Mon to Fri

[Ren Hoëk]

We've lost the PR battle at first light according to CWU tweet - BBC News have already 'hinted' at this decision being requested by RM staff to relieve the burden of pressure, almost like RM is doing us a 'favour' by allowing some of us the weekend off, and other's a not so 'busy' Saturday as normal.

That's obviously how they'll play it and they'll use the word temporary a lot.

What the union should do now rather than ranting and raving falling into the trap is get some public assurance that it is temporary and if it isn't back them into a corner and force them into admitting that it's not. Something along the lines of

"during these uncertain times our key worker staff who have been working tirelessly to keep the country connected deserve at least to know whether the business has plans to reduce the service permanently, that's all our members are looking for, a little honesty surrounding their future "

Once we know where we stand long term we can decide what to do next.

Public assurances don't mean anything. This company isn't a democracy. It's a capitalist entity and customers have little integrity when it comes to a company lying to its staff. They only care about making as much money as possible with the most cost effective carrier for service provided. Amazon have killed the high street and treat their staff like s**t. Do their customers give a s**t? We live in Trump's post truth world. Apathy is too wide spread for public opinion to mean anything.

We have been kicking the can down the road long enough now. Seeing where it goes. It's obvious where it is going. They are taking the piss and laughing at us. The only trap we are falling into is not taking action. That is what they are hoping for. One day soon it will be too late. It doesn't matter if it makes us unpopular. I'd rather been unpopular with a job. This job. One worth having.

If not now then when? If not me then who? Time to put Rico to the sword.

[twoloops]

BBC News have already 'hinted' at this decision being requested by RM staff to relieve the burden of pressure

That's why when management ask for "suggestions" or "ways to improve" same as in the Courier magazine, and some clown comes up with an idea or a suggestion keep your gob shut with your stupid ideas & let the managers manage, that's what they get paid for
Turn up, do your job, go home & forget about Royal Mail

[Woody Guthrie]

The only trap we are falling into is not taking action. That is what they are hoping for.

So on the one hand most of the people on here (and Terry) believe that Royal Mail are deliberately provoking the union and you believe they are hoping that we won't take industrial action?

What they're actually hoping for is the union making a rash decision to call for industrial action, lose any kind of public support and because despite what some think the membership is not made up of Wolfie Smith clones the strike is poorly supported and collapses in a very short space of time.

That would pretty much finish the CWU and leave Royal Mail free to skip merrily through your terms and conditions.

It could not be a worse time for a war not just because of public (customer) support, it is also a terrible time to pile that extra pressure on members who may already be struggling financially. It's also an invitation to flood the business with temporary workers who obviously according to RM would not be employed to cover the strike but to deal with the fallout from the pandemic.

I've probably stood at the gate more than most on here but in order to walk out you have to already know what you'll walk back in for and it has to be achievable.

What would you walk back in for in the present circumstances?

[LouBarlow]

Anyone have any idea how this is likely to work yet? I mean, if it starts this Saturday there must be some idea?

[SpacePhoenix]

Recorded delivery items found in our SD locker are scanned as specials and included in the SD bags. Only because its quicker than going out all day long putting them back into the normal mail streams at the other end of the building.

Only trouble with that is the system will then see them items as being specials and will then flag them up if not attempted by the deadline by DOs

[Ren Hoëk]

The only trap we are falling into is not taking action. That is what they are hoping for.

So on the one hand most of the people on here (and Terry) believe that Royal Mail are deliberately provoking the union and you believe they are hoping that we won't take industrial action?

What they're actually hoping for is the union making a rash decision to call for industrial action, lose any kind of public support and because despite what some think the membership is not made up of Wolfie Smith clones the strike is poorly supported and collapses in a very short space of time.

That would pretty much finish the CWU and leave Royal Mail free to skip merrily through your terms and conditions.

It could not be a worse time for a war not just because of public (customer) support, it is also a terrible time to pile that extra pressure on members who may already be struggling financially. It's also an invitation to flood the business with temporary workers who obviously according to RM would not be employed to cover the strike but to deal with the fallout from the pandemic.

I've probably stood at the gate more than most on here but in order to walk out you have to already know what you'll walk back in for and it has to be achievable.

What would you walk back in for in the present circumstances?

I obviously don't believe that to be the case. I believe Rico thinks he can just ignore the union and it will go away. You keep parroting on about public appearance/customer support. I don't know how many times I have to say it. IT DOESN'T COUNT FOR ANYTHING! It means nothing and doesn't help us one bit. They aren't the ones who are going to be cutting a deal with us. Rico and his cronies are. They themselves will be the ones pressured from shareholders and customers to come to that deal. Not us.

As for employing temporary staff. It wouldn't be hard to link it to industrial action considering they haven't done that yet and we are deep into this crisis already.

We already know what we will walk back in for. We agreed it with Moya. A return to the 4 pillars agreement and way forward.

[stodgy88]

Any news on whats happening with non-drivers on Saturdays ?

[Woody Guthrie]

Any news on whats happening with non-drivers on Saturdays ?

There's not going to be a one size fits all solution.
Different offices will come up with different workplans.

[stodgy88]

Ok ta.

[Woody Guthrie]

You keep parroting on about public appearance/customer support. I don't know how many times I have to say it. IT DOESN'T COUNT FOR ANYTHING! It means nothing and doesn't help us one bit.

Other than they pay our wages of course.

We already know what we will walk back in for. We agreed it with Moya. A return to the 4 pillars agreement and way forward.

No dispute is ever resolved on the basis of a return to a previous agreement.

You may argue and negotiate for some aspects of a previous agreement incorporated into a new agreement but the status quo can never be maintained.

It's a new agreement going forward that we need, one that takes account of the present circumstances as well as the potential future, not a piece of history.

I asked a question and still haven't received an achievable answer.
What do you think given where we are now not where we were then is an acceptable set of aims for industrial action, what is worth protecting and what do you believe we can afford to surrender in order to protect this?

[Ren Hoëk]

Other than they pay our wages of course.

A pedantic response at best.

not a piece of history.

I asked a question and still haven't received an achievable answer.

It hardly a piece of history when it was agreed upon in 2018 and never fully implemented. The whole dispute revolves around Rico's abandonment of that agreement and the steam rolling of his new agenda. It's not hard to think that any agreement will be based upon the return to the 4 pillars or at the very least the principles included within in.

But of course, Let's instead do nothing and except Rico's new vision.

You obviously have an idea of what you think is a way forward. Let's hear it?

[Chelseablue]

How can he get away with implementing this patronising saturday stunt in such short notice,? Were off friday hol, sat no mail monday will be crazy.

[Woody Guthrie]

A grown up negotiation process is the way forward because that's what's resolved every dispute we've had.

The question is how do you get to the point of negotiation.

The relationship between the two main players has become bitter and personal and entwined in their own individual survival.

What we have become embroiled in is a Mexican standoff between two knobends with serious ego issues.

The only way to walk away from a Mexican standoff is to de-escalate the situation. Terry and Rico must step aside and allow the adults back into the room.

Anything else will end in a bloody mess.

[daveyeff]

this bloke won't negotiate though. he's not in least bit interested in negotiation. only one way he will listen.

[clashcityrocker]

this bloke won't negotiate though. he's not in least bit interested in negotiation. only one way he will listen.

What makes you think strike action will make him listen?

Would you negotiate with someone who refers to you as Mr Greedy? Calls your managers schizophrenic?
We now have no place at the negotiating table because Mr Pullinger fancied himself as a Youtube sensation. He has let us down time and time again. He needs to go. And now.