'Rock-solid unity' across Home Counties & London

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Week One of the nationwide Four Pillars Tour concluded with a packed reps briefing in central London this afternoon, following equally lively and positive gatherings in Hertfordshire, Kent and Hampshire earlier in the week.

Over 500 local unit reps have attended the four meetings of ‘Home Counties & London Week’ – which have engaged our frontline Royal Mail activists from the Anglia, Southeast, Southcentral and London Divisions.

“It’s been a fantastic start to the tour,” enthused deputy general secretary postal (DGSP) Terry Pullinger. “We’ve had enthusiastic response everywhere, detailed questions from our reps and open and honest responses and discussions.

“And at every meeting so far, what’s coming over is rock-solid support for the Four Pillars National Agreement, a determination to get a big ‘Yes’ vote in the forthcoming ballot and a unity of purpose to take this industry forward into a positive future.”

On Day One, Ashford in Kent had the honour of kicking-off the National Tour, and over 100 reps from delivery offices, mail centres and other units in the Southeast Division came together to hear Terry’s summary of the deal on pensions, pay and the shorter working week, and further details on the scheme from assistant secretary Ray Ellis.

Our outdoor and indoor secretaries, Mark Baulch and Davie Robertson respectively, gave comprehensive presentations on our operational pipeline, and assistant secretary Andy Furey explained how the agreement will impact on the Royal Mail grades which he represents.

After questions and answers from the floor – dominated by the subjects of pensions and working hours – our DGSP gave a rousing closing speech, at the end of which he told reps that “this union is proud of you – are you proud of your union?”

“Yeeeeeees,” roared back the audience.

Speaking afterwards, Canterbury area delivery rep Jean Roberts said that the Four Pillars agreement was “excellent” and that “there’s nothing we could have got better.

“We know there will be changes, but they will be negotiated changes.”

And Crawley Delivery Office rep Scott Barter was looking forward to taking the information from the briefing back to his members.

“Our members should be very proud,” he continued, adding: “This shows us all, and also the rest of the country what can be achieved when workers all stick together.”

The second day saw the senior team arrive in the Hertfordshire town of Royston to brief representatives from the union’s Anglia Division – and here, the meeting opened with a minute of applause in respect of the late Dave Roebuck, a former Divisional Representative who sadly passed away recently.

Here again, the speeches and presentations were followed by contributions from the floor and as well as speaking at the meeting, reps once again also took the opportunity to share their views on the CWU’s facebook live facility – which has been generating rapidly increasing interest among postal workers.

Luke Smith, deputy branch secretary Eastern No5, and his branch colleagues were planning to “do a whole round of gate meetings” across their patch, and remarked that “we’ll be talking about where we started and where we’ve ended up,” while Essex Amal’s Kevin Simpson made the point that “what we’re doing on pensions is not just for us, but for every single working man and woman and for future generations.”

Day Three of the Tour called in at Basingstoke, where Terry challenged his audience to be “louder and prouder than the other Divisions” after giving the assembled activists the opportunity to question him and his team of national officers on the details of the deal.

Basingstoke Delivery Office deputy rep Phil Gordon said that the day’s meeting had been “very informative. There’s a good path to the future. The union have worked very, very hard for us and I’m very happy with it.”

Balwinder Bungha, night rep from HWDC described the briefing as “excellent.

“We’ve got the pensions, the pay rise, and we’ve got to stick together,” he continued, adding: “I’ll go back and share what I’ve heard today and strengthen everyone together.”

Attending from Swindon Mail Centre, Sandra Absalom was also looking forward to reporting back to her members at Swindon Mail Centre, remarking that the agreement was “a really good result – and members have not lost any money” and Emsworth Delivery Office rep Lisa Harding agreed, saying: “It’s all been receive very well and everyone’s confident with how it’s going.”

Central Hall in Westminster hosted this afternoon’s London Division briefing, bringing Week one to a lively end.

And as at the week’s previous three events, the audience of reps heard full details from our DGSP and his senior team of all the various aspects of the Four Pillars agreement.

Questions and contributions were asked and answered in another lengthy and informative Q&A session and Terry concluded the gathering with another rousing speech.

“This is a huge agreement, a defining moment in our history – and in the future, we will look back and see what a major achievement this is,” he said.
“What we want now, is a massive ballot result on this agreement. What makes us strong is if we’re totally engaged as a trade union. This is what keeps the employer on their toes.
“There’s a whole generation of postal workers now, who are seeing what can be achieved when we all stick together.
“What you do takes guts. You are the frontline out there. You the are people who are prepared to put yourselves up front amd represent our fellow workers.
You’re a credit to this union and a credit to your class – you walk tall and proud.
“This union is very, very proud of you – are ypu proud of your union?” He asked.
“Yeeeeees,” roared our London reps, in a shout so loud, it will give our Northern reps a tough challenge to beat next week.
*Next week is ‘Northern Week’ and the Tour will be heading to Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow and Belfast.

While the briefings have been under way, the CWU’s facebook page has been open for live comments and questions as well – and thousands have so far taken part in this extended discussion.

And our union’s head of comms, Chris Webb, has also been putting some of the facebook enquiries to Terry and his team.

“The social media engagement this week has been great,” he said, adding: “Please keep your comments and questions coming in next week as well.

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[Celgar]

'The first victim of war is the truth'.

[redneck]

Makes me more determined to vote NO. We shouldn't need a delay (how the hell long have we been waiting) in the vote while a whirlwind tour of UK to convince hearts and minds of reps takes place. The deal should have sold itself already.

[JKSmudge]

' Rock solid unity ' it seems to be true AMONG THE REPS.

A lot of ordinary members are unhappy about many parts of this 'deal' and increasingly agitated about the time it is taking ( over a month-long brainwashing session to sell us this ) - we won't even get the result of a vote until late March !

'On the cusp of something special' - easily pleased and taken-in then... I have some magic beans if anyone is interested, at a special price

[awesomepenguin]

I don't see what there is to be proud of.

They have negotiated a vague, complicated agreement that doesn't guarantee anything other than a pay rise.

The pension issue is as clear as mud, the shorter working week appears to have more strings than the London Philharmonic Orchestra, I don't see how the culture is going to be changed when Royal Mail is documented as saying they don't think there is a problem with the culture in the business, part timers still appear to be treat as second class citizens by Royal Mail and the CWU, the change to office start times doesn't seem to have any clarity.

These tours just appear to be a load of self indulgent nonsense.

[Coinbags]

I don't see what there is to be proud of.

They have negotiated a vague, complicated agreement that doesn't guarantee anything other than a pay rise.

The pension issue is as clear as mud, the shorter working week appears to have more strings than the London Philharmonic Orchestra, I don't see how the culture is going to be changed when Royal Mail is documented as saying they don't think there is a problem with the culture in the business, part timers still appear to be treat as second class citizens by Royal Mail and the CWU, the change to office start times doesn't seem to have any clarity.

These tours just appear to be a load of self indulgent nonsense.

NO from me all day long !

[crimson king]

I don't see what there is to be proud of.

They have negotiated a vague, complicated agreement that doesn't guarantee anything other than a pay rise.

The pension issue is as clear as mud, the shorter working week appears to have more strings than the London Philharmonic Orchestra, I don't see how the culture is going to be changed when Royal Mail is documented as saying they don't think there is a problem with the culture in the business, part timers still appear to be treat as second class citizens by Royal Mail and the CWU, the change to office start times doesn't seem to have any clarity.

These tours just appear to be a load of self indulgent nonsense.

NO from me all day long !

And me.

Well put, Awesome Penguin.

[k979aaa]

What a crap deal this is for us all one guy at work said it was marvellous but he has took his pension already so after 2 failed pensions I am being railroaded into another pension which I pay more receive less and is not guaranteed unless the government do their job and legislate this deal which unless these porcine slob's in parliament agree and can pass it and I don't have any confidence in them blue bastards nor the yellow ones or the pillocks that support may from northern Ireland! We then all are on a sinking ship which we all hope will land us all in good stead but I have herd it all before ten years ago in fact since my last pension was so vilely raped by the then CEO with the support of NEW LABOUR with the able assistance of Manddleson macfaddon and one gordon brown! My pension has been stolen by capitalist stooges things that were fought and paid for by blood were given up for money and how dearly will we pay it in the years and decades to come!

[SpacePhoenix]

I'l be surprised if the required legislation gets any time in parliamnent before 2019 with all the Brexit stuff to be dealt with

[k979aaa]

I'l be surprised if the required legislation gets any time in parliamnent before 2019 with all the Brexit stuff to be dealt with

Yes before 2039 would be miracle with the brexit clowns and the clingons to may!

[Sugar]

What a load of happy clappy bullshit.

Had a lot of faith in Pullinger in the lead up to this agreement but this agreement is nothing like what I was expecting. Its as if he just rolled over and had his tummy tickled once he realised RM were not going to budge.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Reps seem to rave about this deal we have to vote on, but many OPGs including myself, really do not like the unknown size hoops we have to jump through to get anything besides the 2017-18 backpay and the 2018-19 payrise.

These hoops need quantifying to stand a chance of an overall yes vote IMO, we need to know what trials are going to take place and what performance figure targets need to be hit.

There is no point voting yes to an agreement with giant hoops that mean we don't get the further pay rises talked about in this deal, or have the working week shortened etc., because we have 1 ton weights tied to our legs. There is a real danger that full time workloads are going to become as impossible as the workloads many part timers have been enduring in recent years, knowing before they step a foot into the office that they will not get finished within contract hours.

[Whysoslowyehcfc]

Amazing how every single rep put up before the cameras thinks the deal is fantastic, by the law of averages there should have been a few reps saying NO ITS NOT THE GREATEST DEAL OF ALL TIME, either they have been told to keep quiet or they have spoken and then cut out

[mw7485]

Amazing how every single rep put up before the cameras thinks the deal is fantastic, by the law of averages there should have been a few reps saying NO ITS NOT THE GREATEST DEAL OF ALL TIME, either they have been told to keep quiet or they have spoken and then cut out

Well, the union are trying to big this up - big time! I wonder though, how many reps are actually taking the time to read the agreement and trying to understand the very careful wording and the potential implications, and then questioning the higher ups as to the likely outcome of the various reviews and how they are going to be managed to be fair and reasonable? Nothing I have seen or heard has changed my mind, and unless there are clear changes to the agreement, I remain a firm (as in a big fat felt pen) no voter. There is just too much slack wording and stuff getting kicked down the road. No, no, no - as a certain female Prime Minister one said!

[BELIAL]

Luke Smith, deputy branch secretary Eastern No5, and his branch colleagues were planning to “do a whole round of gate meetings” across their patch, and remarked that “we’ll be talking about where we started and where we’ve ended up,” while Essex Amal’s Kevin Simpson made the point that “what we’re doing on pensions is not just for us, but for every single working man and woman and for future generations.”

well we started with a final salary pension scheme and we've ended up with a lump sum and no guarantee of any income whatsoever in retirement.

Not too convinced that future generations will be doing cartwheels in our honor.