prolonged industrial conflict is inevitable...

[Wild Rover]

"The government and Royal Mail have completely alienated the workforce and it's time for serious negotiations to find a solution that really can align the interests of workers, customers and the company. If not, then prolonged industrial conflict is inevitable.

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[Jynxx]

I'm unsure how this will go, It's almost as if RM have been baiting us to go on strike or something, I've suspected they were waiting on the CWU to ballot the staff and see if they still have our backing so I'm glad there was such a good result and over 90% agreement on everything. You would think RM and the government would want a happy workforce as who would want to purchase a company if the staff were unhappy and militant.

I was talking to a friend the other day who worked in a power station when that was privatised, At the time they couldn't do enough to keep the workforce happy. To make the workforce happy and keep them quiet they were offered £2000 in shares a huge payrise (keep in mind this was over 20 years ago so our offer of £1500 is peanuts) everyone voted in agreement to accept all of these.
The power station he worked at employed over 3000 staff, after it got privatised they first attacked the middle management (I'm always wondering why the DIM is going on about how wonderful it will be when he will be the first to go) it passed through 3 different company's each time they got offered shares and pay rises to keep them happy until the last one took it on (EON i think) Now today they only employ 500 staff, they are paid terrible wages, over worked, everybody is miserable (I would expect so 500 staff doing the jobs of 3000) Each new owner cut more and more staff in order to maximise profits, their union was reduced to nothing (their union was originally strong as one but each power station ended up with a different union and now it's almost useless) and these are the people running the Nuclear power stations so you can imagine what would happen to us.

[houseoflords]

You're totally right. Well put.

[NWpostie]

All it would take is a complete melt down, sometime you would wish it could happen in order to highlight a genuine problem.

[kwenchycup]

All it would take is a complete melt down, sometime you would wish it could happen in order to highlight a genuine problem.

A melt down in a nuclear plant ? ? ? Sounds like it would be serious ! !

[ratchet]

All it would take is a complete melt down, sometime you would wish it could happen in order to highlight a genuine problem.

A melt down in a nuclear plant ? ? ? Sounds like it would be serious ! !

Yep, we'd be well and truly Fukashima'd

[TrueBlueTerrier]

All it would take is a complete melt down, sometime you would wish it could happen in order to highlight a genuine problem.

A melt down in a nuclear plant ? ? ? Sounds like it would be serious ! !

Yep, we'd be well and truly Fukashima'd

and I would be more than 3 miles from this Island.

[Budfrog]

This is a multi faceted dispute and it is difficult to imagine that it will be solved quickly. However the CWU are aware that influencing the public and customers is fundamental to success and they will not wish to alienate them with a series of strikes so I expect IA to be used as a last resort.

I believe they will look at the demographic breakdown of the workforce and attempt to divide and conquer. Younger staff with little seniority will not see the pension as being a particularly high priority and will be more willing to take a chance on the changes that privatisation will bring. There are some functions which do not suffer the burden of unacceptable performance targets and the management will see them as more likely to accept a deal on further modernisation. It's really about CWU looking after all staff members and not just those with the loudest voice.

Good Luck !!

[krussel]

I believe this will be our LAST stand.

[Danelectro]

This is a multi faceted dispute and it is difficult to imagine that it will be solved quickly. However the CWU are aware that influencing the public and customers is fundamental to success and they will not wish to alienate them with a series of strikes so I expect IA to be used as a last resort.

I believe they will look at the demographic breakdown of the workforce and attempt to divide and conquer. Younger staff with little seniority will not see the pension as being a particularly high priority and will be more willing to take a chance on the changes that privatisation will bring. There are some functions which do not suffer the burden of unacceptable performance targets and the management will see them as more likely to accept a deal on further modernisation. It's really about CWU looking after all staff members and not just those with the loudest voice.

Good Luck !!

Im not so worried about alienating the general public as most decent folk understand why your on strike as they like us cant see why Royal Mail has to be privatised and most can feel the increase in living costs so can sympathise with our pay demand.

I cant see the consultative ballot having an ever lasting effect so i would have thought Royal Mail/The Government will call our bluff and move on rather swiftly if all we have is chat?The courts are likely to rule the boycott as illegal and/or its likely that its an action that is far too risky for the union to carry out? So the boycott bubble could be burst by the end of next week
and what have we got left but IA?

Im not sure what HQ think is achievable with this campaign but I hope its not gonna be dogged by too much spin and periods of silence that ended up with the deal of the century the last time.The only loud voice i hear is the 96% that voted against privatisation so that is the unions postion.How we can influence this government on privatisation is not clear and seems like the only reason given so far in the press is that private investors are wary of Royal mails 'militant' union.So i guess we gotta get militant.The only compromise Ive heard mentioned by a local MP is part privatisation with 51% state 49% private (which is liberal democrat policy) but Vince Cable/The Government are not interested.

[nataddick]

I can see a situation where RM and the Government give the staff 10% shares and then offer them say, another 10% at a discounted price.

We don't get any shares unless the remaining shares are ALL sold.

'The employee share scheme, which Parliament has enshrined in statute, will not be the same as
ColleagueShare. Real shares will be allocated to the employee share scheme – meaning that
employees will own at least 10% of the company by the time the Government sells its lastshare.
Our objective in setting up the share scheme is to secure strengthened employee engagement in
the company and to ensure that staff benefit through dividends from any future profits.'

I am not saying that we should sell-out for more shares just that it is a tactic that they are likely to use to turn the public against us to try and paint us a greedy bastards.

I can see it now. Posties offered 20% stake in business - above inflation pay deal and continue to receive 'generous' pension benefits linked to RPI and that is still not enough to stop them striking !

[borders]

Nat if they did offer us that deal , it may be deemed a good deal by the members. remember we will get the last say if there are any deals put to us. a good deal could circumnavigate the Privatisation issue.

[seeker019]

It's been said before, instead of IA isn't it about time we ALL WORKED TO RULE.

Start/finish at the right time, take breaks, cut off etc

Do this and the company will melt down within 2 weeks

[db]

It's been said before, instead of IA isn't it about time we ALL WORKED TO RULE.

Start/finish at the right time, take breaks, cut off etc

Do this and the company will melt down within 2 weeks

I agree we were talking about this in out mail centre last night after an accident was reported and the responsible person sent for re-training?

[fishtank]

Start/finish at the right time, take breaks, cut off etc

Do this and the company will melt down within 2 weeks

How?
Royal Mail's first position will be that an office is already resourced for members to start/finish at the right time, take breaks, cut off etc.
Their second position will be that any excess work generated by this action must be down to a deliberate go slow.
Their third will be to flood your office with managers carrying clipboards and their fourth will be to take members off pay for the slightest excuse.
If you're a strong office you'll end up at the gate anyway and if you're a weak office your members will fold like a badly stacked house of cards.

The irony is that strong offices will already be doing what you suggest anyway so there will be no "melt down" in these offices and we'll be left relying on the weak offices to put any pressure on Royal Mail.
I'll pass on that one.

In my office around 60% do this already,about 30% don't because they can/think they can make time,about 5% don't because they struggle with the workload and are frightened of confrontation and 5% don't because they are "friends of management".
Of the 5% who struggle about half are non members.
Where would our meltdown come from?