Petition launched over proposed boycott of The Sun freebies

[POSTMAN]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liv ... st-7237553" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Petition launched as unions meet post bosses over proposed boycott of The Sun freebies

Talks are taking place today over a protest by postal workers against delivering free copies of the Sun newspaper.

Union officers were due to meet with Royal Mail bosses to discuss the row in Skelmersdale .

Staff at the Skelmersdale delivery office are refusing to deliver the free issues of the paper, which is running a nationwide World Cup promotional campaign.

Carl Webb, regional secretary of the CWU said it was the decision of staff at the branch to refuse to deliver the paper and not the union - although they would try to mediate.

The Royal Mail has agreed to put 22 million copies of the newspaper through doors across the UK.

However, it said it would not deliver copies in Liverpool where the paper is heavily boycotted following its coverage of the Hillsborough tragedy .

But with copies still set to be posted to Merseyside addresses, including Southport, which has a Preston postcode, and Wirral, which has a Cheshire postcode, the delivery deal has sparked outrage across the region.

So far 7,000 people have signed a petition on website Change.org entitled "Refuse to Deliver Free Copies [of] the S*N Newspaper to Every home in the UK".

On the website Paul Murray, who set up the petition, states: "The People of Liverpool and further afield have actively boycotted the S*n for 25 years, We see the S*n's intention to send a free copy of its "Newspaper" to every home in the UK in the run up to the 2014 World Cup as a deliberate attempt to break this boycott."

As well as signing the petition, dozens of people have left angry comments on the website, with one writing "The insensitivity at this time beggars belief".

Other supporters of the campaign have produced posters for doors and windows telling postmen not to deliver The Sun to them.

Among those is Louise Brookes, whose brother Andrew died in the disaster. She tweeted a picture of two of the posters on her front door and urged her followers to do the same.

Royal Mail spokesperson Sally Hopkins said: “We have been awarded the contract to deliver a promotional World Cup edition of The Sun to 22 million homes in England on 12 and 13 June.

“The postal service is, of course, open to everyone provided the material they post meets all the relevant legal requirements.

“The Sun has chosen not to include Liverpool in the mailing.

“Any individual concerns will be handled sensitively with fairness, dignity and fully respecting the views of individuals. Local CWU representatives and delivery office managers will work together to agree sensible and amicable solutions.”

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/t ... r=38232070" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dazzlin72]

Yet again up to the collective rather than the union to back their own corner, the union should have had the sense to realise the feeling of it's members, especially around the Merseyside area, but further afield also, & done something about it 3 months ago when they first found out about this contract in the first place. What is a bit deplorable is that our Union Leader Billy Hayes is a Liverpudlian himself, & hasn't spoke out about it, all we've heard is the usual waffle like a scratched record that we're in a competitive market, mail volumes are down, it'll secure full time jobs, blah de blah.
What this will do is open the floodgates now for more time sensitive contracts like this, & the Union are going along with it, so going against the agreement they themselves agreed to do 1/6th a day.

[PhilthyPhil]

What this will do is open the floodgates now for more time sensitive contracts like this, & the Union are going along with it, so going against the agreement they themselves agreed to do 1/6th a day.

It does not go against the national agreement. BT2010 contains the following

Both parties also recognise that in addition to growth in the core D2D product further commercial opportunities are likely to exist particularly for named/specific day(s) products and/or Saturdays which may provide Royal Mail with additional scope for increased revenue. In order to take advantage of any potential in this area any further commercial opportunities will remain subject to ongoing dialogue, joint monitoring and review and will also be discussed and agreed with the CWU nationally at the quarterly review meetings with a view to capturing any viable opportunities for the mutual benefit of Royal Mail and its employees and to also deal with any workload issues.

[dazzlin72]

That's a complete joke. The RM didn't want the Union to have any input what so ever with regard to this contract initially, it was only in the last month, after the Union said if you don't want a commercial disaster on your hands we better sit down & discuss, that RM have relented.

[dazzlin72]

Where is it of mutual benefit? It is all one way! Oh hang on a minute!, we're faced with a competitive market, mail volumes are down, it'll secure full time jobs!, & so it continues, on, & on...

[RTP]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liv ... st-7237553
Other supporters of the campaign have produced posters for doors and windows telling postmen not to deliver The Sun to them.

Among those is Louise Brookes, whose brother Andrew died in the disaster. She tweeted a picture of two of the posters on her front door and urged her followers to do the same.

So if we come across any doors with these stickers on are we really still expected to deliver the Sun as you would with DTD if the customer hasn't officially opted out? Royal Mail must be aware of this, but as yet I'm aware of no clarification.

[Lincox]

Thats because local Royal Mail Managers are doing what they do best, and that is burying their heads in the sand and denying all knowledge of this work, refusing to talk to local reps to discuss putting in extra resources as per the joint statement. If Royal Mail cannot get it,s managers on board then they can go to fck.