Press 25/09/07

Stormproof · Post by **Stormproof** » 25 Sep 2007, 08:00

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.j ... ost125.xml

Pension dispute may hit Christmas post
By Angela Monaghan
Last Updated: 12:35am BST 25/09/2007

Royal Mail is already facing two 48-hour walk-outs next month over pension changes and pay

Thousands of Royal Mail employees could walk out during the peak Christmas period if controversial changes to the company's pension scheme go ahead.

Possible strike action in December, when the British send and receive millions of Christmas cards and presents, looked more likely yesterday after talks this afternoon between Royal Mail and union Unite to discuss the future of the pension scheme.

According to Unite, which represents 12,000 Royal Mail managers, the company outlined plans to axe its final-salary pension scheme for existing, as well as new employees, from April 1, 2008, replacing it with a career average scheme.

Unite strongly opposes the planned changes, describing them as the "great mail robbery", and is threatening industrial action.

Paul Reuter, national officer at the union, said that if Royal Mail went ahead with its plans, which are thought to include an increase in the retirement age of some staff from 60 to 65 from 2010, it would advise its members to reject proposals and call for strike action.

"We are confident that our members will reject proposals so we would then ballot for strike action and that process would take us through to December," he said.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "We have very good contingency plans in place to cover industrial actions."

The spokesman refused to comment on details of the proposals, saying: "It is something we want to talk to our staff about first before giving a steer outside the company, but the proposals will be for an ongoing defined benefit scheme for existing employees."

Mr Reuter said that at the meeting Royal Mail said it was "mindful to put the proposals to staff" and was finalising them today. A letter is expected to be sent out to staff in the next week or so.

He said that no scheme had yet been devised for new employees, who would not be eligible for the career average scheme.

"We call upon Royal Mail to honour their commitment to preserve the past services benefits that have been built up and paid for by our members," said Mr Reuter.

"We also call upon Adam Crozier (Royal Mail chief executive) to honour his commitment given on February 7 to safeguard the final-salary schemes going forward.

"Failure by Royal Mail to respond positively will leave Unite with no option other than to ballot its members for strike action."

Royal Mail is already facing two 48-hour walk-outs next month by members of the Communication Workers Union, over pension changes and pay.

Broxi51 · Post by **Broxi51** » 25 Sep 2007, 14:24

DECEMBER

Postmen on strike
Parcelforce on strike
ROMEC on strike
Royal Mail DUMs on strike

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "We have very good contingency plans in place to cover industrial actions."

HOW?
Are Big Al & little dozy better known as the krankies going to get on our new electric power bikes.
Remember the weight limit guys. Health & Safety

F0zziebear · Post by **F0zziebear** » 25 Sep 2007, 15:03

Before I left I remember hearing about these things, just wondering if they help?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 25 Sep 2007, 15:04

Broxi51 wrote:DECEMBER

Postmen on strike
Parcelforce on strike
ROMEC on strike
Royal Mail DUMs on strike

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "We have very good contingency plans in place to cover industrial actions."

HOW?
Are Big Al & little dozy better known as the krankies going to get on our new electric power bikes.
Remember the weight limit guys. Health & Safety

cant see the quadrant girls or the cleaners going on rounds so must be just those 2 delivering everything.

postie28 · Post by **postie28** » 25 Sep 2007, 15:33

seriously. what can they do if even the managers are out on strike ? they surely wouldn't even be able to get agency workers in.

Post by **Zorro** » 25 Sep 2007, 15:40

About 18-20 years ago management went on strike.

They lasted two days and had to come back as more work was getting done without them.

Cant wait to cross their picket line

smarterdarter · Post by **smarterdarter** » 25 Sep 2007, 16:06

postie28 wrote:seriously. what can they do if even the managers are out on strike ? they surely wouldn't even be able to get agency workers in.

Agency workers F**k me they can't speak english let alone read it
last time we had them in our office the mail was turning up dumped in
rivers (now thats what i call down stream access)
Contingency plans....Please

Fluke · Post by **Fluke** » 25 Sep 2007, 16:27

smarterdarter wrote:
postie28 wrote:seriously. what can they do if even the managers are out on strike ? they surely wouldn't even be able to get agency workers in.
Agency workers F**k me they can't speak english let alone read it
last time we had them in our office the mail was turning up dumped in
rivers (now thats what i call down stream access)
Contingency plans....Please

strangler · Post by **strangler** » 25 Sep 2007, 16:42

smarterdarter wrote:
postie28 wrote:seriously. what can they do if even the managers are out on strike ? they surely wouldn't even be able to get agency workers in.
Agency workers F**k me they can't speak english let alone read it
last time we had them in our office the mail was turning up dumped in
rivers (now thats what i call down stream access)
Contingency plans....Please

antcpfc · Post by **antcpfc** » 25 Sep 2007, 16:49

The CWU should sit down with unite but only to tell them what a shower of twats their members are.

IWW Fellow Worker · Post by **IWW Fellow Worker** » 25 Sep 2007, 16:50

We had agency workers when we refused to deliver the BNP election material. Most of it ended up in bushes all around the town. I hope they get the same people next time when we refuse to deliver the Labour Party stuff.

tyconuk · Post by **tyconuk** » 25 Sep 2007, 17:46

IWW Fellow Worker wrote:We had agency workers when we refused to deliver the BNP election material. Most of it ended up in bushes all around the town. I hope they get the same people next time when we refuse to deliver the Labour Party stuff.

spot mate!!!!!!!

robmacca · Post by **robmacca** » 25 Sep 2007, 21:47

Could this be the replacement for the managers if they strike??!!

- A plank of wood!

IWW Fellow Worker · Post by **IWW Fellow Worker** » 25 Sep 2007, 21:52

Wouldn't you need two short ones to replace a manager, Rob?

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 25 Sep 2007, 22:00

robmacca wrote:Could this be the replacement for the managers if they strike??!!

- A plank of wood!

No because that would be useful

ROYALMAILCHAT

Press 25/09/07

Press 25/09/07

any word on whether these are any goodq