Pretty much sums up how RM see us as employees

[rhino49]

No. 730/09 Ref: 24207 Date: 21st August 2009


TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS


Dear Colleague,

NATIONAL DISPUTE

Following a recent letter to Mark Higson, Managing Director of Royal Mail, outlining a number of positive steps which would help resolve the current dispute; the Union received a response last night.

With regard to our definitive proposal for more intensive national negotiations we have been told the company will be in touch with a timetable for talks to commence next week. This has not yet happened.

In respect of our offer for both parties to seek the support of external independent experts to assess what constitutes fair workload, the Managing Director has chosen to completely ignore this point. This is very revealing. It is becoming increasingly obvious that Royal Mail’s workload measuring systems are heavily influenced by unrealistic budget demands rather than what people can actually cope with. It is also obvious that Royal Mail are afraid to expose these systems to any independent or objective analysis. Instead, it would appear, they want to continue with chaos management.

Similarly, the Managing Director does not support any independent enquiry into the managerial bullying and intimidation of postal workers.

The Union does not accept Royal Mail’s position on these issues and will continue to pursue the assistance of independent expertise to facilitate a resolution to some of the serious problems we are facing in the industry.

Once we have received a definitive response from Royal Mail about intensifying negotiations we will let branches know. In the meantime, it is essential that all branches intensify their efforts to hold meetings with our members and continue to explain that the issues in this dispute are fundamental to their future. Could branches also check that our Representatives Brief, which was sent out yesterday by email, has been distributed to all local representatives.

Yours sincerely



Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)