Royal Mail Statement - Same one we got at WTLL

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Royal Mail - no justification for strike threat

23/05/2011


• Nearly two thirds of employees fail to support strike call
• Royal Mail confirms changes in London are being made wholly in line with the agreement reached with the CWU only last year
• All changes are being made without compulsory redundancy

Essential changes to Royal Mail’s operations in Greater London, resulting from falling mail volumes, are being made in line with changes already introduced in the rest of the UK and without the need for compulsory redundancy. There is no justification for the CWU’s threat of strike action, the company said today.

The ballot for strike action at four London sites was supported by only 37% of all operational employees at the affected sites. Nearly two thirds of those employees did not vote to support strike action. Royal Mail said today that there was not a strong mandate for disruptive strike action. It called on the union to work instead to support all those affected by the changes.

The facts remain:

• Change in London is essential. The number of items posted in London is expected to more than halve between 2006 and 2014
• Royal Mail is investing £69 million to modernise the operations that remain in Greater London
• The decision to close East and South London mail centres was made after a nine month consultation with the trade unions as set out in the 2010 Business Transformation agreement. Following the union’s input, East London mail centre is expected to close six months later than originally planned
• Royal Mail and the CWU agree that the changes are likely to mean around 580 people leaving Royal Mail on redundancy terms. Currently 673 full time people have expressed an interest in taking voluntary redundancy packages worth up to two years’ salary. More than 300 of these are already being progressed
• Royal Mail is providing a comprehensive support package to everyone affected by the changes in London, including independent advice centres and job fairs to introduce colleagues to external employers recruiting in their areas
• More than 90% of Royal Mail people who have used the independent advice centres have said they have been helpful to them

Gerry O’Rourke, Regional Operations Director, London, said: "I know that it is always a difficult time when changes of this kind are announced. The reality is that almost 700 full time Royal Mail people in London have already expressed an interest in taking a voluntary redundancy package that is worth up to two years’ salary. More than 300 are already being progressed.

"We’ve got to change. In 2014 the number of items posted in London will have fallen by more than half since 2006. But we will achieve these changes through voluntary means.

"There is no justification for strike action. The union has not received a strong mandate from employees. Nearly two thirds of the employees it represents failed to support the call for strike action. The CWU should instead focus on supporting people during this period of change."

The CWU balloted four workplaces in London - South London mail centre, East London mail centre, Mount Pleasant mail centre and the delivery offices at Rathbone Place - which employ 4,088 operational colleagues. Only 1,511 supported strike action. Turnout among union members was 51%, representing only 47% of total operational employees at the affected sites.

Royal Mail employs more than 20,000 people across Greater London and will remain a significant employer in the capital.

Ends

For further information:

David Simpson
Director of News
Royal Mail Group
020 7250 2839
david.simpson@royalmail.com


James Eadie
Head of Products and Services PR
Royal Mail Group
020 7250 8254
james.r.eadie@royalmail.com

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[SexyLegs]

That's a 3 to 1 majority in favour of a strike as far as I can work out!

IA is the only answer.....good luck London.

[MrGoose]

"Believe me, we have nothing to worry about"

[fishtank]

Ignoring all of the tedious propaganda.....

• Royal Mail and the CWU agree that the changes are likely to mean around 580 people leaving Royal Mail on redundancy terms. Currently 673 full time people have expressed an interest in taking voluntary redundancy packages worth up to two years’ salary. More than 300 of these are already being progressed

What is the legal position on using contracted hours as a fair and non-discriminatory selection criteria?
Ropey at best i would think......
I would assume the LDC has looked into this.

[demon]

MORE BULLSHIT OFF ROYAL MAIL :dcfo

[dvbuk55]

Is it though? If the CWU has been involved and if all RM is doing is putting their side of the tale ...............bearing in mind that closures and relocation has been discussed and is part of the agreement.......and in truth changes across the board have been implemented in other areas and in difficult circumstances...........is this ballot going to produce a sea change in RMs business plan with its limited scope?

[brunswick]

interesting to note,nearly 700 full time workers have shown an interest in taking redundancy. what about the part time workers or is it the eventual target to have all remaining staff on part-time contracts, similar to tnt?.

[Tman]

Is it though? If the CWU has been involved and if all RM is doing is putting their side of the tale ...............bearing in mind that closures and relocation has been discussed and is part of the agreement.......and in truth changes across the board have been implemented in other areas and in difficult circumstances...........is this ballot going to produce a sea change in RMs business plan with its limited scope?

Sadly no. The policy of closing/amalgamating MCs has been going for a while now and everyone's aware of it.
RM aren't going to keep hugely expensive MCs going in London just for the benefit of a few hundred staff, no matter how many "yes" votes the UCW can gather.
When the new generation of automation can do "more for less" (although in reality it now just processes less mail with less staff) then there's always going to be a contraction in scale.
Yet another fight the UCW won't win on principle; then there's the back-sliders who state they won't support either a yes vote or London to further weaken the union's position. Poor old UCW is on another hiding for nothing....

[MrGoose]

interesting to note,nearly 700 full time workers have shown an interest in taking redundancy. what about the part time workers or is it the eventual target to have all remaining staff on part-time contracts, similar to tnt?.

Interesting to note you pulled that one out of the spin.....

The staff effected by the London changes were given a preference exercise and the only options on that were...

1. VR
2. Buy down of hours to PT

Some choice that was eh?
So Im sure they got quite a few sort of interested in VR dont ya think?

Believe it or not there are scared and vulnerable people currently being bullied and coerced into a life changing decision by RM management.
Luckily the whole process is being recorded and the truth will out soon for everyone.

The union are only doing what they actually exsist for, and that is to try their best to protect members interests.

[teesdale]

They have put a lot of figures in their communication which is a first. Looks like there isnt enough places for people to go to another mail centre or take VR, so what happens to those not in these two categories. At least they are making an attempt to be more open.