Strike ballot for Royal Mail workers

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/strike- ... rkers.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CWU, the union representing postal workers, today (Monday) announced it will ballot for a national postal strike this month, if current ongoing talks with Royal Mail do not bring agreement. CWU is planning for ballot papers to go out on 20 September to 125,000 Royal Mail workers in what would be the first national strike ballot since 2009.

The union is in dispute regarding the settlement of its 2013 pay claim, further changes to workers' pension scheme, the impact of possible privatisation on job security and terms and conditions, and the company's future strategy.

CWU will give notice for the ballot of all Royal Mail and Parcelforce (but not Post Office) workers to commence on 20 September with a result to be announced on 3 October. If there was a yes vote, the union would then be able to give 7 days' notice for strike action, with the earliest strike action possible from 10 October.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, who is leading the current talks for CWU, said: "We are dealing with a company that is preparing for privatisation with relish. While the union continues to fight privatisation we are also dealing with the potential realities for workers if there is a change of ownership.

"We are looking to reach a groundbreaking agreement on terms and conditions that sets unprecedented legally binding protection for workers in the event of a sale, and regardless of who owns the company. Postal workers know franchising, break up and sale of mail centres, distribution hubs and Parcelforce, along with the introduction of a new workforce on lower terms and conditions, are real threats in a race to the bottom with mail competitors for any new company.

"We want Royal Mail and the government to put protections in place that are both meaningful and lasting" he added.

Strike "inevitable"

CWU believes a strike is inevitable unless the company meet the needs of the workforce regardless of ownership.

"Talks continue but while we talk, the company presses on with privatisation, pension changes, another round of budget cuts and an approach to parcel and packet growth that ignores the real issues and problems in workplaces. This culture of mis-management has to stop and our members need and deserve a decent pay increase, protections for terms and conditions, protection of their pension benefits and manageable workloads" concluded Dave Ward.

Pay and conditions

The union has already rejected a below-inflation pay offer for 2013 which is linked to accepting major changes to working conditions and pensions. CWU is demanding a straightforward, above inflation, no strings pay deal which 99% of workers voted for in a consultative ballot in June. In addition, CWU is seeking an agreement on terms and conditions being protected for 10 years in the event of change of ownership.

Dave said: "Royal Mail continues to prepare for privatisation with relentless rounds of budget cuts in offices across the UK. There is no understanding that the pace of change can really only be led by how hard people can work and CWU members are being driven to absorb absences, carry increasing amounts of mail and work harder than is possible in many cases. We have reached breaking point, particularly in delivery offices and the culture has to change."

Workplace stress

There is a range of local disputes and strikes, either close or already in progress, as Royal Mail continues annual rounds of budget cuts in workplaces that are stretching workers to the limit.CWU is looking to address these issues by agreeing working practices that are manageable and take into account for the first time, the growth in parcels and packets in the mail.

"Royal Mail has announced it is a parcel company that carries letters but has no clue how to manage that change" said Dave, adding: "We need an agreement that recognises the change in profile of the mail and puts in place an infrastructure to carry more packets and parcels, while rewarding workers properly and delivering a manageable workload."

Pensions

In addition, Royal Mail has created more concern for its staff by announcing new problems with its pension scheme. Despite the government taking control of the assets in 2012 to pave the way for privatisation, the company wants to use remaining assets to reduce its own contributions. The company completed a formal consultation in August and the union is calling for an agreed process to protect members' benefits.

"There is a great hypocrisy in the way the scheme is being managed by Royal Mail" said Dave Ward. "The company wants to keep its contribution rate to 17% whilst maintaining managers' benefits at 40%. They can afford higher contributions to protect postal workers' benefits."

If you would like to join the CWU simply give us a call on freephone 0800 731 7434 or email joinunion@cwu.org.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/national/news/10648463._/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postal workers are to be balloted for national strikes over issues linked to the Government's controversial plans to privatise the Royal Mail.

The Communication Workers Union said 125,000 of its members will vote in the coming weeks over pay, jobs, pensions and the impact of any sell-off, with the result due in early October.

The first strike could be held on October 10 if there is a yes vote. The move is a major challenge to the planned privatisation, which ministers are expected to press ahead with in the coming months.

The union warned a strike was "inevitable" unless a deal was agreed on a number of issues. The CWU is in dispute over a pay claim, further changes to workers' pension scheme, the impact of possible privatisation on job security and terms and conditions, and the company's future strategy.

All Royal Mail and Parcelforce workers in the CWU will be balloted from September 20, with the result due on October 3. If there is a yes vote, the union would have to give seven days' notice for strike action. Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "We are dealing with a company that is preparing for privatisation with relish. While the union continues to fight privatisation we are also dealing with the potential realities for workers if there is a change of ownership.

"We are looking to reach a groundbreaking agreement on terms and conditions that sets unprecedented legally binding protection for workers in the event of a sale, and regardless of who owns the company. Postal workers know franchising, break up and sale of mail centres, distribution hubs and Parcelforce, along with the introduction of a new workforce on lower terms and conditions, are real threats in a race to the bottom with mail competitors for any new company.

"We want Royal Mail and the Government to put protections in place that are both meaningful and lasting. Royal Mail continues to prepare for privatisation with relentless rounds of budget cuts in offices across the UK. There is no understanding that the pace of change can really only be led by how hard people can work, and CWU members are being driven to absorb absences, carry increasing amounts of mail and work harder than is possible in many cases.We have reached breaking point, particularly in delivery offices, and the culture has to change."

It will be the first national postal ballot since a pay and conditions dispute in 2009. The union said it had rejected a below-inflation pay offer linked to accepting major changes to working conditions and pensions.

A Department for Business spokesman said: "Industrial action is not necessary. It is disappointing that the CWU leadership has decided to ballot for strike action. They are standing between their members and a generous pay offer of 8.6% over three years, which is more than teachers, nurses and our armed forces, who have had pay increases capped at 1%. Royal Mail management are continuing to talk to CWU and we encourage both sides to resolve this dispute."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Royal Mail is very disappointed that the CWU has issued a timeline for a national ballot for industrial action, if an agreement is not reached in on-going talks. Discussions over a new three-year agreement between Royal Mail and the CWU are continuing. We are committed to reaching an agreement with the CWU as soon as possible to give our customers and employees continued stability. We believe that focusing on the possibility of industrial action is inappropriate."

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Postal workers to be balloted for national strikes

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-09- ... l-strikes/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Postal workers to vote on strikes - Belfast Telegraph

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... 45146.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Royal Mail strike looming for first time in four years - Daily Mirror

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ro ... z2dk28OsFj" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Guardian

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013 ... vatisation" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Red Robbo]

News today, and we will be history tomorrow !!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

News today, and we will be history tomorrow !!

I thought it ended - tomorrows chip paper.

[the beautiful bd south]

we have that many agency staff in our office nobody will know the difference :(

[Red Robbo]

Yeah, we got agency and non-members who don't take part in the strike

[k979aaa]

To many negative vibes on here today we all need to look to the future not the here and now! Time has come when one and all must stand strong again to get a deal on PAY for the work we all do, PENSION'S for our future's we all have paid for not for the FEW who have not paid for!. Our job's which we rightfully earned to call them OUR'S this will no longer be the case after just THREE YEARS!. What is royal mails strategy for growth the destruction of our OWN TERM'S AND CONDITIONS!.

[Red Robbo]

Well Dave will have to call for an all out strike and not pussy footing around with one day here and there, Royal Mail gain strength when we do that !!

[thehappyones]

There in no chance that it will be an all-out strike....i for one will not be going all out........

[OnAFlyer]

Prepare to be shafted with another 'deal of the century'

[Red Robbo]

I see counter staff are taking action short of strike action from today ie working to rule .