issued not giving any options, an 80 mile round trip, one to ones conducted with no Union present, pressure applied for agreement or offers withdrawn and a senior manager who said that he would rather starve the members back than give the Union an agreement. An all out strike lasted 3 weeks.

I was convinced then as I am now that the tactics used in Stoker were a blue print for the future and I maintain that it should not be left to individual offices, a few offices in a Division or anything short of what this really is, a national issue. Royal Mail are driving horse and carts through MTSF and the jewel in our crown of no compulsory redundancies and if they go ahead in London we have to demand a national ballot to defend our national agreements and our agreement to no compulsory redundancies.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with you and will demand that this fight is not left to a few to protect the agreements of country.

Best of luck in your struggle and anything we can do please do not hesitate to contact me.

In solidarity


Midlands Regional Secretary


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AND-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jim Kirwan
London Regional Secretary


Dear Jim,

I am taking this opportunity to write you on behalf of the Eastern Region and all its cross constituency Branches to pass on the full support of our members’ and activists in the London Strike Action Ballots over the issues you now face regarding Mail Centre Closures.

Having been through the Mail Centre closures in Oxford, Milton Keynes, the threats to Southend, and of course the closure programme taking place at Watford to the Mistral Site it is clear that Royal Mails actions in London are not in the interests of CWU members’, customers or services and are clearly designed to intimidate members’ and break the union in London.

We as a union must not allow Royal Mail to continue to collapse the Mail Centre structure at a whim deploying Bullying and harassment tactics with members’ when challenged over the rationale and absurd business planning. If Royal Mail are allowed destroy the Mail Centre network in London, continue to force members’ to move work locations or indeed leaving members’ unable to find alternative duties due the lack of vacancies then this will undoubtedly lead to their preferred model of dealing with Mail Centres & subsequently Delivery Offices nationally.


Whilst London stand alone at present in the current ballot we must ensure that any work being distributed to other Mail Centres is not touched making it clear to Royal Mail that this is and will be the case going forward. There must now be a call for a national ballot to defend our members, our agreements and fight off the very real and present spectre of compulsory redundancies.

We stand with you together in spirit and action against the few being picked off; we offer you all support, solidarity, strength and assistance in your struggle. Please pass on our full support to the Region, the Branches, the representatives and the affected Mail Centres.

If there is anything we can do to assist you please let me know.

In solidarity and support,

Kind regards,


Eastern Regional Secretary

Cc: Mark Baulch
Martin Walsh
Mark Palfry
Dave Ward
Billy Hayes

[studmuffin]

are 'network drivers' going to be dragged into a 'london dispute' again like 2 years ago ???? because all i did last time was, to sit on the picket line all day, everyday, at ndc, and watch a agency driver do my duty and me lose money for something that didnt affect me....

are 'network drivers' going to be dragged into a 'london dispute' again like 2 years ago ???? because all i did last time was, to sit on the picket line all day, everyday, at ndc, and watch a agency driver do my duty and me lose money for something that didnt affect me....

you were fighting against their network 2009 executive action

not quite correct...the executive action was AFTER the yes vote for strike action to support london....


and lets be real here that the rest of us stood by you when you were fighting for professional drivers pay.

lets be real here... network drivers voted to accept the professional drivers pay, you were not asked to vote on OUR paydeal or take strike action.....

Network drivers will soon be recieivng their 2 per cent plus their pay increase instead of taking the reduction of the working week.

we are not getting any extra by having a 2% paydeal..

you.... are getting a 1 hour reduction in the working week...

network drivers....are getting a 2% payrise......

the same.....