National Industrial Action Ballot Timetable Announced Ltb

[Danelectro]

There seems to be an outbreak of realism and what once was true is being turned on its head.The fight is always about t&c but that fight takes place in a wider political and economic context.If that realism says that privatisation is inevitable and resistance is futile now or into the next parliament then that same realism must also conclude that any long term protection of jobs and pensions are not possible.

We have went from warning everybody and their mother that privatisation will result in disaster to welcoming it as the only solution for the USO now and in the future.If we are saying he Union is weak with members apathetic and there is no political solution in the pipeline from Labour then I concede that the fight only continues in the apparently achievable aim of a legally binding agreement and cast iron pension protection.So far I remain unconvinced that one is naive and the other is not.

Meanwhile please start popping those red balloons and tell those Labour MPs citing the sale as dangerous to shut the f**k up.

[Red Robbo]

TBH I think privatisation is a lost cause, whatever the partiality, what we need to concentrate on is terms, conditions, pensions and pay each one in isolation or taken as a whole can be trotted out time after time whoever the new masters are, what are we going to do about privatisation once it's happened - we can certainly bitch about it but it ain't going to change a thing.

Well said , cross each bridge when we come to it, our local rep visited us last week, scaremongering us into voting yes for the strike action, when I said it should be " all out" I think I scared him !

[fishtank]

Fishtank says exactly what I think.

No I don't.
You don't think striking is a good idea,I think it's the only idea of any practical use but the members should be made aware that even if we are sold off the fight will have to continue so in essence it's not about stopping privatisation but about fighting for our terms and conditions under any owner.

My worry is we will not even get a payrise that is offered and end up with nothing.

Do you mean like the colleagueshare money?
Yes crawling up the employer's arse served us well on that occasion.

[dvbuk55]

Fishtank says exactly what I think.

No I don't.
You don't think striking is a good idea,I think it's the only idea of any practical use but the members should be made aware that even if we are sold off the fight will have to continue so in essence it's not about stopping privatisation but about fighting for our terms and conditions under any owner.

My worry is we will not even get a payrise that is offered and end up with nothing.

Do you mean like the colleagueshare money?
Yes crawling up the employer's arse served us well on that occasion.

Mind you fish, the union didn't like colleague share, well after we didn't get it - having said that I was a bit cool about that myself

[cloherty1976]

Fishtank your right I won't strike but as not a member of union anymore I will not have a say in vote. My worry is that the pay deal is on the table and I would be happy with the 2.6% as I feel this is very good in today's environment and as the next pay rise in 6 months is linked to inflation which I do not see coming down a 3% ay rise is brilliant in my book. As for overtime rate going up substantially I really don't mind any more as I really would like to cut my hours and spend more time at home. Also they said overtime would have gone 10 years back they used to say. I do hope you get a good return in your ballot to show the management what you think of there deal.

[Chelseablue]

It's notttttt about pennies. ,,

[aiden01]

Fishtank your right I won't strike but as not a member of union anymore I will not have a say in vote. My worry is that the pay deal is on the table and I would be happy with the 2.6% as I feel this is very good in today's environment and as the next pay rise in 6 months is linked to inflation which I do not see coming down a 3% ay rise is brilliant in my book. As for overtime rate going up substantially I really don't mind any more as I really would like to cut my hours and spend more time at home. Also they said overtime would have gone 10 years back they used to say. I do hope you get a good return in your ballot to show the management what you think of there deal.

why do you give a f..k how vote goes you won,t strike and your not in union so who gives a hoot wot you think just my opinion. why don.t you rejoin cwu and have your say democratically. also you think pay rises proposed are brilliant any wonder when you say you also want to cut your hours work less for more we all wish we could do that rant over

[NWpostie]

One thing is clear if we vote NO, the RM management will be doing cartwheels as will potential investors, they will see it as a Carte Blanche to do as they will with our terms and conditions, I guarantee you that Royal mail HQ IS monitoring this thread to see what the views are on the ground, if we vote YES to strike by a large majority we will be negotiating from a position of strength, afterwards we can have a free vote on what the CWU have negotiated from RM as they are negotiating on our behalf, if we do not like whats on the table we send them back in to negotiate a better offer, we the members have vested in the Reps the authority to act on our behalf we are effectively employing them, we the members are the Union.

[Cut Off King]

afterwards we can have a free vote on what the CWU have negotiated from RM as they are negotiating on our behalf

Just like last time......if it was a free vote, why the need for the Billy & Dave roadshow last time....why not put the deal to the vote WITHOUT seeking to influence the membership

[cloherty1976]

It will be interesting as I still don't think that we will strike as the union will be considering how to get the £40 million carrot Royal Mail has offered in the £300 at Xmas.

[NWpostie]

afterwards we can have a free vote on what the CWU have negotiated from RM as they are negotiating on our behalf

Just like last time......if it was a free vote, why the need for the Billy & Dave roadshow last time....why not put the deal to the vote WITHOUT seeking to influence the membership

I had the roadshow last time, I listened made my judgement and still voted against it. I saw the consequences of the agreement along with the knowledge that the management have reneged on the previous agreement whats to to the BT2010 was going to be any different, unfortunately the balance was tipped by the short termers who signed their life away for £300 and didn't see beyond next week even now there are some delivery Offices that still haven't got the business transformation payment, even after completing the changes going over to van shares, they had to prise it out of the DOMs hand when they shouldn't have to the consequences have been felt since.

I think this time a lot more of the membership is more cynical after the two "Way Backward" agreements and I would advise them to go over the new agreement with a fine tooth comb before voting, remember the management don't have our best interest at heart only their own agenda.

[Cut Off King]

afterwards we can have a free vote on what the CWU have negotiated from RM as they are negotiating on our behalf

Just like last time......if it was a free vote, why the need for the Billy & Dave roadshow last time....why not put the deal to the vote WITHOUT seeking to influence the membership

I had the roadshow last time, I listened made my judgement and still voted against it. I saw the consequences of the agreement along with the knowledge that the management have reneged on the previous agreement whats to to the BT2010 was going to be any different, unfortunately the balance was tipped by the short termers who signed their life away for £300 and didn't see beyond next week even now there are some delivery Offices that still haven't got the business transformation payment, even after completing the changes going over to van shares, they had to prise it out of the DOMs hand when they shouldn't have to the consequences have been felt since.

I think this time a lot more of the membership is more cynical after the two "Way Backward" agreements and I would advise them to go over the new agreement with a fine tooth comb before voting, remember the management don't have our best interest at heart only their own agenda.

I agree, but I can't help wondering why the agreement was put in front of the membership in the first place.
Was it lazy negotiations ?
Was it the fact that the upper echelons of the CWU are on full time release and as such, have no idea what it's like to work on the coalface anymore ?
Dingo said "do you think that the CWU had a veto on P&L, D2d's in workload, later start times" etc. But using that logic, why do the CWU have a veto on privatisation, pensions, pay rates, workloads etc.
The fact is the CWU could have veto'd more in the BT2010 agreement, by not calling off the strike so soon, they could have held out for a better deal ( I susspect that because of the upcoming election, labour wanted a quick settlement )
Any NEW deal in 2013 will NOT see RM giving up any gains that they made in BT2010, they'll want more, and I can see the CWU giving it to them......