FLEXIBILITY WORKS?

[I-POSTIE]

At the beginning of a New Year one would hope to be looking forward to better things but at this point I could not be more disillusioned with RM, our top representatives in the CWU and at the membership at large. In looking back at the past year I have to ask myself what, as employees, did we achieve by going on strike? I do not question the reasons we went on strike they were straight forward, logical and valid. What I am asking is why we did not follow them through? Why is so much hanging in the air? Why is so much unsettled? Basically, Dave and Billy agreed to all the changes to working conditions that they and all our other union officials down to our office reps told us we should be striking against. It is no consolation to me to say that we can negotiate these changes at local level when personally I feel we should not have entertained them at all. What is more amazing to me is that so many members actual voted for this nonsense when they went on strike losing money so as to prevent it. Where is the logic?

Basically, all Dave and Billy achieved was the separation of the proposed linking of the pay deal to the pension scheme. The pension scheme still lies in the balance and appears to be tipping in the favour of RM. Of course if your are observing the spill that RM are voicing as to the proposed changes to the pension scheme you are aware that if they are successful the pension scheme which you have been depending upon for your retirement, the one were you have conscientiously made your week in, week out, payments into, the one that you believed would see you through your retired years, will take a major blow. RM want to change your final salary scheme into a career average scheme which is wonderful if you want to do lots and lots of overtime and virtually live at work until you retire. Of course that would mean all your earnings would have to be of pensionable status but as we know those new working conditions where you are covering Tom, Dick, Harry and Jane for zero income are not going help there. The proposed changes include a cut off point where new employees coming into the job will no longer part of the original pension deal. This makes for a two tear workforce for which management can play one off the other. Those who have the original agreement may feel that they still remain with the better deal but you have to realise that you are on the RM hit list for those they want to get rid of by fair or foul process because you still remain the most expensive employees on the pay role.

Unfortunately, we have Dave and Billy fighting(?) our corner on these proposals and I feel very depressed at the moment. What curious agreement will they come too? Anyhow, with the increasing workload ahead because of the impending and inescapable changes that the 64% seemed to want I doubt that I will be working in delivery anywhere near 65 years of age. If I have any enthusiasm for anything RM it is for leaving for pastures new. This may sound like giving in but at least I know when I am being taken for a fool.

[eian687]

all they have achieved is to make overtime compulsory
they should be looking at a shorter working week
instead they send us back in time to were management can take the upper hand and we can do sod all about it.........
the union has no back bone
time to come out i think..its only good for the legal side but with all these no win no fee solicitors i may as well save my union fees

[BELIAL]

Hats off to you I Postie a well considered and expressed view. If there was a vacancy in the nutshell packing dept., you'd get it.

One minor quibble on the point of membership voting. Don't think there is much to be gained from bemoaning the actions of the yes voters, questioning their reasons and trying to understand might be more profitable.
My belief is that most yes voters were basically decent and hardworking souls whose only desire was to do their job properly to the best of their abillity for fair reward. As such they were willing to place their trust in the hands of their traditional defenders,those that they elect and finance to fulfill that role.
If or when that trust is proven to be ill used or misplaced,there will be a heavy price to be paid.
The fund of traditional goodwill will soon be exhausted if this agreement proves to be a poisoned chalice and all those who based their decisions on anything other than the interests of the membership will pay the penalty

[BELIAL]

all they have achieved is to make overtime compulsory
they should be looking at a shorter working week
instead they send us back in time to were management can take the upper hand and we can do sod all about it.........
the union has no back bone
time to come out i think..its only good for the legal side but with all these no win no fee solicitors i may as well save my union fees

Not wise' don't get angry get equal. Take your union back.

What would please Alan more, a much smaller CWU, or a bigger more vocal one. A CWU committed to improving it's memberships conditions, committed to making RM honour it's existing contracts of employment including pension provisions, could be a powerful force with your input.
You don't get owt for nowt,time we all followed TBT's example

[I-POSTIE]

I agree BELIAL the union should remain and always be democratic. I do not question my fellow uniform colleagues integrity as workers as I work alongside them. My grumble is with those in the senior union whom I feel lead us up the garden path. They did not say we will agree a half way pact with RM if they agree to this or that. Therefore, I was, as were many others, placing our trust and support by the means of strike action and therefore lost pay on the strength of refuting RM’s new working conditions because they are inequitable. If the half way pact deal had been mentioned at the beginning there would have been room for democratic discussion on the issue. What I cannot understand is why so many members went on strike for the same reason as I and then as sudden as Dave and Billiy changed their minds followed them like sheep so as to get the thing over with as if there was no real belief in what we were aiming for in the first place. RM may think that I and the people I work with are inane, I don’t that is what it makes it so hard to swallow. Personally, I don’t think we will recover from this. Frankly, retribution after the fact, should there have been any foul play, is not my position, it serves no purpose. It will not get us back to where we started. The members had a choice and sometimes you have to follow your head not your heart.

[BELIAL]

Yes the membership had a choice ,but the crucial question is ,was that choice based on truly informed facts,or upon a twisted misrepresentation of the facts presented by a party who traditionaly have commanded the trust and loyalty of the membership?
Like you ,I think retribution does nothing to advance our position and would waste no energy on it,but recognition of past mistakes is essential, and all actions have consequences.
As a workforce we will recover and if we learn from recent mistakes and betrayals we will emerge far stronger IMO

[k979aaa]

Yes the membership had a choice ,but the crucial question is ,was that choice based on truly informed facts,or upon a twisted misrepresentation of the facts presented by a party who traditionaly have commanded the trust and loyalty of the membership?
Like you ,I think retribution does nothing to advance our position and would waste no energy on it,but recognition of past mistakes is essential, and all actions have consequences.
As a workforce we will recover and if we learn from recent mistakes and betrayals we will emerge far stronger IMO

And you quite right for flexibility can and will only work with our consent it is now up to each and every office to determine it's own fate!. BUT NOW THEIR IS A BIGGER MENACE TO ALL OUR FUTUER'S AND NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR OUR CHILDERN FOR THEIR FUTURE AND OURS WE SHOULD ALL UNITE!.