Vote to reject Royal Mail deal strikes can win more concessions

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 27 Feb 2018, 16:33

https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/46193 ... more%C2%AD" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Reps from the postal workers’ CWU union began meeting for regional briefings last week to discuss a deal to end a national dispute.

Union leaders want the Royal Mail workers to vote to accept the deal in a ballot set to run from 12 to 28 March.

The agreement would end a national dispute that looked as if it would lead to a national strike last year.

It contains several big concessions made by management—a testament to the union’s organisation and workers’ clear readiness to strike.

Yet it would also leave thousands of workers with a worse pension scheme and a real terms pay cut.

And the proposed new pension scheme can’t be brought in until the government passes legislation—something there’s no guarantee that it will do. Until then workers will be left on two inferior schemes.

The deal also involves trials of new working practices that could open the door to new attacks on conditions.

CWU members should vote to reject the deal.

Thousands of university workers are striking to defend their pensions and the Tories are in crisis. A strike by Royal Mail workers at the same time could win even bigger concessions.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 27 Feb 2018, 16:41

All I will say management got a better deal after us at our expense over the last few deals!

yellowbelly · Post by **yellowbelly** » 27 Feb 2018, 17:17

Never in a million years did I think I would be agreeing with something written in the Socialist Worker but there you go......

tmac · Post by **tmac** » 27 Feb 2018, 17:24

How do the rural staff feel about finishing at 1630 .

maisymoo04 · Post by **maisymoo04** » 27 Feb 2018, 17:50

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/46193 ... more%C2%AD

Reps from the postal workers’ CWU union began meeting for regional briefings last week to discuss a deal to end a national dispute.

Union leaders want the Royal Mail workers to vote to accept the deal in a ballot set to run from 12 to 28 March.

The agreement would end a national dispute that looked as if it would lead to a national strike last year.

It contains several big concessions made by management—a testament to the union’s organisation and workers’ clear readiness to strike.

Yet it would also leave thousands of workers with a worse pension scheme and a real terms pay cut.

And the proposed new pension scheme can’t be brought in until the government passes legislation—something there’s no guarantee that it will do. Until then workers will be left on two inferior schemes.

The deal also involves trials of new working practices that could open the door to new attacks on conditions.

CWU members should vote to reject the deal.

Thousands of university workers are striking to defend their pensions and the Tories are in crisis. A strike by Royal Mail workers at the same time could win even bigger concessions.

crabstoes · Post by **crabstoes** » 27 Feb 2018, 18:24

working in a rural office , I certainly don't want a 4.30 finish. we are already treated like an unwanted and neglected workforce. both by RM and CWU, yesterday I waited over 3 and a half hours for an RAC callout , we are all being sold out with this deal ,the job will look even worse by the end of the year

tommyrep · Post by **tommyrep** » 27 Feb 2018, 18:32

Regardless of how the union leaders choose to convince area reps of how good a deal they have negotiated, they have failed again. In my experience of CWU negotiating skills over the years, they have failed yet again. A deal that is sooooo much stacked in favour of RM, that will allow them to continue as usual to bully, harass and intimidate staff in delivery.
The CWU will fail to protect members on any of the supposed good bits, so it will just mean business as usual with managers picking up their bonuses on easy street. No fight or will in enforcing the so called benefits they claim to have won !

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 27 Feb 2018, 18:52

tommyrep wrote:Regardless of how the union leaders choose to convince area reps of how good a deal they have negotiated, they have failed again. In my experience of CWU negotiating skills over the years, they have failed yet again. A deal that is sooooo much stacked in favour of RM, that will allow them to continue as usual to bully, harass and intimidate staff in delivery.
The CWU will fail to protect members on any of the supposed good bits, so it will just mean business as usual with managers picking up their bonuses on easy street. No fight or will in enforcing the so called benefits they claim to have won !

Terry was saying today we the CWU need to change the CULTURE of this business sorry non of this will be done from the CWU or the reps or the members only the change in the bonus culture from the top down in management will stop that happening sorry to say it is not looking good!

LouBarlow · Post by **LouBarlow** » 27 Feb 2018, 19:22

tmac wrote:How do the rural staff feel about finishing at 1630 .

You cannot do rural deliveries till 16.30 during the winter for H&S reasons alone. There's no way I'm going down unlit farm tracks and along single road, again unlit, tracks and risking my neck.

Chitchat · Post by **Chitchat** » 27 Feb 2018, 19:30

Its a no from me, and 95% of my office.

Lance Jack · Post by **Lance Jack** » 27 Feb 2018, 19:52

Socialist Worker has their own agenda and I don't think wanting us to reject this deal because they are concerned for us falls flat. They have a bigger picture in mind where we cause problems for a weak, propped up, government.

However, I think this deal has more holes in it than a sieve

tommythreesheds · Post by **tommythreesheds** » 27 Feb 2018, 20:00

crabstoes wrote:working in a rural office , I certainly don't want a 4.30 finish. we are already treated like an unwanted and neglected workforce. both by RM and CWU, yesterday I waited over 3 and a half hours for an RAC callout , we are all being sold out with this deal ,the job will look even worse by the end of the year

Ditto.....we havent even seen a union rep for over 10 years!!!

Post by **bigal383** » 27 Feb 2018, 20:48

Mines a strong no vote

Spedley · Post by **Spedley** » 27 Feb 2018, 20:54

Lance Jack wrote:However, I think this deal has more holes in it than a sieve

Yes, on the face of it the deal is like an adequately sized bowl and yet it is so full of holes that the bottom could fall out completely.

worktotime · Post by **worktotime** » 27 Feb 2018, 21:31

so what do you think the cwu could get more by a no vote ? I was at a briefing yesterday and looking at what r/m wanted with no input from the cwu was unreal , but the top table got us a sww 2 hours guaranteed and another 2 hours within 2022 or before if they can and these aren't on r/m terms , a decent pay increase for full time and better for part time, which will cost r/m £490 m over the 3 years , and the cwu will be involved in any trials etc , no job losses and with data capture may create more jobs , also this cant be used to conduct anybody either , r/m wanted to scan every min of indoor work , but the cwu stopped that to just scan in and out , cant see a problem with that as this will stopped all the runners going home early and get people to do the job right

and its about time . and the pension has been agreed in parliament without any no votes but the cwu / rm are pushing to get this done as soon as they can . just look at other companys and see what you think.

ROYALMAILCHAT