Member Info for OliGarch

"The plan will be not to have local delivery offices."
Indeed, with owner/drivers the DPD/Yodel/Evri model would be sufficient. Instead of 1250 small delivery offices there would probably be around 200 warehouses spread out across the country in specific locations. No need for vehicle parking, fuel stations or electric charging points as this would be down to the owner/drivers.
My Evri delivery driver (2021 Ford Transit Custom) reckons that he can drop his kids off to school, drive to his depot, deliver his 150 odd items and be back in time to collect the kids or cut off, pick the kids up and finish his deliveries afterwards if it's busy. Either way, he reckons that he can be finished within seven hours.
Not sure how this model would work for letters but my local newsagent delivers papers so perhaps that's an option.....lol

AngerSharkz, true but if a couple of the larger hedge funds (who possibly hold at reasonably low prices) could be persuaded to vote in favour of a lower overall buy out price then I'm sure that deals could be done. The property portfolio of the UK operation would possibly be attractive to some as well as GLS? Would this make Philip Green with envy.....lol

"They won’t get the company for peanuts…they need shareholder approval…it would need to be an enhanced bid."
Perhaps VESA has other plans? Is it possible that they would/could increase their holding to 29% snd partner up with one or two of the larger hedge funds to achieve a combined holding of over 50%?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/10/31/grant-shapps-calls-national-security-review-czech-sphinxs-royal/
"Asked what Mr Shapps’ decision meant for the Czech billionaire’s plans to increase his stake in Royal Mail, a source close to him said last night: “We certainly have the opportunity to increase our share. On the other hand, we don't have to.”
That's a random comment? What would be the point of instigating an NSI review then?

Yas, this could be a positive for some employees? It's currently a workers market with many employers desperate for staff. All of my local supermarkets have permanent advertising for staff and small businesses are folding as a result of not being able to recruit. If the terms and conditions are made worse in future then the better qualified staff will walk. Unfortunately this may leave the UK operation in a bit of a temporary fix until the UK Government relaxes immigration policy or forces the "channel hoppers" to work for RMG (that'll learn 'em)...lol

The Communication Workers Union

Royal Mail Group have just provided a new offer to us in talks, and they are putting it out publicly at 2:30pm. It includes more unacceptable changes and a 2-year offer which is well below inflation in both years.
They have also confirmed that as of tomorrow, they are introducing lesser terms for new entrants and owner drivers into Royal Mail.
This reaffirms the company's whole approach is about imposing change not negotiating.
This offer is also not applicable to Parcelforce and Fleet employees.
We are letting you know this information as Royal Mail Group are breaking every protocol on negotiations. We will give you a fuller response in due course.
After confirming in writing yesterday evening that he was committed to attend negotiations, the offer has been tabled without the CEO in attendance today.
The Postal Executive will meet tomorrow to call further strike action.

simx, the USO and downstream access rules have been a burden to Royal Mail for a while. Moya Greene tried to get the Cameron/Cable coalition government to change legislation without success. It will be interesting to see if pressure is applied to OFCOM to change things?
The big question is, what is the lowest price you would all accept from VESA to buy you out?

Any, "if he needed to pay 350p-400p to get his hands on this business I don’t see it being a problem at all".
I have no doubt that he could afford it but why would he part with more than necessary? The rich don't give their wealth out easily.

Scampthedog, AngerSharkz, Maximas, looks like you were correct all along regarding VESA so congratulations on your predictions.
I have no more idea as to what plans VESA has for IDS than anyone else outside the circle. The general consensus is separating GLS and/or asset stripping the business?
It also looks like VESA have taken advantage of a Tory Government in turmoil? Who knows what, if any, caveats are in place beyond the Postal Services Act but it certainly wouldn't surprise me if VESA asset stripped and left the UK Government and taxpayers to pick up the tab.
Interesting times ahead.

Maximus, a little topical rhyme for you....
It's All Hallows Eve and we're feeling spooooooked,
But whether shareholder or employee,
Test and Trace Thompson has got us all fooooooked....

Maximas "3 months striking now up…you can be sacked".
Are you aware that there were two separate ballots?
The first ballot regarding "pay" commenced on the 26th of August.

At this rate, Thompson may well be leaving RMG in a worse state than he took office, which is some achievement given that the previous CEO was Rico Back....
The next CEO? I wonder what Liz Truss is doing?...lol

AngerSharkz, indeed most businessess would consider that message as "business as usual".
mhudson has mentioned the colossal amount of unnecessary overtime being handed out and in the past I have mentioned the massive amount of equipment that is purchased, stored, never used and then scrapped a couple of years later only for the next incoming manager to purchase this equipment all over again. Unfortunately for the shareholders, too many managers have the attitude that it's not their money so who cares? Unfortunately that attitude also becomes BaU over a period of time.

Message from Angela Noon
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Controlling our costs
26 October 2022
As you will be aware from our trading update earlier this month, we expect a loss of around £350 million this financial year, which could increase to around £450 million if customers move more volume away for longer periods.
Some analysts are suggesting Royal Mail could lose nearly £1 billion this year if the CWU takes all 19 days of strike action. Our financial situation as a business really is very serious. We need to put in place some stringent measures for controlling our costs and improving how we manage our cash every day.
We have no choice in this current environment of ongoing strikes and falling parcel volumes.
What does this mean?
The Executive Board has agreed a series of measures that will help us to keep control of our costs and manage cash in and out of the business. These measures are effective immediately and we need you, as our management team, to implement them and make sure everyone is considering every way possible to conserve cash and reduce costs overall.
Headcount controls will be tightened further.
Management headcount requests continue to be reviewed by the Executive Board.
Operational headcount controls remain for fixed hour contracts.
Given our biggest cost is overtime, a 50% reduction target will be introduced in Delivery and Processing to the end of fiscal year.
New delegation of authority - where all spend is reviewed and approved by a central cash committee depending on amount.
A 'No Purchase Order, No Pay' policy will be strictly enforced by accounts payable.
A travel and hospitality ban The use of Consultants will require Executive Board approval across the company Individual cost centre targets will be cascaded for functional areas to reduce spending.
All Capital Expenditure and Investment will be approved by CFO only.

teslo, I read your comment regarding your wife having cancer followed by your retraction a couple of hours ago.
If you were trying to shock then way to go, ten outta ten, bravo because you certainly achieved your mission.
I was going to respond immediately but thought better of it and decided to wait a while.
Perhaps I am more sensitive to this subject having lost my parents to different types of cancer back in 2020. No funeral, no mourners or friends for my step father. I wasn't allowed into the crematorium so he went in on his own while I waited outside and read the eulogy that I had been preparing for several months.
I don't consider myself a snowflake but I do consider that certain boundaries should not be crossed.

So Maximus, not so long ago, you were having one of your "Blakey" rants at me, berating me for being such a bad local rep (by the way, I am an area safety representative, not an industrial relations representative) by leading the membership down a blind alley.
Now you are saying that the local reps are being fed misinformation on a national scale? That would require brainwashing on a scale that is well beyond Dave Ward's capabilities....lol
Innit Marvellous?
That's made my day that has, that's really made my day.

So Grant Shatts has been appointed as the new Business Secretary, replacing Rees-Smugg who replaced Kwasimodo.
The National Security investigation has been handed on to yet another Business Secretary. When the merry-go-round comes to a stop, perhaps a decision will be made....lol

Even stranger is a that a CEO and his Head of Media actually encourage the workforce to use the RM social media propaganda platform and some of the workforce also seem to spend a disproportionate amount of time on it. No wonder the 1C and 2C targets aren't being met.....lol

Salve Maximus, I have to say that I generally have a good laugh while reading your responses to posts on here.
It's funny that someone who claims to be an ex-postie and also an ex-rep (in the SK4 postcode area if memory serves me correctly) has so much vitriol for the OPGs and the CWU. When I read your posts, I try to envisage that it is being monologued by Blakey from On The Busses....lol
Perhaps you are aggrieved that your former work colleagues have shat on your investment and concerned that VESA may not need to offer the highs that you claim to have bought in at? Who knows but try not to panic..... nothing goes down forever....lol

Ispy, if you aren't signed up to RM Workplace then ask a colleague who is. Thompson usually spends several hours a day spouting all sorts of nonsense in response to questions raised by OPGs.