Union labels Royal Mail strike pay poll as 'desperate' and '

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Union labels Royal Mail strike pay poll as 'desperate' and 'spurious'

http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/city-news ... ke-2289264" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CWU spokesperson: "The poll didn’t mention the threatened stoppage was about conditions, pensions and privatisation as well as pay"

Union chiefs accused Royal Mail of “desperation” after the firm published a poll showing most people opposed a postal strike.

The company released results of a MORI survey showing 72% of respondents thought the Communication Workers Union should accept a pay offer and call off plans to strike.

Yet the poll didn’t mention the threatened stoppage was also about conditions, pensions and privatisation.

A CWU spokesperson said: “It smacks of desperation that the company would poll the public only telling them their version of events and isolating the question to pay.

“I suggest Royal Mail better spends its energy dealing with employee concerns than spurious polls that serve no purpose.”

It came as the CWU confirmed ballot paper for strike action would be sent to 115,000 members next Friday.

Royal Mail said it was “disappointed” at the ballot, adding it “still talking with the CWU to reach a new agreement”.

[Red Robbo]

If it had been the Sun newspaper then I know it was the truth.

[UnhappyGremlin]

Usual RM tactics.
Point out and promote one thing to the public to make posties and the union look unreasonable/greedy etc.
And totally ignore what most consider to be the real issue(s) that the ballot is being called for.

Wonder who was polled? Could it be a select number of persons that the company knew would provide the answer they wanted?
Also equally suspect, how was the question phrased?
The pay offer itself is a good one.
But, years 2 and 3 aren't guaranteed. And there are tons more strings attached to them, all unpalatable.

[cloherty1976]

How many members does the union have as it seems to get lower and lower depending on what you read?

[bunkerland]

How many members does the union have as it seems to get lower and lower depending on what you read?

Definitely getting lower and lower in our office. When i started in RM everyone nagged you to join the union, reps gave you forms and colleagues advised . Now it's never even mentioned, newstarts never get asked or approached. I just presume the unions not bothered about extra members or subs nowadays.

On the subject of polls though, when were RM so keen on them? They don't seem too concerned about the one that says over 70 percent of the general public think we shouldn't be privatised!

[borders]

How many members does the union have as it seems to get lower and lower depending on what you read?

The Postal department campaigns to support the 134,000 members the CWU represents across Royal Mail Group and other business units as well as UK Mail.

[borders]

the media , newspapers , TV etc loves to present a picture of how our Unions are irrelevant in todays society. these figures which I fetched off the Daily Telegraph and the TUC 's website tell a different story , eh ? we are ruled by a party that may have less than 100,000 members ??


According to the website ConservativeHome, the Tories have claimed there are now 134,000 Tory members, down from over 253,000 during the 2005 leadership contest.

The party had earlier this year refused to release the figures amid claims that the number may have fallen below 100,000.

Douglas Carswell, the Conservative MP, has previously warned that the party is “haemorrhaging" members because of David Cameron and his “remote clique” at Westminster.

Membership of both the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties has fallen in recent years.

However, with a membership of around 187,537, Labour’s numbers are much better than their Conservative rivals.

the TUC membership now stands at 54 unions, representing almost six million workers.

[cloherty1976]

You say 134,000 which might be right but it will be interesting when they say how many we're balloted in the ballot.

[borders]

You say 134,000 which might be right but it will be interesting when they say how many we're balloted in the ballot.

well I took it off the CWU website . see above post , there is more Union members , than there is members of our 3 main political parties added together.

[cloherty1976]

well I took it off the CWU website . see above post , there is more Union members , than there is members of our 3 main political parties added together.

Yes I don't disagree with you I just wondered when they have balloted what the figures are displayed. Unions just keep making mistakes and large firms take them to court and win. I just think they should know there figures and get them right in the first place. Remember the last strikes I think they challenged the union on about 8 occasions and won every time. This has just happened to the RMT union and they have cancelled there 7 day strike. To me you have to be smarter than your employer if you are going to win.

[borders]

20 September 2013

Letter from RMT General Secretary, Bob Crow, explaining why strike action has been called off on City Link.


Our Ref; RT/0001/CL

20th September 2013

Dear Colleague,

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2011-2013 CITY LINK

STRIKE ACTION CANCELLED

As you now know City Link management went running to their lawyers challenging our ballot and using the anti trade union legislation to stop you taking industrial action. I regret that because of these laws it has been necessary to cancel the strike action that was due to commence on Tuesday and you are instructed to work normally. The main problem we faced was the fact that sub-contractors were included in the ballot and this is something we are addressing.

But let me make something abundantly clear this is not the end. We are determined, with your support, to continue the fight to protect your terms and conditions so we are still not advising you to sign the new contracts. We will be re-balloting members shortly so that should it be necessary to take industrial action it will be at the company’s busiest time, the Christmas period.

Despite being unable to take industrial action at the present time the ballot has not been a waste of time as the pressure you have put on management means they are now seeking urgent talks with your union which we are only too happy to attend. We will, of course, use these discussions to fight your corner.

The Union is meeting with your representatives tomorrow (Saturday) and we will update them on the current position and on our future plans.

The planned protests go ahead. Just because we can’t use the ballot mandate does not mean we can’t keep the pressure on management and ensure they understand that the problems they are creating will not be tolerated. So the protests that you have been advised of previously still go ahead and I hope you can attend one of them

As I stated earlier we are re-balloting members employed by City Link for strike action and industrial action short of a strike and I am in the process of carrying this out. It is therefore imperative that we have all of your employment details up to date.

From Monday please contact the Helpline on 0800 376 3706 or the Membership Department on 0207 387 4771 to check your details and let us know if you are a sub contractor, self employed or directly employed by City Link.


THE FIGHT CONTINUES
SUPPORT YOUR COLLEAGUES
SUPPORT YOUR UNION


Yours sincerely

Bob Crow
General Secretary

[cloherty1976]

That's the one

[borders]

after reading it again , maybe the Union realised the ballot would be stopped. with another ballot due , Bob has been able to add more pressure on the company to concede a good deal without the members losing a penny , just by using that word Christmas !!?? CityLink has some good contracts with Amazon, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis.

[cloherty1976]

after reading it again , maybe the Union realised the ballot would be stopped. with another ballot due , Bob has been able to add more pressure on the company to concede a good deal without the members losing a penny , just by using that word Christmas !!?? CityLink has some good contracts with Amazon, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis.

That's how I read it but what I am saying is stop wasting money on ballots and then doing them again at double the expense. Get things right in the first place. I know I am in the wrong on this site but they way I see it we should win contracts off them so it guarantees our jobs.

[Martin Walsh]

There is a difference between the RMT and the CWU apart from the obvious which is we are having a national ballot whereas the RMT due to a number of factors only have either business disputes or regional disputes.

The difference is that the CWU get provided by Royal Mail all the information of members paying union dues under Check off so it is reasonable that we can argue with some success including when we beat Royal Mail in court in 2009 that we are using the information provided by Royal Mail.

The RMT do not have the check off facility in a number of circumstances due to the employer withdrawing it and therefore have to rely more on the information their Branch's have.

Be in no doubt that our ballot will be challenged because the stakes are so high not only with Royal Mail but with the Government.

Just imagine Cloherty you might be working for Siemens in your workplace in a couple of years time on poor conditions. Remember at the moment Royal Mail are only saying the protection on offer is for core services and is worthless unless under written by the government and any new owner. The core service is the USO which accounts for less than half your normal workload in Mail centres , RDCs , distribution and delivery offices .

The only ballot result which counts is the industrial ballot and I am convinced we will get a big yes vote. I have done members meetings in over 30 offices now with more to come this week and once the issue is explained to the members They know that this is it ! Time to make a stand and fight for their futures . You can hold everyone else's coats but if we lose your be in the firing line as well !