Well, well, well, here we are again....

[Desperate_Dan]

New username, new problems, new fights........same outcome? Or am I being pessimistic?

Guys I've been a postie and CWU member for 15 years. So have my fair share of good and bad experiences with management and union.

Privatisation looms and our job security, our terms, our conditions and our pay are now under a very real and severe threat. We are facing the biggest battle ever to protect our livelihoods make absolutely no mistake about it. So if your employed by Royal Mail in any capacity, union member or not, your job is under a very real threat. And don't think for one minute that if you aren't prepared to stand up and fight (in whatever way the CWU deem to be the best action) that you will have this job in 5 years time. And like it or not we are relying on the hierarchy of the CWU to fight for us and our jobs.

The CWU local unit reps up and down the country do an absolute sterling job and are without a shadow of a doubt the back bone of the union. They see, hear and deal with the real problems on the floors of Mail Centres and Delivery Offices.

However I personally think the CWU at the top of the tree have in the past let us down. Perhaps I am being a little harsh as I don't doubt for one minute they have a serious hard task working with and getting agreements with very senior Royal Mail managers. I guess I base my opinion on the industrial action of 2010 and the absolutely farcical agreement that followed. I really don't want to dwell on the events and mistakes of 2010 but if I am being totally honest, I am petrified it will happen again. Or was the agreement struck in 2010 not as bad as I'm making out? Did the union get the best for me out of a very hard situation or was I took for a mug?

Whatever we think of the events of 2010 the actual outcome is quite irrelevant now. However it is very hard not to reflect on it though and use it as a form guide on what the CWU has achieved for us in the past in our hour of need.

I know my job would be far worse without the union at senior level than it is with it. But there can be absolutely, unequivocally be no room for any errors over the next few weeks and months from the union. If the union think an all out strike is the best course of action over the next few weeks then the least they can provide us with us is a solid watertight agreement that looks after each everyone of our jobs and the terms and conditions of that job. No half measures! None of this 'it's the best agreement we could get in these difficult times'. I want my livelihood, my terms, my conditions and my pay protected for not 3 years but 33 years! No compromise! They can't let us down! Failure is not an option!

I don't want to be reading in a few months time about some agreement where my terms and conditions are protected for 5 years and some 9.2% pay rise over four years and with some silly lump sum! Not good enough!

This really is the union's chance to step up to the mark and make right the shambles of 2010.

Whether they do or not, only time will tell. I will support whatever action the union deem appropriate in 2013 as I did in 2010 but my glass is very much half full with regards to any outcome.

[ebbzie]

I don't want to be reading in a few months time about some agreement where my terms and conditions are protected for 5 years and some 9.2% pay rise over four years and with some silly lump sum! Not good enough!

This really is the union's chance to step up to the mark and make right the shambles of 2010.

[k979aaa]

Well Dan a very well constructed post by the way but we all need solidarity in hard times is that not what unions are for! You mentioned 2010 debacle and it was no glossing it over total fail for all of us but Moya and her merry men will not help us they are in this for themselves .So let's give one more chance to OUR union the CWU and our comrades.

[Desperate_Dan]

Well Dan a very well constructed post by the way but we all need solidarity in hard times is that not what unions are for! You mentioned 2010 debacle and it was no glossing it over total fail for all of us but Moya and her merry men will not help us they are in this for themselves .So let's give one more chance to OUR union the CWU and our comrades.

Like I said above I will give the union and whatever action they deem appropriate my 100% backing. It would be very easy for me and a lot of union members to refer back to the shambles of 2010 and say they let us down once and they'll do it again. It is very easy to think why should I lose pay to receive maybe another shambolic agreement.

Like you say I will give 'OUR' union one more chance but as I said, my glass is very much half full on the outcome of any agreement. As I'm sure many CWU members are.

[XCHpostie]

A union is only as strong as its membership, if the membership shows weakness then it does not matter who is at the top, we are done for.

[Desperate_Dan]

A union is only as strong as its membership, if the membership shows weakness then it does not matter who is at the top, we are done for.

Did the membership not show strength and solidarity in 2010?

If only the negotiating team of the union had shown the same strength as the members it was negotiating for, eh?

It wasn't the membership that failed in 2010, it was guys at the top of the tree failed.

[k979aaa]

A union is only as strong as its membership, if the membership shows weakness then it does not matter who is at the top, we are done for.

Did the membership not show strength and solidarity in 2010?

If only the negotiating team of the union had shown the same strength as the members it was negotiating for, eh?

It wasn't the membership that failed in 2010, it was guys at the top of the tree failed.

And a Government NEW LABOUR as Gordon Brown said " I WANT THESE PEOPLE BACK TO WORK" I cannot fail to remember this I am like a dog with a bone I will not let it go nor my Hate for Brown Blair and New Labour.

[mailman71]

A union is only as strong as its membership, if the membership shows weakness then it does not matter who is at the top, we are done for.

Did the membership not show strength and solidarity in 2010?

If only the negotiating team of the union had shown the same strength as the members it was negotiating for, eh?

It wasn't the membership that failed in 2010, it was guys at the top of the tree failed.

And a Government NEW LABOUR as Gordon Brown said " I WANT THESE PEOPLE BACK TO WORK" I cannot fail to remember this I am like a dog with a bone I will not let it go nor my Hate for Brown Blair and New Labour.

I was in Portugal on holiday watching a tv when brown came out with this statement,I could,nt believe it from a labour prime minister as a fellow scot who has been in the union over 40 years I was disgusted.

[freelunch]

"This really is the union's LAST chance to step up to the mark and make right the shambles of 2010."

Fixed it for yer