Lessons from Burslem

[LinChong]

Despite the spin, Burslem was a defeat. Activists were sacked, members lost money going on strike and the strength of the union within Burslem was diminished. The Activists lost their tribunal because the lawyers were brought in too late.

Whenever a rep gets suspended, the CWU should provide an independent lawyer to advise the suspended rep before any fact finding takes place. Management have already taken legal advice before deciding to suspend and CWU reps deserve equality of arms.

[Lounge Lizard]

"Activists were sacked" but half of them were reinstated.

[dvbuk55]

"Activists were sacked" but half of them were reinstated.

and the half that weren't stayed sacked presumably.

[fishtank]

"Activists were sacked" but half of them were reinstated.

and the half that weren't stayed sacked presumably.

I think the final figures were 7 re-instated,4 went to an Employment Tribunal and had their dismissal upheld leaving 1 other who presumably found employment elsewhere.

And in this case I agree with LinChong,Burslem was a defeat for the CWU despite the solidarity shown by the members.

[dvbuk55]

"Activists were sacked" but half of them were reinstated.

and the half that weren't stayed sacked presumably.

I think the final figures were 7 re-instated,4 went to an Employment Tribunal and had their dismissal upheld leaving 1 other who presumably found employment elsewhere.

And in this case I agree with LinChong,Burslem was a defeat for the CWU despite the solidarity shown by the members.

Perhaps there's a salutary lesson to be learned. That RM are up for a fight.

[Lounge Lizard]

"Activists were sacked" but half of them were reinstated.

and the half that weren't stayed sacked presumably.

I think the final figures were 7 re-instated,4 went to an Employment Tribunal and had their dismissal upheld leaving 1 other who presumably found employment elsewhere.

And in this case I agree with LinChong,Burslem was a defeat for the CWU despite the solidarity shown by the members.

Perhaps there's a salutary lesson to be learned. That RM are up for a fight.

But is it RM as a whole who are up for a fight, or was it just that particular manager at Burslem at that time and if so what's happened to him since then ?

[General Mannerheim]

They promoted him.

[daveyeff]

what was the full story on this.? why were they suspended and eventually sacked. how did rm get away with it etc.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

what was the full story on this.? why were they suspended and eventually sacked. how did rm get away with it etc.

Not one thread with it all in but these should give you a rough idea - enjoy the read

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... slem#p1979" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... slem#p2111" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... lem#p48522" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... lem#p82541" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... lem#p93814" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... lem#p92655" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... em#p324972" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[daveyeff]

cheers teebs, read them all and got the story. didnt say what became of the manager paul jones though. as was said,,he probably WAS promoted. anyone know? just shows the depth these tyrannical managers are prepared to dive to.

[Toby Tyke]

They promoted him.

We got him at our office.

[johno47]

LinChong, 12 were suspended, 7 were reinstated but 4 of those have left the business, 3 still work for RM, of the 5 that went to tribunal 1 left before it got there and 4 got sacked, The events at Burslem are complicated and not easy to explain, you have got a point that perhaps lawyers probably should have represented them from the start but I believe that the CWU was taking advice from legal representatives, the reason they lost the Tribunal was before it got to this point the reason we went back to work was that RM agreed to an independent investigation into the suspensions which would involve a panel of 3 people, a CWU rep, a RM boss, and some independent Professor, what we did not realise was the professor was not independent and this only became clear at the end of the process when he was in deliberation, when he refused to include important new evidence that had come to light, that would not be allowed in any court case, he found in favour of RM so they got sacked, so when it went to tribunal even though the CWU won the case hands down the tribunal said because RM had a so called independent investigation and it had found in favour of RM it could not find in favour of the 4 and they lost, 4 innocent men lost their jobs, but the strength of the union at Burslem has not been diminished, there are a few more idiots here now but what RM don't understand is that the union at Burslem was not the reps but the workforce.

[daveyeff]

surely if this professor was supposed to be independent, but wasnt. then are rm not breaking the rules and as such the case shouldve been either thrown out or found in favour of the sacked 4. procedural errors, fifth columnists, lies etc.

[daveyeff]

They promoted him.

We got him at our office.

has he been brought down to size or is he a jeremy hunt?

[Toby Tyke]

They promoted him.

We got him at our office.

has he been brought down to size or is he a jeremy hunt?

He has moved on now.
Not prepared to say how bad it was on an open forum.
Worst manager I have ever met
Believe he then went to another problem office where they had a walkout it was so bad.
Last I heard he was on non staff facing duties.