POL Industrial Action: Crown Office Members (latest)

[bristolchris]

Letter to Branches




No: 702/07 Ref: 101 Date: 6th August 2007


TO ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleagues

POL Industrial Action: Crown Office Members

Please be advised that following a Postal Executive meeting last Friday, the industrial action scheduled for Tuesday 7th August has been cancelled.

This information was relayed to TCRs on Friday who, in turn, advised their Section Secretaries, who were asked to ring their Crown Offices with this information. This process was put in place to ensure that our members heard about this change of plan, in the first instance, from the Union and not the employer. POL were, in fact, only notified of the Postal Executive decision earlier today.

The purpose of the cancellation is to place additional pressure on POL to get back around the negotiating table whilst demonstrating to our members that we are serious about reaching a negotiated settlement. Industrial action can only be a means to an end. Accordingly, the approach we have adopted is very much in the spirit of extending an olive branch to POL. To this end, I have written to POL urging them to return to the bargaining table. The ball is now firmly in POL’s court to respond in a positive fashion; time will tell if they take this opportunity.

I need to be absolutely clear that this tactical development must not be construed in any way as a weakening in our determination to reach a decent settlement that our members can embrace.

The strike action planned for Friday 10th August, 2:30pm until completion of duty, will go ahead. The only caveat I will place on this is in the event of formal negotiations being re-established and progress being made. In these circumstances, it would clearly necessitate a serious reconsideration of any strike action planned.

In taking the decision to cancel tomorrow’s strike, the Postal Executive have decided to replace this action with an alternative date just four working days later. You are therefore advised that industrial action has been authorised by the Postal Executive for Monday 13th August from 2:30pm until completion of duties.

The revised industrial action programme is as follows:

 Friday 10th August from 2:30pm until completion of duties

 Monday 13th August from 2:30pm until completion of duties

 Wednesday 15th August from 3:30pm until completion of duties




There can be no doubt that the revised programme is a powerful demonstration to POL of our serious intent. The pressure on POL, who are clearly struggling to keep up the morale of managers who cover the Crown Offices whilst our members are on strike, will be immense for a short, concentrated period of time.

The members are solidly behind our strategy and objectives, which are fair and just. POL would be foolish to ignore the strength of feeling from our members, particularly as support for the strikes grows on each occasion.

All branches are instructed to ensure that the details of this LTB are given the widest possible circulation amongst our POL Crown Office members. For further information, please contact nchilds@cwu.org


Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Ahhh that's the reason the Managers in my office think the strike on Saturday has been called off.

[DirtyHarry]

Ahhh that's the reason the Managers in my office think the strike on Saturday has been called off.

Trust them , eh ?

[steroe]

hmmm maybe 11.30am to return at 2.30pm would not be as well supported ? it would suit me, and really cock up POL who would have to ship people up and down the country for 3 hours in the middle of the day. looks like an attempt to gain the moral high ground which as far as counters goes i think we have anyway !