Postal Services Bill : Second Reading : Wednesday 27th Oct

[POSTMAN]

LTB920/10 Postal Services Bill – Second Reading – Wednesday 27th October 2010

Dear Colleague,


Postal Services Bill - Second Reading - Wednesday 27th October 2010

CWU Briefing Meeting and Lobby of Parliament - House of Commons

Wednesday 27th October 2010 - 2pm, Committee Room 14


The Postal Services Bill is due to receive its second reading in Parliament on Wednesday 27th October 2010. It is important that we have a strong presence in the House of Commons on this day and we have therefore arranged a briefing meeting and Lobby of Parliament.

The briefing meeting, to be addressed by the General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary (P) will commence at 2pm in Committee Room 14 - after which we would ask branches and regions to make the necessary arrangements to meet their local MPs. Obviously, if it is more convenient, meetings can be arranged prior to the briefing at 2pm.

There will be other activists in the House on this day, in particular, the National Pensioners Convention will also be holding a lobby. Therefore colleagues are asked to leave extra time to enter the House of Commons.

Attached for your information is a copy of "How to Lobby Your Member of Parliament" which is a short guide for members on this parliamentary process. The document is fairly self explanatory, however should you require any clarification then please contact the GS's Office.

We hope that you will make every effort to attend this meeting and lobby opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

Billy Hayes Dave Ward

General Secretary Deputy General Secretary (P)

10LTB920.doc

[dvbuk55]

I would be inclined to think that the second reading of the bill will engender the same amount of protest as the first reading did...............none.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I would be inclined to think that the second reading of the bill will engender the same amount of protest as the first reading did...............none.

Thats because a 1st reading is nothing more than a paper exercise to enter the bill into parliament. No debate is held and no discussions take place. The 2nd reading is the actually the first time its debated and hence the first time, realistically , that opposition can be organised, or protests arranged.

[dvbuk55]

I would be inclined to think that the second reading of the bill will engender the same amount of protest as the first reading did...............none.

Thats because a 1st reading is nothing more than a paper exercise to enter the bill into parliament. No debate is held and no discussions take place. The 2nd reading is the actually the first time its debated and hence the first time, realistically , that opposition can be organised, or protests arranged.

I would have thought that the initial reading was a clear indication of the intent to privatise to all concerned, us, the CWU, the media and the public - does the content matter so much as the intention? Privatisation is just that - do you see anyone manning the barricades? Pretty much the same as the raising of the pension age - ennui best describes the reaction. Perhaps as a nation we are reaching the suicide level.

[subbie]

Only the general principles behind the Bill are debated on the second reading, I am certain that amendments are not taken at this stage either.

Subbie

[Martin Walsh]

The first reading is just nodded through. The second reading is a debate , it then goes through the committee stages and obvioulsy amendments can come at any time and future readings.

Look I have been critical that the CWU have thus far run an invisable campaign on the threat of privatisation. The CWU have concentrated on pressuring the 72 marginal MPs.

The national lobby must be the lauch of a much bigger campaign. Privatisation does matter to members. The postal services bill reviews the universal service not only the 6 day week issue , but whats included in the universal service. For some time Royal Mail want to exclude a load of mail from having to be delivered every day so they can cut more jobs. Equally the bill even allows for the franchising out of delivery units.

Now a lot of debate has been put on here about pensions. The pension trusttees had their annual meeting on Monday and the Chair has stated a number of things that there have been lengthy discussion on what will happen if Royal Mail are priviatised and Post office counters remains in public hands , how does the pension fund get split , equally that the government will only give a guarantee of past serivice. It will be up to the new owners or owener whether they want to continue with a care scheme which they contribute to or not. There are now 10 thousand indivduals in the new scheme which opened after our pension scheme is closed.

So the issue of who owes the company does matter , and yes by all means slag off the union but its only the union which will be leading the campaign not the posters off here or anyone else

[BELIAL]

I think there are some other unions who are prepared to assist , lets hope their offers of support are not ignored this time.

[dvbuk55]

What do the CWU hope to achieve by targetting 72 marginal MPs - no one has suggested it is going to be a free vote.

Royal Mail have been behaving as though they are already privatised.

We have 10,000 vans in a field so you'll be doing longer deliveries and driving them and delivering parcels and working longer and later hours.

There's a leaflet market begging for expansion so you'll be delivering them for nothing.

The pension fund is costing too much so you'll be working longer for less pension.

Aye there's quite a few issues that have had a silent campaign.

[BELIAL]

But as you've said before DVB you ain't got a clue what to do about it ,not one useful suggestion and one of our other big union bashers came straight out and said "I'm not interested in your terms and conditions"
Don't you think 'constructive' might be more productive Timothy Leary out

[dvbuk55]

But as you've said before DVB you ain't got a clue what to do about it ,not one useful suggestion and one of our other big union bashers came straight out and said "I'm not interested in your terms and conditions"
Don't you think 'constructive' might be more productive Timothy Leary out

That is true B, but then I'm not paid to manage union affairs nor to plan a strategy. But it helps if your first port of call is - WHAT'S IN IT FOR OUR MEMBERS, which I fear is way down the list in recent years.

[BELIAL]

But as you've said before DVB you ain't got a clue what to do about it ,not one useful suggestion and one of our other big union bashers came straight out and said "I'm not interested in your terms and conditions"
Don't you think 'constructive' might be more productive Timothy Leary out

That is true B, but then I'm not paid to manage union affairs nor to plan a strategy. But it helps if your first port of call is - WHAT'S IN IT FOR OUR MEMBERS, which I fear is way down the list in recent years.

I'm not paid to flush my own toilet but I kind of think it's a wise move

[dvbuk55]

But as you've said before DVB you ain't got a clue what to do about it ,not one useful suggestion and one of our other big union bashers came straight out and said "I'm not interested in your terms and conditions"
Don't you think 'constructive' might be more productive Timothy Leary out

That is true B, but then I'm not paid to manage union affairs nor to plan a strategy. But it helps if your first port of call is - WHAT'S IN IT FOR OUR MEMBERS, which I fear is way down the list in recent years.

I'm not paid to flush my own toilet but I kind of think it's a wise move

Not if you're paying the butler to do it though

[fishtank]

But as you've said before DVB you ain't got a clue what to do about it ,not one useful suggestion and one of our other big union bashers came straight out and said "I'm not interested in your terms and conditions"
Don't you think 'constructive' might be more productive Timothy Leary out

But i'm not B and if you're truthful with yourself.....you are not interested in mine...unless it impacts on yours.
That's fine by me,it's actually one of the true founding principles of the trade union movement and it's honest...not wrapped up in spin and false promises.Don't please, do a Tman and start quoting out of context...there was a lot more to my post than the part you choose to repeat.
A union basher ...after 20years of membership of multiple trade union organisations...i hardly think so but mistakes have been made and i certainly don't believe in blind faith...if that makes me a union basher then so be it.
I have never encouraged anyone either on here or in the real world to leave the union....quite the opposite.
I have also yet to here of your "Grand Scheme"...do tell...

[BELIAL]

But as you've said before DVB you ain't got a clue what to do about it ,not one useful suggestion and one of our other big union bashers came straight out and said "I'm not interested in your terms and conditions"
Don't you think 'constructive' might be more productive Timothy Leary out

That is true B, but then I'm not paid to manage union affairs nor to plan a strategy. But it helps if your first port of call is - WHAT'S IN IT FOR OUR MEMBERS, which I fear is way down the list in recent years.

I'm not paid to flush my own toilet but I kind of think it's a wise move

Not if you're paying the butler to do it though

Ah ,I see you are one of the idle rich. Is postal work a hobby of yours ? We have a poster requesting hobby suggestions,would you recommend it as a profitable pastime ?

[dvbuk55]

But as you've said before DVB you ain't got a clue what to do about it ,not one useful suggestion and one of our other big union bashers came straight out and said "I'm not interested in your terms and conditions"
Don't you think 'constructive' might be more productive Timothy Leary out

That is true B, but then I'm not paid to manage union affairs nor to plan a strategy. But it helps if your first port of call is - WHAT'S IN IT FOR OUR MEMBERS, which I fear is way down the list in recent years.

I'm not paid to flush my own toilet but I kind of think it's a wise move

Not if you're paying the butler to do it though

Ah ,I see you are one of the idle rich. Is postal work a hobby of yours ? We have a poster requesting hobby suggestions,would you recommend it as a profitable pastime ?

Well, not idle, rich, not rich but I suppose I could be called comfortably off in modern terms, the reason for that is when I pay someone to do something I expect to get it, if I don't I stop paying for it.