LORD MANDELSON Outlines his new proposals to secure RM

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LORD MANDELSON Outlines his new proposals to secure the future of Royal Mail

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-storie ... -21153783/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



The one-price-goes-anywhere, six-days-a-week postal service is part of our social fabric.

I want to see it survive - but it has been hit by a double whammy.

Royal Mail cannot afford the pensions payments of the people who work, and have worked, for the company. The size of its pensions deficit is 75 times its profits.

And new technology such as email, the internet and social networking sites means the volume of post is dropping.

The result is that the Royal Mail will run out of money. So today I am publishing a plan which shows a way forward.

First, no to privatisation. The top and bottom line is that this Government will keep Royal Mail in the public sector.

Second, the six-days-a-week, one-price-goes anywhere service will be enshrined in law. And we will establish a new system of regulation that puts maintenance of the service as the top priority.

Third, yes to sorting out the pension fund so the benefits of changes Royal Mail makes will go into improving the business. This will also offer security on pensions to the hardworking staff who work for Royal Mail.

But if the taxpayer is to pay for the pension fund deficit, the taxpayer must get a full, improved letters service in return.

And that means saying yes to outside investment and management expertise to help turn it round.

Of course, I know Labour MPs and the trade unions have concerns about these proposals.

But we have to fight for Royal Mail's future and the future of the universal postal service. It is a fight we cannot afford to duck.

It is part of our social fabric

[andy2007]

LORD MANDELSON Outlines his new proposals to secure the future of Royal Mail

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-storie ... -21153783/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



The one-price-goes-anywhere, six-days-a-week postal service is part of our social fabric.

I want to see it survive - but it has been hit by a double whammy.

Royal Mail cannot afford the pensions payments of the people who work, and have worked, for the company. The size of its pensions deficit is 75 times its profits.
But no Private Company will take on even one third of that. So as you intend the Government to take on that financial burden, it is irrelevant to the Bill.

And new technology such as email, the internet and social networking sites means the volume of post is dropping.
No, the TYPE of post is changing. There are less letters, and more small parcels. Just ask your local Postie, how many bags of mail he/she has to deliver on an average day.

The result is that the Royal Mail will run out of money. So today I am publishing a plan which shows a way forward.
We've heard that one before!

First, no to privatisation. The top and bottom line is that this Government will keep Royal Mail in the public sector.
That's a lie! You are trying to SELL a one third stake in RM. So either you are lying to potential buyers, or to the Government and Public. Which is it?

Second, the six-days-a-week, one-price-goes anywhere service will be enshrined in law. And we will establish a new system of regulation that puts maintenance of the service as the top priority.
The USO is already enshrined in Law. Please stick to the facts.

It would be nice to think that you are serious about maintaining the service. But you've helped to errode it until now. So I find it hard to believe that you've had a change of heart.

Third, yes to sorting out the pension fund so the benefits of changes Royal Mail makes will go into improving the business. This will also offer security on pensions to the hardworking staff who work for Royal Mail.

But if the taxpayer is to pay for the pension fund deficit, the taxpayer must get a full, improved letters service in return.
Then allow us to do so. Get rid of the greedy Fat Cats, who haven't the slightest idea how to run an efficient service. But who can make short term profits for themselves, at the expense of long term quality of service. Just ask the REAL Customers. THE PUBLIC! They'll soon tell you how much better our service was, before we got lumbered with Bosses who have no experience of providing an excellent service.

Take off the shackles, and allow the CWU to negotiate proper agreements on new technology. Then we can go storming into the 21st Century, and obliterate the so-called Competition..... Oh of course! THAT'S why you won't remove the shackles. You want the so-called Competition to survive at the cost of our once great service.

Just take a look at the E-consultation on the future of the Post Office. Now that word is getting round that the consultation exists. It isn't looking good for that either, eh?

And that means saying yes to outside investment and management expertise to help turn it round.
Just recruit people FROM Royal Mail, as we once did. Then there would be far more expertise than you could ever get from so-called Competitors, who are totally incapable of providing the USO in Britain. If they were capable, they would have done it long ago!

Of course, I know Labour MPs and the trade unions have concerns about these proposals.
And with bloody good reason!

But we have to fight for Royal Mail's future and the future of the universal postal service. It is a fight we cannot afford to duck.
WE AREN'T! THAT'S WY WE'RE FIGHTING YOUR PLANS TO SELL OFF CHUNKS OF ROYAL MAIL!!!!!

It is part of our social fabric

That's precisely why YOU MUST BE STOPPED!!!!!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

- Andy

[tiredwalker]

The rest of the country can see Brown and Mandy are offerring safe guards that are supposed to already be in place so why can't they.

[andy2007]

Thanks. Sorry I got a bit carried away with the Smilies. I've removed them now though.

[J]

50,000 jobs to get rid of.

1/3 of the workforce.

Best way to do it, use the attendance procedure and conduct code to the full advantage. Use the agreements framework and manipulate the wording. Sack as many people as possible before using the VR route.

I was one of those that fell foul of the attendance procedure after 16 1/2 years for having a chronic condition in my spine. RM weren't bothered, they just wanted to make the headcount drop and the office managers/area managers are fulfilling their remits.

So what happens... well, this IS an open board and no-one dares speak about such things... so this is for you Joe & Josephine Public.

RM have money. They have lots of money. However, they are wanting this money to self-fund the privatisation agenda. OK, the pensions issue is playing a big part of this. It is. However, in the last 14 years, the pension holiday could have been stopped anytime and really the government have no one to blame but themselves.

But all the money that RM have... well, its to pay for more unneccessary managers at an average of £28k per year with ridiculous bonuses up to £4k a year, better still if they are a nightshift manager coz that goes up.

The top tier management want to self rgulate their pay and bonuses so people like Crozier and many more can afford to give themselves £million bonuses and pay packets.

Mail volumes are increasing in different types of mail, most mail centres fail their inward despatches because there isn't enough staff on shift, coz all duties are lapsed and they are trying to save money by not bringing in overtime staff and run shifts with skeleton staff to save money. They are dismissing people left right and centre to save money and build on profit.

When the press quote RM coffers, do they include all the money from offices around the country and not just those from the central revenue.... I think not. They quote sales of products to make RM look like a company in decline.... WHAT THEY DON'T TELL THE PUBLIC IS THAT THE MARGINS FOR BUDGET ARE CONSTANTLY BEING MOVED AROUND TO MAKE THEM LOOK AS THOUGH THEY ARE LOSING MONEY...

Do they ever challenge or appeal against the regulator.... NO!!!

In the real world, RM is one of the most profitable organisations in the country, if not the world. The privatisation issue needs to be dropped, the hours of jobs vacant need to be put back in, if anything the government (which would not be there if it wasn't for trade unionism) need to keep this as a public service and give the image back to what a great company this once was many many moons ago...

[andy2007]

Well said!