Sean Hudson

Subpostmaster @ West Boldon PO. CWU branch sec. Underpaid community hub and resource. Full time subsidiser of Post Office Board and resources. Clinging on.

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

@VertuMotors I’ve emailed can’t get you on DM

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

@VertuMotors sort out my 2 year old Honda CRV that won’t start? Waiting for a call back all day - not a thing. Wouldn’t start 27/12 road side asst said new battery. Dealer said no need. Now it won’t start again but dealer not called back. And I’m still stuck. After sales??

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

@VertuMotors I’ll dm

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

I recall the meeting in May referred to. The CWU had been asked to attend that meeting and boycotted it when POL refused to either make CWU recognition the main or one of the main items on the meeting agenda. Their refusal sent out the clear message that the meetings were pure window dressing and that POL simply viewed the attendees as ‘shop dummies’ in their window dressing. The fact that at the meeting those attending were told with a straight face that NBiT was going well and that the next day Computer Weekly put the record straight wholly vindicates our decision not to attend and view of these meetings. Continued attendance only serves to benefit one party. POL.

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

My thanks to the Postmaster NED candidates for agreeing to take part in Hustings tonight. Link to the event here. Numbers attending were low. BUT maybe this is why….?
1.PMs have had years of POL prosecutions as a ‘recruiting sergeant’ to engagement and challenge by the rank and file. No prosecutions (for now ?) thankfully and many see less need for challenge and representation.
2.Poor rem for years and years and POL mantra of change without any REAL CHANGE leaves PMs disbelieving of change and less inclined to be involved because they’re conditioned to think whats the point - nothing changes.
BUT know this POL it looks like whoever is elected there will be some ‘foxes in the henhouse’ which cannot be a bad thing - BUT THAT IS ALONG WITH INDEPENDENT representation of PM’s.

https://t.co/DGQ4AhWbCm

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

It will be a week since I was ejected from the Postmaster Hustings arranged by the @NFSP_UK for asking the candidates if they would agree to take part in a hustings arranged by the CWU. Happy to report that all candidates agreed and this meeting with @KateOsborneMP will take place tomorrow night at 7.00 pm open to members and non members of the CWU alike.

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

Also of note - This was another report / policy prepared for POL by external consultants. The ‘talent pool’ at POL seems to be incapable of preparing such policies and plans themselves but very good at farming it out at more cost. What’s the point of hiring ‘the best’ internally if they contact the work out externally ?

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

Postmaster NED hustings over on @NFSP_UK channel. @PostOffice have presumably arranged this between them and @NFSP_UK
I was removed from the meeting because I invited the candidates to agree to a hustings on a @PMsinCWU @CWUnews channel. I didn’t get to ask them …
The greatest leverage available to postmasters is independent representation. Without independent representation there cannot be meaningful change for postmasters. What will the candidates do to ensure the @PostOffice finally allow this rather than continue to tie us into non independent representation?

@stugoo17 @nickwallis @ElCShaikh

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

I’ve tried to get back in but no luck

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

Tonight @NFSP_UK held / is holding a hustings for the 6 Post Master Non Executive Directors. The election is 16 October and voting has opened. Out of a network of 11500 branches and with invites sent by the NFSP to postmasters - as I “left”* (*more below) there were less than 70 participants to that meeting. Including the 6 candidates and @NFSP_UK officials. I asked the question … There are less than 70 participants to this meeting. What can be done to reach a wider audience of postmasters.
@voiceofthePM @PostOffInquiry @nickwallis
I offered an answer and invitation to the candidates …

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

And here’s the response …

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

I followed this up with an invite to the candidates to help reach a wider independent audience

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

https://t.co/K30p04NxTT

Nick Read says ‘It feels like the right time for a leadership transition’.
It feels like it for him because there’s no sign of the pay raise he wanted. Nor is there any sign of any meaningful raise for postmasters who don’t have the luxury of moving on in the same way he has.

‘I will have steered the business to the end of the formal evidence gathering phases of the inquiry…’

Huge legal costs incurred in disclosure alone and which was criticised on more than one occasion by the inquiry for being late and or incomplete.

If that’s Mr Reads idea of ‘steering’ I really hope his new position isn’t going to be driving a bus that I’m a passenger on.

‘It has been a privilege to work with Postmasters and colleagues during what has been a challenging and difficult time for the business…’

I’d find it a privilege to draw that salary and bonus too. And as for the challenging and difficult time for the business let’s not forget that this is a mess all Post Office Ltd own making.

He says of us ‘You are the backbone of Post Office’. Well he got that much right at least. Along with his resignation.

Farewell and don’t go steering any buses.
Your garden is going to look beautiful by the end of the next 6 months.

[Guardian news @guardiannews]

Embattled Post Office boss Nick Read to step down https://t.co/nl63XqR8z2

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

My serious suggestion for consideration if she could be persuaded to entertain this poison chalice would be Dame Irene Hays of @HaysTravel
Advisor to Minsters and Sec of State in Whitehall. Served as a permanent Secretary.
Chair of Hays since 2011 - independent travel agent chain with physical shops in an age of online commerce.
Achieved sales of over £1billion.
Governmental experience and business experience.

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

Reminder that POL continue to play the numbers game with serving sub postmasters remuneration.
They’re quoting £8m in Operational Excellence Initiative payments to sub postmasters - which potentially is a max of a 5% increase on their (very poor) remuneration and which in reality is on their own forecast only 2.9%.
Pathetic on every level.
The bull 💩, the figure, the insult. Does govt really really want a functioning POL network because beyond some fine words there’s very little evidence of that. They’re talking to the wrong people. People who are either cosy with POL for financial reasons or because of being seduced into feeling important in the scheme of things.
If POL and the govt are serious about preserving a network they need to recognise CWU as independent postmaster representatives. Others will claim that they’re independent but they’re not. They are in the pocket of and owned by POL.

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

And they continue to play the numbers game with serving postmasters remuneration. Quoting £8m in Operational Excellence Initiative payments to sub postmasters - which potentially is a max of a 5% increase on their remuneration and which in reality is on their own forecast 2.9%. Pathetic on every level. The bull 💩, the figure, the insult. Does govt really really want a functioning POL network because beyond some fine words there’s very little evidence of that. They’re talking to the wrong people. People who are either cosy with POL for financial reasons or because of being seduced into feeling important in the scheme of things.
If POL and the govt are serious about preserving a network they need to recognise CWU as independent postmaster representatives. Others will claim that they’re independent but they’re not. They are in the pocket of and owned by POL.

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

@lordposh I’m pretty sure that this scheme in which the NFSP ‘negotiated’ on our behalf was set up in such a way as to make sure most of us don’t achieve anything like a ‘massive’ 5% bonus.
Can we please have proper independent representation and not window dressing.

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

Operational Excellence Initiative the bull 💩 exposed.
Find me a Subpostmaster that is happy with this?
POL - is this really something to shout about?
A 3.5% ‘boost’ to remuneration.
3.5% of bugger all is still bugger all.
Insulting.
OEI Pays branches up to 5% of their usual monthly commission for efficiently completing routine tasks.
Erm - are POL capable of completing any task efficiently? Some role model to Postmasters they are!!

[Sean Hudson @staticsean]

‘Current business model not fit for purpose with too much money going to the centre.’

Fine words. But let me tell you as a serving postmaster - It’s the little things that matter.

1.Why do POL say I have to pay for my faded PO sign to be replaced from my own poorly remunerated pocket?
2.Why do POL say that I have to pay for replacement note cassettes for their safe from my poorly remunerated pocket?
3.Why is this still going on…….?
If you think this is wrong repost.

@jreynoldsMP @RichardMoorhead @gareththomasMP @voiceofthePM @CWUPostmaster @staticsean
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