CWU : To all CWU members (Royal Mail Group)

[POSTMAN]

To all CWU members (Royal Mail Group)

We are writing to update you on our disputes with the Royal Mail Group.

The strike action during December had a major impact on the company and has delivered progress.

Firstly, we saw a significant move from the company’s so-called “best and final offer” with their statement on no compulsory redundancies. This was subsequently confirmed in writing to the union just before the Christmas break. This is a positive development. However, for the company to honour this commitment, they must also confirm that it changes their plans, particularly around future resourcing models. We now want to test and build upon this in further negotiations.

Secondly, we have just exchanged correspondence with the CEO today which means both parties have now agreed to refresh our talks for a period of intensive negotiations from the 9th to 20th January.

As part of this the company and the union have committed to the following:

• RMG has agreed to immediately remove the agency staff used to cover the Christmas peak and strike action.
• RMG has accepted that the CWU will engage members in our campaign to win a re-ballot, while negotiations continue
• RMG has reinstated the industrial relations framework for all revision activity. This is a significant development which gives us the ability to negotiate at local level, rather than managerial imposition of change. However, there remains a major issue over the national guidelines for these revisions and this will be discussed as the first item in our talks on Monday.
• RMG has committed to reviewing all cases put forward by the CWU that have arisen from the dispute relating to suspensions, conduct charges and dismissals. The CWU has made clear that we will never accept these unfair attacks on our members and representatives and a resolution to this must be found over the next couple of weeks.
• The CWU has agreed not to take any strike action during the 9th and 20th of January.

While recognising that some progress has been made, given the unacceptable actions of the company over the last few months, we do not take anything for granted and we know there are major differences between us on a raft of key issues.

Notwithstanding the above, the union’s Postal Executive believe it is the right time to see if talks can succeed and for both parties to jointly try to change the dynamic of our disputes.

While these talks continue, it is crucial for the CWU to be able to focus on delivering another massive turnout and Yes vote in our re-ballot campaign. The union is legally required to re-ballot our members to take further industrial action if needed and the timetable will be announced shortly.

The outcome of this ballot will be critical to us achieving an agreement and therefore it must be the main focus for all CWU representatives and members in the coming weeks.

We have also been campaigning for support for our dispute in Westminster and working with politicians to raise the issues facing our members in Royal Mail to Parliament.

There are crucial activities planned over the next couple of weeks, as follows:

• 10th January- Westminster Hall debate on Postal Services (Post Office and Royal Mail)
• 12th January- Westminster Hall debate on Royal Mail and the Future of the Universal Service Obligation
• 17th January- The CWU will be giving evidence to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Parliamentary Select Committee, which has been called to discuss the mismanagement of Royal Mail and the future of the USO and our dispute
• 23rd January- we will be meeting with major Royal Mail shareholders to explain our concerns about the dispute and the future of the company.

We know this has been an extremely difficult dispute but there is no doubt that the strength of our membership over the last few months has delivered progress. We will discuss this progress and other developments on a live Facebook session on Tuesday 10th January at 7pm.

Thank you for your incredible support. We must keep it going so we can secure an agreement that delivers for our members, the customers and our communities.

Kind regards
Dave Ward
General Secretary
Andy Furey
Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

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[Acca Dacca]

CWU has said that whilst talks are ongoing we wont take strike action ( between 9th and 20th January )

Even if we wanted to we couldnt as need to give 14 days notice which would mean 20th at the earliest anyway

[daveyeff]

If, as our gaffer stated, Thompson's contract IS up on the 17th, and the talks are going on till the 20th, then he's either getting a new contract or our gaffer was wrong/lying. Or am I missing something?

[chickenwittle]

If, as our gaffer stated, Thompson's contract IS up on the 17th, and the talks are going on till the 20th, then he's either getting a new contract or our gaffer was wrong/lying. Or am I missing something?

With respect what would your gaffer really know regarding Thompsons contract.

[wandle]

If, as our gaffer stated, Thompson's contract IS up on the 17th, and the talks are going on till the 20th, then he's either getting a new contract or our gaffer was wrong/lying. Or am I missing something?

With respect what would your gaffer really know regarding Thompsons contract.

The Guardian ran an article on 11th January 2021 about Thompson's appointment as CEO. Assuming his start date was then, or up to a week later, and assuming his contract was for only 2 years, it could be true https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -and-trace

[broughts]

I thought they ripped up all agreements now they want to use them again what a absolute joke

[timbo1234]

This statement from the CWU is a non event. It doesn't contain any reference to the mandate we voted on ie a no strings pay rise. In fact it doesn't even mention pay. It doesn't set out what they are trying to achieve or any vision of what a fair compromise would look like. We all know there will be trade offs but this statement reads like "well this is as good as it will get" . You cannot keep asking people to vote for action without a clear plan of to achieve the best outcome. At best the statement is wishy washy at worst it is totally uninspiring.

[chickenwittle]

This statement from the CWU is a non event. It doesn't contain any reference to the mandate we voted on ie a no strings pay rise. In fact it doesn't even mention pay. It doesn't set out what they are trying to achieve or any vision of what a fair compromise would look like. We all know there will be trade offs but this statement reads like "well this is as good as it will get" . You cannot keep asking people to vote for action without a clear plan of to achieve the best outcome. At best the statement is wishy washy at worst it is totally uninspiring.

Royal Mail have just seen out Black Friday, cyber Monday and Xmas , the reality is this is as good as it gets for now , it’s going to be small steps whether we like it or not.The no strings pay deal is a pipe dream , things have escalated to the point where we are fighting for our jobs and futures.

[needadvice]

Strange how RM want intensive talks right after Christmas. Can't see an agreement in January purley because RM will have egg on their face because everyone will just say, this should of happened 6 weeks ago, costing shareholders a dime

[dazzler123]

Strange how RM want intensive talks right after Christmas. Can't see an agreement in January purley because RM will have egg on their face because everyone will just say, this should of happened 6 weeks ago, costing shareholders a dime

read an article yesterday the mail strikes have had the most damage to business over xmas. this is costing the company big time

[sweepster70]

This statement from the CWU is a non event. It doesn't contain any reference to the mandate we voted on ie a no strings pay rise. In fact it doesn't even mention pay. It doesn't set out what they are trying to achieve or any vision of what a fair compromise would look like. We all know there will be trade offs but this statement reads like "well this is as good as it will get" . You cannot keep asking people to vote for action without a clear plan of to achieve the best outcome. At best the statement is wishy washy at worst it is totally uninspiring.

Royal Mail have just seen out Black Friday, cyber Monday and Xmas , the reality is this is as good as it gets for now , it’s going to be small steps whether we like it or not.The no strings pay deal is a pipe dream , things have escalated to the point where we are fighting for our jobs and futures.

That's a hell of an overkill isn't it? Royal Mail have put in writing that there will be no compulsory redundancies. Stop trying to scare people who can be. Our working conditions could be s**t if we produce a low yes vote with few people voting. Striking (Disruption) is hitting the business hard, so stop talking rubbish.

[chickenwittle]

This statement from the CWU is a non event. It doesn't contain any reference to the mandate we voted on ie a no strings pay rise. In fact it doesn't even mention pay. It doesn't set out what they are trying to achieve or any vision of what a fair compromise would look like. We all know there will be trade offs but this statement reads like "well this is as good as it will get" . You cannot keep asking people to vote for action without a clear plan of to achieve the best outcome. At best the statement is wishy washy at worst it is totally uninspiring.

Royal Mail have just seen out Black Friday, cyber Monday and Xmas , the reality is this is as good as it gets for now , it’s going to be small steps whether we like it or not.The no strings pay deal is a pipe dream , things have escalated to the point where we are fighting for our jobs and futures.

That's a hell of an overkill isn't it? Royal Mail have put in writing that there will be no compulsory redundancies. Stop trying to scare people who can be. Our working conditions could be s**t if we produce a low yes vote with few people voting. Striking (Disruption) is hitting the business hard, so stop talking rubbish.

I haven’t said the strikes haven’t caused disruption but they also haven’t made Royal Mail roll over which is why I have said it’s small steps and small victories right now . The union need to hang in there and keep chipping away to get a resolution.

[sweepster70]

It's not about Royal Mail rolling over. It's about compromise and hopefully coming to an agreement that we both can say "You know what, I can agree with that"