RMCtv : Message from CEO Simon Thompson - Improved best and final offer presented to the CWU

[sindba]

There's obviously some fine legal minds on Royal Mail Chat, but I'm not sure that it is as clear cut as 12 weeks and then the dismissals start.

From what I understand, employees could claim for unfair dismissal if the employer had sacked some but not all of those taking part in industrial action after the 12 week 'protected' period.

So, they couldn't just sack a few of us to make an example, they'd have to do the whole lot of us.

Further to that, there's the question of 'has the employer taken reasonable steps to resolve the dispute?'

Some people would argue they have, but others might say that reheating what is substantially the same offer from when industrial action began, is not a serious attempt to resolve the dispute.

I don't think Royal Mail would go down this route because it could get expensive and messy for them. Tens of thousands of employment tribunals etc.

If they threatened it though, we should all be out on the picket lines and see if they're really going to sack the lot of us (and if there wouldn't be some government intervention before then).

More importantly though, the trade union movement has never made its gains in the court room. Sure, eventually some of them were enshrined in law, but workers' rights were always won on the streets, on picket lines etc. And that's where we need to be until this dispute is resolved.

References etc:

https://www.gov.uk/industrial-action-st ... ial-action

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... -guide.pdf

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/19 ... -c14521481

I agree with all of that.

BUT. If the CWU receive legal advice that RM could, technically, dismiss strikers, I don't think they'd risk strikes. Sadly.

[SpacePhoenix]

Sounds like best case there might be a couple of weeks between when the current ballots expire and when the process for new ballots can be completed (actions short of a strike definitely should be on any future ballots). I wouldn't put it past RM to force a load of EA through during that gap

[timbo1234]

ST'S tactics are totally transparent. DIVIDE AND CONQUER. And looking at this thread he is succeeding.

[ninja22]

When you read all the details, this offer isn't very different to the previous offers. Just reworded it. Still a NO from me.

[Rwsty]

What about Fleet? I see we're not being included in the new proposal. What happened to we're all in it together and no-one will be left behind? I've stood strong through all the strike dates only to be sidelined with all my Fleet colleagues. If the vr deal comes my way, I'll be better off taking it than staying. Looks like we've been let down....again.

I noted Fleet were not mentioned mate, it wasn't lost on me. I'm out tomorrow for all of us

[MacG250]

Simple Simon with his best and final offer.

[Subman]

At the heart (if he has one), of the CEO's behaviour is the belief that postal workers are too well paid.

So to correct this;
We are to receive a below inflation pay increase,

Existing allowances are to be removed,

Increased flexibility to be introduced in attendance to remove opportunities for overtime.

Statutory sick(no pay) for first three days during 2nd absence,

Overtime bans

Reduced pay rate for new entrants.

Harsh management behaviour and the misuse of new technologies to bully staff to do more.

Remove the Union, to weaken representation and influence of workers.

Divide the business to weaken individuals bargaining position.

*** As yer man said, without the Union we would have to resort to going down on bended knee.***

[rambo1]

When you read all the details, this offer isn't very different to the previous offers. Just reworded it. Still a NO from me.

Thing is though you're not getting a chance to say yes or no.

[daveyeff]

because if it is put to the vote, it is on condition that no further ballots for industrial action can be undertaken.

[ninja22]

When ST put out his pay offer and T&C many months ago, I didn't like his offer, so I voted to go on strike. This offer is pretty much the same as the original one. So, I don't need to have a fresh vote. His offers never change my vote stays the same.

[TopperGas]

When ST put out his pay offer and T&C many months ago, I didn't like his offer, so I voted to go on strike. This offer is pretty much the same as the original one. So, I don't need to have a fresh vote. His offers never change my vote stays the same.

The only difference seems to be that the pay rise has moved from 5.5% over 12 months to 7% over 18 months. I'm surprised there's been so little movement by RM, it seems they are content for us to strike, if so, you do have the wonder, even fear, what their actual end game is.

[walthmstowman]

In my opinion I wouldn’t be surprised if VESA have told Thompson to smash the union because they want to take over the company. They won’t do that while the union is in place . It just feels like Simon Thompson is getting his orders from someone else and that’s why I can’t ever see an agreement being reached . The idea is not to have an agreement because I believe the idea is purely to smash up the union for VESA to take over.

[GRS]

In my opinion I wouldn’t be surprised if VESA have told Thompson to smash the union because they want to take over the company. They won’t do that while the union is in place . It just feels like Simon Thompson is getting his orders from someone else and that’s why I can’t ever see an agreement being reached . The idea is not to have an agreement because I believe the idea is purely to smash up the union for VESA to take over.

Just been thinking to myself is it VESA who want to take over or possibly someone else……Amazon! The delivery model RM want to follow is the same as theirs, they’re extremely anti union and look at the stuff of theirs flooding through the RM network that we’re delivering, absolutely loads of it. Maybe VESA is a red herring and DK has just been hoovering shares up in the knowledge that this is a likely outcome. I recall about 18 months ago a manager saying to me that he thinks a deal has already been done for Amazon to take over and although I dismissed it at the time so didn’t really take too much notice he seemed to make a couple of solid comments that pointed in that direction. Maybe I’m way off but a bit of food for thought!

[redlen]

My own opinion is it Ofcom telling ST what to do on behalf of VESA

But that is just my own opinion

[walthmstowman]

In my opinion I wouldn’t be surprised if VESA have told Thompson to smash the union because they want to take over the company. They won’t do that while the union is in place . It just feels like Simon Thompson is getting his orders from someone else and that’s why I can’t ever see an agreement being reached . The idea is not to have an agreement because I believe the idea is purely to smash up the union for VESA to take over.

Just been thinking to myself is it VESA who want to take over or possibly someone else……Amazon! The delivery model RM want to follow is the same as theirs, they’re extremely anti union and look at the stuff of theirs flooding through the RM network that we’re delivering, absolutely loads of it. Maybe VESA is a red herring and DK has just been hoovering shares up in the knowledge that this is a likely outcome. I recall about 18 months ago a manager saying to me that he thinks a deal has already been done for Amazon to take over and although I dismissed it at the time so didn’t really take too much notice he seemed to make a couple of solid comments that pointed in that direction. Maybe I’m way off but a bit of food for thought!

Yes , being taken by Amazon is a possibility.