RM ATTEMPT TO FORCE PENSIONS CHANGES

[andy2007]

who is gonna go on strike? are all the thousands who are not in the pension scheme gonna strike? what about those who have only been with the business for 2 years or less, what are they gonna strike for?

I'm not in the RM Pension Scheme, but if there's a Strike, I will support it. What you need to understand, is that there are times when we are called upon to Strike for something which doesn't directly affect us. But if we don't stick together as a Union, then we will fail.

A Union is only as strong as it's membership. Remember:
United we stand,
Divided we fall,
If we stick together, we can beat them all!

We all get a say in wether or not we Strike. But once the results are in, we must ALL abide by that decision, or it all falls apart.

[mitzi]

i know at least 15 members in my office who are not in the pension scheme and none of them will vote for a strike. if a ballot is held and they choose to go to work, include managers and strike breakers then the impact on my office will be minimal. rm were prepared to wait till the last strike broke, in this case we will have very little hope of winning inside of 12 months.

[F0zziebear]

I know this is a passionate issue and am only glad I never got myself tied up in any of it.

My main concern is this.

Leighton was suppsoed to step down this year, yet they couldn't find anyone to take over. This means that he is in a very powerful position. He has previously shown that he will allow strike action to happen and take things to the brink. He is backed up by people at the top of the company who share this position.

One of the main problems is that many former RM employee's are drawing from the pension fund and are living longer. This should have bee naccounted for. We also know that pension holidays were taken in the 1990s when all seemed good. Unfortuantely that money was squandered in Europe.

You are also right to say that RM cannot sell off RM with such a large pension deficit and must find a solution to it. Their position seems to suggest cutting back on the terms.

Simply put the money left some time ago as is/was the case with Northern Rock. The individual shareholders will lose the majority of their money and a large chunk of employees will lose their jobs. This has been happeneing at RM for several years. Those who could afford to leave have already done so. This has left a rump of epxensive middle management in their mid-forties and early fifties, and a large number of frontline staff who are also in a similar position.

RM as an operational buisness is starting look better and I believe it will continue to improve as investment is pumped in. Unfortunately the situation behind the scenes is asking for trouble, especially if the economy moves into a recession.

Good luck

F0zz

[vanman]

Two issues needing comment:

1. The Pension Scheme covers ALL members across Royal Mail Group including RM, POL, Parcelforce, P&ODS, etc etc. Therefore it would have been wrong for the RM pay deal to agree to any changes to the scheme - so it had to be de-coupled.

2. Anyone who's not in the scheme ought to join it quick!

[yipyap]

Who will strike? The 30% of our members who are part-time, many in 2nd jobs? The dissillusioned from last years dispute? Those who believe the union signed up to the deal as part of P & M? Managers? Our (CWU) position is a dogs breakfast! we're against RM but don't know what we want ourselves. Be very careful Postal Executive and Officers you may be retiring earlier than planned if you get this wrong.

[dvbuk55]

who is gonna go on strike? are all the thousands who are not in the pension scheme gonna strike? what about those who have only been with the business for 2 years or less, what are they gonna strike for?

'About 167,000 of Royal Mail's 190,000 workers are currently paying into its pension scheme'-from BBC News website

Yahoo

I'm not sure if that was a happy yahoo or not - BUT - of the 167K how many are part timers, how many are close enough to retirement not to care, how many are young enough not to envisage getting old? The figure isn't important it's the diversity of personal interests that will be the deciding factor and the fact that there probably isn't the will by the leadership to even go for a ballot on an action that would surely be defeated.

[Edward Hunter]

The pension went last year! consultation what the f**k was that There is no way on earth people will go on strike again, especially given current economic circumstances.The big fight was lost, thanks to THE WEAKNESS OF the CWU leadership when in general the membership had given them superb backing. Tough talk on here is just that and RM know this.

[andy2007]

Two issues needing comment:

1. The Pension Scheme covers ALL members across Royal Mail Group including RM, POL, Parcelforce, P&ODS, etc etc. Therefore it would have been wrong for the RM pay deal to agree to any changes to the scheme - so it had to be de-coupled.

2. Anyone who's not in the scheme ought to join it quick!

The reason I didn't join the Pension Scheme, is that when I joined RM it looked like a bad investment. Lots of other Company Pension Schemes were going under, and unfortunately, it looks like I was right to anticipate the same happening in RM.

Due to the payment holidays, and general mismanagement of the scheme. There isn't enough money left to provide the Pensions you were all promised. The only options available, seem to be:
1) RM replace the missing money (including inflation since the 90's).
2) The Government taking responsibility for encouraging the payment holiday, and replacing the money.
3) Reduction in benefits.

Why should the members of the Scheme pay the price for it's mismanagement.

If people want to gamble on the scheme improving in the future, then by all means join it. Personally, I thought it was a dead duck 10 years ago, and I'm sad to say, it looks like I was right.

The problem we have to face now though, is that there are many people who have invested large amounts of their hard earned money. They did so, on the understanding that they would be looked after in their retirement. They deserve to get what they paid for, and I for one will fight to protect them, if it DOES come to Strike action.

[dvbuk55]

Has anyone had the letter from RM about the Company's Decision? As far as I recall the consultation period was extended to 16 February yet the letter states it ended on 16 January - makes you wonder when that letter was produced.

Of course there is no change whatsoever from RMs original proposal. Pretty much like there was no change to the pay and modernisation from its original concept to the capitulation - come on rover roll over again.

[k979aaa]

Has anyone had the letter from RM about the Company's Decision? As far as I recall the consultation period was extended to 16 February yet the letter states it ended on 16 January - makes you wonder when that letter was produced.

Of course there is no change whatsoever from RMs original proposal. Pretty much like there was no change to the pay and modernisation from its original concept to the capitulation - come on rover roll over again.

I have today received said letter and it makes for grim reading for everyone in royalmail for it say's the finnal salary scheme is too close for all members on the 1st of april 2008 just six weeks away!. Now if that did not get your attention maybe this will for you would also have to work till 65 years of age form the 1st of april 2010 just imagine how may of us will survive this with the new increased workload!. IF IT WAS NOT SO SERIOUS IT WOULD BE FUNNY FOR THEIR TIMEING OF APRIL THE 1ST IS IMPLYING WE ARE FOOLS!. :cfo & :lfo THE TIME TOO STRIKE IS NOW!.

[markj113]

there are many other people in other industries in the same situation. the unions should join forces and bring the country to stand still and make the government realise we arent gonna take this crap

[Sandyman]

How on earth can the Trustees of the scheme (including CWU bods) accept that members who have paid into it for years can suddenly be ripped off with these new recommendations? Surely they have a legal obligation to protect a membership that has effectively been conned as well as their obligations to the scheme in general? It will be very interesting to see what legal advice someone with say 25 years service is given when he/she finds out that what he/she thought she was paying for is now nothing like the original product promised.

[Night Tonic]

At least we have a union. What about all the private pension schemes that collapsed leaving those that had paid in all their lives with zilch to retire on. No one fought for them at all - Brown took the lot. This is why the chances of government intervening are nil. Nearly every industry has been hit by this. Better to have some pension than none at all. Striking won't make any odds. Its fine making a stand but it won't impress or leave a mark other than in our pay packets - not that I think there will be enough willing to strike anyway.

[dvbuk55]

there are many other people in other industries in the same situation. the unions should join forces and bring the country to stand still and make the government realise we arent gonna take this crap

Brave words - but they aren't and we are.

[doveston]

there are many other people in other industries in the same situation. the unions should join forces and bring the country to stand still and make the government realise we arent gonna take this crap

Brave words - but they aren't and we are.

that sounds right how many storys have there been about strikes since we got an agreement and they all ended up been resolved with no IA.