Royal Mail injunction plans

[tommyrep]

Well, just as expected RM have plans to fight the CWU ballot result, saying they/we are in breach of the way forward- legally binding agreement of 2013. They caim we should be "talking", " using mediators etc to resolve our differences etc.
Call me a profit of doom but we all know how High court Judges feel about trade unions from past history.
I fear, along the path RM always had this card up their sleeve to delay industrial action in the approach to xmas pressure.
I also hear Terry Pullenger saying they have been trying to talk/negotiate for 18 months with no progress and RM have been in breach of many, way forward agreements- legally bound terms ! It beggars a simple question, if RM were in breach of legally binding terms of that agreement WHY did we (CWU) not approach the courts to expose those breaches at that time ?? For the benefits that were in that agreement for its members ? Why were they not pursued in court ?
Our PT members terms, for more/improved holiday payments, increase in hours etc, for example have been blatantly ignored. WHY have we allowed RM breaches of the WFA to go unchallenged ?
I am very apprehensive now, we gave a huge mandate from the members and fear that that faith in thinking we were doing things by the book may be scuppered by RMs clever legal eagles.
How absurd that after those long projected negotiations/meetings, we find ourselves breaking the law ! if we take strike action. If that is the case we are really NO better than slaves to be abused at the whim of RM. The only tool any worker has in dispute with a despicable employer is to remove their obligation to work under duress for them, i.e. "go on strike".
Does that make me a criminal ? The very thought of it makes me sick. Unfortunately our Union has a failed history in signing poor agreements, they seem watertight until RM start dismantling them piece by piece to THEIR advantage and our loss.
Only my own thoughts - I have always been a pessimist! What do you think ? ( about RMs challenge, not my failings)!

[Flashman_]

I could never understand what the hell the Union where doing, signing away our right to strike in the first place. if you put something like that in an agreement even though I know the union said it did not mean we could not strike, RM will always see it in whatever way it suits them. Almost by definition that agreement would always be subject to legal wrangling. If this does go to court all I hope that any judge would say that they had no right to take away our legal right in the first place and find in our favour.

[hans solo]

as i have said before the no strike agreement was for terms and conditions made in 2013
if rm change their position ie executive action re pensions in the 2013 agreement THEY are breaking agreements their new proposals and have been met with rejection
if they dont want a strike they return to 2013 terms and conditions
they need agreement from their staff on new proposals which they will not get

[rubberbond]

Well, just as expected RM have plans to fight the CWU ballot result.
Call me a profit of doom but we all know how High court Judges feel about trade unions from past history.

You may be a prophet of doom, however the law is unemotional,it doesn't matter what judges think of trade unions, they have to interpret the law as to what parliament intended when they drew up the relevant legislation. Emotion doesn't come into it.

[POSTMAN]

See Terry's video,'Terry Pullinger on today's strike announcement', he talks about it.

[POSTMAN]

rm.jpg

[Jonesy 1971]

Yep! I see this the same way as HANS SOLO they broke the rules first. RM don't have any moral high ground on this one. Reported attempts to delay action are at the best hypocritical, at worst desperate and shows the contempt they hold us all in. They are not interested in talking and making sensible proposals for change, just carrying on with a schedule that does nothing to grow business, protect their obligations ( uso or staff) with the top bods getting very rich for managing decline.

[fishtank]

You would think there would be someone smart enough among Royal Mail senior management to realise that they have lost their employees and any attempt to devalue a democratic decision by the employees is simply going to drive an even bigger wedge between both parties. When your employees speak it is generally good business sense not to tell them they're talking shite.

When the dust settles and this like any other dispute is resolved Royal Mail will need a large chunk of employee engagement to implement the necessary changes to the pipeline, unless there's a change in direction away from childish propaganda and confrontation I can't see where that engagement is coming from. It's almost as if they haven't learned from their inept comms strategy and have decided to double down on scaring the members over the legal protections. Whoever is in charge of their dispute resolution strategy....shouldn't be.

[Brandy]

Its about time those at the top realised that without the posties there would be no Royal Mail,and its about time they treated them with respect for all the hard work they do.All they do is look down their noses at them.DONT FORGET WITHOUT THE POSTIES THERE WOULD BE NO ROYAL MAIL!!!!!!!

[tommyrep]

Well, just as expected RM have plans to fight the CWU ballot result.
Call me a profit of doom but we all know how High court Judges feel about trade unions from past history.

You may be a prophet of doom, however the law is unemotional,it doesn't matter what judges think of trade unions, they have to interpret the law as to what parliament intended when they drew up the relevant legislation. Emotion doesn't come into it.

Wish I had your confidence in our judiciary. I am as pessimist and the law Lords have sequestrated Union funds in the past.
Miners, 1984. They don't have a lot of sympathy with working classes in general, but hey ho I hope you are right in this instance.

[cloherty1976]

You would think there would be someone smart enough among Royal Mail senior management to realise that they have lost their employees and any attempt to devalue a democratic decision by the employees is simply going to drive an even bigger wedge between both parties. When your employees speak it is generally good business sense not to tell them they're talking shite.

When the dust settles and this like any other dispute is resolved Royal Mail will need a large chunk of employee engagement to implement the necessary changes to the pipeline, unless there's a change in direction away from childish propaganda and confrontation I can't see where that engagement is coming from. It's almost as if they haven't learned from their inept comms strategy and have decided to double down on scaring the members over the legal protections. Whoever is in charge of their dispute resolution strategy....shouldn't be.

Also you could look at it someone in the cwu signing a 5 year deal in 2013 and then saying we will go on strike in 2017. Do the maths. The union would use the law to there advantage if they were in the right and a lot of trade unions do.
Maybe the union have looked into this and are very confident with there lawyers they are going to win this in the court and that is why they have taken this approach.

[LaggyBand]

Well, just as expected RM have plans to fight the CWU ballot result.
Call me a profit of doom but we all know how High court Judges feel about trade unions from past history.

You may be a prophet of doom, however the law is unemotional,it doesn't matter what judges think of trade unions, they have to interpret the law as to what parliament intended when they drew up the relevant legislation. Emotion doesn't come into it.

Wish I had your confidence in our judiciary. I am as pessimist and the law Lords have sequestrated Union funds in the past.
Miners, 1984. They don't have a lot of sympathy with working classes in general, but hey ho I hope you are right in this instance.

I totally agree with this. The legal industry is massively supported by the lucrative greyness just waiting to be channelled this way or that.

[fishtank]

There are allegedly 23 pages to the legal protection document, It could be a long drawn out affair. Maybe next October?

[Dorset Plodder]

I seriously hope this attempt to get an injunction is kicked out of court. If we cannot get effective industrial action in place , with the sorts of support everyone has been showing (89.1% FFS) then it doesn't bode well for the workers of this country.

However if this Injunction was upheld, and the strike deemed illegal, the workforce, and the CWU, could still make an effective protest by simply working correctly. We all know how this business relies on the goodwill of the workforce and... massive amounts of overtime! As I'm sure Royal Mail will find out to their cost when they inevitably have to deal with the aftermath of what I am confident will be a Legal Strike!

[daveyeff]

i must admit I tend to agree with tommyrep, I can see it coming, they have a history of it and they have pulled it off before. I can just feel it in my bones. they will get their injunction, and I am f***ing dreading it. I sincerely hope I am wrong.