1. HACKNEY postal workers support group
2. Hackney Unites: call for volunteers
3. Letter from CWU to Royal Mail

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1. HACKNEY postal workers support group

As you know HTUC established a postal workers support group and began to be geared up to do what we could to support our local postal workers - we had leaflets printed - did a number of leafleting sessions - collected money which went directly to the postal workers and produced 10,000 stickers saying support the postal workers (with HTUC's web site address on them.

Following negotiations with Royal Mail the CWU canceled any remaining strike action up to Xmas. There is an agreement to deal with the issues, but many CWU stewards feel that if these talks are unsuccessful then momentum and initiatve will have been lost. It is extremely likely that strike action, particularly here in east London where local management have been particularly bad, could start again at any time (see letter below that the CWU sent to Royal Mail on Friday 13th November.

With the postal dispute in a period of stalemate but with the possibility that a national strike could begin straight away if talks break down (the ballot is still live) we need to consider our approach to this dispute and how we can effectively support the postal workers, should this happen.

There are a number of views. One of which is that we should convene weekly postal workers support group meetings and plan for what needs to be done should the dispute erupt in the New Year. Do you think we should? Would you be likely to attend weekly meetings?

It has also been suggested that we seek to plan a public meeting on recent disputes to be held in January with speakers from the recent PCS, Visteon, Vesta, and London Metropolitan University disputes as well as postal workers. Do you think this is a good idea - would you be likely to help organise, or likely come along? Could you commit to bringing work colleagues?

There is a general election next year, and whatever government gets in we can expect a systematic package of cuts to public services. The public sector disputes; PCS, London Met and postal workers are likely to get more common and more intense. So we need to be getting organised.

Can you let me know what you think we should be doing and whether you have contacts with workers involved in relevant disputes who might come to speak at our meetings?

Can you also let me know if you are prepared to take on any tasks in relation to the following?

o Help organize either the support group or the public meeting - this could be organizing speakers from any recent or current disputes

o Getting agreement from speakers to speak at the public meeting or at a future postal workers group meeting?

o Writing or designing leaflets?

o Leafleting or publicising meetings -

o Getting your branch to affiliate to HTUC (contact me for an affiliation form)

o Organizing workplace meetings to get people to come along to HTUC meetings

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2. Hackney Unites: call for volunteers

Hackney TUC is working with the community coalition 'Hackney Unites' with the aim of establishing a workers advice centre.

We initially intend to run the scheme one evening a month with an advice session at run either from an existing advice centre, or from a range of community centres.

We already have volunteers from a number of employment lawyers. But as not every problem at work has a legal solution, we need to supplement the lawyers with trained trade union reps.

We believe that for many of the problems that will be brought to the advice sessions the solutions, if there are solutions, will be collective ones. We are therefore keen to recruit a pool of volunteers who will participate in the advice sessions (minimum commitment one session every three months) and be prepared to draft grievance letters and/or attend meetings of concerned workers.

With trade union membership still stagnating, we believe that this is one way in which trade unions in the borough can reach out to under-represented workers and begin the process of rebuilding trade union presence in some of the low wage, marginal sectors of the economy.

Interested, drop an email to John.page45@btinternet.com

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3. Letter from CWU to Royal Mail

Dear Mark

I am writing to confirm that on Thursday 15th October 2009, the Union will serve the relevant notice in line with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidated) Act 1992, announcing national strike action.

However, given the seriousness of the situation we are prepared to make a fresh offer that will avoid the planned strike action and assist in finding a resolution to this dispute.

The CWU offer comprises of the following:-

o That Royal Mail will reveal their business plan for the whole of the planned transformation programme. This will create an open environment that will allow Royal Mail and CWU to reach a 3 year agreement aimed at providing long term stability for the business, employees and our customers.

o That Royal Mail recommit to the key principle which underpinned the 2007 Pay and Modernisation Agreement i.e. that "change will be introduced by agreement". This means Royal Mail will unequivocally agree planned 2010 change, including the rollout of new walk sequencing machines.

o That we agree, in principle, that improved Job Security arrangements and a new benefits package that rewards postal workers for delivering success for the business will form part of the final agreement.

o That Royal Mail agrees the principle that budgets should not drive staffing levels and that what constitutes a fair days workload will be based on transparent and agreed standards with the Union. We should jointly consider utilising independent experts in the field of work measurement to facilitate a resolution to all workload issues.

o That Royal Mail are prepared to step back from imposed change and resolve all current local disputes by agreement.

o That Royal Mail agrees to an independent enquiry into the bullying and harassment of postal workers and immediately ceases the use of unagreed HR procedures.

o That Royal Mail are prepared to jointly approach the Government on the urgent need to find a resolution to pensions and regulatory issues.

o That the national parties clear our diaries to allow for an intense period of negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues and conclude a comprehensive national agreement.

Your commitment to the aforementioned will enable us to restore customer confidence and provide a genuine opportunity to resolve this dispute without the need for any further strike action.

Separately and in addition to the above offer, the Union are proposing, without any preconditions, that the national parties jointly explore the possibility of third party mediation. As well as seeking third party mediation to resolve the dispute, the Union would also be prepared to engage third party assistance to help bring about a fundamental long term improvement to industrial and employee relations.

The Union is available for meaningful negotiations for the remainder of this week.

I look forward to your prompt response. If Royal Mail really is sincere about reaching an agreement with the Union that aligns the interests of our customers, employees and the company as a whole, then you will pick up this offer.