Edited

[tonytucker]

I spoke to me area rep yesterday about the new deal. He told me the pension just had to be passed in parliament and the shorter working week had been agreed.......The only sticking point was pay,CWU want three percent inline with inflation and backdated pay,RM want two percent and a lump sum. If we get the CWU pay deal along with everthing else that's been agreed,personally I think that's a pretty good result....

Jackonory load of rumour and bull

[k979aaa]

I spoke to me area rep yesterday about the new deal. He told me the pension just had to be passed in parliament and the shorter working week had been agreed.......The only sticking point was pay,CWU want three percent inline with inflation and backdated pay,RM want two percent and a lump sum. If we get the CWU pay deal along with everthing else that's been agreed,personally I think that's a pretty good result....

Pension passing in parliament about as much chance as rocking horse s**t they have 45 years of brexit law's too get through so I doubt we will bet top of the list!

[postslippete]

Personally, I don't think the shorter working week is the way forwards for us; its the way backwards towards more bullying/harassment and problems between staff and inept management. The Union believe that they have the answer by taking time off the working week and compromising with Royal Mail by suggesting that we start later. But this is a company that has timed deliveries, that has part-timers starting later, that lapses duties at the drop of a hat and that informs its posties to leave parcels if they can't get finished on time. And yet the reasoning behind starting and finishing later for Royal Mail is so that we have bigger duties???

[steve1873]

The shorter working week, as per my understanding, will be phased. Moving to a 38 hour week in year 1, 37 hour in year 2 etc.

This will be phased in at the same time as automation is increased. Essentially, dropping an hour per week results in 12 minutes less per day (assuming a 5 day week), which could in theory be absorbed in indoor time if automation goes the way they plan (when has a Royal Mail plan ever worked though).

What certainly isn't happening, and has never been on the agenda is dropping to a 35 hour working week straight away. There is no way that is practically achievable in any function.

[TheTrolleyMan]

It doesn't matter what's agreed between the CWU and RM , as soon as any agreement is signed , both sides will walk away from the table and guess what happens next .......

[SpacePhoenix]

The shorter working week, as per my understanding, will be phased. Moving to a 38 hour week in year 1, 37 hour in year 2 etc.

This will be phased in at the same time as automation is increased. Essentially, dropping an hour per week results in 12 minutes less per day (assuming a 5 day week), which could in theory be absorbed in indoor time if automation goes the way they plan (when has a Royal Mail plan ever worked though).

What certainly isn't happening, and has never been on the agenda is dropping to a 35 hour working week straight away. There is no way that is practically achievable in any function.

Only way that RM is going to have more automation will be replacing all the existing machines and I'd be surprised if they paid out for that

[nuisance]

The union ought to be prioritising getting part timers more hours over getting full timers less hours. I can't see how they figure getting anybody less contracted hours is a positive thing at all. If any full timers want less hours, they can just choose to go down to part time anyway, can't they? I don't support the 35 hour thing at all, or compromising on later start and finish times.

[eastie]

shorter working week is a waste of time. the runners still come in up to an hour earlier.
The posties that come in their normal time will be the ones who suffer getting them to do 39 hours work in say 35 hours

[Interested-seeker]

The union ought to be prioritising getting part timers more hours over getting full timers less hours. I can't see how they figure getting anybody less contracted hours is a positive thing at all. If any full timers want less hours, they can just choose to go down to part time anyway, can't they? I don't support the 35 hour thing at all, or compromising on later start and finish times.

Totally agree!

[Chitchat]

The union ought to be prioritising getting part timers more hours over getting full timers less hours. I can't see how they figure getting anybody less contracted hours is a positive thing at all. If any full timers want less hours, they can just choose to go down to part time anyway, can't they? I don't support the 35 hour thing at all, or compromising on later start and finish times.

Because every hour reduced for full timers means a pay increase in money for part timers. We have to look longer into the distance and mitigate the effects of automation and declining letters.

[Gangham_style14]

Is the shorter working week based on a 5 day week or 6 ? So many rumours that circulating about it all. Like scrapping rotation and giving us 2 days of a week once we go down to 5 days. However being RM, I personally can not see them losing money and dropping a day service

[nuisance]

Because every hour reduced for full timers means a pay increase in money for part timers. We have to look longer into the distance and mitigate the effects of automation and declining letters.

I have read this many times but I'm still not sold at all. One of the pillars is already an hourly pay rise, it isn't that huge a priority to people who's wages fluctuate wildly if there's no overtime available, or if they're sick or on leave. Looking into the distance, the short term pay increase benefits of less hours will wane with inflation and the "full timers" will just be left with less contracted employment hours. It is not a long term benefit to workers IMO.

[NewPostieUK]

what about start and finish times for delivery ? any ideas.

Well 35 hours a week working 5 days a week would be 7 hours a day. 8am til 3pm maybe? or 9 til 4?

[toomuchcoke]

Pension passing in parliament about as much chance as rocking horse s**t they have 45 years of brexit law's too get through so I doubt we will bet top of the list!

Well CDC pensions have already passed through Parliament, it's just the actual detailed regulations that need setting up IIRC, so will that actually need any Parliamentary time or is it just civil service time in the Department of Work & Pensions that's required? I agree with you that if serious Parliamentary time is required then things are, ahem, "unlikely" but if it's just civil service & ministerial time, maybe with some select committee scrutiny of proposals then things might be different.

[POSTMAN]

Where did the area rep get his info from, a xmas cracker?
Only sticking point is the pay?

New area rep when elections happen me thinks.