Crown Transformation - Cat's Out Of The Bag...

[billyhayes]

To all of you that would have been sent the open letter from Andy Furey to CWU members and Paula Vennells (boss of POL), would have spotted near the end, the phrase "Crown Transformation".

Now this is news to the majority of us and apparently there was a confidentiality agreement of sorts that no party would mention it or disclose the details. As far as we can tell, no branch managers are privy to the contents nor are any CAMs as they have all been asking Richard Barker what it entails.

Obviously he's stayed very tight lipped on this and no details are out there 'in the wild' so to speak.

CWU area reps are also clueless to its content.

But at the very least, we now know that there IS a plan for the Crown network, and only the heads of each party know the details... so far

We will find out in time, no doubt only at the very end, as it's 'need to know' and somebody thinks that us plebs don't need to know.. yet.

Wont be long though. The guarantee on the crown network expires 31st March... So expect it a month or so before then.

[POSTMAN]

CWU area reps are also clueless to its content.

Sorry,i'm going back now.

[gle001]

Lets not get so anxious and pull the paranoia lever. The senior management cannot reveal to us their immediate plans concerning Network transformation until they are certain of the Post office's position with regard to the privatisation of RoyalMail and the passage of the Postal bill in parliament.
How can they announce the details of the future business plan and the role and future of the Crown Office network until they have a true and definite idea of what that future is going to be.There is much deliberation and work that is taking place: the details of which are shrouded in secrecy and Senior management are held by their corporate responsibility to remain mute on such matters.
I agree that the action currently taken by Senior Management with regards to witholding details of the future plans for the Crown office network can be construed by the hysterical and anxious among us as a hidden plan and design of detriment;whose sole purpose upon release and action is the utter demise of the Crown office network and all associated with it.
Currently there is a pervading sense of uncertainty. A feeling of forboding for what the future may bring;it casts such a shadow on our lives.
I appeal to anyone in Senior management who may read these postings. Your employees deserve at least some information from you that may allay the fears we presently have about the future.!!!!!

[billyhayes]

A little more info, you may hear this in WTL tomorrow...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Guidance for managers on colleague pay

Hello, You may be receiving questions from your team following a letter they received over the weekend from the CWU. I felt it was important to give you some guidance so you feel able to respond confidently.
I encourage you to cover this at the start of your WTL on Tuesday.The CWU letter focuses very much on a lack of a pay offer for Crown colleagues, but as we communicated earlier this year, as the Crown network continues to be loss making, this is the reason why the pay offer was zero.
The letter then refers to Crown Transformation discussions. As the name suggests we still need to look at how we can move from making a loss of £55m a year to being a profitable channel for Post Office.
Despite the work that has been undertaken over the last few years on reducing Crown costs, and to improve income, we still have not achieved that aspiration. Our desire is to keep a Crown network and we alongside government are determined move it to profitability.This aspiration is something we have been very open about so we do need to continue to understand how that is achieved.
Once we know what the path to profitability is, we will then be in a place to begin constructive pay discussions. As always, you’ll be kept fully up to date when there is progress which affects your team.Finally, the letter refers to managers’ pay increase this year, While this was agreed, we must not forget that as part of the three year deal we agreed in 2008, Crown colleagues received a payment last year, during which time no other pay increases were made across Royal Mail Group.
I understand it’s not always easy having these conversations with your team following the challenges from the union. However, I hope this guidance is helpful...
...Thanks again for supporting your team.

Richard Barker"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Mr Love Pants]

Our manager did not tell us about any of this during todays work time yawning and dozing

[goggins69]

My manager didn't either as far as I'm aware although we were split in two and some had training from our assistant manager

[onlyanother30years]

Here's your answer Billy, a picture speaks a million words

[claire1.9]

what richard barker does not tell you that there was in enough in the pot for him to have a pay rise

[Lounge Lizard]

"Our desire is to keep a Crown network" - Richard Barker
but surely the aim has been to replace Crown Post Offices with W H Smiths or whatever in every possible instance, and in my town there's only a Crown Office still because the W H Smiths premises there is too small to accomodate a Post office counter.

[rwbarker]

For the benefit of Claire 1.9 - and anyone who reads her post - in common with other senior managers inthe Royal Mail Group, I have not had a pay rise for the last two years. Richard

[kathleen1]

MR DICKY BARKER DOESN'T NEED A PAY RISE WITH THE SALARY HE IS ON TRY LIVING ON £18,OOO
PER ANNUM WITH A FAMILY,MORTGAGE,PETROL COSTS, UTILITY BILLS ETC.... AH WELL I HOPE
HE GETS ALL HIS VOLUNTEERS FLOWN IN WHEN THE COUNTERS GO ON STRIKE AND DON'T FORGET
MANAGERS SELL, SELL, SELL AND DON'T FORGET TO TELL CUSTOMERS SORRY FOR THE WAIT. Q-BUSTERS AT
THE READY, I THINK NOT. SEE YOU SOON MR R BARKER, MAYBE ON THE PICKET LINE.

[The BFO]

For the benefit of Claire 1.9 - and anyone who reads her post - in common with other senior managers inthe Royal Mail Group, I have not had a pay rise for the last two years. Richard

Is that the best you can do? I would have thought that unless you are prepared to enter into a debate on this Forum you would be better keeping quiet. I can fully understand why you would not wish to discuss issues of concern here – contributors to this forum are inclined to be the pessimistically critical, and have heard it all before. I guess from your point of view we are the sort who will never be convinced, but we are the minority, so why bother? If you are interested in the thoughts (on a Sunday afternoon?!) of a handful of negative complainers you could observe in silence.

From my perspective I am sorry that some people use personally offensive remarks – there is no need, the evidence of gross mismanagement manifests itself before our eyes every day. In the end the truth will out – sadly for many of us who work in Crown Offices I fear we shall pay the price for the misdirection of the last five years, whilst those responsible toddle off to a cosy job elsewhere.

I am sure that you are a honourable and decent person with the best of intentions, but I am afraid you have played a part, with many others, in creating a pretty good mess.

‘Twas ever thus…

[PO1]

[claire1.9]

In reply to RWbarker remark counter staff got a pay rise last year that was part of the the three year pay deal agreed in 2007 and the post office honoured that deal and I am not knocking the Post Office for that and just to clarify something about your point about you have not had a pay rise in the last couple of years I can totally understand why you have got one. However Post Office ltd cannot justify saying that there is no money in the pot to give counter clerks a pay rise when the whole of the Royal Mail Group have had one. I personally was not expecting to get a pay rise this time because of the present climate, but the Post Office have just shot them selves in the foot by allowing everybody else one and not us. If there is no money in the pot then there is no money for anyone. Counter clerks work damn hard and are not appreciated enough and if there were no front line staff where would this business be? So no Mr Barker you don't deserve a pay rise.

[BELIAL]

For the benefit of Claire 1.9 - and anyone who reads her post - in common with other senior managers inthe Royal Mail Group, I have not had a pay rise for the last two years. Richard

I know it's not polite, but just in the interest of furthering the debate ,would you be prepared to let all know what your basic salary plus bonus amounts to I'm sure you have nothing to hide and can justify all remuneration,but it might add perspective,don't you think