A Message From The CWU South West London Branch

[lovejoy]

According to the Socialist Worker my branch is not going to make a recommendation they are leaving up to the individuals.

Mines a No - reasons are mainly local as I don't think our local union officials/members are strong enough to deal direct with our management. There is also a massive issue of trust with local management, and this offer does not address this issue, actually it seems to brush it under the carpet.

How do you feel about branch not making a recommendation?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

According to the Socialist Worker my branch is not going to make a recommendation they are leaving up to the individuals.

Mines a No - reasons are mainly local as I don't think our local union officials/members are strong enough to deal direct with our management. There is also a massive issue of trust with local management, and this offer does not address this issue, actually it seems to brush it under the carpet.

How do you feel about branch not making a recommendation?

Disappointed - I would have preferred a bit of leadership and guidance even if it was a recommendation to accept. I doubt if it would have changed my mind but at least I and other members of the branch would not feel so isolated as we think we are.

[dvbuk55]

As far as I am aware North Lancs and Cumbria have not made a declaration for or against either.

That is the right way to go in the present climate IMHO. People are very uncertain on this vote and no matter how you sugar the pill it is still bitter to the taste.

[johnnyp]

According to the Socialist Worker my branch is not going to make a recommendation they are leaving up to the individuals.

Mines a No - reasons are mainly local as I don't think our local union officials/members are strong enough to deal direct with our management. There is also a massive issue of trust with local management, and this offer does not address this issue, actually it seems to brush it under the carpet.

Thats a real shame Teebs about your branch You guys were solid as well during the strikes, you deserve better then that friend ,and that goes for any other branches doing the same.

[johnnyp]

For the record leave our fekking pension alone

For the record we are not voting on pensions in this agreement,that comes later friend

[Funked!]

For The Record Colleagues I Will Vote Yes.
We Have Nothing To Fear.Change We Will Deal With It.

Maybe YOU have nothing to fear - but many small DOs have little or no representation whatsoever. Each time there's a little heat on your doorstep you are probably winging it round to Wimbledon in a taxi.

Our full time union official is more conspicuous by his absence than his presence. He is the sort of guy I wouldn't buy a new car from let alone a second hand one.

The rhetoric used by your branch is merely parroting HQ - this is NOT a good deal by any stretch of the imagination and regardless of what you, your branch and HQ say, the CWU will be sidelined for many members - but hey as long as you're alright Jack - pick.

Agree 100% dvbuk55
& i do work in what i would consider a strong office.

I wonder if some posties have ever encountered the level of bullying & harassment that Royal Mail managers can dish out.

[johnnyp]

For The Record Colleagues I Will Vote Yes.
We Have Nothing To Fear.Change We Will Deal With It.

Maybe YOU have nothing to fear - but many small DOs have little or no representation whatsoever. Each time there's a little heat on your doorstep you are probably winging it round to Wimbledon in a taxi.

Our full time union official is more conspicuous by his absence than his presence. He is the sort of guy I wouldn't buy a new car from let alone a second hand one.

The rhetoric used by your branch is merely parroting HQ - this is NOT a good deal by any stretch of the imagination and regardless of what you, your branch and HQ say, the CWU will be sidelined for many members - but hey as long as you're alright Jack - pick.

Theres always the Area or Divisional reps at hand for these offices to help negotiate a local deal,also when it does get a little hot on our doorstep we tend to deal with it before it gets out of control,no need to bring the big guns in.

Sorry about your Rep,but i do Know a very good car sales person if your interested

Our Branch has and always will be very supportive of colleagues around the country ,you only have to look at our record of I/A both official and Unofficial as we showed in the recent dispute with our Fantastic support for our colleagues in East London and Liverpool Before you could say Im Alright Jack-Pick 99% of our branch out on the cobbles

[dvbuk55]

For The Record Colleagues I Will Vote Yes.
We Have Nothing To Fear.Change We Will Deal With It.

Maybe YOU have nothing to fear - but many small DOs have little or no representation whatsoever. Each time there's a little heat on your doorstep you are probably winging it round to Wimbledon in a taxi.

Our full time union official is more conspicuous by his absence than his presence. He is the sort of guy I wouldn't buy a new car from let alone a second hand one.

The rhetoric used by your branch is merely parroting HQ - this is NOT a good deal by any stretch of the imagination and regardless of what you, your branch and HQ say, the CWU will be sidelined for many members - but hey as long as you're alright Jack - pick.

Theres always the Area or Divisional reps at hand for these offices to help negotiate a local deal,also when it does get a little hot on our doorstep we tend to deal with it before it gets out of control,no need to bring the big guns in.

Sorry about your Rep,but i do Know a very good car sales person if your interested

Our Branch has and always will be very supportive of colleagues around the country ,you only have to look at our record of I/A both official and Unofficial as we showed in the recent dispute with our Fantastic support for our colleagues in East London and Liverpool Before you could say Im Alright Jack-Pick 99% of our branch out on the cobbles

It isn't about the action taken in the strikes - which despite HQs bleating wasn't as solid as it should have been, it's about the deal and the spin put on it by people who should know better. These people, presumably, were elected by being in tune with the membership and it is blatantly obvious they no longer enjoy that consideration.

Do you not understand that the membership feel totally let down? Our office is very moderate but I am 100% sure it will be a no vote.

[johnnyp]

For The Record Colleagues I Will Vote Yes.
We Have Nothing To Fear.Change We Will Deal With It.

Maybe YOU have nothing to fear - but many small DOs have little or no representation whatsoever. Each time there's a little heat on your doorstep you are probably winging it round to Wimbledon in a taxi.

Our full time union official is more conspicuous by his absence than his presence. He is the sort of guy I wouldn't buy a new car from let alone a second hand one.

The rhetoric used by your branch is merely parroting HQ - this is NOT a good deal by any stretch of the imagination and regardless of what you, your branch and HQ say, the CWU will be sidelined for many members - but hey as long as you're alright Jack - pick.

Theres always the Area or Divisional reps at hand for these offices to help negotiate a local deal,also when it does get a little hot on our doorstep we tend to deal with it before it gets out of control,no need to bring the big guns in.

Sorry about your Rep,but i do Know a very good car sales person if your interested

Our Branch has and always will be very supportive of colleagues around the country ,you only have to look at our record of I/A both official and Unofficial as we showed in the recent dispute with our Fantastic support for our colleagues in East London and Liverpool Before you could say Im Alright Jack-Pick 99% of our branch out on the cobbles

It isn't about the action taken in the strikes - which despite HQs bleating wasn't as solid as it should have been, it's about the deal and the spin put on it by people who should know better. These people, presumably, were elected by being in tune with the membership and it is blatantly obvious they no longer enjoy that consideration.

Do you not understand that the membership feel totally let down? Our office is very moderate but I am 100% sure it will be a no vote.

Of course i understand but did we all myself included think that we would defeat Royal Mail on everything?Never in a million years were we going to remove all those strings,but we have had a good go and made gains on various issues,forced them back to the table and kept the union in the workplace.This alone is a massive plus for us and we must build on these gains and use our strength to move forward in the joint working groups and get agreements that are good for our offices.If we dont like what Royal Mail wants we say NO.

[dvbuk55]

Of course i understand but did we all myself included think that we would defeat Royal Mail on everything?Never in a million years were we going to remove all those strings,but we have had a good go and made gains on various issues,forced them back to the table and kept the union in the workplace.This alone is a massive plus for us and we must build on these gains and use our strength to move forward in the joint working groups and get agreements that are good for our offices.If we dont like what Royal Mail wants we say NO.

I sometimes wonder if you yes voters - and I am actually a previous advocate of a yes vote - have read the agreement in any shape or form, realise the time scale involved, don't understand that the basic and fundamental practices have already been agreed by the executive and You/We are expected to move forward with whichever trialled work practices render the most return regardless of the effect on the workforce, and all in place by April next year . It is all very well to have the CWU consulted on these matters but I think you'll find any negotiations are going to be a sorry state of affairs. a The sort of negotiations I remember and those recounted by the protagonists are far removed. There is so little difference between what RM originally offered and the final deal - all I hear is - "The CWU will be present in the workplace" - so f*cking what? If it is only there as an observer for the most part I'd rather have an extra fire extinguisher.

[jemima]

If there's a "yes" ballot result, we will get a pay rise. Then later, when everyone has realised that RM's definition of "consultation" is peculiarly their own, as already applied to the Post Office closure programme, there will be further trouble and unrest over pensions and "flexibility" in which everyone will join. The grievances will be clearly defined by then.

If there's a "no" ballot result, we will be demonstrating that the pay rise is not important when compared to working conditions. Stuff of pure ideology here, but RM management would no doubt choose to regard us as greedy postal workers wanting more money. It would be a difficult situation. I'm not sure the Union leadership would know how to best utilise a "no" vote. I hope they're thinking about it and preparing appropriate statements to make.

Whichever way the vote goes, it won't end the dispute.

[dvbuk55]

If there's a "yes" ballot result, we will get a pay rise. Then later, when everyone has realised that RM's definition of "consultation" is peculiarly their own, as already applied to the Post Office closure programme, there will be further trouble and unrest over pensions and "flexibility" in which everyone will join. The grievances will be clearly defined by then.

If there's a "no" ballot result, we will be demonstrating that the pay rise is not important when compared to working conditions. Stuff of pure ideology here, but RM management would no doubt choose to regard us as greedy postal workers wanting more money. It would be a difficult situation. I'm not sure the Union leadership would know how to best utilise a "no" vote. I hope they're thinking about it and preparing appropriate statements to make.

Whichever way the vote goes, it won't end the dispute.

You're right. The dispute won't end with this vote. As for HQs idea of a "new understanding and cooperation between management, cwu reps and workforce", if men are from Mars and women are from Venus just where the f*ck are these guys from? There are as many bloody minded postal workers as there are managers and making a statement and making it happen AREN'T one and the same thing.