Member Info for Scampthedog

If I had any spare dosh I would certainly buy a few more right now. As you wisely commented: "Perhaps buy some before the 17th as a hedge in case the negotiations go well. If they don't then load up some more after the 17th. Surely it's an open goal ready to be scored?"

I would imagine I am in the same boat as most posties at this immediate moment in time: watching and saving every penny just in case this all goes t!ts-up...again.

However, I reckon this time there will be a deal. If the company are willing to back date that 3.5% offer...that, then, should be enough to push it over the line; added to that the £500.00 cash lump sum of course plus our £200.00 Christmas bonus. Sounds a good enough deal to me.

And who can honestly argue against the stopping of legacy payments (apart from the very fortunate that still receive them). I personally know at least a dozen people still receiving legacy payments from when they used to work at the original Speke Airport over 20 years ago. Why? And why should RMG have to buy them out?

And the sickness payments? This, most certainly, needs addressing in a big way...major overhaul in fact.

Let common sense prevail here...and lets get this sorted. Better that than 'Big D' sorts it for us.

The CWU would not like a proper taste of what the 'Big-Man' would dish out. And probably will at some point in the very near future.

As you no doubt are fully aware of, once the company gets past Christmas...then, the CWU power is greatly curtailed.

We both know, that whatever review or consultation with the union, or whatever promises are made regarding usage of data-capture, or any agreement on any other contentious issue that is hammered out...it won't be worth a tinker's toss once the Board is ready to discard it...or whenever Kretinsky is ready to discard it; which all amounts to the same thing at the end of the day.

The CWU might force what very much might look like a climb-down by the Board...a complete reversal almost. But it won't last. Come what may, the last gravy-train has long since left the station...and its not coming back either -- not ever!

Who is bossing who then?

Seems to me that the CWU's position has gone from two seperate grievances and: "in the first instance, we will be damned if we discuss any concessions or anything to do with terms and conditions when negotiating a double figure pay rise". To: "Okay then -- lets get it all on!"

Whichever way you slice the rancid old sausage it still cuts the same: everything has just been unceremoniously dumped in one big heap upon the dining room table.

There was the usual defiant utterances from Mr Militant Ward of course: "no compulsory redundancies!". Unless that is, it means that the senior men might just have to give up a big dollop of their overtime and, Heavens above, their undeserved legacy payments...Militant Ward might just balk at that one and thus serve up a few thousand expendable (expendable in the old guards eyes) new-starters (probably defined as anyone with less than 5 or 6 years in). But what the Hell...who gives a ****.

To conclude...here is my unvarnished opinion. The company gets what it wants. The union gets what its given. The CWU negotiators get out still wearing their pants and shirt (pockets picked clean though). And Kretinsky? He is given free-rein and a clear run to the finishing line. But to do what exactly?

To that question I would offer this: either on the 17th of November or sometime in the near future we are going to get a far clearer picture, than present, of just what the Board intends to do regarding the direction they propose to take the company in; and if they do just half of what they have already declared they would like to do...you just know there is going to be big trouble - again! But by then...it is going to be far too late for the CWU to do much about it.

Splitting the company? Owner/drivers? Flexible hours? 35 hour working week? Who knows? ...But I am willing to bet big that Daniel does.

This year...Bonfire-Night might not come but once.

Ball is in the CWU's ballcourt now.

Its 'come to a deal time'...or its 'mutual destruction time.'

Either way, its big concessions by the union. Sick policy/attendance code -- legacy payments -- overtime -- conduct code -- CWU's ability to delay, block or veto change -- redundancy payments ...all going to be watered down...whatever Ward insists won't happen. Working practices -- interaction on the floor with the Cwu reps and managers on a day to day basis...and in all manner of things wheher conducting staff or signing off overtime -- data collection -- the use of new technology -- clocking in/clocking out...and much, much more. All eventually going to be forced through.

Bit by bit the CWU will be sidelined -- its power curtailed -- its ability to affect or make policy almost completely diminished...and worst of all...when this deal to be hammered out, the dividing of the union membership into two seperate camps: the militants...and the moderates.

Because in one way or another...big changes are most definitely coming.

3.5% backdated with a £500.00 lump sum plus the £200.00 Christmas bonus will get the 'Yes' vote over the line...just.

Royal Mail Board get what they want...and set the CWU up for an even bigger fall than they can possibly imagine. Workforce is back working...to most relieved, right-minded people's way of thinking. Kretinsky is free to indulge himself...though PERHAPS he might not want to buy the company outright (more of that at a later time)...and the dividend to be announced to the shareholders on the 17th...much to everyone's surprise. Plus another little surprise that might be unveiled...or just a hint of it maybe (more of that some other time also).

Yes indeed! things are looking rosy...well, they are for the Board now Thompson and Kretinsky have stretched the union leadership over a salty old barrel.

Shoved the Board to the negotiating table, Dave? Errr...I don't think so myself.

There was only ever going to be one winner here. Take this opportunity to come out with what can be trumpted as an honourable draw, Dave. Because the alternative is going to be a lot, lot, lot much more worse. Or so I personally think myself that is.

In his own words: Aaron Barnes (Managing Director of Parcelforce) wrote to you on Monday telling you there was no pay...and basically the company you work for is worthless".

WoW!! Strong words indeed.

Davie Robertson says, that, in his opinion, the attack on Parcelforce members is even more extreme than the attack on Royal Mail workers.

Apparently, Aaron Barnes considers agency drivers 20% more productive than Parcelforce drivers. According to Robertson, Aaron Barnes wants all drivers in Parcelforce to be owner/drivers.

I myself, quite a while back, made the point that massive savings could be made regarding R.Ms Fleet...the biggest of all savings in fact. It has always been my opinion that it was only a matter of time before this transition to owner/drivers took place.

Royal Mail have decided to begin their attack "under the radar" so to speak...Parcelforce first...then the 'bigger' prize.

And we all know what the 'bigger' prize means don't we.

Massive, massive changes coming. And a thing once seen never to come again.

obviously the Directors at Block are so far detached from reality I might as well join them.

The point is this, AngerSharkz, if he has had a look around the North west Hub...how many other depots has he had a look around?And if he was visiting these places accompanied by a small group...how many posties would actually recognize him or even take any notice?Answer: almost zero...probably myself included.Kretinsky will buy this company. The CWU will self-imploded...or self-destruct; their day has come and gone...like all great empires. The posties (myself included) will lose a lot of money. Many thousands of jobs (perhaps mine also) will go. Terms and conditions trashed. Fleet will be depleted. Work outsourced (this will be already underway). Railways will be utilized like it was 1939 again. Flexible working imposed along with mandatory rotared Sunday shifts. Earler starts -- later starts -- the whole Network redesigned and stood on its head!! A modern service fit for purpose. The USO opened up like a small tin of beans!Massive, massive change. The CWU have until the 17th of this month...and then they are dead meat. And after rejecting that pay offer last night without even trying to negotiate a little more out of it they deserve to be minced.Once this dispute is over I will resign from the CWU. To reject something out of hand and then go straight onto the offensive with their ridiculous mud-slinging and name-calling tactics...well...it speaks for itself.Old militants completely controlled by old ostriches who are still trying to live in a world that disappeared in the rear mirror and out of sight 30 long years ago.Nobody is suggesting they offered us the most acceptable deal last night...but to reject it without any consideration whatsoever ? Makes me want to p1ss!I might not know which way it is going overall...but I know what is happening in the North West Hub...I personally know at least 20 people who work there.They are training agency to use all the equipment: york-pushers -- LLOPs -- fork-lifts -- scuds. They are recruiting young girls in their early twenties from the agency and promoting them straight to managers. They are giving out new contracts (to start in a couple of weeks time) ...and all of them reduced hours on different rates of pay.THIS COMPANY IS NOT F..KING AROUND ANYMORE...and much more importantly...nor is Daniel Kretinsky.For as surely as cruel Winter is slowly coming...so cometh the Ice-Man.

Guaranteed fact!! And I don't particularly care if nobody wants to believe it...its very, very true.

I have 100% confidence in my source...and have since checked out the claim with two other people. They have both confirmed...that indeed this is absolutely the case.

Beware the Ice-Man -- for the Ice-Man cometh!!

AngerSharkz, you were prettty much convinced yourself about Kretinsky when you first started posting on this Board...it was the only conclusion, in any fairness, that any sensible, right-minded individual could come too.

As Terry Pullinger is fond of saying: "it doesn't take the brains of Lloyd George to work it out."

The union is between the proverbial "rock and a hard place" now.

A lot of the CWU membership will want this sorting out -- and fast!! Otherwise this strike action will die a slow death as many posties are forced by circumstance, or just plain old resignation, back to work. And no more posting on Facebook, whilst sat listening to the latest union update, "I am with the union" is going to change any of that.

This really is a massive watershed moment for the CWU.

What we need, as posties, is proper grown-up leadership now...and I am not fully convinced Dave Ward is up to the task.

For the last two years I have been arguing that Kretinsky wanted this company. People used to laugh at me...they are not laughing now.

People on here making comments about the dividend? The union? What if the Board... or the union...

So what??

There is only one game in town...and has been for the last several years.

And there it is...up there...that little red dot in the top right hand corner.

The union now has a straight choice. Negotiate with the Board...or negotiate with the Ice-Man.

Its now their decision. Jump...or be pushed.

But no more demanding. No more thinking they know better how to run this company. No more threatening. No more gravy train.

That train left the station two years ago...and it won't be coming back. Not ever.

The way things are going here at the moment, Sarah, I might just fancy a bit of that meths myself.

Cheers!

Funny as hell -- ha, ha, ha -- oh Lord!!

Don't write the dividend off just yet.

If the Board get a workable agreement in the next two weeks...then an announced dividend may well come on the top of it.

"Grow up? Too late, for what exactly?"

Badsterman. No one said anything about accepting a 2% payrise forced through by executive action -- that was a disgrace by any measurement or standard. But perhaps a calculated tactic?

But the union has to accept, it has a straight choice: a worforce that is somewhere near its present size...although reduced somewhat -- or a much reduced workforce and less work for the immediate future. It cannot have it both ways.

The union and its membership have had it very good for quite a long while now...but nothing lasts forever...and never will. They have to accept that for R.M to compete in an ultra-competitive industry...it therefore has to be ultra-proficient. Royal Mail is anything but.

In the last six years, working for Royal Mail, the deliberate wastage concerning manpower and logistics I have witnessed -- is truly staggering!!

I am fully convinced that even Daniel Kretinsky is not fully aware of the disastrous, self-indulgent, deliberately unproductive working practices that would come to light if he were allowed to take it on. He would not have enough people to complete a report to put on his desk this side of the next several years.

The whole company is rotten from the @rse up! And that includes the greedy, manipulating managers...and in every sense of the word as well.

Either the union accepts change is inevitable...or they will go the way of the dinosaur. They need to embrace the 'idea' of change -- and then negotiate hard!!

If they don't accept any of this...then the company will lose business...it will be streamlined...workforce greatly reduced. And the end result? A company with less business...but a profitable one -- and a union completely smashed!

Like I said...no in-between with this one. Just a simple win or lose. And now all in the hands of Dave Ward and a few other chosen men. Its their call.

A lot of what you write is undeniable.

I came to the same conclusion, about a split coming in the union membership, some weeks ago...and stated as much on this site; this was further confirmed by many of the postie's comments when todays latest fiasco was unveiled by Ward.

I also made the contention that Pullinger seems to have been sidelined by the Postal Executive...I know that Pullinger, supposedly, is seriously ill...but even so...no mention of him? No best wishes or vocal support for a speedy recovery?

Is there a split or a power struggle taking place in the Postal Executive?

As for these acas talks taking place this coming week? It sounds like Ward and co are starting to get more and more desperate...almost if the pair of them were imploring of Thompson...not fronting him up for a fight.

Whether the CWU like it or not they will not dictate the terms here. Concessions are what this game is all about...and that was always going to be the case. And no amount of posturing by Dave Ward concerning his "Business Plan" for the Royal Mail Board to gleefully embrace and adopt is never going to change any of that either.

For God's sake Mr Ward -- business plan!? Its not for you and the Postal Executive to run this company -- THATS FOR THE BL..DY DIRECTRS!!

In Christ's name...grow up the bleedin lot of you before its too bl..dy late.

Think you are right on the money there.

He posted a picture of Ward and co whilst uploading some dissenting comments from some of the unpersuaded (as far as strike action goes) posties.

Chris Webb mocked him (Thompson) and he (Thompson) immediately deleted them.

the strike itself could have been arranged a lot better than it, so far, has.

as usual though, the CWU pandered to the senior men...striking for one block week at a time would not allow them to work that inordinate amount of overtime they cram in every week...not that any hardworking individual would be likely to notice the difference they make when they are actually there.

Is that the sound of black gold!?

Nope! Just the Board draining the last dregs of the Dom Perignon.

Anyone for more brie and camembert? Oh and of course the crème brûlée is particularly nice...

I have heard that at the NDC it is rumoured that the agency are to be cut down drastically...and that especially includes Christmas.

Can anyone on here comment on this.