One day to go then...

[k979aaa]

dingo wrote:The point is does the offer which Royal Mail have given still stand if their is a strike ?

We will never know the answer, unless the Action is taken, as it looks like another Postponment is on the cards. I hope and prey that the Membership are consulted as to the reasons why, and that they still keep the faith even thou we appear to be rapidly running out of .........................

We know the reasons they the management don't think we work hard enough in delivery well I say we do and work to hard for the pittance we receive and the bullshit management we put up with, Well all I will say if billy and dave can't I will!

[Edward Hunter]

Personally cant believe RM will want a strike as christmas looms, so in many respects delaying things plays into our favour. BUT asking members to go out is hard because of all the extra expense at that time of year. Personally think this dispute is massive. Do or die. Give them another week or 2 to sort it and if there is no deal let the strikes roll. The public would hate us but the pressure on those at the top would be immense. Its time to be strong for our futures. Lets back the union one last time and if a strike at christmas has to happen. So be it.

[dvbuk55]

i agree that the royal mail seem to be dragging it out in hope they will see out xmas pressure without a strike but people in here shouting for a strike for the sake of it are just plain foolish! If we can get a good deal without striking why would we need to strike? If talks are going well and a few things still need agreeing or working on thats no reason to just walk out on strike! As dingo said after a strike the union still have to negotiate the things they are negotiating now!

I reiterate what Dave Ward the DGS said - no agreement by the 13th - strike - now failing that action what message does that send?

[k979aaa]

Personally cant believe RM will want a strike as christmas looms, so in many respects delaying things plays into our favour. BUT asking members to go out is hard because of all the extra expense at that time of year. Personally think this dispute is massive. Do or die. Give them another week or 2 to sort it and if there is no deal let the strikes roll. The public would hate us but the pressure on those at the top would be immense. Its time to be strong for our futures. Lets back the union one last time and if a strike at christmas has to happen. So be it.

Why not call the strike for the 20 of November yet talk till the 21 of November if needs be I just think we are being strung along again by a master of deception MOYA!

[halfull]

i agree that the royal mail seem to be dragging it out in hope they will see out xmas pressure without a strike but people in here shouting for a strike for the sake of it are just plain foolish! If we can get a good deal without striking why would we need to strike? If talks are going well and a few things still need agreeing or working on thats no reason to just walk out on strike! As dingo said after a strike the union still have to negotiate the things they are negotiating now!

I reiterate what Dave Ward the DGS said - no agreement by the 13th - strike - now failing that action what message does that send?

yes but we cannot hear what is going on in the room while they are negotiating! Things change & its important the get this right! None of us know how it would affect what progress has been made if we just walk out on strike! Lets see how things go & stop being so bloody negative!

[ronpetetrevchris]

i agree that the royal mail seem to be dragging it out in hope they will see out xmas pressure without a strike but people in here shouting for a strike for the sake of it are just plain foolish! If we can get a good deal without striking why would we need to strike? If talks are going well and a few things still need agreeing or working on thats no reason to just walk out on strike! As dingo said after a strike the union still have to negotiate the things they are negotiating now!

I reiterate what Dave Ward the DGS said - no agreement by the 13th - strike - now failing that action what message does that send?

Agreed, you cant back down once its said, you lose too much respect

[halfull]

i agree that the royal mail seem to be dragging it out in hope they will see out xmas pressure without a strike but people in here shouting for a strike for the sake of it are just plain foolish! If we can get a good deal without striking why would we need to strike? If talks are going well and a few things still need agreeing or working on thats no reason to just walk out on strike! As dingo said after a strike the union still have to negotiate the things they are negotiating now!

I reiterate what Dave Ward the DGS said - no agreement by the 13th - strike - now failing that action what message does that send?

Agreed, you cant back down once its said, you lose too much respect

When negotiating things change,its very complex,you give a little to get a little! Its no good being stubborn for the sake of it! We want a great deal for our futures! Not a strike because we are cheesed off! A strike for the right reasons yes but a strike because you dont like your manager or you want to hold dave and billy to something they said to get more power at the table no.

[mr hil.]

As we are not in talks maybe Royal Mail have said they will withdraw offer if strikes go ahead and this is what the union are worried about.. Just a thought

How would that help things, a deal has to be reached eventually and if the current (unknown) offer was pulled and an inferior offer made the Union would just reject it straightaway.

My main concern would be what the impact of an impending strike would have on future job security, Amazon etc' would certainly move this year's shipments to our competitors which would impact on any profits to be made this year, which would undermine any offer that RM would be able to make.

Our competitors don't have our capacity and any prolonged action would cause a total meltdown during the Christmas rush. This would in turn alienate the public which up to now have been relatively apathetic.

Deliveries are in a mess and I don't see how a solution can be found at this late stage without both sides agreeing to decoupling this issue with an interim suspension of all lapsing, absorption and resourcing to budget.

[k979aaa]

i agree that the royal mail seem to be dragging it out in hope they will see out xmas pressure without a strike but people in here shouting for a strike for the sake of it are just plain foolish! If we can get a good deal without striking why would we need to strike? If talks are going well and a few things still need agreeing or working on thats no reason to just walk out on strike! As dingo said after a strike the union still have to negotiate the things they are negotiating now!

I reiterate what Dave Ward the DGS said - no agreement by the 13th - strike - now failing that action what message does that send?

Agreed, you cant back down once its said, you lose too much respect

When negotiating things change,its very complex,you give a little to get a little! Its no good being stubborn for the sake of it! We want a great deal for our futures! Not a strike because we are cheesed off!

They Royal Mail are stringing it out so they can get past XMAS and then it's TNT competition time why the delay the bullshit videos at wtl and pissing the union about they are buying for time!

[charlie1]

Thanks for the update Dingo. What I find hard to understand, is all this talk of not striking now in case Amazon take their work elsewhere. We originally had a strike date arranged for 4th November, Amazon are still with us. What is so different this time? Are Amazon actually in a position to switch all their work so close to Xmas, I doubt it.

We should give the seven days notice of a strike tomorrow, maybe then Higson & co will get their arses into the room. He will have been kept up to date on how the recent talks have been going. If he wanted a deal before Xmas he would have got involved personally. They are playing for time surely that is obvious.

[k979aaa]

Thanks for the update Dingo. What I find hard to understand, is all this talk of not striking now in case Amazon take their work elsewhere. We originally had a strike date arranged for 13th November, Amazon are still with us. What is so different this time? Are Amazon actually in a position to switch all their work so close to Xmas, I doubt it.

We should give the seven days notice of a strike tomorrow, maybe then Higson & co will get their arses into the room. He will have been kept up to date on how the recent talks have been going. If he wanted a deal before Xmas he would have got involved personally. They are playing for time surely that is obvious.

Why did not HIGSON get involved sooner ask questions of royal mail he did not so he could stall the process and will if and when he turns up stall and stall again an ultimatum is what you need if you call a strike then strike if not don't expect to be stalled more and more till you crash and burn!

[edwardo]

Look regardless of my opinion and I have said I would have served notice I can understand both positions.

1st option serve the 7 days and put a gun against their heads. Thats the plus point but the downside is that Amazon will move to other providers as will other firms and parcelforce will face ruin.

2nd Option progress has been made on most issues other than the workplace issues, ensure more senior management get involved and try and get progress made and we cant then the action is then taken on the 27th November.

Its all about a judgement call. We want a deal and if we have to take strike action then fine but their is a balance between the two positions and dont under estimate what other providers will do.

if that's the case we are paid to much compared to other carriers , and that's the road we are heading

[dvbuk55]

Deliveries are in a mess and I don't see how a solution can be found at this late stage without both sides agreeing to decoupling this issue with an interim suspension of all lapsing, absorption and resourcing to budget.

There's that word again - we had that last time and in deliveries have paid the price over and over again. Lets not sugar coat these proceedings there will be no agreement or strike before Christmas - you know what they say, procrastination is the thief of time - we should have struck whilst the iron was hot.

[steven100]

I wouldn't trust rm management one bit, it's clear they have a strategy. My money is on RM going to court to prevent strikes at Xmas. And winning in court.

[Glenno]

i agree that the royal mail seem to be dragging it out in hope they will see out xmas pressure without a strike but people in here shouting for a strike for the sake of it are just plain foolish! If we can get a good deal without striking why would we need to strike? If talks are going well and a few things still need agreeing or working on thats no reason to just walk out on strike! As dingo said after a strike the union still have to negotiate the things they are negotiating now!

Althou I agree with most of your post, but the question that must really answered is " why did the Negotiations not start sooner, so they could all give themselves time to come up with a deal or not?" Let's not forget the timescale here, and above all else if serious s**t needs to be thrashed out, get the people who can make these decisions involved from day 1, not the 11th hour, as much as RM need a new Agreement going forward as well as the CWU, stop farting about and get the job done, as we all do our jobs everyday so should both TOP TABLES... ? ? ? ?