re: why I'm voting no

[postslippete]

I've looked into this in great detail (as you will see by my post) but its not been a difficult decision for me to make.



Some people will be taken in by the headlines of Royal Mail losing over £1 billion a year even though its rather convenient that the company have decided to include £539 million of that as 'impairment charges' by writing down the value of the business due to the strikes. I did state months ago that RM would paint a very black picture of the finances and there is evidence of some creative accounting going on.

The irony is that Keith Williams has recently stated to the shareholders/investors that RM has retained earnings of £3.8 billion and has access to liquidity of £1.7 billion. IDS balance sheet is particularly strong and Royal Mail made quite substantial profits in the past that enabled them to buy German Parcel (GLS) and invest billions towards these new parcel hubs so that they can change the network. As Martin Walsh/Dingo said a few years ago, it is a game-changer. GLS would have made even bigger profits this year on its balance sheet had they not re-invested millions into major upgrades of its delivery hub networks in Spain and France. It also has bold plans to expand into Eastern Europe as well.

The financial status of the company is a bit of a moot point though as it's not something that we can control. But going into administration is something that is very unlikely and anyone with any common sense can see that:

- offices are chronically understaffed and are constantly running on overtime
- parcel traffic have gone through the roof compared to years ago (before the pandemic)
- letters might have declined but the duties have got much bigger and RM have continually put the postage up
- collections staff have nearly all been wiped out
- callers office staff might soon be going


Like someone said, if they reduced the size of the Royal Mail board or their over-inflated salaries that always helps the financial position of the company. Is Simon Thompson leaving on reduced VR?? Some of these board members also have positions in other companies but they tell us that we are 40% overpaid and start recruiting new staff on less money, terms and cons which was one of the unions red lines. I'm not against change and completely agree that Royal Mail needs to modernise and utilise these parcel hubs even though it is likely to lead to bigger outdoor spans at the expense of less indoor work. This is efficient for the business and will make us huge profits for which we should obviously be handsomely rewarded with more pay, lump sums and a shorter working week (that the Union always wanted) to perhaps help mitigate the bigger outdoor spans.

So what I really don't agree with is for us to be working more hours in winter whilst also reducing our sick pay and/or or be expected to work 30 mins extra without being paid overtime for it as well. The agreement only lasts for 2 years in which case we really won't see much of the one-off profit share scheme and that could be used as the next carrot for even more reduction in our terms and cons in future. Once your terms and conditions are gone, they are gone forever and the CWU have bent over way too far to get an agreement at all costs. The damage has been done and they should quit stalling and give us the vote asap. The fact that they haven't just annoys members even more as it's obvious this Union are trying to get us a bigger lump sum to help sweeten the deal.

And voting NO doesn't mean that we are going to go bankrupt and lose all our jobs; it just means that Royal Mail will have a hard time being able to force through all the changes that they want because some of these are quite clearly contractual and has certain legal implications. This could be made worse if the company don't also give us the pay increases that they originally promised. Honestly, if push came to shove imho a strike on a 'work to rule' basis is the only viable long term option for this union against this current board in our industry.

My gut feeling tells me that this vote is going to be close and there is a lot riding on this. Neither parties really want to go back to the drawing board and so I expect to see a lot of comms from both Royal Mail and the CWU in the next few weeks in an attempt to sell the deal and tell you to vote yes



If I was intending to leave the business I would take the offer. For those that remain the gig economy awaits.


Pete

[twoloops]

Not sure you will ever get the chance to vote NO, not be a ballot, RM & The CWU had our pants down & shafted us big time

[arsenalbob]

The chance to vote no would be a fine thing. Royal Mail won’t reverse the revisions or the inferior sick pay rules. The union won’t risk a ballot while these are in place. Total stalemate.

[Basildon Bond]

The new CEO will not be online until October and then they will need a few months to make significant moves. I would recommend the current unhappiness is laid at the feet of the new CEO to resolve.

There really is no hurry. Pause and let the new CEO deal with it.

“To lose patience is to lose the battle.” - Mahatma Gandhi.

[Grads75]

If any of the clowns who are telling us to be patient on here are looking at this an update would be nice

[koolishy67]

Vote YES or NO both way we are losers game over now

[Geordiepapa]

Well said and informative

[olilew]

We turned the fortunes of this company round to the tune of circa £1billion during a pandemic. WE did that, but they weren't satisfied. They still came for our terms and conditions.This is the greed and mentality of the people we are up against!

[Simondavid]

We turned the fortunes of this company round to the tune of circa £1billion during a pandemic. WE did that, but they weren't satisfied. They still came for our terms and conditions.This is the greed and mentality of the people we are up against!

Well said

[derekm]

We turned the fortunes of this company round to the tune of circa £1billion during a pandemic. WE did that, but they weren't satisfied. They still came for our terms and conditions.This is the greed and mentality of the people we are up against!

Well said

If it was £2 billion they would still want more and whatever t & c,s we have left they will come for them

[Woody Guthrie]

The only reason to vote no is if you think it will improve our situation from where we are now.

That's the whole point.

I can't see anything in your post that shows how it might.

[Acca Dacca]

The only reason to vote no is if you think it will improve our situation from where we are now.

That's the whole point.

I can't see anything in your post that shows how it might.

There are things in the agreement that cant be implemented without an agreement

A NO vote isnt just a vote to improve our situation, its also saying NO to the changing of our terms and conditions that only an agreement can change

If they could bring in everything they want thats included within the agreement with or without the agreement then i'd agree with your point

But they cant

[Woody Guthrie]

That's a nice idea but are you a legal expert?

Which changes proposed in the agreement exactly?

You wouldn't be voting no to change, you would at best slow it down slightly in some areas like later starts but increase its pace in others like bench merging, sick absence and flexi-time and potentially bring in more damaging change to places that aren't even in the agreement like compulsory redundancy and owner/drivers.

You would also be voting no to any input from the CWU at both national and local level in any of that change.

[scotchy1962]

That's a nice idea but are you a legal expert?

Which changes proposed in the agreement exactly?

You wouldn't be voting no to change, you would at best slow it down slightly in some areas like later starts but increase its pace in others like bench merging, sick absence and flexi-time and potentially bring in more damaging change to places that aren't even in the agreement like compulsory redundancy and owner/drivers.

You would also be voting no to any input from the CWU at both national and local level in any of that change.

Woody the union have got to get themselves a semblance of perspective here, it cant just be accept it or they will ignore us, you cant just run scared everytime RM say accept or else.
I know you believe we are in danger of losing any input into the future of the company, but we are more or less already there. They have the union on the back foot and everything they are doing at the moment proves to me they will continue with their current process unless stopped.
Using EA as a excuse for delaying the vote is every bit as bad.
With all the delay i know the union hope it will get them the Yes vote they want, but at what cost to the union?
Me and a lot of other members arent stupid and a lot will resign from the union and weaken it further.
They have to balance it out, realise they are at a crossroads and decide if nows the time to fight before theres nothing left to fight for.

[Valentina@1]

That's a nice idea but are you a legal expert?

Which changes proposed in the agreement exactly?

You wouldn't be voting no to change, you would at best slow it down slightly in some areas like later starts but increase its pace in others like bench merging, sick absence and flexi-time and potentially bring in more damaging change to places that aren't even in the agreement like compulsory redundancy and owner/drivers.

You would also be voting no to any input from the CWU at both national and local level in any of that change.

That's a nice idea but are you a legal expert?

Which changes proposed in the agreement exactly?

You wouldn't be voting no to change, you would at best slow it down slightly in some areas like later starts but increase its pace in others like bench merging, sick absence and flexi-time and potentially bring in more damaging change to places that aren't even in the agreement like compulsory redundancy and owner/drivers.

You would also be voting no to any input from the CWU at both national and local level in any of that change.

Woody the union have got to get themselves a semblance of perspective here, it cant just be accept it or they will ignore us, you cant just run scared everytime RM say accept or else.
I know you believe we are in danger of losing any input into the future of the company, but we are more or less already there. They have the union on the back foot and everything they are doing at the moment proves to me they will continue with their current process unless stopped.
Using EA as a excuse for delaying the vote is every bit as bad.
With all the delay i know the union hope it will get them the Yes vote they want, but at what cost to the union?
Me and a lot of other members arent stupid and a lot will resign from the union and weaken it further.
They have to balance it out, realise they are at a crossroads and decide if nows the time to fight before theres nothing left to fight for.

My thoughts exactly,fight now or there will be nothing left