Royal Mail pensions' closure 'a cause for serious concern', says Unite

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/royal ... ays-unite/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Today’s (Thursday 13 April) announcement that the Royal Mail will close its pension plan in its current form is ‘a cause for serious concern for the dedicated workforce’, Unite, the country’s largest union, said.

In January, the Royal Mail said it was consulting with the trade unions about the future of the plan from April 2018.

Unite officer for the Royal Mail Brian Scott said: “This is a cause for serious concern for a hardworking and dedicated workforce.

“The announcement is to close the two current sections at the end of March 2018 and the important part will be the replacement scheme which we are in ongoing discussions about.

“The Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) is not closing in its entirety as the replacement pension scheme will embrace part of that. It is very likely that it will still be a different form of the current defined benefit scheme.

“We will study the implications of today’s announcement very carefully and consider all the options going forward. If we don’t achieve a satisfactory outcome, we can't rule out an industrial action ballot on this issue.

“We will be consulting our members closely on the next steps in the coming days and weeks.”

The company statement said: “We have concluded that there is no affordable solution to keeping the plan open in its current form. Therefore, the company has come to the decision that the plan will close to future accrual on 31 March 2018, subject to trustee approval.”

Unite has about 6,000 members working for the Royal Mail that is now a privately-owned company, following its controversial sell-off by the coalition government after five centuries of state ownership. - See more at: http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/royal ... wFGXL.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jetblack]

Strategy number one for the CWU :- engage its own members.
Strategy number two :- engage the wider union movement.

Strategy number two, in particular, is more likely to be effective when i) we don't try to engage the wider movement in our moment of need, ii) we ourselves have given something/sacrificed for others within the union movement when we needn't have.

[yellowbelly]

Strategy number one for the CWU :- engage its own members.
Strategy number two :- engage the wider union movement.

Strategy number two, in particular, is more likely to be effective when i) we don't try to engage the wider movement in our moment of need, ii) we ourselves have given something/sacrificed for others within the union movement when we needn't have.

Jet/Anybody - genuine question from a still wet behind the ears postie - what would happen if you got to a BMW site next week, refused to cross picket line,
took mail back and the Lino/DOM had a fit? If you've got a BMW site on your round do you have to say beforehand I'm not crossing a picket line?
Can a manager order you to cross the picket line or face discipline? Would CWU back you up?

[jetblack]

Someone will know better than myself - but my guess is that if you went back and told them that you didn't cross the picket line for political reasons, then yes, they could discipline you - you aren't in the union thats been balloted for and subsequently taking strike action.

However, if you went back and said you didn't deliver the mail because you were worried about the repercusions were you to do so, you were scared - then I think they would find it difficult to discipline you.

Good question though - its exactly this sort of situation where union/workers solidairty is important for us all.

I personally wouldn't cross the picket line. I'd tell them I was just as scared to enter as I was the garden with the crazy Rotweiller. And yes, in such circumstances my guess is that the CWU would be 100% behind you - for obvious reasons.

It should be enshrined in law that its your right not to cross a picket line, wether in the union or not - but I've a feeling Thatcher did away with that particular right.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The legal position on taking strike action is that if you are not a member of a Union, you have the right to refuse to cross a picket line. Equally, if you are a member of a Union not involved in the action, you have the right not to cross a picket line.

If you choose not to cross a picket line, your employer has the right to not pay you for the time you are not at work. They may regard you as being on strike and have the right to impose a break in service accordingly.

If you are not a member of the Union involved, you do not have the legal right to join their picket lines.

https://www.basw.co.uk/news/article/?id=896" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Never have, nor ever will cross ANY picket line (even a managers one) the principle is more important than the message.

[heapsy]

Unites comment on this issue is a complete joke. Where were they in 2008? Oh, I forgot, crossing our picket line and shafting us.

[yellowbelly]

Jet/TBT, thanks chaps, useful to know this sort of thing beforehand!