Oligarch like many other major businesses that have been targeted, hopefully the National security agency have given advice and shared previous learning. Was this not the day the scammers were going to reveal everything or take all systems down? It is another cost we could do without. I am not sure there are that many systems that will be 100% fool proof but we need to make it as difficult as possible for hackers. I am sure the likes of Yahoo, FB and Alibaba thought their systems were pretty secure but the ransomeware gangs always seem to find a way.
Ricky McAuley has been added to the list of attendees for 22nd Feb. The CWU are rather excited at the news. I don't think he can do any worse than ST although any previous interviews I have seen him give are not that great. He will or should at least have a grasp of the operational issues and processes.
Listed below are the areas requiring clarity for the committee. Of course, one question/answer could lead to others, but these are the key areas to be covered. The last session was truly awful, and I expect them to answer honestly and with facts.
"The Committee pointed to three discrepancies that it wants clarity on:
Whether Postal Digital Assistants are used to urge staff to work faster.
Whether Royal Mail is compromising its obligation to provide a minimum guaranteed mail service to all addresses and is prioritising parcels; and
Royal Mail’s position on sick pay for employees.
Latest update, getting some services back online, not sure if they are using different systems or workarounds which in my experience is the most common. In saying that we don't know the scale of the attack/potential damage.
https://www.royalmail.com/international-incident-bulletin
Oligarch do you mean IT / software engineers? Even including lost revenue from international items not sent, the costs seem high. I worked quite closely with some of our IT experts and surprised so much has had to be replaced. Another £100m lost decreases the possibility of increasing any pay offers and making savings even more pressing. It never rains......
AngerS that would appear to be the case and worryingly that is what they are feeding to the members. Let's be honest if there is no agreement before then the second ballot will give authority for further action and whatever that should be more 1 day of action or weeklong strikes or all out until resolution.
It sounds like the CWU desperately need it (and they will) to ty and keep some leverage, but to suggest this to their members it's a win/victory is at best disingenuous and a worst a mistruth. IMO
If it is incorrect that the strike action was illegal because it included reference to EA revisions that weren't in the original ballot the CWU should have pressed on. I honestly can't see why it would affect any future ballot and as I said IMO it does sound like a bit of a red herring to try and save face. Obviously, some on here may have a better understanding of IA legalities and the decisions the court could make.
Certainly, hundreds of the members feel it has been a mistake (as per FB posts) and embarrassing for the CWU.
I personally don't see it as a major issue as surely its good news, customers continue to get a service and employees don't lose even more wages and annual leave.
It is all irrelevant either way as either there will be an agreement shortly or the yes vote on 17th will mean the CWU have won the dispute and it's all over.
Its being reported that the union called for strike action on 16th/17th around revisions being implemented and as that was not included as reasons in the original ballot it is illegal. Quite an error. I thought their legal team would have checked. It's not clear why CWU are claiming it could have caused the next ballot to fail trying to save face a bit.
AngerS totally agree and a lot of the team are not happy. CWU says it is better to give up one day than risk losing in court and achieve a new mandate for the next 6 months.
****NAL17 you have my permission to shoot me if I ever end up sounding like DW
There is no doubt this has been the most bitter and complex dispute in our history. 3 ballots, 18 days of strike action and we have stood up against the most brutal attack on workers in the UK for many decades.
The ongoing ballot is the most important vote of your working lives. If we are able to deliver a massive yes vote and turnout, then we will go on to win this dispute – this has to be our absolute focus.
Over the weekend we received correspondence from Royal Mail Group’s legal representatives challenging the strike action we have called across the 16th/17th February. Having discussed this with our lawyers they have advised that we could defend our position in court.
However, they have also advised that given the laws in this country are heavily weighted against working people, the risks of losing in court may potentially impact on the re-ballot – we simply cannot allow this happen.
On this basis the Postal Executive do not believe it is worth risking the status of the new ballot to defend a ballot mandate that expires on 17th February. Instead, we have agreed the following steps:
• We will not be taking strike action on 16th / 17th February
• The focus of the whole union must remain on winning the ballot
• We will re-enter negotiations with Royal Mail Group this week
• If talks fail, we will significantly step up the programme of strike action
• The union will shortly announce details of a formal strike fund
This rush to the courts by Royal Mail Group is the latest in a long list of deliberate, sustained and coordinated attacks on you:
• Executive action in the workplace
• Suspension and dismissal of CWU representatives and members
• Relentless goading and intimidation online
You have risen above every single one of these actions and we know you will do the same now. We cannot allow Royal Mail Group’s blatant efforts to demoralise you and discredit the union, to distract us from the reality that the resolution to this long-running dispute will be determined and settled by the outcome of the current vote.
Voting for and taking strike action is never easy but we have to be crystal clear. If you do not vote in this ballot, then Royal Mail Group count you as on their side. This means they see you as endorsing a strategy which includes:
• The removal of the right to negotiate at local level – executive action is being taken across the UK. If we do not win this ballot, it will become standard practise
• Later starts in every function and business
• Open attacks, suspensions, and dismissals of CWU members and representatives
• Total flexibility – not knowing what you are doing on a daily basis
• Outsourcing – this has already started in Fleet and will not stop there
• Bringing back managers who received 2 years redundancy pay and handing them £40,000 for a 9-month contract
• A senior management team assembled from union busting backgrounds
• A company happy to openly mislead Parliament
You are better than this.
It is the duty of every single CWU member in the UK to vote yes and spend the next week encouraging every single colleague in the UK to do the same.
Win the ballot, win the dispute.
Redceo I am with you. Many people want a resolution. As has always been the case, it's about compromise and recognizing that the business needs to and is changing. There was a definite acceptance from CWU that letter volumes are dropping, and parcels and customers have different demands and requirements.
The CWU will have a role moving forward but I do think the business will move with more pace now and will look for involvement / consultation from / with the CWU but not authority.
I can sense a change in tone from many of the comments. Although some still think the CWU will, when they win the dispute after the yes vote reverse many of the changes the business has already put in place. As usual the next few weeks will be very telling. Off for the weekend now as football and rugby to watch.
I watched the session last night and it just added a tiny bit more info. A few points I picked up
1. The business has confirmed it won't make any compulsory redundancies.
DW said this was important as it flows down to other areas, suggesting that it means if the business tries to outsource jobs or replace people they can't be forced out through CR. CWU suggest this will help minimise the impacts on areas of the plan, i.e. level of owner drivers that can be brought in, resourcing model etc.
2. Pushing back on just focusing on parcels and wanting a commitment to use the team to look and develop new products etc etc and not abandon the AM delivery. Said they are making progress on limiting the impacts of pushing back start/finish times. Did also say about growing parcels and using dedicated afternoon slots which members would be ok with if done in the right way. They want to grow the business as in everyone's interest.
IMO this sounded like a softening of CWU approach.
3. Pay - no %'s mentioned but suggested looking at a 24-month deal to go into 2024 and business were open to consider that.
Overall, it felt IMO like a more reasonable approach was being taken. One concern was its not clear if the business will even be in further talks this coming week as according to AF they have taken their bat and ball home when served with the notice for strike action on 16th/17th.
DW said he was more confident they will get an agreement and reiterated the need for a massive yes vote on the next ballot to keep the pressure on.
It was perhaps the timing of the session last night 1800 that almost half the usual number joined the FB session and some either had to go for their dinner or got fed up as 600 out of the 3.4k who were on dropped off within 30 minutes.
It was worth a watch and just my opinion and views on what was discussed.
Ispy yes that has been shared on CWU FB and is all perfectly legal. It is of course a post that is made redundant, and an individual can be reemployed particularly into a new/different role. It's good news to hear the business are bringing in people to assist with the deployment of revisions as there are so many being introduced and will want as many to be in place before the end of this financial year and as soon as possible for the others so that will explain the fixed term contract of 9 months.
hurtsparrow I think I get it now it's all shifts starting after 1230pm on 16th but calling it 24 hours strike made me and perhaps some others think the action would/should end at 1230 on 17th. DW is on FB now he will hopefully clarify.
hurtsparrow so anyone scheduled to work say until 1430 or anytime beyond 1230 on the Friday would be expected to be at work or deemed AWOL? The CWU must do what they think is in there and their members best interest but need to be careful not putting employees in a worse position on this day, I may be misunderstanding this but not clear to me as an outsider.
hurtsparrow thanks that's what I thought and again from memory 17th is last date for any action under current mandate. Looks like the 24-hour instruction is already causing some real confusion. If you are out on delivery to say 1430 do you stop at 1230 and return to work on Friday 17th at 1231. I am a bit surprised to be honest as I thought when they announce the ballot result they would be celebrating winning the dispute.