POSTIES RISE AGAIN - for a massive YES vote!

POSTIES NEED A MASSIVE YES VOTE

The CWU are re-balloting members working in Royal Mail Group for strike action in defence of
workers' jobs and conditions and the public service they deliver, after the unelected High Court
judges banned pre-Xmas strikes despite the 97.1% majority vote. The ballot lasts from 13th to
 17th March. 

On the eve of the ballot I discussed the issues involved with TAM DEWAR, CWU Divisonal Officer
for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

What's been happening since the pre-Xmas strikes were suspended by the courts?

Royal Mail used the High Court to rule out strike action, with the spurious argument that
social media pictures of CWU members casting their votes breached it being a private ballot. 

After seeking talks in good faith, we faced RM bosses who almost immediately declared the
financial situation had worsened, that all internal negotiating procedures had been exhausted,
and therefore they could impose whatever changes they want, regardless of whether the
union agreed them. So we were forced to organise a new strike ballot against RM bosses
taking executive action that threatens the workforce and the public services they deliver. 

We held a record 800 gate meetings, where union reps have called members out for an
explanation of the reasons for strike preparations. This way we have met about 60% of
Delivery staff face to face. 

What's the real contents of the widely publicised Royal Mail offer of a new agreement,
announced during your preparations for a new strike ballot? 

Royal Mail bosses came back saying they want an agreement with the union. 

Of course, like any union, we want to reach an acceptable agreement without having to
go out on strike. But what they Royal Mail board has offered is a complete red herring. 

They say they are offering us a three-year pay deal, 2% each year - that's regardless of
inflation, by the way. And there are strings attached. But that's not even part of this dispute! 

It has nothing to do with pay. It's about not splitting up Royal Mail, not contracting out
part of the service, not having a two-tier workforce with totally different wages and conditions. 
Royal Mail are trying to portray us as greedy posties out for more money. It has nothing to do
with wages, which are subject to separate negotiations after April - and we would expect
and get a lot more than 2%! 

This dispute is about defence of terms and conditions, and delivery of a public service. 

What's happening with the keynote 35-hour week previously agreed? 

In their so-called offer, Royal Mail have listed changes they insist on before they agree the next
hour off the working week. The 35 hour week is one of our leading demands, because we need
to alter the way people work, given the changes in letters and parcels. 

In the Four Pillars Agreement [of 2018] the commitment was to reduce the working week from
40 to 35 hours by 2025. We have gained a reduction from 40 to 38 hours so far. But the bosses
reneged on the one-hour reduction that was supposed to be implemented last year, as part of
the pay deal. 

It's been calculated that every hour off the week is equivalent to a 1% pay rise. Last year we got
a 2.5% pay rise, compared with official inflation of 3.2%, so we have already paid for the hour off
the working week but not got it. Now they want to add more strings to the agreement we
reached in the past. 

Are the employers gearing up for a battle? 

Royal Mail have employed strike busters,  for instance senior managers going into Delivery
Offices spouting how we need radical changes. But this has blown up in their face. I've always
held to the view that there is more knowledge on the shopfloor than in senior management
circles, and that's been shown in this case. Senior managers can't deal with intelligent questions
from workers on how the service functions, and I believe this will add to the Yes vote for strike
action.  

You mentioned the bosses taking 'executive action'. What's that about? 

The bosses are determined to carry out about 20,000 job losses in Delivery Offices and Mail
Centres. For example, by using big machines to automate parcels. And they've taken
executive action to impose attacks in local offices, including Glasgow Mail Centre and the
Delivery Offices in Motherwell and Paisley.  

The procedure is meant to be what's called the Industrial Relations Framework,  with
stages 1, 2 and 3, followed by national intervention, either reaching national agreement or
outside mediation.  Royal Mail have falsely claimed this process has been exhausted, so
they have moved straight to impose changes through executive action. 

That's added to the level of anger in the workplaces. We have incorporated these local
grievances into the national ballot, to maximise unity and impact. 

Do you feel confident members are up for the action? 

Members' anger is also fuelled by the scandalous personal profiteering by Rico Back, 
Royal Mail chief executive. After he announced his plans, share prices plummeted from
£6 to £1.50, and he has been buying up shares at the lower price to make himself a
fortune, regardless of the outcome of this dispute. As far as I'm concerned, that's
 insider trading, and should be a jailable offence. 

We are confident of winning a massive Yes vote, with no legal challenges available
to the employers. 

As I've been saying at workplace gate meetings, if they won't listen
when we talk, they'll have to listen when we walk!