2010/2011 Pay

[billyhayes]

We don't need debate, you say.

I disagree.

I am shocked when I find that union envelopes go unopened in offices. Yet in the same one's the statements released by POL stating why they can't possibly give a payrise are displayed proudly all over the restrooms!

Some members who I speak to in branches about this give it the old, "Ballot? Strike? What for? Oh, we aren't getting a payrise!? Oh."

FFS! Heads in the clouds or up their ar##s more like!!

My personal opinion is that if people strike or not it's all fine by me. Their choice. That choice cannot be fully formed unless they have ALL the information.

People need to know BEFOREHAND why they are being balloted, for any action, up to and including strikes. It staggers me how many in each branch just don't have a clue.
I would say at least 1/3 in each do not read the LTBs for whatever reason, and are not aware of events until you wave it under their nose like a bottle of smelling salts!

We come here and share. We go to our respective branches and share. Simples.

Don't forget, the company spent a lot of time and money before the last action, sending 'strike-breakers' from the ivory tower spewing the company propaganda. Encouraging waverers NOT to strike.

Union reps are NOT allowed to visit branches encouraging members to strike. That's the IR framework for you...

[Running Man]

I can't disagree with anything Billy says on the subject of pay.
The Minister's post is absolutely spot on but, unfortunately, I think Billy's post is spot on too.

In my opinion our people fall into one of three categories on the subject of a pay rise.

1. There are those who believe everything POL tells them and if POL says there is no money for a pay rise (but thanks for all your hard work!) then they just believe it- end of!

2. Those who feel that it's not fair and believe that there is money available but they simply can't be bothered to kick up a fuss or make a noise. You might want to call them the "I'm lucky to have a job" brigade.

3. The very vocal minority like Billy and The Minister who will 'do their homework' on the subject, don't believe the nonsense that POL feeds us, WILL kick up a fuss and WILL make a noise in the hope that justice and fairness will prevail.

Personally I believe that money is available for a modest pay rise at the very least and if our management are genuine in their thanks for our efforts over the last year then a pay rise is the very least they can do for us.
However I feel that there is very little appetite for strike action as I fear, like Billy suggests, that most of our people have been 'beaten into submission' by the actions of our so called leaders over the past four or five years.

[subbie]

You might like to know that Sub Postmasters have been pushed to breaking point over pay as well. For the first time in their 113 year history their Annual Conference voted unanimously to sanction a ballot of the membership to take prescribed industrial action.

It takes a lot to push Postmasters down this road, but POL have finally managed to do it.

I will take one issue with some of you guys, and that is where the POL profits came from. They were generated by the Sub Office Network in the main, by picking our remuneration pocket, and by shunting as much cost onto Postmasters as the company can manage.
Postmasters are even asked to pay back the losses caused by PO Robbers, I'd like to see that happen in a Crown PO.

So please guys do not think you are the only ones getting a hard time. And remember all of you, and I mean all of you get paid more than the minimum wage, this does happen in the Sub Office sector, we only get to call pay, pay, once all the running costs of a Branch are paid for, and for many that means an income below the minimum wage.

Subbie

[The BFO]

Now there is a debate. The reason Crown Office staff get more pay and better terms goes back over probably 50 years or more, and is down to one thing – Union solidarity. Billyhayes is absolutely correct, and I applaud him, but unfortunately, as he intimates, most people are just too lazy to make a stand. Not until they are really pushed will they fight.

If sub postmasters are really aggrieved then perhaps their federation should talk to the CWU and CMA/Unite with a view to combined action. As it was put to me yesterday, strike action in the few Crown Offices that remain will have limited effect if we are circumvented by managers working on the counter, and by Cashco crews supplying Sub Offices.

If we are all really unhappy with our lot then the only chance we have is to make a stand together. I honestly don’t know whether such a will exists.

And by the way Mr Subbie, Post Office Ltd, as a separate entity from Royal Mail, has never made a genuine profit. It is simply not possible to say what offices, or any particular group of offices, are profitable due to the multiplicity of transactions, the agencies we conduct business for, and the various methods of payment we receive from them.

[Running Man]

Excellent posts from subbie and the BFO and I agree with all points made.
It seems the good old Post Office are taking us all for a ride and the joint action proposed by the BFO is one of the best ideas I have read on the forum.
Crown offices on strike? Would anybody notice?
Our future doesn't look good does it?

[subbie]

Apparently Counter Staff in Crowns are NOT going to have a Pay increase for 2010/11, nor are Subbies either

Oh well those talks didn't last long did they?

Subbie