CWU official having a melt down on SM.

[Barnacle]

It’s when they step up a level to be on paid release that the problems start. Too many are then more concerned with maintaining their position than helping the office reps to get things done.

If we look at the elections of the positions with full time release we see low turnout, unelected unopposed, no contest. That suggests the real concern is power. Being in the room with real decision makers. Entering the clique.

Maintaining their position is not difficult. Of course the system set up by the cliques means they can stay in these positions for life. Other unions prevent that by operating a system where these types of positions have to be given up for a period of time before you can stand for the position again.

Do you have a link to any documentation on that, or where I could find it?

[tramssirhc]

It’s when they step up a level to be on paid release that the problems start. Too many are then more concerned with maintaining their position than helping the office reps to get things done.

If we look at the elections of the positions with full time release we see low turnout, unelected unopposed, no contest. That suggests the real concern is power. Being in the room with real decision makers. Entering the clique.

Maintaining their position is not difficult. Of course the system set up by the cliques means they can stay in these positions for life. Other unions prevent that by operating a system where these types of positions have to be given up for a period of time before you can stand for the position again.

Do you have a link to any documentation on that, or where I could find it?

The election of every rep is notified to members, sometimes in a ltb. I can't recall the last time I saw one for a branch secretary, regional secretary. Those positions really are just for the favoured. Ward was reelected unopposed. Walsh's vote was a minority. Have a look around the internet or on the CWU site.

[Barnacle]

It’s when they step up a level to be on paid release that the problems start. Too many are then more concerned with maintaining their position than helping the office reps to get things done.

If we look at the elections of the positions with full time release we see low turnout, unelected unopposed, no contest. That suggests the real concern is power. Being in the room with real decision makers. Entering the clique.

Maintaining their position is not difficult. Of course the system set up by the cliques means they can stay in these positions for life. Other unions prevent that by operating a system where these types of positions have to be given up for a period of time before you can stand for the position again.

Do you have a link to any documentation on that, or where I could find it?

The election of every rep is notified to members, sometimes in a ltb. I can't recall the last time I saw one for a branch secretary, regional secretary. Those positions really are just for the favoured. Ward was reelected unopposed. Walsh's vote was a minority. Have a look around the internet or on the CWU site.

I meant the different voting systems of other unions.

If no one stands against someone then they will be elected unopposed. With regard to Ward, branches endorsed him for re-election without consulting the members in their area. That’s a part of the process which needs to change.

[scotchy1962]

"Ralph Ferrett, stop saying the company has no money. Nobody believes that"

This was the comment to which he replied.

Lets give this some context. The trade union movement is a clique. Like all exclusive clubs it's has a system which you have to navigate to get on. Some trade unionists get into this club by being elected by workers. Others get in by being a favourite of whichever clique operates a branch or someone who is a favourite of the representatives above them, for example the General Secretary of a Union thinks having supporters around them is useful.

When this is mixed with the power that comes with positions like divisional representatives, such as full time release, secret meetings, making decisions about workers lives, it becomes intoxicating. Throw into that mix paternalism, arrogance, fear, corruption, survival, the back stabbing and you can understand why some simply lose the plot. Others simply see it as their right to be the one who knows it all and decides it all.
David Peace's GB84 writes about the exclusive world of trade union officials and what goes on in that world. Its not pretty and you need to be made of strong stuff to survive. The alcoholism, adultery and seediness is all too real. The trade union cliques really are that rotten.

Workers don't believe what the CWU say and no amounts of f***s from the likes of Ralph will change that. The CWU is broken. Leave. Start a new union.

Tramssirhc whilst your context is spot on, in reality you have just described anything in society, there's always someone at the top with the power and then there's the minions. Nothing has changed in centuries and that is through every society/political/religious groups that have ever been, there is no utopia where this hasn't happened.
Unfortunately the problem you are describing is just us, humans, we don't seem to be able to exist without someone taking advantage of somebody else, maybe we will evolve enough to get past this, but probably we will end our world before we get a chance to evolve that far.

[Tman]

I'm still waiting for Transhmrc to leave and start a new union...

[tramssirhc]

I meant the different voting systems of other unions.

If no one stands against someone then they will be elected unopposed. With regard to Ward, branches endorsed him for re-election without consulting the members in their area. That’s a part of the process which needs to change.

The RMT executive is a fixed term with a period off the executive. Its not perfect because some regions rotate the seat between branches. However the regional executive members have to go back to work after their period of office is over. The branch secretaries are not full time release. Very few of the second stage reps are full time release.

[BigSacks]

I'm still waiting for Transhmrc to leave and start a new union...

You’ll be waiting a while.
Talks a good game whilst offering zero credible alternative.
All destructive, nothing constructive.
Which is the easiest position to take in life.

[BELIAL]

You’ll be waiting a while.
Talks a good game whilst offering zero credible alternative.
All destructive, nothing constructive.
Which is the easiest position to take in life.

Have you missed the PWRFC stuff?

I’d be really interested to hear what alternative constructive actions you have been involved in ,please share ,we need something.

Ps. Doing sweet fa is easiest of all.

[Sean06]

You’ll be waiting a while.
Talks a good game whilst offering zero credible alternative.
All destructive, nothing constructive.
Which is the easiest position to take in life.

Have you missed the PWRFC stuff?

I’d be really interested to hear what alternative constructive actions you have been involved in ,please share ,we need something.

Ps. Doing sweet fa is easiest of all.

Pwrfc stuff seriously your having a

[BELIAL]

No.
What are your suggestions, what efforts are you making?

[BigSacks]

You’ll be waiting a while.
Talks a good game whilst offering zero credible alternative.
All destructive, nothing constructive.
Which is the easiest position to take in life.

Have you missed the PWRFC stuff?

I’d be really interested to hear what alternative constructive actions you have been involved in ,please share ,we need something.

Ps. Doing sweet fa is easiest of all.

What are you talking about?
I’m criticising a poster for being destructive but your answer is to ask ME for constructive action?
I’m not a rep mate. Just a reasonable human being who dislikes unfairness and someone being allowed to constantly troll and knock union action unabated on this website is unfair.

[BELIAL]

Well I don’t think his criticisms of the union are unfair , I certainly haven’t noticed any improvements in my terms and conditions for at least two decades, we’ve gone backwards,

[tramssirhc]

You’ll be waiting a while.
Talks a good game whilst offering zero credible alternative.
All destructive, nothing constructive.
Which is the easiest position to take in life.

Have you missed the PWRFC stuff?

I’d be really interested to hear what alternative constructive actions you have been involved in ,please share ,we need something.

Ps. Doing sweet fa is easiest of all.

What are you talking about?
I’m criticising a poster for being destructive but your answer is to ask ME for constructive action?
I’m not a rep mate. Just a reasonable human being who dislikes unfairness and someone being allowed to constantly troll and knock union action unabated on this website is unfair.

Cry me a river.

[richietns]

Well I don’t think his criticisms of the union are unfair , I certainly haven’t noticed any improvements in my terms and conditions for at least two decades, we’ve gone backwards,

There's criticising and then there's bullying/forcing a point constantly,no one is allowed an alternative its his way or the highway,we all know the union are s**t just don't need it rammed down our throat every thread.

[sindba]

I still don't understand why, if the companies apparently on the verge of going under, would DK spend £3B of his own money buying IDS, why not wait until it went under and then buy if for a £1 like Poundland etc?

Royal Mail owns vast amounts of valuable real estate.

He'll wait a while, then when the time is right turn the service itself into a bargain basement gig economy model and asset strip it.