Mediation Update : CWU and Royal Mail have now agreed the external mediator

[Martin Walsh]

Just to confirm the CWU and Royal Mail have now agreed the external mediator from the agreed panel.

Her name is Lynette Harris from ACAS.

Both Royal Mail and the CWU have used her previously on some issues.

Both Royal Mail and the CWU will by the end of today submit their mediation submissions.

Later this week both parties will have an opportunity to explain to the mediation their issues.

Moya Greene is going to lead Royal Mail’s negotiating team on the external mediation process.

We will keep you updated as things develop.

[Celtic Postman]

Thanks for the update Dingo.
Quick question, does that put the timescale back 1 week?

[taxi4leighton]

is the mediation binding

[fishtank]

is the mediation binding

No.

[daveyeff]

i think the time frame starts from the court date. not sure though.

[worktotime]

its funny how she hasn't been interested in the last 18 mths of talks , imho its just a waste of time and a delay tactic by royal mail , but I wont be holding my breath for a deal of the century within the next 7 weeks.

[hans solo]

what happens if rm give no ground and talks break down
which is what i suspect might happen

[fishtank]

what happens if rm give no ground and talks break down
which is what i suspect might happen

A deal will be done.
Both sides need one.
You might not like it.
Strikes before Christmas can't happen and strikes after Christmas won't happen.

[worktotime]

what happens if rm give no ground and talks break down
which is what i suspect might happen

A deal will be done.
Both sides need one.
You might not like it.
Strikes before Christmas can't happen and strikes after Christmas won't happen.

it doesn't matter what deal is done its down to the members to vote yes or no , why wont strikes happen before or after xmas ?

[clashcityrocker]

why wont strikes happen before or after xmas ?

A strike before xmas will be a PR disaster, even if the CWU could get enough bodies to hit the cobbles.
If the deal is put to a vote how long do you think that will take to organize?

After xmas the momentum will have been lost and the CWU will be faced with a disaffected workforce believing "we had them by the baws and let them go again"
And that's if the courts let us strike.

[fishtank]

The timescale for pre-Christmas strikes have passed.
4 weeks of mediation.
1 week to prepare a response.
2 week period of reflection.
2 weeks notice of strike action.
9 weeks in total.
That's the w/c 25th December.

The strikes won't happen after Christmas because it's not a position of strength. It would be a desperate move by the union and would only happen if they were backed into a corner. Royal Mail will offer all they can during the mediation period because they want a deal as badly as we do, they know they've lost the staff, pressure is building from the shareholders and FedEx is circling like a hungry shark. The main reason that post Christmas strikes won't work is because by then we'll basically have the best deal we can get anyway and you don't ask your members to strike knowing all you're doing is attempting to shake a few more crumbs when you've already got your slice of the cake.

[k979aaa]

The timescale for pre-Christmas strikes have passed.
4 weeks of mediation.
1 week to prepare a response.
2 week period of reflection.
2 weeks notice of strike action.
9 weeks in total.
That's the w/c 25th December.

The strikes won't happen after Christmas because it's not a position of strength. It would be a desperate move by the union and would only happen if they were backed into a corner. Royal Mail will offer all they can during the mediation period because they want a deal as badly as we do, they know they've lost the staff, pressure is building from the shareholders and FedEx is circling like a hungry shark. The main reason that post Christmas strikes won't work is because by then we'll basically have the best deal we can get anyway and you don't ask your members to strike knowing all you're doing is attempting to shake a few more crumbs when you've already got your slice of the cake.

Hardly think one we would all put up with the crap that has been going on for another year this company/business is at breaking point with it's workforce over how it is run already never mind anything else the board of Royal Mail would wish upon us all. Did they not see that spending hundreds of thousands of pounds did not make any difference in fact it made it worse time is said enough is enough even if it is the 2nd of January till next XMAS and beyond with one day or two day action we should get a deal for all for the future of this industry!

[fishtank]

You're not really getting it. Royal Mail will put a deal to the union during the mediation period, it will not be wonderful for us but because they want a deal as badly as we do it will be 99% as far as they can possibly go. Would you ask the members to strike in January for the other 1%?

[worktotime]

The timescale for pre-Christmas strikes have passed.
4 weeks of mediation.
1 week to prepare a response.
2 week period of reflection.
2 weeks notice of strike action.
9 weeks in total.
That's the w/c 25th December.

The strikes won't happen after Christmas because it's not a position of strength. It would be a desperate move by the union and would only happen if they were backed into a corner. Royal Mail will offer all they can during the mediation period because they want a deal as badly as we do, they know they've lost the staff, pressure is building from the shareholders and FedEx is circling like a hungry shark. The main reason that post Christmas strikes won't work is because by then we'll basically have the best deal we can get anyway and you don't ask your members to strike knowing all you're doing is attempting to shake a few more crumbs when you've already got your slice of the cake.

Hardly think one we would all put up with the crap that has been going on for another year this company/business is at breaking point with it's workforce over how it is run already never mind anything else the board of Royal Mail would wish upon us all. Did they not see that spending hundreds of thousands of pounds did not make any difference in fact it made it worse time is said enough is enough even if it is the 2nd of January till next XMAS and beyond with one day or two day action we should get a deal for all for the future of this industry!

your right strike anytime of the year , like Terry pullinger said the I/a is not just about xmas , even if it takes 3 , 6 , 12 months , and looking and reading some of the comments on here just lately its as if some would agree for anything to not strike and have lost the fight against a company that are looking to shaft the staff and destroy the business to look after themselves , 18 months of talks ( jack s**t ) 7 weeks of talking and a deal is done , errmm

[fishtank]

Somebody's been at the sherry.
Fighting talk has its place. I've done my share of it in this dispute and every other one but I'm a firm believer in being honest with the members. Put away your fighting trousers, it's time for the talking and the dealing and a little reality check, we've played our cards and they've given RM something to think about especially the lack of faith the staff has in their business plan but all the cards are on the table now and we'll see how it plays out.

Strikes in January are only a serious threat if they up the stakes and give the union no genuine out and they know that's not in anyone's interests at this point.