CWU let us down?

[osgoody1970]

if ROYAL MAIL are serious about the talks and mediation, then the CWU should insist on messrs, GREEN, CAMERON and WHALLEY being present at every meeting from now on, instead of blocking their negotiating team from the outside, time to grow up!!!!

[Whysoslowyehcfc]

I know this maybe a silly question, but if the agreement only stands until 2018...will RM be allowed to implement anything they want after January?
If that's the case they will just ride it out until then or do they have to negotiate?

[Jpro747]

I personally think the Union have outsmarted RMG. They want the best agreement for us, RMG were not listening and declined the earlier request to involve ACAS. Cleverly they have now forced RMG to enter outside mediation. I know the recommendations will be non binding but at the end of the process we will have a clearer idea just how far apart the two parties remain. I am hopeful for a negotiated settlement that satisfies the principles within the four pillars.

RMG keep comparing us to Yodel etc. but we are not parcel couriers, WE ARE POSTIES, we deliver a service and we should be proud of the work we do. Excessive profits should not be the ultimate goal, being the best, most trusted and professional organisation should be. We are not any old delivery company, we are THE ROYAL MAIL.

I am still proud to be a postie, I work diligently and often "go the extra mile" for my customers. I do it because I can, often at a cost to me, but not everything in this life has to be about making the absolute maximum amount of money. I hope RMG realise this and eventually, with the help of the Union, alter their obsessive fixation on wringing every last cent from the operation and get back to providing the superlative service that will see customers preferring to use us instead of the competition because they know we will always fulfill our promise to deliver their items even when the address is more like a crossword clue. There will always be the customers who will go for the cheapest option, but I would rather pay that little bit extra and get a far superior service, so lets stop trying to compete on price and go all out for service, at a small premium.

Good post. I think RM should focus on being a quality brand, one that you pay a little extra for but items do arrive on time, with care. But sadly due to mismanagement we have become comparable to the likes of yodel etc.

[viking1488]

so obvious royal mail will see the strikes off until after xmas then they have won. no point striking after xmas in my eyes

why ? if no agreement within the 5 weeks and 2 weeks notice would lead to strikes the start of December and its wasn't just about an xmas strike , no matter when you strike imo it with still cause a lot of problems to the company ,

The CWU will now enter into the mediation process which will take 5 weeks. If this mediation does not result in a good Agreement, then there is a further two weeks of talks. If we don’t then reach an agreement, we will notify Royal Mail of strike action.
then 2 weeks notice will put us week commencing 11th dec right in the middle of xmas pressure

[wannabeek]

When are you starting that 5 week period from? I don't believe it's started, nor will it start early next week either I reckon.

Surely they need to agree on and appoint these mediators first of all before the 5 weeks can start ticking.....

[cloherty1976]

When are you starting that 5 week period from? I don't believe it's started, nor will it start early next week either I reckon.

Surely they need to agree on and appoint these mediators first of all before the 5 weeks can start ticking.....

Remember they say 5 weeks from whenever then they say 2 week extension.
Then 2 weeks notice.
Do the maths!

[Lounge Lizard]

So did Royal Mail decline an earlier CWU request to involve ACAS ?
And have external mediators been present during the negotiations so far ?

[worktotime]

so obvious royal mail will see the strikes off until after xmas then they have won. no point striking after xmas in my eyes

why ? if no agreement within the 5 weeks and 2 weeks notice would lead to strikes the start of December and its wasn't just about an xmas strike , no matter when you strike imo it with still cause a lot of problems to the company ,

The CWU will now enter into the mediation process which will take 5 weeks. If this mediation does not result in a good Agreement, then there is a further two weeks of talks. If we don’t then reach an agreement, we will notify Royal Mail of strike action.
then 2 weeks notice will put us week commencing 11th dec right in the middle of xmas pressure

thanks for that I thought it was 5 weeks ? and 2 weeks notice . but we all know there is no slack even after xmas .

[worktotime]

When are you starting that 5 week period from? I don't believe it's started, nor will it start early next week either I reckon.

Surely they need to agree on and appoint these mediators first of all before the 5 weeks can start ticking.....

surely it must be from yesterday ? that's when they got the injunction.

[cloherty1976]

so obvious royal mail will see the strikes off until after xmas then they have won. no point striking after xmas in my eyes

why ? if no agreement within the 5 weeks and 2 weeks notice would lead to strikes the start of December and its wasn't just about an xmas strike , no matter when you strike imo it with still cause a lot of problems to the company ,

The CWU will now enter into the mediation process which will take 5 weeks. If this mediation does not result in a good Agreement, then there is a further two weeks of talks. If we don’t then reach an agreement, we will notify Royal Mail of strike action.
then 2 weeks notice will put us week commencing 11th dec right in the middle of xmas pressure

thanks for that I thought it was 5 weeks ? and 2 weeks notice . but we all know there is no slack even after xmas .

Remember 2 week extension after 5 week before notice

[LaggyBand]

I think it was a good strategic move to fall into the trap Royal Mail set.

This is what has happened.

Look at it in hindsight. The union knew about the mediation clause. They absolutely knew RM would rely on it if cornered.

And they were cornered - as soon as that ballot result was announced. The union knew they'd get a good ballot result. People been moanin' way too long about each and every thing that goes on at shop floor and going forward.

So the union knew this was the course of events:

1. Spend an amount of time trying to talk;

2. Do the ballot and get the result;

3. Notify of strike;

4. That then triggers RM getting injunction;

5. Mediation timetable occurs;

6. No good deal? Strikes at Christmas.


Notice how the transition between 1. and 2. is totally at the control of the union, and all subsequent stages are not. Nor are subsequent stages at the control of RM: instead they are mechanical progressions.

And it lands at Christmas.

If you feel let down by the union, maybe you ought to consider that actually, this may have been timed PERFECTLY.

[cloherty1976]

I think it was a good strategic move to fall into the trap Royal Mail set.

This is what has happened.

Look at it in hindsight. The union knew about the mediation clause. They absolutely knew RM would rely on it if cornered.

And they were cornered - as soon as that ballot result was announced. The union knew they'd get a good ballot result. People been moanin' way too long about each and every thing that goes on at shop floor and going forward.

So the union knew this was the course of events:
1. Spend an amount of time trying to talk;

2. Do the ballot and get the result;

3. Notify of strike;

4. That then triggers RM getting injunction;

5. Mediation timetable occurs;

6. No good deal? Strikes at Christmas.


Notice how the transition between 1. and 2. is totally at the control of the union, and all subsequent stages are not. Nor are subsequent stages at the control of RM: instead they are mechanical progressions.

And it lands at Christmas.

If you feel let down by the union, maybe you ought to consider that actually, this may have been timed PERFECTLY.

Will it be xmas or later
If it's before xmas the union you could say have played a blinder
If it's after what will you say

[LaggyBand]

I don't think it will be, but if it is after Xmas for some reason, I would say the union timed it as best as anyone could given the events in the sequence that were under their control

[steven100]

The union played a blinder, now everyone can save for the upcoming strikes (if they happen). I also believe that no strikes will happen at xmas. Just a personal opinion.

[Rumple]

We had people in our office saying they couldn't afford to go on strike. The same people where then going mad that they aren't on strike. WTF.