Very Direct - Div Rep Email to Dave Ward

[Geezer]

Subject: TO ALL BRANCHES - MOYA GREENE EVENT / 2013

TO ALL BRANCHES

Firstly Happy New Year. It is good to be back at work with a to do list longer than my

I have today written to Dave Ward with regards to the Moya Greene events this week and the way things are shaping up for us nationally. (copy below)

Before I get into the body of the email, it is clear that only a select amount of CWU Representatives have been invited to these briefings. It is therefore my own personal view that we should be agreeing in the branches that nobody attends the briefing in Bristol tomorrow. I understand from Les that nobody was even invited to the Cardiff event today.

Moving on, it is clear to me that 2013 is a crossroads for this Union. The talking cannot go on any longer without bearing results. The situation locally bears no resemblance whatsoever to the relationships at national level.

We cannot sit and wait for CWU HQ to resolve the issues. Disputes such as Bristol SEDO show clearly that the appetite for fighting is there if we can inspire it.

No quality SI, no resource meetings, bullying and harassment is rife, lapsing is now the norm, the BT 2010 agreement is being rewritten and management are having a free hand across the Country.

I see us as having two choices. We can continue to go along with the decline or we can, as a Division lead the way for our Union.

I have written to the Divisional Chair and asked for a meeting to be called as a matter of urgency. At this meeting I would like to agree a set of wide ranging policies that will see us coordinate, communicate and challenge in 2013. I will draft something during the course of this week and send it out to Branches.

On the picket line at SEDO prior to Christmas I saw and heard the same issues I see and hear from units across the Division. I gave those members the pledge that we wouldn’t leave them isolated. I think it is all of our duties to support that.

As soon as the Chair has agreed a date / venue it will be relayed to Branches.

Kindest Regards

*****

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


To: Dave Ward <dward@cwu.org>
Sent: Monday, 7 January 2013, 10:47
Subject: Moya Greene Meetings / Where we are



Dave

I am writing with regards to the managerial/staff events that are being held around the UK, starting today, by Moya Greene.

Firstly the Division received no formal notice of these events until Friday of last week with the initial one taking place in Cardiff today. Between the eves we had unofficially been made aware of the meetings so approached Royal Mail who indicated that all Area Representatives would be invited by their respective interfaces.

It has now become apparent that the invitations were very select with hardly any of our Area Representatives being invited to the events. Les Evans will today be attending the briefing in Cardiff to raise our concerns over this and I have notified Royal Mail that I am not prepared to take part in a such a procession tomorrow in Bristol where I am told the magnificent virtues of WCM will be bestowed upon us before we will be serenaded by the Royal Mail Choir. We will also be writing to the Branches today asking any invited representatives not to attend the event.

I know Royal Mail communications have always been less than truthful but quite frankly I am sickened by the prospect of yet another Courier article about how Moya ‘engaged’ with her people and everything is rosy against a backdrop where we have live disputes in the Division, IR relations are worsening by the day, the BT agreement is being re-written by management and bullying of CWU members is rife.

I am fully aware nationally that you are trying your best to move forward issues with the business and that the external climate is very difficult but surely we must be heading, very quickly into a position where our only option is to draw a line in the sand and inspire the membership. Most of the matters we are dealing with now were agreed almost 3 years ago under the terms of BT2010. To still be talking about them now says everything about how committed Royal Mail are/were to changing the culture of this business. The outcome of the summit talks of agreement of another set of talks is perhaps indicative of how the last three years have panned out.

As a Division, in 2013 we will be looking to take a far more proactive approach when dealing with these issues. Waiting for the talks to conclude nationally is not a viable option any longer and neither is leaving units isolated to fight these battles alone. We will be getting the Branches together in the next couple of weeks and hopefully agreeing a set of policies that will challenge the business head on and if conflict is needed ensure that it is on as wide a basis as possible.

Regards

*****

[fishtank]

It is good to be back at work with a to do list longer than my....

I'm glad he didn't finish that sentence Geezer.

[Lincox]

I wonder what crossroads we are at now. Is the CWU nationally, directing us down the wrong road. Will this be Custards last stand?

[fishtank]

I wonder what crossroads we are at now?

The one with the lad with the hat...Benny i think his name was.

[Pinky 1]

Will this be Custards last stand?

He looks a tad like my dom

custer.jpg

[Lincox]

Bloody hell Pinky, not another new uniform, only just getting used to this one.

[whatamess!!]

About time someone made a stand, I'm sick to death of what is going on, the memberships frustrations are growing daily, if a strike is what is needed lets get it on!! HQ need a slap in the right direction, this cuddly crap with moya is sickening. She is playing a blinder and mr Ward seems to be sucked in. Mr Ward, please take action now!! Stop all of this s**t and listen to the members who elected you, things are not getting better and will not if we continue on this path.

[Lincox]

Unfortunately whatamess, I believe it is too late, and what we are seeing is CWU heirarchy making a few noises to try and keep the troops onside but the real agenda is to try and prolong their position within the company as long as possible, because it is also their jobs that are on the line. I cannot imagine that they will propose any form of strike action nationally.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Unfortunately whatamess, I believe it is too late, and what we are seeing is CWU heirarchy making a few noises to try and keep the troops onside but the real agenda is to try and prolong their position within the company as long as possible, because it is also their jobs that are on the line. I cannot imagine that they will propose any form of strike action nationally.

If they are playing the long game as you suggest Lincox, then we need rid of them sharp - The problem is I think the same they ARE playing the long game and are looking for a seat at the table when, if as RM wants, we have a workers council rather than a Union. Trouble is that will be the death knell for workers getting any kind of influence over Royal Mail - the Union will become a rubber stamping organisation and nothing else, still they won't need as many FT release positions

[hans solo]

Unfortunately whatamess, I believe it is too late, and what we are seeing is CWU heirarchy making a few noises to try and keep the troops onside but the real agenda is to try and prolong their position within the company as long as possible, because it is also their jobs that are on the line. I cannot imagine that they will propose any form of strike action nationally.

they do not have any say in any strike its up to us to instigate one then watch and see which side cwu leadership supports
we are the union not hayes or ward
we decide not hayes or ward
we can set proposals not hayes or ward
any elected committee has at the ending of any meeting any other business to conclude
i would ask for egm to be called for every area rep to attend and dictate to hayes and ward what road to go down
if they refuse their members wishes they should be asked to step aside

[Godric]

support will not be strong for a national strike after the national strikes of 2007 & 2009 when Dave Ward, Billy Hayes and Pec shafted the membership from a position of strength to appease their labour masters because they didn't want to upset the labour goverment's chances of winning the election ... I am normally quite militant but I neither trust Dave Ward, Billy Hayes and the Pec have our best interests at heart