Agreement expected to be reached next week

[SpacePhoenix]

I would assume we are getting the 2 hours off working week that was previously negotiated

Can't see that ever happening, there was probably a very sizeable number of walks around the country failing pre-covid. If anything I can see RM looking at making the working week longer

[Trumanity]

No doubt any pay deal in terms of back pay will be a set lump sum if agreed and it’ll be pro rata....therefore shafting the part-timers

Yep totally agree...the pro-rata shaft again! We have had the covid bonus pro-rata shaft, the annual xmas bonus pro-rata shaft, the illegal holiday pay average overtime pay shaft, the delivery supplement pro-rata shaft...then a load of revision activity next year and the good old seniority shaft

[wf]

I would assume we are getting the 2 hours off working week that was previously negotiated

Can't see that ever happening, there was probably a very sizeable number of walks around the country failing pre-covid. If anything I can see RM looking at making the working week longer

I’ve never really believed we would get it
But the fact that for weeks/months on end we listened to that as a reason to ballot
It would look like a very pathetic turn around if they don’t come out of the talks with something that resembles this shorter working week
It’s a bit of a waste of time anyway as if the guys on delivery get it ,they just have to work harder for it and face more bullying .

[Woody Guthrie]

Woody , than it is not the universal service obligation is it ?

Part of these discussions is how Royal Mail can diversify from just being a parcel company including how Royal Mail can delivery 24/7 .

The Sunday operation would be on a smaller operation and based on volunteers.

You seem to be positioning that a move to a 5 day delivery service is a decision for Ofcom and the government and therefore to use your own words...

there cannot be an agreement reached which guarantees the 6 day service after 2022.

That's nonsense.
The final decision on whether to move to a 5 day service will be Royal Mail's, they cannot be compelled to reduce the service so it is perfectly possible for the union and Royal Mail to agree to guarantee a 6 day service for however long they want to provide it.

Of course in reality they will reduce the service as quickly as they possibly can and the union will not put up anything more than a token defence because we both know it's a drain on the company finances and there would be little fight in the membership to block a Monday to Friday but it will cost jobs and it will mean an end to a lot of shift patterns so a little more honesty is required.

Let's not pretend a big boy did it and ran away, we the union and the business need to take ownership of such a big decision, it's not Ofcom's or the government's responsibility.

[SpacePhoenix]

Woody , than it is not the universal service obligation is it ?

Part of these discussions is how Royal Mail can diversify from just being a parcel company including how Royal Mail can delivery 24/7 .

The Sunday operation would be on a smaller operation and based on volunteers.

You seem to be positioning that a move to a 5 day delivery service is a decision for Ofcom and the government and therefore to use your own words...

there cannot be an agreement reached which guarantees the 6 day service after 2022.

That's nonsense.
The final decision on whether to move to a 5 day service will be Royal Mail's, they cannot be compelled to reduce the service so it is perfectly possible for the union and Royal Mail to agree to guarantee a 6 day service for however long they want to provide it.

Of course in reality they will reduce the service as quickly as they possibly can and the union will not put up anything more than a token defence because we both know it's a drain on the company finances and there would be little fight in the membership to block a Monday to Friday but it will cost jobs and it will mean an end to a lot of shift patterns so a little more honesty is required.

Let's not pretend a big boy did it and ran away, we the union and the business need to take ownership of such a big decision, it's not Ofcom's or the government's responsibility.

Until the Postal Services Act gets changed in parliament it's in effect the government's choice. The required changes are likely to be low priority as there's probably a shitload of Brexit legislation that stil needs to go through parliament

[Woody Guthrie]

Until the Postal Services Act gets changed in parliament it's in effect the government's choice.

Hasn't the 6 day USO already been suspended this year?
Was the government even consulted?
There are many caveats in the Postal Services Act and one of them is financial sustainability.

[SpacePhoenix]

Until the Postal Services Act gets changed in parliament it's in effect the government's choice.

Hasn't the 6 day USO already been suspended this year?
Was the government even consulted?

That was because of covid. If the 6 day USO were to be axed permanently I can't see the government allowing it to happen without at least being consulted about it

[Woody Guthrie]

Until the Postal Services Act gets changed in parliament it's in effect the government's choice.

Hasn't the 6 day USO already been suspended this year?
Was the government even consulted?

That was because of covid. If the 6 day USO were to be axed permanently I can't see the government allowing it to happen without at least being consulted about it

Why would the government stand in Royal Mail's way?
Who do you think is pulling the strings at Ofcom?
The board is full of ex-civil servants.

[rogersh]

I would assume we are getting the 2 hours off working week that was previously negotiated

Can't see that ever happening, there was probably a very sizeable number of walks around the country failing pre-covid. If anything I can see RM looking at making the working week longer

Under the Four Pillars Agreement the "new" full time employees were given contracts of 35 hours (this included existing employees "made up"). If the so called flight path to 35 hours is not going to be honored then surely those contracts should be increased to 38. My instinct is that an hour reduction will be implemented next year.

[ted_e_bear]

I would assume we are getting the 2 hours off working week that was previously negotiated

Can't see that ever happening, there was probably a very sizeable number of walks around the country failing pre-covid. If anything I can see RM looking at making the working week longer

Under the Four Pillars Agreement the "new" full time employees were given contracts of 35 hours (this included existing employees "made up"). If the so called flight path to 35 hours is not going to be honored then surely those contracts should be increased to 38. My instinct is that an hour reduction will be implemented next year.

Totally agree, anyone fortunate enough to be made full time should receive the current full time 38 hrs.

[slimboy]

I’m utterly amazed at the negative comments, people are losing their jobs left right and centre around the country and we are getting a lump sum possibly and a pay rise with a steady job with our union trying to protect our jobs in a declining market in letters. Come on let’s have some faith and let’s see what the agreement really is.

[joe379]

I’m utterly amazed at the negative comments, people are losing their jobs left right and centre around the country and we are getting a lump sum possibly and a pay rise with a steady job with our union trying to protect our jobs in a declining market in letters. Come on let’s have some faith and let’s see what the agreement really is.

Well said, just look at all the retail job losses.

[taxi4leighton]

I can’t believe how negative some of you are
Scrapping present u s o may be a blessing in disguise
We can easily get a 4 day week
Or even a 7 day fortnight
If we have the vision
At present we only deliver parcels from 10am to 3pm approximately
Our rivals .? Dawn to dusk
Imagine working 8am to 6 pm mon to Thursday one week
Then 8am to 6pm Thursday to Saturday the next week?
And having 60 minutes break a day split into 3
This is within our grasp if we want it

[iainwilson]

Over here at planet Parcelforce I’ve been doing 52.5 hour mon- fri week since 2005 it’s not easy like don’t get to see kids really in week it’s just work eat s**t repeat you an work 7-1 sat for it or 630-1 sun for more dolla many guys do the max 13/14 days. I would be careful what you wish for

[1984]

People in my office are sent out at 6am delivering packets