CWU Social Media PR

[yellowbelly]

Aiden he used to on this site as Lovejoy.

Chris has transformed the communications of the union. Members get more updates now then they have ever done.

Yes I get some may not like some of the stuff but many do like the idea that we are all in this together. You just have to see how many members watch live to see how much interest there is.

Additionally when Webby asks the members to post something whilst watching thousands do.

He don’t need me to defend him as he is considered as one of the best communications officers in the Trade union movement.

Mick Lynch is a top bloke and has been brilliantly during the RMT dispute but he will be the first to state that he was relatively unknown prior to the first strike and let’s be honest when you can bring the transport system to an halt you are gong to get the media coverage.

There was nowhere near the same media coverage for the BT dispute as the media and public did not see the same impact.

There will be more coverage for the Royal Mail dispute but not on the same scale as the RMT. However our strike may delay the Tory Leadership Election so will be of media interest and both Dave and Terry will be putting our case to the media forward.

My thoughts martin is hes a twat.who cares what he called himself on here. most people tune in to hear what terry says not him fs.

What grips me is that there's no consistency as to which route essential or important CWU information is publicised.
Sometimes it's Farcebook, sometimes it's Twitter, sometimes it's youtube, sometimes it's emailed LTB's. The best source of info is from here -
an entirely unofficial site. I don't even bother trying the official CWU website, it's a pain trying to find anything up to date/relevant.

[Jdgraham83]

That postman pat picture was terrible. Who on earth approved that ???

[Woody Guthrie]

Chris has transformed the communications of the union.

Social media has transformed the communications of every union.
Chris cannot take the credit for that.

The members are also well aware that the debacle involving members photographing the posting of their ballot papers on Royal Mail premises can mostly be laid at his feet.

What you have to be careful with social media is that you're mostly engaging with the same members all the time and there is a huge percentage of members who are disengaged from this process so it's very important that social media is only a part of the communication strategy.

It's also important that while Simon Thomson continues to make a fool of himself we do not react to that in kind by being equally childish, some of the posts on the CWU Facebook page have just made us look foolish.

[Acca Dacca]

That postman pat picture was terrible. Who on earth approved that ???

Yeah - trying to forget that happened tbh

[Jdgraham83]

Oh god there's another postman pat one. Please stop it now. We have a million and one good reasons to be striking but this Twitter just looks like it's being run by children

[POSTMAN]

Where Are the Chickens, I miss the Chickens!

It is embarrassing what has been going on.
I commented on the below and it got deleted, that and various members posts being blocked and deleted on Facebook and Twitter over the last few years...

what the hell.PNG

And we all know he's from Plymouth...

cwu delete.png

Green army.PNG

[cobrakai]

Every turn this PR operation is outwitted by RM. It wouldn’t surprise me if the takeover talks were a load of “leaked” nonsense to get the strike buried.

Calling people “comrade” on social media dosent help either it makes us look like 70s throwbacks to the public. It’s even worse now with the way Russia is carrying on.

[k979aaa]

Every turn this PR operation is outwitted by RM. It wouldn’t surprise me if the takeover talks were a load of “leaked” nonsense to get the strike buried.

Calling people “comrade” on social media dosent help either it makes us look like 70s throwbacks to the public. It’s even worse now with the way Russia is carrying on.

Except the russian state which are really nazi and most people working in RM have comradery with there fellow workers.

[chrisj]

Thank you so much OP! It is a pity that we are not run by a more professional outfit; some of their tactics and antics are still stuck in the 80s. Some of the social media outings and messages are frankly childish and embarrassing - also personal and confrontational.

It is as if they are taking delight in taking on RM instead of getting the best possible for members against a tough CEO and difficult circumstances. It has been obvious that Simon Thompson was not messing and he has been goading and spoiling to seriously weaken the CWU and curtail their powers and erode our very favourable t&c compared to the competitors.

The CWU has pressed the nuclear button buoyed by the country's cost of living crisis and the huge mandate but it counts for very little in terms of negotiating. We are not the only ones wanting better, we are now a private business, COVID and Pandemic bubble has burst and also sympathies are almost over. We were never a supreme key worker anyways - yes, we kept the nation going but we got paid, made lots of overtime, got good sick pays and were generally taken cared of with PPEs and the rest. We even got a small bonus! People will say it is not enough but we have a lot of employees!

Banging on about shareholders all the time but the profit given as dividend was a one-off - off a bubble and against a backdrop of non payment of dividend the year before. It is a PLC with shareholders and they get returns for their investment: and that includes many of us that got free shares, bought shares, are continuing to buy shares, ordinary folks/small investors and pension schemes... Enough about paying £400 million. Bosses bonuses is different kettle of fish.

Anyhow, that has gone and we are in a different financial cycle and we are in a totally different financial and operating circumstances compared to last year; we have a energy crisis and we are a delivery company, the proposed changes has not brought much savings and parcels volumes are dropping, letters also (even RM wants us to go paperless). Sickness off the charts.

All the above and more are serious issues not a game, not laughsand certainly not a situation where we want to finish off the hands that are feeding us.

We appear to be winning on Social Media just like almost all modern elections where Labour is winning on Twitter, Facebook et all but then reality bites!

I voted for strikes to strengthen the hands of the CWU and I am democratic enough to accept the results and that they are are our representatives; so should know better. But the antics and language on. Social media winds me up just like that of Simon Thompson - however, we could do better.

I am striking but I don't see it as a laugh or a badge of honour and certainly will not be shouting or standing outside about it. I dont Pickets Lines or Picketing anyways - let the strikes do the talking and people should have free choice to work or not without being intimidated like the 70s or 80s. Why should tell someone not to cross a line? Are they babies? Or is that not a threat?

[richietns]

"All the above and more are serious issues not a game, not laughsand certainly not a situation where we want to finish off the hands that are feeding us."

There in lies the problem they've stopped feeding us and won't even come to the table to try,its blatantly obvious they are siphoning all the good and wealth out of the company,dont fall for the "Bosses bonuses is different kettle of fish" its not they wouldnt have it if it were not for us its all linked,the union do go a bit ott but they are definetly right in pulling out shareholders,bonuses for bosses only,etc etc.

[Acca Dacca]

Thank you so much OP!

Why did you vote to go on strike?

You’ve made a few arguments there for why we shouldn’t expect more pay and should accept the changes but not any arguments about why we should be striking.

So why are you saying you voted yes? Other than saying Simon is winding us up.

In the interest of balance of course….

[chrisj]

If you read the full post properly the answer to your question is there. I never said we should not get more pay - in fact, that is the easiest part of the whole dingdong. They can pay us more but how much more? The CWU will not tell you how much they are ready to accept and to my utter annoyance, they refuse to look at the books of Royal Mail; of which, they have been invited to do many times.

These sort of situation is not black or white - we cannot all agree on every detail of the dispute or what the CWU are doing or the way they have gone about it. However, I am a member of the Union and I support them - up to a point; not 100% - I have my reservations I will voice. It is a democratic organisation and we all know that even democracies have faults.

I should also add that going for a second ballot on terms and conditions practically killed off any meaningful negotiations. Why would RM pay us more then we still go back on strikes on the issues that really matter to RM?

RM might pay us 5% no strings but they will still want the changes or some changes - there are some changes there that are there as a negotiating cannon fodder that they can concede to give us a saving face.

Although, I think they can pay more but pay increases is something that stays on regardless of whether the inflation comes down or not - they have a lot of staff and every percent increase is a lot of money that has to be found regardless of future profitability.

Anyhow, the CWU will still have to get back to the negotiating table regardless of the number of strike days... The more money we lose, the less attractive a modest pay rise will mean; we are not going to get 10%!

We shall see! This is not a game or something to gloat about.

[Acca Dacca]

You have still not answered the question.

You have given more arguments for being happy with our lot, shouldn’t harp on about shareholders and dividends, should accept parcel volumes are going down blah blah blah than you have for reasons why we should be out

So why did YOU vote to strike?

[richietns]

chrisj..a pay rise is a pay rise it has nothing to do with terms and conditions but RM demand they be linked why should they be when terms and conditions can be sorted separately aldi and a host of other companys have given there staff a payrise only,it is a payrise not a paydeal,say the union cave in and say ok do what you want to RM whats to stop RM doing a PAYDEAL next year and so on and so forth,the whole point is that they are seperate.

[aiden01]

Also nearly £130 million being paid in shares next week. simon an co got rather large bonuses for what??? also loads of free shares.an the people on the coalface get 2% imposed on them wtf. don't for 1 min believe you voted to strike actually thinking or you actually a postperson..