Royal Mail chairman says firm is at 'crossroads moment' as it balances union action with productivity woes

[Woody Guthrie]

We are stronger taking action from September onwards then in August.

Members could be starving or homeless by September, this pissing about is looking oddly familiar.

All the way through this Terry has played on the urgency of the situation and the need for a resolution now.

as we will serve notice of our intention to allow for constructive talks

We've had to endure nothing but gaslighting and blatant taunts from senior management for 3 months and our response is this?

Scary s**t that is...

[aiden01]

Expecting a massive yes vote with a record turn out on Tuesday.

There have been virtually talks due to Royal Mail first taking executive action on pay and than on the 346 parcel hub strategy.

We spent 3 days in separate rooms two weeks ago. Since then talks have paused and you have seen a lot of sabre rattling from the Chair Keith Williams and Simon Thompson ahead of next weeks Share holders meeting. There was never a chance that anything would move forward until after the AGM and our ballot result on Tuesday.

Don’t expect any strike dates , as we will serve notice of our intention to allow for constructive talks whilst balloting our members for industrial action on Royal Mail’s breaches to the Pathway to Change Agreement especially as they have already taken executive action and could do on their other proposals.

Remember you cannot take strike action to fight Royal Mails executive action on change by taking industrial action on pay.

Hence why the need to have both ballots in our locker. The timing works for us as well as we are stronger taking action from September onwards then in August.

So why have it on ballot paper ( 2nd of august as possible 1st strike day)

I presume that is the earliest date that the CWU could call the strike?

Yeah it is legally 2 weeks notice so why wait till september.

[Cedar_Room]

Expecting a massive yes vote with a record turn out on Tuesday.

There have been virtually talks due to Royal Mail first taking executive action on pay and than on the 346 parcel hub strategy.

We spent 3 days in separate rooms two weeks ago. Since then talks have paused and you have seen a lot of sabre rattling from the Chair Keith Williams and Simon Thompson ahead of next weeks Share holders meeting. There was never a chance that anything would move forward until after the AGM and our ballot result on Tuesday.

Don’t expect any strike dates , as we will serve notice of our intention to allow for constructive talks whilst balloting our members for industrial action on Royal Mail’s breaches to the Pathway to Change Agreement especially as they have already taken executive action and could do on their other proposals.

Remember you cannot take strike action to fight Royal Mails executive action on change by taking industrial action on pay.

Hence why the need to have both ballots in our locker. The timing works for us as well as we are stronger taking action from September onwards then in August.

So why have it on ballot paper ( 2nd of august as possible 1st strike day)

I presume that is the earliest date that the CWU could call the strike?

Yeah it is legally 2 weeks notice so why wait till september.

Because September tends to be busier than August,at a guess & will hit the company harder?

[Dorset Plodder]

I 've had a few Ciders so I don't even give a shite anymore. We expect our illustrious leaders to be a bunch of lying, two faced, bastards anyway so why be surprised?

It's just like our Government why do you expect them to tell the truth, or play Fair. Dear Simon I hope your next shite's a Hedgehog!

[Woody Guthrie]

Because September tends to be busier than August,at a guess & will hit the company harder?

This is old school dinosaur thinking.
Royal Mail appear to be planning a raft of executive action now not September, latest rumour is changes to callers hours and tracked parcels being attempted for 3 days before using a P739.

While the union still think it's 1995 and we'll backlog the Christmas cards.
We need to stop screwing around with appeasers.
Constructive talks?
We've had months to have those.

[toonshola]

By the time September comes around Royal Mail will be well on their way making all the changes via executive action. Call me cynical but is this all being put back because Terry and Dave want their summer holidays first?

[aiden01]

Expecting a massive yes vote with a record turn out on Tuesday.

There have been virtually talks due to Royal Mail first taking executive action on pay and than on the 346 parcel hub strategy.

We spent 3 days in separate rooms two weeks ago. Since then talks have paused and you have seen a lot of sabre rattling from the Chair Keith Williams and Simon Thompson ahead of next weeks Share holders meeting. There was never a chance that anything would move forward until after the AGM and our ballot result on Tuesday.

Don’t expect any strike dates , as we will serve notice of our intention to allow for constructive talks whilst balloting our members for industrial action on Royal Mail’s breaches to the Pathway to Change Agreement especially as they have already taken executive action and could do on their other proposals.

Remember you cannot take strike action to fight Royal Mails executive action on change by taking industrial action on pay.

Hence why the need to have both ballots in our locker. The timing works for us as well as we are stronger taking action from September onwards then in August.

So why have it on ballot paper ( 2nd of august as possible 1st strike day)

I presume that is the earliest date that the CWU could call the strike?

Yeah it is legally 2 weeks notice so why wait till september.

Because September tends to be busier than August,at a guess & will hit the company harder?

Ahh come on mate a strike at any time hits the company hard. an a 2% pay rise being imposed should mean 2nd of august is 1st day of action fs any more dragging of feet will leave members very frustrated an angry with cwu esp if its a vote in high 90's%

[Cedar_Room]

Expecting a massive yes vote with a record turn out on Tuesday.

There have been virtually talks due to Royal Mail first taking executive action on pay and than on the 346 parcel hub strategy.

We spent 3 days in separate rooms two weeks ago. Since then talks have paused and you have seen a lot of sabre rattling from the Chair Keith Williams and Simon Thompson ahead of next weeks Share holders meeting. There was never a chance that anything would move forward until after the AGM and our ballot result on Tuesday.

Don’t expect any strike dates , as we will serve notice of our intention to allow for constructive talks whilst balloting our members for industrial action on Royal Mail’s breaches to the Pathway to Change Agreement especially as they have already taken executive action and could do on their other proposals.

Remember you cannot take strike action to fight Royal Mails executive action on change by taking industrial action on pay.

Hence why the need to have both ballots in our locker. The timing works for us as well as we are stronger taking action from September onwards then in August.

So why have it on ballot paper ( 2nd of august as possible 1st strike day)

I presume that is the earliest date that the CWU could call the strike?

Yeah it is legally 2 weeks notice so why wait till september.

Because September tends to be busier than August,at a guess & will hit the company harder?

Ahh come on mate a strike at any time hits the company hard. an a 2% pay rise being imposed should mean 2nd of august is 1st day of action fs any more dragging of feet will leave members very frustrated an angry with cwu esp if its a vote in high 90's%

I wasn’t saying this was my opinion,not at all!

If it was down to me I’d hit them with a 4-dayer at the earliest opportunity,Wednesday to Saturday! I’m good to go & sick to death of the constant bullshit fed to us by Simon + co

[RTP]

I get Martins point in waiting for autumn pressure and joining everything together.

On a side note regarding callers offices . It's an absolute disgrace that callers offices are still in lockdown hours . Lost count the amount of times I've got back off delivery and a customer is locked out and kicking off because the callers office is closed and they can't get their parcel.
We must be better than this.

[aiden01]

Expecting a massive yes vote with a record turn out on Tuesday.

There have been virtually talks due to Royal Mail first taking executive action on pay and than on the 346 parcel hub strategy.

We spent 3 days in separate rooms two weeks ago. Since then talks have paused and you have seen a lot of sabre rattling from the Chair Keith Williams and Simon Thompson ahead of next weeks Share holders meeting. There was never a chance that anything would move forward until after the AGM and our ballot result on Tuesday.

Don’t expect any strike dates , as we will serve notice of our intention to allow for constructive talks whilst balloting our members for industrial action on Royal Mail’s breaches to the Pathway to Change Agreement especially as they have already taken executive action and could do on their other proposals.

Remember you cannot take strike action to fight Royal Mails executive action on change by taking industrial action on pay.

Hence why the need to have both ballots in our locker. The timing works for us as well as we are stronger taking action from September onwards then in August.

So why have it on ballot paper ( 2nd of august as possible 1st strike day)

I presume that is the earliest date that the CWU could call the strike?

Yeah it is legally 2 weeks notice so why wait till september.

Because September tends to be busier than August,at a guess & will hit the company harder?

Ahh come on mate a strike at any time hits the company hard. an a 2% pay rise being imposed should mean 2nd of august is 1st day of action fs any more dragging of feet will leave members very frustrated an angry with cwu esp if its a vote in high 90's%

I wasn’t saying this was my opinion,not at all!

If it was down to me I’d hit them with a 4-dayer at the earliest opportunity,Wednesday to Saturday! I’m good to go & sick to death of the constant bullshit fed to us by Simon + co

Somebody else posting on your behalf.

[kevbo]

Expecting a massive yes vote with a record turn out on Tuesday.

There have been virtually talks due to Royal Mail first taking executive action on pay and than on the 346 parcel hub strategy.

We spent 3 days in separate rooms two weeks ago. Since then talks have paused and you have seen a lot of sabre rattling from the Chair Keith Williams and Simon Thompson ahead of next weeks Share holders meeting. There was never a chance that anything would move forward until after the AGM and our ballot result on Tuesday.

Don’t expect any strike dates , as we will serve notice of our intention to allow for constructive talks whilst balloting our members for industrial action on Royal Mail’s breaches to the Pathway to Change Agreement especially as they have already taken executive action and could do on their other proposals.

Remember you cannot take strike action to fight Royal Mails executive action on change by taking industrial action on pay.

Hence why the need to have both ballots in our locker. The timing works for us as well as we are stronger taking action from September onwards then in August.

Unbelievable that's the final nail in the coffin for me. I'm out of here

[Cedar_Room]

Expecting a massive yes vote with a record turn out on Tuesday.

There have been virtually talks due to Royal Mail first taking executive action on pay and than on the 346 parcel hub strategy.

We spent 3 days in separate rooms two weeks ago. Since then talks have paused and you have seen a lot of sabre rattling from the Chair Keith Williams and Simon Thompson ahead of next weeks Share holders meeting. There was never a chance that anything would move forward until after the AGM and our ballot result on Tuesday.

Don’t expect any strike dates , as we will serve notice of our intention to allow for constructive talks whilst balloting our members for industrial action on Royal Mail’s breaches to the Pathway to Change Agreement especially as they have already taken executive action and could do on their other proposals.

Remember you cannot take strike action to fight Royal Mails executive action on change by taking industrial action on pay.

Hence why the need to have both ballots in our locker. The timing works for us as well as we are stronger taking action from September onwards then in August.

So why have it on ballot paper ( 2nd of august as possible 1st strike day)

I presume that is the earliest date that the CWU could call the strike?

Yeah it is legally 2 weeks notice so why wait till september.

Because September tends to be busier than August,at a guess & will hit the company harder?

Ahh come on mate a strike at any time hits the company hard. an a 2% pay rise being imposed should mean 2nd of august is 1st day of action fs any more dragging of feet will leave members very frustrated an angry with cwu esp if its a vote in high 90's%

I wasn’t saying this was my opinion,not at all!

If it was down to me I’d hit them with a 4-dayer at the earliest opportunity,Wednesday to Saturday! I’m good to go & sick to death of the constant bullshit fed to us by Simon + co

Somebody else posting on your behalf.

I love it when you talk snidey to me x

[crimson king]

Not a great development for sure. The members in our DO are ready, good to go and fired up for the first few weeks of August. As I'm sure are tens of thousands of others up and down this green and pleasant.

We've revved em up for the hierarchy with gate meeting after gate meeting and now we're taking the pedal off the gas until September?

And we were told to not "confuse" the members by talking about the other ballot, just ram home the importance of the one on pay...but now we're waiting to have both ballots in the locker?

At local level reps have worked hard to get it all fired up and going. Delaying that impetus whilst expecting them to sell another ballot on change and expect the members to wait for another month or so seems...well, illogical Captain. You don't get an army ready to charge and then suddenly build a wall in front of them.

The ballot on pay has been largely sold on members needing something here and now, not later.

Let's get out on strike beginning of August and then again a month or so later after the next yes vote on changes.

Let's stop dancing to RM's tune. Show 'em we mean business, take the fight right to them and show them we've got the balls to see it right through to the death!

[wallan]

I get Martins point in waiting for autumn pressure and joining everything together.

On a side note regarding callers offices . It's an absolute disgrace that callers offices are still in lockdown hours . Lost count the amount of times I've got back off delivery and a customer is locked out and kicking off because the callers office is closed and they can't get their parcel.
We must be better than this.

Callers Offices are a Wasted Asset , they should be open while the Office is Staffed , Items for Posting should be accepted up until 15 Mins before the Final Departure to the MC

[Martin Walsh]

I do try and keep this site updated and I realise that it is easy to shoot the messenger.

First I posted weeks before the real changes Royal Mail wanted and was accused by a number of posters of scare mongering and it was not true. Now you have seen the proposals you know and what Royal Mail’s agenda is.

We have balloted on pay only. We cannot ballot again on change whilst taking strike action on pay. Why ? We deliver the ballot papers on the second ballot and therefore will be potentially accused of denying members a vote.

If we simply continue with the Pay Ballot and take strike action , Royal Mail are free to decide whether they take further executive action on issues such as later starts , SSP for sick pay , giving notice on RRIS , introducing the flexibility approach to no cut offs on delivery or failure of workplan. To name just a few.

History shows us that when they introduced later starts in 2008 by executive action under a network review there was wide spread unofficial action in Liverpool, London and Oxford. Again if this was to happen Royal Mail could try and get an injunction on our pay strike ballot.

In addition whilst the Agenda for Growth Agreement ensured we were protected from the worse attacks from privatisation which other companies like BT has suffered such as franchising , breaking up the company , outsourcing work to cheaper providers , introducing a two tier workforce and having zero hour contracts. The agreement also has a get out clause when we take strike action.

It is therefore essential that the second ballot on Royal Mail breaching P2C and other relevant agreements is in place.

I don’t accept the argument our members don’t accept this argument I have done over 60 gate meetings in offices and they totally understand the need to protect our terms and conditions.

Yes we started the campaign on pay but let’s be clear that Royal Mail now want to 10 years after privatisation want to introduce the race to the bottom which all companies have.

Look at BT

They broke the company up into BT , Enterprise and open reach total different companies.

Look at what Royal Mail have just done they have removed all mail centres , RDCs and the new parcel hubs from the Regional Operational Managers authority and they now will come under a new line of authority separate from Deliveries and collections.


This is potentially the fight of our life and to go into that fight with just a pay only ballot is prone to risk if Royal Mail take further executive action.

I also don’t buy the argument that the issues of going out in August compared to September is now the same. It is not. As some who led 20 days of strike action mostly during the summer it is hard as members do complain that they are not creating the backlog in August. Remember unless you have been in the job before November 2009 then you have not taken National Strike Action.

That is thousands of our members. Don’t worry we will still be in a position to take strike action in August , just not the beginning.

Tactics must change based on how the situation develops and that is why we are taking the decision we are.