Branch Recommendations

[welshy808]

Remember the last agreement only 9 Branch's who recomended no had a majority of members who voted with their recommendation.

I also remember the roadshows, DVD's and mailshots. Which cost the Union, How much?
I also remember that individual members never recieved a full copy of the agreement. which could have been added to the DVD as a .pdf or .doc, for no extra cost art all.
I also remember all the times since that members have moaned about an agreement they voted in.

I haven't made my mind up yet, which way to vote, but I would like to see the full agreement including the annexe you wrote about.

Just a thought Dingo, could the Union send out a DVD this time with all the documents included. The Video could show the explanations from the legal team and the Questions and Answers at the National briefing.
Giving both sides of the debate, it would allow all members to make an informed choice, and dispel some of the bad feeling from those that were left uniformed in 2010. After all The vast majority would have access to a computer that can display PDF files or Word documents

You're living in an effing dreamworld. In your new union who will negotiate with a large employer or are you suggesting local negotiations. Because as I see it you claim to be from a weak branch that rolls and assumes the position so what will your weaklings gain against my strong take no s**t branch. Secondly as you keep saying you are voting no and are leaving the union, therefore give back any gains achieved by our unionised collective strength, and give any financial gains to charity then go it alone and get your utopia. Oh wait a minute it's that crap but you'll take it anyway. You really are clueless

When have I ever said I'm leaving the Union.
I haven't said what Branch I'm from, whether it's going to roll over or not. All I wanted to know was, which Branches will just tow the party line or not. Which branches will allow it's members and reps a say in their decision. Will HQ provide all the information to the members to make informed choices, unlike in 2010 when they glossed over major parts of the agreement and hoodwinked the uninformed into voting in a deal they didn't understand and have now come to regret. (D2D payments, the fact there would be 6 maximum and when it increased they would be bundled etc.)
I want members to have the full details and not to be bribed as they were last time.
I haven't decided which way I'll vote this time, but there are a lot of things I don't like about this proposed agreement.
We are voting on a deal that might or might not address the issues in delivery, no one knows. After months of negotiations and extension after extension we are voting to talk some more.
We are voting to give up the right to take any form of national action. Even doing the job properly could be seen as a work to rule by the business and cost us these precious legal protections. Or is the Union going to end it's national campaign to get people to do the job properly.
As for being clueless, I also go to different offices, unlike Dingo, I do get to see the staff there suffering from poor management and unachievable workloads. these members who contribute, deserve to be fully informed.
Why would a No vote be seen as rolling over, by your strong take no s**t branch. I have seen The document Bob Gibson took to the business after the briefing on November 4th and this proposal bares no resemblance to it at all.

[hans solo]

take their 200 then vote no girut

[gashead-postie]

so as the cwu totally ignored the wishes of the members the debate next week will be a quiet affair then

[redheadedwoman]

I work at Medway and our branch is recommending a Yes vote

Newsletter to all CWU members in Medway MC............. The RED LETTER Workers Communication, Medway (January ’14)

AGENDA FOR GROWTH, STABILITY & SUCCESS
NATIONAL AGREEMENT

Dear Colleagues,
The ballot for the national agreement opens on the 21st January and you are being asked to make a decision as to whether you believe that it is good enough to support.

You will have either received, or will be receiving communications from CWU HQ and from our branch and this edition of the Red Letter is to explain why the CWU at Medway Mail Centre are recommending a Yes vote.

WHY VOTE YES?
PAY & REWARD
The deal on offer equates to 9.06% over the 3 year period and is far superior to any pay deals being reached in any comparable industry. It is highly unlikely that further talks would provide any increase in this and therefore we can see no reason not to accept this. Also included in the agreement is the commitment to reach agreement on a new employee incentive scheme by April 2014.

LEGAL PROTECTIONS ON TERMS & CONDITIONS
This was the issue that caused the most concern and we are very pleased to see that the CWU have secured an unprecedented legally binding agreement with Royal Mail. This is a ground breaking achievement for which the negotiators should be applauded and means that our terms & conditions will have legal protections guaranteed for 5 years before a review is carried out. Whilst certain conditions are included which could allow either party to terminate the agreement prior to this we are confident that the legal protections will deliver exactly what they are intended to do. The most significant legally binding undertakings are;

• No outsourcing
• No franchising
• No new recruits on inferior terms
• No zero-hour contracts
• No reduction in any contracted hours unless volunteered by the individual
• No temporary contracts to exceed 2 years (regular reviews with a view to converting to permanent contracts where possible)

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
The agreement includes a commitment from both Royal Mail & CWU to improve industrial relations and to build an environment where disputes are resolved quickly and constructively. To assist in this an amended Industrial Relations Framework has been agreed which will put in place external independent mediation to help resolve issues and importantly includes the fact that Royal Mail will not introduce unagreed changes without following the terms of the procedure. The correct and full use of this new framework is also legally binding. We see this as a positive step forward.

CULTURAL CHANGE
The CWU were looking for, and have successfully achieved, an agreement that gives the CWU and its members a greater input and involvement in the future direction of the business. A new approach to employee engagement will be developed that will improve efficiency, pay and job security. To this end, and following input from all sides, a “Company Charter” will be produced clearly setting out the Values and Principles of Royal Mail. There will also be a review of all “employee engagement initiatives”, including World Class Mail, with the aim of developing a new and more progressive initiative that delivers a “mutual interest culture” and leads to “well-motivated employees”. Whilst there is some work to be done we believe that this is also a positive part of the agreement.

In Summary
We are yet to see the changes that privatisation will bring but we firmly believe that the foresight shown by the CWU negotiators in reaching this “ground-breaking” agreement will protect us from what could have been the worst of it. We must adopt a more joined up approach with Royal Mail, and likewise them with the CWU, if we are going to see the business remain a successful concern. It is in all of our interests that Royal Mail remains in a position to deliver on its commitments within the agreement whilst balancing that with our own aims of enhancing the terms & conditions of CWU members.

It has been impossible to cover all the points within the agreement in this newsletter but we will be using the WTL&L sessions during w/c 20th January to answer any further questions you may have.

We strongly believe that the right, and in reality, only decision is to

VOTE YES.

Support the CWU and we will deliver for you, Unity is Strength
This newsletter is produced by the CWU Committee, Medway MC and if you have any comments/suggestions please contact a CWU rep.

[dvbuk55]

Well what a surprise - recommending a yes vote????????? I notice that throughout the bullcrap not one word about deliveries, reviews, productivity, no strike clause. Highly loaded to the supposed positives not one word of the negatives.

[redheadedwoman]

Well what a surprise - recommending a yes vote????????? I notice that throughout the bullcrap not one word about deliveries, reviews, productivity, no strike clause. Highly loaded to the supposed positives not one word of the negatives.

I shall mention the negatives when our reps hold there briefings next week and see what answers we get as yes I can understand your concerns.

[dvbuk55]

Well what a surprise - recommending a yes vote????????? I notice that throughout the bullcrap not one word about deliveries, reviews, productivity, no strike clause. Highly loaded to the supposed positives not one word of the negatives.

I shall mention the negatives when our reps hold there briefings next week and see what answers we get as yes I can understand your concerns.

The people who are in favour of a yes vote are people who are not going to be subject to the negatives red.

[chrisj]

We strongly believe that the right, and in reality, only decision is to

VOTE YES.

This could have been worded better... It is their recommendation - they have to try to be positive but what a lot of members will appreciate is some form of contrition and humility and the acknowledgement that they did not really deliver on their most of their ballot objectives and for delivery staff.

[trythat]

GLOSAMAL Branch

Pay agreement 2014
Following a lengthy debate it was agreed by a majority vote that the Branch recommends the agreement to our members which is to go out to ballot on the 21st January, with the recommendation it was also suggested that we acknowledge our disappointment with a statement highlighting the difficulties around delivery offices issues, expressing our fears to the membership with regards bullying and harassment of delivery members.

[dvbuk55]

GLOSAMAL Branch

Pay agreement 2014
Following a lengthy debate it was agreed by a majority vote that the Branch recommends the agreement to our members which is to go out to ballot on the 21st January, with the recommendation it was also suggested that we acknowledge our disappointment with a statement highlighting the difficulties around delivery offices issues, expressing our fears to the membership with regards bullying and harassment of delivery members.

Is that how they worded it "Pay Agreement 2014"? - if it was just the pay element I would vote for it myself BUT there are far reaching implications within the agreement that we cannot and should not agree VOTE NO.

[oscar]

They negotiated the agreement obviously they recommend a yes vote. .........but do it at your peril read between the lines vote yes and your living a life of submission as soon as that yes vote comes in the steamroller will start....you have been warned

[cloherty1976]

GLOSAMAL Branch

Pay agreement 2014
Following a lengthy debate it was agreed by a majority vote that the Branch recommends the agreement to our members which is to go out to ballot on the 21st January, with the recommendation it was also suggested that we acknowledge our disappointment with a statement highlighting the difficulties around delivery offices issues, expressing our fears to the membership with regards bullying and harassment of delivery members.

Is that how they worded it "Pay Agreement 2014"? - if it was just the pay element I would vote for it myself BUT there are far reaching implications within the agreement that we cannot and should not agree VOTE NO.

dvbuk55 it will be interesting to see how many take up your no vote...

[fishtank]

it will be interesting to see how many take up your no vote...

It will be far more interesting to see how many even bother to vote.
We know it's going to be a Yes but the real question is what is the level of union engagement given that it's a hefty pay rise and terms and conditions allegedly protected for at least 5 years.
With that on the table you would surely expect to beat the low mark of 54% set by BT2010.

[dvbuk55]

I'd expect MC Staff to vote yes, to them it must appear like Shangri La, pay rise, alleged protection and no reviews or increased workload.

[chrisj]

To be fair, how can you make a cutter, tipper and sorter increase his/her workload.

I am sure they have performance standards but they mostly all work in teams, so it will be hard unless managers stand behind them with a whip...

Of course, they will almost all vote Yes. But, we can all expect that - and no hard feelings. However, I have always thought the association is loosely tied together anyway - the functions are just too different and differently affected by the negative aspects of the Agreement.

And given that the chance of a National Strike is virtually nil for a very long time. We in delivery should expect no favours.. We need to vote 'No' in large numbers to send a message - regardless of the final outcome.