LTB 230/20 - Royal Mail USO/Executive Action

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 230/20

29th April 2020



Dear Colleagues,



Royal Mail USO/Executive Action



This LTB is to update Branches, Representatives and members on the union’s response to the announcement made yesterday by Royal Mail Group regarding the company’s executive decision to suspend Saturday letter deliveries and to impose un-agreed changes to the current operational network and agreed duty structures.



By their actions Royal Mail has derecognised the union and disrespected our members and the customers we serve. They are refusing to adhere to any of our agreements, be they at local or national level.



It is quite clear that this current managerial leadership has no moral compass and has dragged standards of behaviour and industrial relations to an all-time low. Our members have lost full confidence and trust in these people and this planned national executive action is a despicable attempt to use a public health crisis to drive through long-term and highly damaging change.



The changes they advocate go to the very heart of our dispute and our ability to protect the 6 day USO, our members’ jobs and this great public service. We stepped back from our dispute to do the right thing for our nation during this pandemic and Royal Mail Group agreed to do the same but they are now breaking that agreement.



The timing of their action was also in our opinion deliberately planned to coincide with the CWU National Postal Workers day, so when the rest of the nation, including politicians from all parties, were showing their gratitude for our members and this excellent public service, RMG were rewarding them for their efforts with this highly damaging imposition and the very real potential of 20,000 job losses.



Against this backdrop the Postal Executive, following consultation with our Senior Field Officials earlier today, has agreed the following political and industrial response:



The union will explore with immediate effect and where possible utilise all legal options available to mount a legal challenge against the actions of the company, including if possible a challenge on the reduction of the USO being an unlawful act.



In line with the relevant legislation it is the union’s intention to draw up the appropriate notices to send to Royal Mail within the legal timeframe that will result in us calling upon our members in Royal Mail to take industrial action in line with the ballot result we announced on 17th March 2020.



With immediate effect Representatives and members should not cooperate or give any local agreement to any deployment of management’s plan.



In defiance of the company’s unilateral action, all members should continue to adhere to their currently agreed duty/attendance arrangements.



The union will issue further guidance on all aspects of H&S standards and compliance with HMG guidance relating to social distancing/PPE within the workplace, the legal obligations of the employer to comply with them as well as the legal requirement for the employer to consult the recognised Trade Union on changes in the workplace which have health and safety implications.



The DGS(P) Department in conjunction with the General Secretary, Postal National Officers and the Head of Communications will develop a high profile communications strategy, including as a priority an individual letter to all postal members that sets out and exposes in detail the actions of the company and reaffirms the CWU commitment to defend its members, their terms and conditions and the public postal service. The union via the office of the General Secretary will continue to explore all political avenues in challenging Ofcom and the Government.



Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.



Yours sincerely,



Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

Carl Maden
Acting Assistant Secretary

LTB 230/20 – Royal Mail USO – Executive Action https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mihijn-jtfltzjh-i/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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[panzer4]

I don’t have any legal knowledge BUT key workers taking industrial action during a national emergency.not a snowballs chance in hell.Rico will have legal team on speed dial

[stoneybroke]

In defiance of the company’s unilateral action, all members should continue to adhere to their currently agreed duty/attendance arrangements.

So when the manager tells us to start the new duties, we have to continue to turn up for work on the days and times we're doing at the moment. Will the CWU back us when the s**t hits the fan??

[Woody Guthrie]

With immediate effect Representatives and members should not cooperate or give any local agreement to any deployment of management’s plan.

This is fine.

In defiance of the company’s unilateral action, all members should continue to adhere to their currently agreed duty/attendance arrangements.

This is not.

The union will explore with immediate effect and where possible utilise all legal options available to mount a legal challenge against the actions of the company, including if possible a challenge on the reduction of the USO being an unlawful act.

This is a waste of time and resources.

The union will issue further guidance on all aspects of H&S standards and compliance with HMG guidance relating to social distancing/PPE within the workplace, the legal obligations of the employer to comply with them as well as the legal requirement for the employer to consult the recognised Trade Union on changes in the workplace which have health and safety implications.

So is this...

In line with the relevant legislation it is the union’s intention to draw up the appropriate notices to send to Royal Mail within the legal timeframe that will result in us calling upon our members in Royal Mail to take industrial action in line with the ballot result we announced on 17th March 2020

This is the end, my dear old friend the end.
It's not a good place to be, the other side have chosen the time and place and boxed us into a corner. I don't think strike action can ever be called a "good idea", it is first and foremost a failure by both parties but sometimes you're left with very little weapons left in the bag. Let's hope it doesn't blow up in our faces.

[Woody Guthrie]

In defiance of the company’s unilateral action, all members should continue to adhere to their currently agreed duty/attendance arrangements.

So when the manager tells us to start the new duties, we have to continue to turn up for work on the days and times we're doing at the moment. Will the CWU back us when the s**t hits the fan??

It is hoped that your office will back you.
When the first member is suspended for failing to follow a reasonable request the whole office walks.

That's the theory anyway.....

[wacko74]

The 6 day USO needs to go anyway, it's nothing but an inefficient anachronism that's contributing hugely to RM's inability to compete.

The union should be negotiating for the best possible VR deals for any job losses that do result from a reduction in the USO

The ONLY reason the union is so keen to keep the 6 day USO and oppose all and any job losses is because all they're concerned about is keeping membership numbers (and income from subs) as high as possible.

[stoneybroke]

Yeah, that idea doesn't fill me with too much confidence Woody.

[Woody Guthrie]

Yeah, that idea doesn't fill me with too much confidence Woody.

I would suspect Royal Mail's legal team are all over that paragraph already and will be trying to find a judge who isn't self isolating.

Royal Mail will say it's an incitement to take part in mass unofficial industrial action. An incitement to breach your contract. I'm not saying it is but they will.

[themailman]

.

[SpacePhoenix]

The 6 day USO needs to go anyway, it's nothing but an inefficient anachronism that's contributing hugely to RM's inability to compete.

The union should be negotiating for the best possible VR deals for any job losses that do result from a reduction in the USO

The ONLY reason the union is so keen to keep the 6 day USO and oppose all and any job losses is because all they're concerned about is keeping membership numbers (and income from subs) as high as possible.

A limited Sunday delivery service will happen at some point, I think RM must be the only courier/delivery firm that doesn't offer Sunday delivery

[Woody Guthrie]

Shifts/people/duties are already being aligned and moved for this Saturday in our office.

People are co-operating with management despite being told not to.

Unfortunately what whoever decided to write that paragraph doesn't realise is outside their imaginary bubble telling members to stick to their agreed duties/attendance arrangements assumes that all members have agreed duties /attendance arrangements to stick to.

How many members turn up on a Monday morning not even knowing what their agreed duties /attendance arrangements are for that week?

Those are the guys they'll shunt about, the reserves and part-timer and how can we tell them to say no to a Saturday off when they've had bugger all support from the union for years.

[LaggyBand]

This is a proper, proper mess. I back the union and I support the leadership. But our options are running out. We won’t get a legal strike, it’ll get blocked. And the union can’t ask us to walk without leaving themselves open to legal challenge. On top of that there’s a portion of members who actually want this. Two of the old boys in our place who are usually first out are gagging for saturdays off...

Union need to get the message across that RM want two waves of staff in, and who knows what side of that you’ll end up, most don’t want late start late finish.

Then again, problem with that is it’s what people have been asking for to distance, ain’t it...?

[sindba]

This is the end, my dear old friend the end.
It's not a good place to be, the other side have chosen the time and place and boxed us into a corner. I don't think strike action can ever be called a "good idea", it is first and foremost a failure by both parties but sometimes you're left with very little weapons left in the bag. Let's hope it doesn't blow up in our faces.

I get where you're coming from, but we have to draw a line somewhere.

Royal Mail will not engage, and will not stop pushing and pushing, until we push back. If not now, then when?

There has to be a last straw somewhere.

[smok3y666]

This is the end, my dear old friend the end.
It's not a good place to be, the other side have chosen the time and place and boxed us into a corner. I don't think strike action can ever be called a "good idea", it is first and foremost a failure by both parties but sometimes you're left with very little weapons left in the bag. Let's hope it doesn't blow up in our faces.

I get where you're coming from, but we have to draw a line somewhere.

Royal Mail will not engage, and will not stop pushing and pushing, until we push back. If not now, then when?

There has to be a last straw somewhere.

Who's going to push back though? Pullinger is doing f**k all except talking s**t to keep members paying subs for as long as possible.

[panzer4]

Wacko74 you’re right the six day delivery is dead and should be laid to rest.life after this virus has finished with us will never be the same firms will close and unemployment will go up wether we like it or not jobs will go the union needs to realise this and try to get the best offer on redundancy