Privatisation

[coolasluck]

I wonder if there is anyone in the know who could answer this question with any degree of certainty?

As i think we all are in this sinking ship,that is royal mail,i am just looking forward to the day when i no longer work for this slave trade.
I want to leave early in 2013 if i can,but i do not want to leave if there is a redundancy package going to be on the table.
If approval is granted to our goverment and we are taken over by a private firm,the firm will re-employ those whom wish to continue to work in the royal mail, on a much lower hourly rate, or be offered a redundancy package to buy us out of our contracts?
Is this a likely scenario and what time scale is this likely?

Strange isnt it and i used to love this job.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

If approval is granted to our goverment and we are taken over by a private firm,the firm will re-employ those whom wish to continue to work in the royal mail, on a much lower hourly rate, or be offered a redundancy package to buy us out of our contracts?
Is this a likely scenario and what time scale is this likely?

Postal Act 2011 Part 1 section 9

Transfer of employees otherwise than under transfer scheme

(1) This section applies if an agreement between companies within subsection (3) provides for the transfer from one to the other of rights and liabilities under contracts of employment.

(2) This section also applies if—
(a) employees of a company within subsection (3) (“company A”) are provided to another company within that subsection (“company B”),
(b) an agreement between the companies provides for the employees to cease to be provided to company B, and
(c) company B intends to employ the employees.

(3) A company is within this subsection if—
(a) it is the original holding company or a subsidiary of that company, and
(b) it is wholly owned by the Crown.

(4) At any time before the agreement comes into force, the Secretary of State
may—
(a) in a case within subsection (1), designate any contract of employment the rights and liabilities under which are to be transferred under the agreement, and
(b) in a case within subsection (2), designate any employee of company A who is provided as mentioned in subsection (2)(a).

(5) The designation may specify or describe the contracts of employment or employees.

(6) On the coming into force of the agreement, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 apply in relation to—
(a) the transfer of designated contracts of employment, and
(b) the cessation of the provision of designated employees to company B, whether or not the agreement would otherwise be regarded for the purposes of those regulations as
giving rise to a relevant transfer.

(7) Where by virtue of the agreement a designated employee of a company within subsection (3) (“the transferor”) becomes an employee of another company within that subsection (“the transferee”)—
(a) a period of employment with the transferor is to be treated as a period of employment with the transferee, and
(b) the transfer to the transferee is not to be treated as a break in service.

So we will br protected under the TUPE regulations, thats in the Act. How long thats last I don't know for certain, but I do know they can only change the T&Cs when under TUPE with the agreement of employees. As we operate under a collective agreement principle then that means the CWU will hopefully help protect them.

But IMHO even after a cull pre-privatisation, there will also be one afterwards, its the nature of the beast.

[flaminmoses]

i doubt we will be taken over as soon as the government would like.
for starters there will be opposition from us....or at least there should be.

then there is the issue of the next big crash about to happen....which means any potential buyers will be sort of stumped unless they have their own cash reserves.

[Robbo318]

What is the next big crash?

[R@YAL F@IL]

Perhaps the heading for this thread should be WHEN WILL WE BE PRIVATISED

I reckon APRIL 2013 ........ with the number 13 being unlucky

[flaminmoses]

the greeks will see to the next big crash

[markis]

If there is a redundancy package on offer it is offered on the basis of seniority, so I wouldn't hold out on to that one. When RM is taken over as far as I'm aware a new owner can basically do what they like, changes in contracts, hourly rate, working practices. That aside RM have made it clear for years they want a PT work force, that's why there is never any LT F/T contracts anymore, and now they've made it clear they want a smaller workforce. So whatever the outcome either way you can't win.

[coolasluck]

the greeks will see to the next big crash

As far as i am aware it is believed that if Greece ends up bankrupt it would have the same effect as another bearings bank going bust.
Gotta feel sorry for the greeks because they are the ones who will suffer with another hike in taxes to bail out more banks,and like here they are watching whilst the bankers and the rich are still claiming fat bonuses.

[coolasluck]

[quote="markis"]When RM is taken over as far as I'm aware a new owner can basically do what they like, changes in contracts, hourly rate, working practices.



Although i am not going to pretend i am up with the latest in European law and its legislation.........
I dont believe they can,as we are protected under the E.U law or so i am lead to believe.
I think this is also the same reason why we cannot be sacked for industrial action and be immediately replaced.
I believe we would have to be taken over by a company and use a differing company name so that legally we can be re-employed and be employed on a lower wage.I thought that the rest would be offered redundancy.

All in all i can see the future of the royal mail with all its low paid workers and can only imagine the kind of people it will attract.

[BELIAL]

the greeks will see to the next big crash

With help from Portugal;Spain;Ireland;Italy and guess who next.......heres a clue :vcfo said the IMF

[POSTMAN]

According to Bliar,we should be in it.

[markis]

[quote="coolasluck"][quote="markis"]When RM is taken over as far as I'm aware a new owner can basically do what they like, changes in contracts, hourly rate, working practices.



Although i am not going to pretend i am up with the latest in European law and its legislation.........
I dont believe they can,as we are protected under the E.U law or so i am lead to believe.

Look what happened to british gas when they got privatised, new contracts, new pay rates, new working hours. Nothing is protected, do you think a new equity or whoever buys out RM will not bring in these changes. For example if TNT came in , who pay much less hourly rate, they would get the pay rate down to that of there own employees, might not be straight away but it would happen eventually.

[Captain Scarlet]

If there is a redundancy package on offer it is offered on the basis of seniority, so I wouldn't hold out on to that one. When RM is taken over as far as I'm aware a new owner can basically do what they like, changes in contracts, hourly rate, working practices. That aside RM have made it clear for years they want a PT work force, that's why there is never any LT F/T contracts anymore, and now they've made it clear they want a smaller workforce. So whatever the outcome either way you can't win.

No way can this job be done with massive p/t workforce, and i think there is a timescale to change conditions and sure the cwu will fight the fight

[R@YAL F@IL]

If there is a redundancy package on offer it is offered on the basis of seniority, so I wouldn't hold out on to that one. When RM is taken over as far as I'm aware a new owner can basically do what they like, changes in contracts, hourly rate, working practices. That aside RM have made it clear for years they want a PT work force, that's why there is never any LT F/T contracts anymore, and now they've made it clear they want a smaller workforce. So whatever the outcome either way you can't win.

No way can this job be done with massive p/t workforce, and i think there is a timescale to change conditions and sure the cwu will fight the fight

A lot of people seem to be calling the union on here but you all have to remember that WE are the union, a lot of the changes needed to be made in the current economic climate.

I will now wait for the bullets

[coolasluck]

Well i think if this is the case and we end up being robbed and on lower pay that will be it for me.
The first ting i will do is go off with stress and not return.