Casual thinking of joining

[templek]

Just a few questions...

I was thinking of joining but I am a RM casual, not a full time employee, could I still join?

In the past I have worked in offices out of and in London that has had industrial action, with other casuals. The managers usually drive us on. If as a casual I refuse to go, could this jeopardise me? ie the managers may not bother to call me in for regular work. Would like to hear from others in same position.

Another thing, the industrial action is usually one day, not all out indefinite? So could the management do tit for tat, I refuse to cross a picket line, when they are only striking for one day, they may not call me in on another day, costing me one days work?

The situation may occur when my local office is on industrial action. I would not want to cause problems with my regular colleagues. What if I refuse to cross picket lines and not join, out of solidarity?

The union is against using cars for deliveries, and insist on staff working allotted times and not coming in early and ensuring they take their meal breaks. I come in early and use my car for deliveries, I have business insurance, and dont take my meal breaks. I do this to finish early. If I join would I have to stop doing this, and will I be considered a 'scab' or disloyal to the cause if I continue?

[andy2007]

As far as I know. There's no reason why you can't join the CWU, even if you're a Casual. When I joined, I was on an SEC (similar to a Fixed Term Contract, but terminates after a specific event, rather than a date). So if they let me join under those circumstances, you shouldn't have a problem.

If it's an official Strike, then no. Legally, you can't be penalised for refusing to cross the lines. But it's very hard to prove, when you're a Casual. They could just claim that they didn't need you any more. Just like it is for people on FTCs or SECs. If it's unofficial, then you're not as well protected. Although, I'm still here. And there were a large number of unofficial Strikes, when I joined in the mid '90's. So you should be ok.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Just a few questions...

I was thinking of joining but I am a RM casual, not a full time employee, could I still join?

Yes - I think so - you could also stay in the CWU when you get another job, but how useful that would be I am not sure.

In the past I have worked in offices out of and in London that has had industrial action, with other casuals. The managers usually drive us on. If as a casual I refuse to go, could this jeopardise me? ie the managers may not bother to call me in for regular work. Would like to hear from others in same position.

You can refuse to go - If you are a casual through an agency you could have a word with them and point our your difficulties in crossing a picket line they may help. If you are an RM casual then officially there is nothing they can do about it. However, in the real world, managers would probably take it into account. Sad but true.

Another thing, the industrial action is usually one day, not all out indefinite? So could the management do tit for tat, I refuse to cross a picket line, when they are only striking for one day, they may not call me in on another day, costing me one days work?

See previous comment up 1 paragraph its the same situation.

The situation may occur when my local office is on industrial action. I would not want to cause problems with my regular colleagues. What if I refuse to cross picket lines and not join, out of solidarity?

See above looks like you have some thinking to do.

The union is against using cars for deliveries, and insist on staff working allotted times and not coming in early and ensuring they take their meal breaks. I come in early and use my car for deliveries, I have business insurance, and dont take my meal breaks. I do this to finish early. If I join would I have to stop doing this, and will I be considered a 'scab' or disloyal to the cause if I continue?

You would not HAVE to stop but it would be highly recommended. You would be considered disloyal/"scab" by some but not all by any means, especially as it goes on anyway and sometime its staunch union members that are the offenders.

[templek]

I had a word with some other RM casuals about this matter. None had joined and the general consensus was that it would only make sense if you were a full time pemanent RM employee. We some times work a full 6 day week, then could get get 2 or 3 days the next, sometimes just half days, doing the sorting and prepping no walks. We are just there as cover mainly, sent to different offices and do different walks daily. I have just been working a fortnight at another office which has had a few regular staff off. I dont know how busy I will be in the next couple of weeks. As for the industrial dispute, I have no idea on the ins and outs because of the said position as a casual. I suppose RM casuals and agency staff are useful for the RM during the present industrial dispute. Can the Union help us since we are casuals, and could simply not be called in if we had a problem? Or should we do our best and if we get offered permanent positions then join?