ROMEC strike this Friday

[Martin Walsh]

I hope offices will support all cleaners in Royal Mail who will be on strike this Friday over the insulting pay offer.

Picket lines should be respected.

[General Mannerheim]

Eh?
We have a cleaner..so if he's stood outside waving a placard about I'm not supposed to cross his picket line?
Funny but he was told that he should carry on working when we was out on the gates the lat time .
Don't get me wrong i like the guy and probably talk to him more than any of the other posties in our office but he knows that he's not going to get anybody not going in for him so he's happy to have a day sat on his arse at home.

[fishtank]

Funny but he was told that he should carry on working when we was out on the gates the last time.

That's has to be the official position since we're not in dispute any action we took would have to be unofficial.
It's unlikely to be an issue in a D.O. since like you say i can't see a cleaner mounting a one man/woman picket line but it might be different at MCs.
I wouldn't cross a picket line...one picket or not.

[PhilthyPhil]

This could be interesting since one of our cleaners is an ex-DOM...

[Lounge Lizard]

Funny but he was told that he should carry on working when we was out on the gates the last time.

That's has to be the official position since we're not in dispute any action we took would have to be unofficial.
It's unlikely to be an issue in a D.O. since like you say i can't see a cleaner mounting a one man/woman picket line but it might be different at MCs.
I wouldn't cross a picket line...one picket or not.

And might there be health and safety implications of using premises that aren't being kept clean ?
I mean given the state of the toilets on a normal working day I can't imagine what they would be like uncleaned.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

This could be interesting since one of our cleaners is an ex-DOM...

He must have been a good one to get promoted.

[P13]

This could be interesting since one of our cleaners is an ex-DOM...

He must have been a good one to get promoted.

Can't imagine him putting his hands down the toilet , wonder if he has tried to lapse the duty yet

[SpacePhoenix]

Funny but he was told that he should carry on working when we was out on the gates the last time.

That's has to be the official position since we're not in dispute any action we took would have to be unofficial.
It's unlikely to be an issue in a D.O. since like you say i can't see a cleaner mounting a one man/woman picket line but it might be different at MCs.
I wouldn't cross a picket line...one picket or not.

If anyone at any MC didn't cross a Romec picket line, would it be classed by RM as unofficial industrial action?

[Ahebban]

LTB 928/12 - Romec Pay Dispute: Industrial Action
To view this download, please click here

No. 928/2012
Ref: PTC/RE/dj/301
Date: 14 December 2012

TO ALL BRANCHES WITH ALL ROMEC MEMBERS

Dear Colleague

RE: Romec Pay Dispute: Industrial Action

All Romec employees will be taking official industrial action in the form of a one day strike commencing from the beginning of attendances commencing after 05.00 on Friday, 21st December 2012 concluding from commencement of attendance after 0.500 on Saturday, 22nd December 2012.

In addition, for engineering grades a ban on contractual and rota'd callout commencing after 05.00 on Friday, 21st December 2012 concluding at commencement of callout after 14.00 on Monday, 24th December 2012.

The industrial action is in response to Romec's failure to offer a fair pay increase which was due to our members in January 2012. Bearing in mind inflation is currently at 3.2% (at the settlement date it was 4.8%) Romec's offer represents a cut in our members' real wages. Romec's offer of 1.5% is worth even less because the company intended to implement it 3 months after the settlement date. Romec achieved all its business targets and managers have been rewarded with a bonus worth between 9 and 15% of their salary. The offer is substantially less than the average level of increase in outside industry. Romec have not changed their stance during any of our pay talks and the board deliberately budgeted for a pay cut in real terms and Romec's negotiators have simply repeated their derisory offer.

Whilst understanding the complexities and anxieties of the situation our official advice to all Branches is that any picket line should stand aside and invite Royal Mail and Quadrant staff to go to work. It is important for all of us to remain organised and disciplined throughout this dispute and for our members to respect the position of their colleagues and understand that it will be very difficult circumstances for all of them.

We have informed all Romec members of the action to be taken in the form of an individual letter sent to their home addresses. However, Branches are required as a matter of urgency to give this LTB the widest possible circulation within their Branch, in particular units that may be involved in the dispute.

We also attach CWU Guidelines for picketing and I would appreciate the widest possible circulation within the Branch.

Any enquiries should be addressed to Ray Ellis's department, quoting reference PTC/RE/dj/301.
Email address: rellis@cwu.org

Any enquiries should be addressed to Bob Gibson's department, quoting reference 120.12
Email address: hnutley@cuw.org

Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis, Bob Gibson,

Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary

[michael61]

Funny but he was told that he should carry on working when we was out on the gates the last time.

That's has to be the official position since we're not in dispute any action we took would have to be unofficial.
It's unlikely to be an issue in a D.O. since like you say i can't see a cleaner mounting a one man/woman picket line but it might be different at MCs.
I wouldn't cross a picket line...one picket or not.

so you would expect mc staff not to cross picket line won,t happen here we had 16 day,s in 2006 and they happily went to work. full respect to them if they do strike but think they will be on there own.

[fishtank]

so you would expect mc staff not to cross picket line.

I don't expect anybody to do anything.
That's the thing about being an adult,you make your own choices and have to live with your own conscience.
I couldn't cross a picket line and then pretend to be a union member...others no doubt could.
C'est la vie.

[newtimes]

so you would expect mc staff not to cross picket line.

I don't expect anybody to do anything.
That's the thing about being an adult,you make your own choices and have to live with your own conscience.
I couldn't cross a picket line and then pretend to be a union member...others no doubt could.
C'est la vie.

Could I ask for some help, if I do not cross the picket line, I will not get paid, how will it effect my attendance history. Can I be suspended from my work.

[michael61]

advice coming from cwu is quite clear picketer,s must stand aside and let posties and quadrant staff into work. never broke a strike in 19 years with royal mail so my conscience will be absolutey clear and that is an adult decision.

[fishtank]

advice coming from cwu is quite clear picketer,s must stand aside

Advice coming from HQ is quite clear for a reason.
Legally they are barred from doing anything to promote unofficial industrial action,that doesn't mean it's necessarily how they feel or how you should act..
If a manager spat in a colleagues face and nothing was done we would walk,the advice from Branch and HQ would be to go back to work because that's what they have to say.....but we wouldn't and they know we wouldn't.
We've been out on unofficial industrial action before and the "advice" is always the same because it has to be.

[Geezer]

Sent Out By My Branch Today...................................................

Colleagues: Please see attached guide to picketing on Friday, should your cleaners need any assistance or a chat please put them in touch with me.

The official line from HQ is that "Whilst understanding the complexities and anxieties of the situation our official advice to all Branches is that any picket line should stand aside and invite Royal Mail and Quadrant staff to go to work.
It is important for all of us to remain organised and disciplined throughout this dispute and for our members to respect the position of their colleagues and understand that it will be very difficult circumstances for all of them."

See LTB below

===============================================================================================================

No. 928/2012 Ref: PTC/RE/dj/301 Date: 14 December 2012

TO ALL
BRANCHES WITH ALL ROMEC MEMBERS

Dear Colleague

RE:
Romec Pay Dispute: Industrial Action

All Romec employees will be taking official industrial action in the form of a one day strike commencing from the beginning of attendances commencing after 05.00 on Friday,
21st December 2012 concluding from commencement of attendance after 05.00 on Saturday, 22nd December 2012.

In addition, for engineering grades a ban on contractual and rota’d callout commencing after 05.00 on Friday, 21st December 2012 concluding at commencement of callout after 14.00 on Monday, 24th December 2012.

The industrial action is in response to Romec’s failure to offer a fair pay increase which was due to our members in January 2012. Bearing in mind inflation is currently at 3.2% (at the settlement date it was 4.8%) Romec’s
offer represents a cut in our members’ real wages. Romec’s offer of 1.5% is worth even less because the company intended to implement it 3 months after the settlement date. Romec achieved all its business targets and managers have been
rewarded with a bonus worth between 9 and 15% of their salary. The offer is substantially less than the average level of increase in outside industry. Romec have not changed their stance during any of our pay talks and the board
deliberately budgeted for a pay cut in real terms and Romec’s negotiators have simply repeated their derisory offer. Whilst understanding the complexities and anxieties of the situation our official advice to all Branches is that any picket line should stand aside and invite Royal Mail and Quadrant staff to go to work. It is important for all of us to remain organised and disciplined throughout this dispute and for our members to respect the position of their colleagues and understand that it will be very difficult circumstances for all of them.

We have informed all Romec members of the action to be taken in the form of an individual letter sent to their home addresses. However, Branches are required as a matter of urgency to give this LTB the widest possible circulation within
their Branch, in particular units that may be involved in the dispute.

We also attach CWU Guidelines for picketing and I would appreciate the widest possible circulation within the Branch.

Any enquiries should be
addressed to Ray Ellis’s department, quoting reference PTC/RE/dj/301.
Email address: rellis@cwu.org

Any enquiries should be
addressed to Bob Gibson’s department, quoting reference 120.12
Email address: hnutley@cuw.org

Yours sincerely

Ray
Ellis, Bob
Gibson,
Assistant
Secretary Assistant
Secretary



Picketing.txt

Cwu guidelines for picketing Your LegaL rights

Management cannot prevent peaceful picketing; it is our established legitimate right.

Picketing is not a form of industrial action but is the means by which some forms of industrial action, especially strikes, are made more effective. The statutory immunity for picketing is contained in section 220 (1) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, which states:

“It is lawful for a person in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute to attend at or near his own place of work...for the purpose only of peacefully obtaining or communicating information, or peacefully persuading any person not to work or to abstain from working.”

Therefore, picketing is lawful only in these circumstances.

The BIS code of practice PL928, section A, paragraph 2 says: “There is no legal right to picket as such but attendance for the purpose of peaceful picketing has long been recognised as a lawful activity. However the law imposes certain limits on how, where and for what purpose such picketing can be undertaken.” More details are also available on the BIS website.

The code of practice also points out that attendance for the purpose of picketing may only:

•
Be undertaken in contemplation of furtherance of a trade dispute
•
Be carried out by a person attending at or near his own place of work
•
A trade union official (or representative), in addition to attending at or near his own place of work, may also attend at or near the place of work of a member of her/his trade union whom he is accompanying on the picket line and whom he represents
•
Furthermore the only purpose involved must be peacefully to obtain or communicate information, or peacefully to persuade a person not to work. CriminaL Law

Employers rarely use the law but there are circumstances in which the police may instigate a prosecution. This again is rare, but representatives should be aware of the relevant law.

The immunities under employment legislation protect those engaged in lawful picketing from being sued for breach of contract but not against activities such as trespass or other criminal acts. The aspects of criminal law which could apply are obstruction or breach of the peace charges.

These can include unreasonable obstruction of the highway and/or wilful obstruction of a police officer. Under the Public Order Act 1986, individuals may be charged with disorderly conduct, threatening behaviour, riot, violent disorder or affray. But the standard of proof required to convict on these criminal charges would be ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, a much higher requirement than applies in civil law (‘balance of probabilities’).

There are four main offences that may be committed by people involved in picketing: use of violence; persistent following; hiding tools; and picketing a person’s home.

Furthermore, section 15 of the TULR(C) Act 1992 makes it unlawful for the union to pay an individual’s fines for criminal activity or contempt of court.

Conspiracy is another criminal charge, and falls under the Criminal Law Act 1977. Conspiracy involves the agreement by two or more people to pursue a course of action which would necessarily involve the committing of an offence. The penalty for conspiracy cannot be higher than for the offence itself and unlawful civil action in the course of an industrial dispute would not give rise to a conspiracy charge.

generaL organisation

Our preference is for each picket line to have an appointed picket steward, preferably a CWU representative, who will be in charge of the picket line. Ideally, this person should be contactable by mobile phone. This will help you co-ordinate things locally on the strike day. If you anticipate a big turnout on the picket line, tell your Regional Secretary or CWU HQ Press Officer so that we can
direct the media to you.

All pickets should be aware of the law and understand that picketing must be peaceful and lawful. Members should only picket at or near your place of work. Official pickets should wear some form of identification (i.e. arm band).


There is no legal restriction on the number of people who may picket a workplace entrance or exit except that the number should not be so great that it might cause fear or distress among those seeking to cross. The BIS code of practice suggests that organisers should ensure that, in general, the numbers should not exceed six pickets at each entrance or exit, though this is guidance only and not the law.

Pickets can explain their case to those entering or leaving the picketed premises, and/or ask those within the ballot category not to enter or leave the premises where the dispute is taking place. Pickets are encouraged to be bold and speak to members (and non members) within the ballot, and seek to persuade them to support the strike.

Nevertheless pickets should not physically attempt to stop a person or vehicle from entering an office or site and a person who
decided to cross a picket line must be allowed to do so. Courteous but firm communication to people is the means for this, together with the distribution of leaflets or holding banners or placards putting the union’s case. Our message to member in the ballot is to support the dispute and not go into work. Our message to non members in the ballot is to join the union (they can sign up on the
picket line) and not to go into work.

Always take the opportunity to talk to members of the general public and explain the reasons for the industrial action. relationships with the poLice

The police may well attend or visit a picket line. Always be polite and helpful when they attend – where appropriate introduce them to the picket steward and reassure them that we intend peaceful picketing only. Pickets should co-operate with the police in any requests to keep the street free from obstruction. Doing so helps us respond to any allegations by the employer about unruly pickets.

demonstrations and/or marches

Any plans to organise a demonstration outside an office and/or a protest march will need to be agreed with the police in advance, and these ideas should be first raised with the appropriate CWU Regional Secretary. The Public Order Act 1986 provides the police with power to impose conditions on public assemblies of 20 or more people.

members of other trade unions

Whilst we cannot ask members of other trade unions to come out on strike, our representatives on picket lines should seek their support in other ways, such as asking them to any local rallies, write to their MP etc.

on the daY, make sure that:

•
You arrive early, at least 15 minutes before the first person is due to go into work. Remember some people will try to avoid the picket line by arriving especially early
•
Pickets have all the information and materials they need
•
Every entrance has a picket line
•
Pickets know what time people will be arriving at each entrance (you may be able to predict times when more workers will arrive) So, what do you do when you have tried everything, but your colleagues still try to cross the picket line to go into work?
•
Try to stop the worker, approach them, make eye contact and try to engage them in a conversation. Remember to be polite and inoffensive at all times
•
Don’t make it personal, always refer back to the issues Your first contact is important, so choose your questions carefully. Ask open questions to provoke responses, such as:
•
How do you feel about what the employer is trying to do
•
What do you think we need to do to win our case?

Some people may say they support the union, but will not strike. Explain that going into work means supporting the employer and undermining colleagues and our strike. Show them they will make a difference. The managment will want to know how many people took action on the day and every strike will count. The more people that take action, the greater the impact and the better the chance we will have of winning our demands. Some people will say they cannot afford to lose a day’s pay. Explain that management never give workers something for nothing. Everything we get has to be fought for and this involves making sacrifices now to prevent having to suffer greater losses in the future

any problems

In the unlikely event that you have difficulties with local management, the police or the media on the days of the strike contact CWU HQ who will put you in touch with the relevant Department.

PLAY YOUR PART IN THE CAMPAIGN; MAkE SURE EvERYONE SUPPORTS THE STRIkE

150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX http://www.cwu.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; t: 020 8971 7200 Billy Hayes general Secretary http://www.billyhayes.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
01788 Published by the Communications Workers Union 2010