Royal Mail and unions turn to third party mediation

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/11 ... +mediation" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



The Royal Mail, in an agreement with unions Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), has called in independent mediators The TCM Group to resolve disputes among its 150,000 staff.

It is the first time the company has taken this step. It is also updating its bullying and harassment policy. The new initiative will offer support from The TCM Group to all staff.

Michael Newby, director of employee relations at Royal Mail, told HR magazine the move isn't a reaction to current problems. "This isn't about necessity, it's about approach,” he said. “Our relationship with the unions is improving and developing. We see this as an agenda for growth.”

Talking about how the mediators would be deployed, he said: "It's a two-tier approach. In the first year we will bring in expert mediators when requested by both parties in a dispute. In the second year we are going to use them as trainers so that our own staff can act as mediators."

This is not the first time employee issues at Royal Mail have hit the headlines. In August 2013 former company manager Simon Walshe wrote a series of emails in support of striking postal workers in Bridgewater. He criticised Royal Mail's management and their handling of bullying cases.

"Royal Mail's managerial 'style' promotes behaviour that would shame most modern organisations and they do not seem to understand just how divisive and counter productive it is," he said.

This situation is improving, according to one of the unions involved in the agreement. However, Unite officer Brian Scott told HR magazine there is still work to be done.

“Bullying and harassment is not a huge problem but there are more cases than we would like and dealing with them is stressful for all parties,” he said. “Often difficult relationships can be improved by just talking and understanding each other’s point of view. We anticipate the mediation will assist in this.”

David Liddle, CEO at The TCM Group, told HR that he sees this as a sign of progress at Royal Mail. "In any organisation challenges are going to arise. The Royal Mail, along with the unions, are showing real leadership and a proactive approach,” he said.

Liddle denied bringing in a third party was a sign of failing to deal with conflict in-house. "Far from being a sign of the company failing to deal with these challenges, this shows Royal Mail is looking to create a culture of compassion and understanding. It is looking for ways of dealing with conflict effectively."

[UnhappyGremlin]

David Liddle, CEO at The TCM Group, told HR that he sees this as a sign of progress at Royal Mail. "In any organisation challenges are going to arise. The Royal Mail, along with the unions, are showing real leadership and a proactive approach,” he said.

Liddle denied bringing in a third party was a sign of failing to deal with conflict in-house. "Far from being a sign of the company failing to deal with these challenges, this shows Royal Mail is looking to create a culture of compassion and understanding. It is looking for ways of dealing with conflict effectively."

Might be being cynical, but this hardly seems to promote The TCM Group as impartial.
They appear, whether purposely or not, to be 'on the side' of the company.
Time will tell.

[5plusbonusball]

Now if you ask the managers a question you get a face and something like "how dare you talk to me , just carry on with your job and see me when you get back" of course when you get back they've long gone home after doing nowt but play with the pc and drink coffee. No need for these managers, get rid.

[Lincox]

Compassion and Understanding.

They would not know what that is if it stares them in the face.

[Lounge Lizard]

"He who pays the piper calls the tune" - and if Royal Mail are paying the TCM Group then the TCM Group will do whatever Royal Mail want.

[bogstandard]

"He who pays the piper calls the tune" - and if Royal Mail are paying the TCM Group then the TCM Group will do whatever Royal Mail want.

have to agree there

[bogstandard]

"He who pays the piper calls the tune" - and if Royal Mail are paying the TCM Group then the TCM Group will do whatever Royal Mail want.

have to agree there

i think we need look no further than ATOS for our benchmark on this one.

[dvbuk55]

"He who pays the piper calls the tune" - and if Royal Mail are paying the TCM Group then the TCM Group will do whatever Royal Mail want.

have to agree there

i think we need look no further than ATOS for our benchmark on this one.

The government are on the brink of ditching ATOS. Strange that despite the number of complaints about ATOS on here, which is probably only a drop in the ocean, the union don't seem to be very vociferous in decrying the poor quality of diagnoses. So you must assume that TCM would do nothing more than support RMs stance in the same way ATOS does.

[janitor]

The government are not going to dump ATOS, they are doing exactly what they want, they get people off the sick list, no matter how sick they are, pain and misery to the working classes just what Tories love.

[Brain Fury]

"He who pays the piper calls the tune" - and if Royal Mail are paying the TCM Group then the TCM Group will do whatever Royal Mail want.

Why doesn't the CWU offer to pay half the cost then?

[dvbuk55]

"He who pays the piper calls the tune" - and if Royal Mail are paying the TCM Group then the TCM Group will do whatever Royal Mail want.

Why doesn't the CWU offer to pay half the cost then?

After the loans, holiday pay, the expense of maintaining a bloated system there's no money left for essential services

[fishtank]

The new system will be based on something called The TCM Model Resolution Policy.

What can you expect from the TCM Model Resolution Policy:
It combines your grievance, bullying and harassment policies into a single Resolution Policy.
It links dispute resolution with your values and vision.
It offers a new name and a new focus for dispute resolution.
It takes the grief out of grievances.
It reduces the amount of time HR spend on grievance and bullying case management.
There is a significant emphasis on mediation and early resolution. Mediation is effective in up to 90% of cases. It becomes even more effective the earlier it is offered.
It will help your organisation to transition from a 'grievance culture' to a 'resolution culture'.
It includes a comprehensive dispute triarage process which HR and ER professionals can use to assess the most suitable route to resolution.
It is compliant with the Acas disciplinary and grievance code of practice.
In more serious disputes and in cases where there is a clear breach of your code of conduct, it offers opportunities to escalate to an investigation or other formal action.
There is an opportunity to offer mediation at each stage, even where the case is escalated to formal action. It offres greater flexibility to all parties.
It supports return to work procedures following absence or suspension

triarage This appears to either be a spelling mistake or a completely made up word.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Probably meant triage

[Lincox]

Aint that something to do with hospitals?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Aint that something to do with hospitals?

That's its main use but it can translate into anything that needs prioritising in some fashion.