Keep the Post Public National Rally, 15th December 2010

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 1054/10 - Keep the Post Public National Rally, 15th December 2010


No. 1054/10

Ref:

Date: 29th November 2010

To All Branches with Members Working for Royal Mail

Dear Colleagues,

Keep the Post Public - National Rally, 15th December 2010

Further to LTB 1022/10, we can report that arrangements for the national rally are now well advanced. The rally will take place between 11am and 2pm on Wednesday, 15th December 2010 at Central Hall, Westminster, and a range of top-level speakers including shadow Business Secretary John Denham, and the Green Party's Caroline Lucas MP have already confirmed their participation.

The timing is intended to give MPs a very clear message of the dissatisfaction with the Postal Services Bill and the deficiencies within the Bill, prior to the Parliamentary Christmas recess.

Clearly, it is imperative that the rally is successful. We would want all branches with members in Royal Mail to do their utmost to ensure that all those on full time release for union activities are in attendance.

Additionally, we ask branches to circulate details of the rally widely in order to encourage support from other members who are able to attend.

Branches are asked to confirm that they will be attendance, and to advise Head Office of the names/numbers of representatives who will be attending where it is possible to do so. Such detail is important for a variety of reasons including: our understanding of our many people will be present, stewarding and police liaison arrangements for the post-rally event and publicity in which we will seek to demonstrate the nation-wide spread of support for our campaign.

Branches are also asked to make arrangements to meet with their local MPs following the rally. We expect representatives will be free to participate in these meetings from 3pm onwards on the 15th. The House will be full because it is the last Prime Minister's Question Time prior to the recess and therefore, subject to the MP being willing, appointments should be available.

We are aware that many branches have met their MPs already, but the feedback we are receiving from parliamentary advisors is that there is not enough "noise" about our campaign - lobbying on 15th December offers an opportunity to remedy that.

To summarise, therefore, branches are requested to:



Make arrangements for as many of the branch officers on full time release as possible to attend on 15th December 2010.
Confirm attendance with names and numbers to keepthepostpublic@cwu.org
Contact MPs in their branch area to arrange to lobby them in person following the rally.
Branches are asked to note that this event is a rally followed by a lobby, rather than a branch briefing on the campaign. Arrangements will be made to bring Regional Secretaries and Divisional Representatives together for such a brief on a separate date.

The assistance of branches in this matter is very much appreciated. Any queries should be directed to the General Secretary's department at CWU headquarters.

Yours sincerely,



W. Hayes
General Secretary

Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 1056/10 Keep the Post Public - National Rally

LTB 1056/10 Keep the Post Public - National Rally

TO ALL BRANCHES Dear Colleagues, “KEEP THE POST PUBLIC - NATIONAL RALLY” 15TH DECEMBER 2010 – 11AM – 2PM - CENTRAL HALL, STOREY’S GATE, WESTMINSTER SW1H 9NH

We can report that arrangements for the national rally are now well advanced. The rally will take place between 11am and 2pm on Wednesday, 15th December 2010 at Central Hall, Westminster, and a range of top-level speakers including shadow Business Secretary John Denham MP and the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas MP have already confirmed their participation.

The timing is intended to give MPs a very clear message of the dissatisfaction with the Postal Services Bill and the deficiencies within the Bill, prior to the Parliamentary Christmas recess. Clearly, it is imperative that the rally is successful and we would want all branches to do their utmost to ensure that as many union activists as possible are in attendance. Additionally, we ask branches to circulate details of the rally widely in order to encourage support from other members who are able to attend. Branches are asked to confirm that they will be attendance, and to advise Head Office of the names/numbers of representatives who will be attending where it is possible to do so. Such detail is important for a variety of reasons including: our understanding of our many people will be present, stewarding and police liaison arrangements for the post-rally event and publicity in which we will seek to demonstrate the nation-wide spread of support for our campaign. Branches are also asked to make arrangements to meet with their local MPs following the rally. We expect representatives will be free to participate in these meetings from 3pm onwards on the 15th. The House will be full because it is the last Prime Minister’s Question Time prior to the recess and therefore, subject to the MP being willing, appointments should be available. We are aware that many branches have met their MPs already, but the feedback we are receiving from parliamentary advisors is that we need to ‘increase the level of noise’ – lobbying on 15th December offers a great opportunity to remedy that.

To summarise, therefore, branches are requested to:

1. Make arrangements for as many branch officers and representatives as possible to attend on 15th December 2010.
2. Confirm attendance with names and numbers to keepthepostpublic@cwu.org
3. Contact MPs in their branch area to arrange to lobby them in person following the rally.
4. Bring your branch banners.

Branches are asked to note that this event is a rally followed by a lobby, rather than a branch briefing on the campaign. Arrangements will be made to bring Regional Secretaries and Divisional Representatives together for such a brief on a separate date. The assistance of branches in this matter is very much appreciated and together, we will make the Rally on 15th December a real success! Any queries should be directed to the General Secretary’s Office at CWU headquarters.

Yours sincerely,

BILLY HAYES DAVE WARD
General Secretary Deputy General Secretary (P)

[Wessex]

I would like to attend, but I will be at work so how can I, short of pulling a sickie which I wouldn't do.

[Big Daz]

My day off, so I am going. I might even get to meet my glorious leader Caroline Lucas.

[Wessex]

She would get my vote if I stilll lived in Brighton.

[fishtank]

Can someone explain why it's between 11am and 2pm on a wednesday.
I don't get it.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Can someone explain why it's between 11am and 2pm on a wednesday.
I don't get it.

Pre Christmas shopping in Oxford Street

[Big Daz]

Can someone explain why it's between 11am and 2pm on a wednesday.
I don't get it.

Look at the nature of the event and it all becomes clear, its designed to take place when lots of MP's are available.

at Central Hall, Westminster, and a range of top-level speakers including shadow Business Secretary John Denham MP and the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas MP have already confirmed their participation.

The timing is intended to give MPs a very clear message of the dissatisfaction with the Postal Services Bill and the deficiencies within the Bill, prior to the Parliamentary Christmas recess.

Now you cant do that a weeeknd as the palace of westminster will be empty of MP's and theyw il hardly travel all the way back to London, on Fridays MP's are in their constituency. Evening time MP's will be on their way home.

Its not some big fancy march through a major town/city centre, that is something that would be suitable for a weekend.

[Big Daz]

Its PMQ day and the last before Xmas break so lots of MP's about in London!!!

[fishtank]

I understand that Daz but all the lobbying in the world will not sway a single Condem vote.
The only thing that politicians fear is the media not a bunch of prehistoric,socialist union officials (their opinion not mine)...and the mainstream media couldn't give a rats ass about this little coming together.
There is "talk" of arranging a mass demo in the future....why the wait?

[Big Daz]

If Billy and Dave did nowt as the chances of MP's voting the PSB out are remote they would be slated to high heaven.

It seems thay are dammned if they do and damned if they dont.

[dvbuk55]

My day off, so I am going. I might even get to meet my glorious leader Caroline Lucas.

Are you better then?

[fishtank]

If Billy and Dave did nowt as the chances of MP's voting the PSB out are remote they would be slated to high heaven.

It seems thay are dammned if they do and damned if they dont.

I'm not saying they should do nowt...quite the opposite.
I think they should do more and involve the membership more.
Will a hundred or so middle-aged union officials make the news?...if they do it will be the filler between the dead donkey and the lottery results.

[dvbuk55]

If Billy and Dave did nowt as the chances of MP's voting the PSB out are remote they would be slated to high heaven.

It seems thay are dammned if they do and damned if they dont.

Do they have a viable alternative that will address the obvious problems identified by both parties, hence the 2010 Shared Vision. Perhaps the two porkers should chain themselves to the railings or throw themselves under one of the Queens horses....................that sort of endeavour got women the vote!

[Big Daz]

My day off, so I am going. I might even get to meet my glorious leader Caroline Lucas.

Are you better then?

No!!! But I might be in 2 weeks time.