LTB 603 - POST OFFICE: PAY 2012 .........

[Pinky 1]

Dear Colleague

POST OFFICE: PAY 2012 AND BEYOND AND THE FUTURE OF THE CROWN OFFICE NETWORK - ACTION SHORT OF A STRIKE: SALES BOYCOTT OF POST OFFICE FINANCIAL SERVICE PRODUCTS

Further to LTB 587, where we alerted Branches to the fact that we would be calling on our Crown CSC members (not Financial Specialists) to take action short of a strike today from 14.30pm, we are now writing to inform you of further action in this regard.

Whilst communication channels remain open and dialogue between both parties is ongoing, we are not making sufficient progress to warrant not taking any further action. As a consequence, we have served notice, on the Post Office today for our CSC members working on the counter (not Financial Specialists) to withdraw from proactively selling Financial Service products. Specifically this comprises of the withdrawal of cross-selling of all Post Office Financial Services products.

The action short of a strike is due to take place on:


Monday 16th September - all day (all opening hours)


On this occasion we have decided not to include Financial Specialists as their dedicated and full time responsibilities are devoted to selling financial services products, whereas for Counter staff this is a single element of a complex and varied job that has many different areas of responsibility, which they will continue to perform as normal – hence the action being ‘short of a strike’.

Please send any enquiries to cbowers@cwu.org

Yours sincerely


Andy Furey Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

[clashcityrocker]

Could this be the "strike" non-strike action of the future.
Rather than have us out on strike in delivery, what if we only delivered to houses with even numbers?

[Running Man]

This action is a totally ineffective way of getting the point across to POL.

Either strike, or simply don't bother!

[Pinky 1]

Dear Colleague

POST OFFICE PAY 2012 AND BEYOND AND THE FUTURE OF THE CROWN OFFICE NETWORK – FURTHER ALL DAY INDUSTRIAL ACTION AND ACTION SHORT OF A STRIKE

Action Short of a Strike - Sales Boycott

Further to LTB 634 dated 23rd September; there is still no movement from the Post Office in regard to entering into meaningful negotiations. We are, therefore, escalating the action short of a strike (sales boycott). The Postal Executive has endorsed three further full days of action short of a strike, as follows:


Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd October (excluding 9 Scottish Crowns on Tuesday 1st – see below)

Once again this action short of a strike amounts to a boycott of cross-selling and upselling Home Phone and Financial Services products. The sales boycott applies to Counter Clerks only and Financial Specialists are not involved.

As with the previous bouts of action short of strike action on Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th September, members should adhere to the following advice:

All members should go to work on Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd October (excluding 9 Scottish Crowns on Tuesday 1st – see below).
Members are not obliged to inform their managers whether they are supporting the Sales Boycott, or not.
Our members are urged not to get into any arguments with their managers, and if they feel they are being placed under undue pressure, they should explain this to the manager concerned and state they wish to immediately seek advice and guidance from their Area Representative.
I would advise anyone who suffers bullying or harassment from their managers that they report these incidences immediately to their Area Representative.
All members should endeavour to make sure they provide an excellent quality of service as usual, whilst supporting the sales boycott.

Sales Code of Practice
A hard copy of the Sales Code of Practice (agreed in July 2005) has been sent to all members’ home addresses. Members are advised to refer to this code if they have any problems at all with intimidation from their manager. A copy of the Sales Code of Practice is attached to this LTB for information.



Strike Action – Tuesday 1st October – 9 Scottish Crowns Only
The Postal Executive has also endorsed a full day of strike action for Tuesday 1st October for the 9 Crowns in Scotland which are closed for a public holiday on Monday 30th September and therefore excluded from the previous notice referred to in LTB 634. These are as follows:
Brandon
Cumbernauld
Duke St
East Kilbride
Hecla Ave
Paisley
St Vincent St
Saltcoats
Springburn Way
A letter of notice of strike action for these 9 Crowns has been sent to the Post Office today.


Summary
For the avoidance of doubt, the following is a summary of forthcoming strike action and action short of strike action:


Monday 30th September
Full day of strike action for all Crowns, excluding 9 Crowns in Scotland which are on a public holiday
Tuesday 1st October
Full day of strike action for 9 Crowns in Scotland (listed above)
Tuesday 1st October
Action short of a strike – sales boycott, all Crowns excluding 9 Crowns in Scotland (listed above) which are on full strike action
Wednesday 2nd October
Action short of a strike – sales boycott, all Crowns
Thursday 3rd October
Action short of a strike – sales boycott, all Crowns

In closing, it is imperative that all Crown members participate in the sales boycott and support the strike called for Monday, 30th September and Tuesday 1st September.

Yours sincerely

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

[Running Man]

'Action short of a strike' is a complete waste of everybody's time. I cannot think of a more ineffective way to try to make a point.

I repeat, either strike or don't bother.

[FinancialSpecialist]

'Action short of a strike' is a complete waste of everybody's time. I cannot think of a more ineffective way to try to make a point.

I repeat, either strike or don't bother.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Pitting counter clerks against union member colleagues is also a big mistake - financial specialists are consistently ignored by the union already but this is ridiculous. Either strike or don't strike, but don't try to appease the members by letting them supposedly take part in action but not make any sacrifice. It smacks of desperation.

[Running Man]

Great post Mr. Specialist!

I'd missed the point about pitting staff against one another. Sounds like a masterstroke (NOT) when you put it like that.

Good Luck on the strike-non strike-bit of a strike-like a strike but not quite-a sort of stike(ish) days.