New Royal Mail Chief Exec Risks Culture Of Blame In UK's Postal Service

Canadian Moya Greene (the CEO of Canada Post) has been appointed as the new Royal Mail Chief Executive replacing the departed Adam Crozier from early July. Her duties are expected to include the part privatisation of the UK's postal service which was abandoned by the previous Government, but is now high on the political agenda of the Tory led coalition government.

Whilst the Canadian postal service is not considered to provide a reliable and cheap service by the majority of Canada's postal service users, more worrying prospects face the Royal Mail's employees both in terms of health and safety and the wider workplace conditions and culture.

So bad is her record, that the Canadian Postal Union, the CUPW have sent the CWU a message of condolence!

Upon her departure, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) President Denis Lemelin said:

"If you compare the four years before Greene with the four years under Greene's management of Canada Post, the numbers show that injuries have gone up 15.4% and grievances have gone up 59.3%."

Gayle Bossenberry, Canadian Union of Postal Workers [CUPW], 1st National Vice-President and Health and Safety Officer has sent the CWU the following message:

"The CUPW would like to offer the CWU our condolences regarding the appointment of Ms. Greene. It was always a challenge in dealing with Greene in particular in regards to her anti - Union attitude and anti - health and safety attitude."

"She has a deep-seated belief that the worker is to blame, and she has implemented several 'behaviour-based programs'. In her mandate here, she has also brought in 'Manulife', to administer the corporation’s attendance management program.", he concluded.

Warning postal branches of the possible deteriorating workplace environment ahead for all royal mail employees, Dave Joyce, CWU's National Health, Safety and Environmental Officer reported in LTB532/10 that Gayle had forwarded copies of two recent reports; one from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives which reports on health and safety in Canada Post amongst other industries and the second is a CUPW report on 'Manulife' a company brought in to administer Canada Post's Attendance Procedure and Return to Work Procedures.

Dave's letter to branches continues by providing this very important information which may have serious consequences for Royal Mail employees if repeated here:

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Report entitled "Success is No Accident" states:

"Canada Post has by far the worst overrepresentation of workplace injuries. The accident rate at Canada Post has marched up­wards since 2002. Despite high injury rates Canada Post Managers were instructed to resist health and safety inspections (by the LAO, Canada's HSE) and to refuse to sign Assurances of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) for health and safety violations (issued by LA, Canada's HSE). AVCs are the first tool LAOs use to protect workers health and safety."

Furthermore, Dave states:

The CUPW surveyed Members on their experience with Manulife and the study on 'Manulife' reports: "More than half of the respondents who returned to work on modified duties after an illness or injury, felt they returned to work sooner than they thought they should have because of pressure from the Canada Post, and/or were asked to perform duties which were beyond their medical restrictions, believed that this worsened their medical situation."

Successive UK government's love of all things North American displays a wish to adopt their management practice as opposed to those of Europe which at least tries to put working conditions and the concerns of employees as part of employment philosophy in comparison.

This attitude is exemplified by Moya Greene's appointment to Royal Mail, given that her CV posted on the internet, details that in a previous role as Assistant Deputy Minister for Transport Canada, she was responsible for both the privatisation of the Canadian National Railway and the deregulation of the Canadian airline industry.

Canada's Montreal Gazette published this report on the announcement that Greene will replace Crozier:

Ms. Greene, president and chief executive of Canada Post, was named CEO of Britain’s Royal Mail Thursday. She is the first person from outside the British Isles to occupy the position as well as the first woman, taking over from Adam Crozier.

“I am honoured to be joining such a great company and to be working with its customers and its people at such a momentous time in its history,” Ms. Greene said in a statement issued by Britain’s state-owned postal operator. Royal Mail chairman Donald Brydon said Ms. Greene will bring “energy, clear thinking and a proven leadership track record — as well as hugely relevant experience — to the business at an important moment in its evolution.”

The article went on to comment:

" ‘Important’ may be an understatement. Britain’s new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government is readying a plan to sell off up to 49% of Royal Mail, a move that could trigger clashes with unions. The Post Office, the system of mail outlets that serves the retail public, will remain publicly owned.

Compared with Canada Post, which has been a relatively smooth operation and quiet political file for the Tory government over the past decade, Royal Mail will be a “live and noisy” situation for Ms. Greene, who was born in St. John’s said Mount Allison University President Robert Campbell, an expert in the field. Her first task will be sorting out the Mail’s internal organization to make it palatable for buyers, he said."

Back in the CWU, and Dave Joyce's final words in LTB532/10 are:

"Not being one to pre-judge people's performance in any given role we'll wait and see what develops in respect of the role and tenure of Ms Green. At a time when despite some obvious safety and health challenges for the CWU there are many positive developments, policies, messages, standards and commitments on Health and Safety and Safety Rep involvement coming from Royal Mail Group and the businesses, Royal Mail Letters, Parcelforce and Post Office Ltd.

Let's hope all Board appointments support a continued positive way forward and don't try to wreck all the good work."

Royal Mail CWU members may be forgiven for asking the question " Should we hold our breath?"

The answer is probably no, if these You Tube reports from Canada are anything to go by!

In particular check this one out along with the comments provided.

Source: CWU / You Tube / CUPW / Montreal Gazette

 

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