How good is your union rep? Sign my petition

paul_skinback · Post by **paul_skinback** » 09 Oct 2008, 14:12

Havng been on this site for a few weeks now it seems to me that a lot of posties are having a lot of problems with rules and regs, standing up for themselves, taking BS from DOM's etc. So wassssssssapnnninnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn CWU?

This morno at out little cottage the DOM took someone off IPS to prep a round for a 1 hour contract bloke who was then given 3 hours to del it. Fairs do's cos it only takes 2.5 hours. BUT, I thought this was by local agreement? and for summer weeks only? Our CWU Rep just stood and looked glazed at the brassed of posties doing the extra IPS.

How comes soem REPS are OK looking after their own probs with some urgency but sod all the members?

I have often asked for advice from this rep and I might as well ask the nerest HCT The answer would be the same. I even phoned, e-mailed the area CWI rep and got silence. So what are we all paying for? Is the CWU just giving in?

Before anyone says "YOU DO IT THEN" When I complained a while back to our rep he flung his box of paperwork on the desk and said "You phuqing do it then" So i applied and got the job. He only got 1 vote. I then flung the box of paperwork back at him and said "look and learn. You have it back and do it properly this time" Did he learn? NOPE he is still 100% grade A hopeless.

We never have a union meeting
Any paperwork our rep gets is just flung on the desk in the mess room. Trouble is no one goes in their due to time restrainst to read it. :lfo

Is it no wonder there are so many posties on here getting shafted cos our place is not the only one.

Being in the middle of nowhere I dread the day when our office becomes like some of them on here and I want to know that that CWU are behind us. At the moment I aint holding my breath!

How good is your rep and what mesage do you want to send to the CWU who take my dosh evry month and I see little coming back. Especially after the last strikes that I went everyday unpaid for.

Feel let down by the CWU? Sign this and tell any CWU rep to read it http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/CWU

vigilante · Post by **vigilante** » 09 Oct 2008, 15:04

I can understand your frustration, but at the moment we as reps are largely being ignored
and it is very frustrating for us too.
The management(well sort of)are ignoring the IR framework and Pay and Modernisation Agreement.
Your Rep sounds uninterested and ballot results show no faith in him but without knowing his character
it's hard to advise.
Have you supported him by all attending meetings he has made before or is he fed up with poor turn-out.
We are all doing what we can with this stubborn management but it is hard going.
If he is a waster, try and get another interested and go through procedures to oust him.

silverback · Post by **silverback** » 09 Oct 2008, 15:45

I can also sympathise somewhat. I dont know your rep or unit so cant comment on that, specifically. What DOM`s are doing is taking bits and pieces from Phase 3 of the Pay and Mod agreement which suits them. Reps are bound by this agreement (that the majority of CWU members signed up to). It is no picnic for the reps and they must take what little scraps out of this agreement that benefit the members and push this with management. If you are really that miffed, then why not take the responsibility on and become a rep.

paul_skinback · Post by **paul_skinback** » 09 Oct 2008, 15:52

vigilante wrote:I can understand your frustration, but at the moment we as reps are largely being ignored
and it is very frustrating for us too.
The management(well sort of)are ignoring the IR framework and Pay and Modernisation Agreement.
Your Rep sounds uninterested and ballot results show no faith in him but without knowing his character
it's hard to advise.
Have you supported him by all attending meetings he has made before or is he fed up with poor turn-out.
We are all doing what we can with this stubborn management but it is hard going.
If he is a waster, try and get another interested and go through procedures to oust him.

He never has meetings and no one else is interested in doing his job. I think they are disillusioned cos he has done it for so long. IMHO it aint doing CWU a lot of good with oiks of his standard around.
I would do it but just put in for another job. He has volunteered for the reps job and can’t be bothered unless it is his problem.

I am sure some decent reps exist doing a grand job but some of us just want quick answers sometimes when DOMs try it on and when the area rep can’t be bothered either what do we do?

We have just had a del of HCTs so do we use them or not without risk ass. If DOM says take it and we say foxtrot oscar, who do we call if reps isn’t interested?
What are the rules on HCT's and if we abide by them do we get back up. if so how if rep and area rep don't care?

We have no HS rep and carpet is dangerous in the mess room. DOM told 5 times and CWYU rep can’t be bothered so we will wait till someone breaks their neck then

Can we refuse to be 30 mins flexible?

New staff are sent out without route training.

Is taking staff off IPS in winter to frame up OK?

I dont mind a fight with DOMs but i want to know I have support seeing as I have paid in for the last 5 years. :lfo

Small issues but everyones just shrugging shoulders in our gaff

brothermagrew · Post by **brothermagrew** » 09 Oct 2008, 17:40

We have just had a del of HCTs so do we use them or not without risk ass. If DOM says take it and we say foxtrot oscar, who do we call if reps isn’t interested?
What are the rules on HCT's and if we abide by them do we get back up. if so how if rep and area rep don't care?

We have no HS rep and carpet is dangerous in the mess room. DOM told 5 times and CWYU rep can’t be bothered so we will wait till someone breaks their neck then.

Brother
With regards to trolleys:
Before the introduction of a trolley on a delivery walk, a 'terrain assessment' must be carried out as part of the walk risk assessment process to ensure that the terrain is suitable in particular for High Capacity Trolley (HCT) use. The correct lifting ad handling techniques must be used and they must not be overloaded. The Safe System of Work for Trolleys must be followed at all times. The local walk risk assessment must be completed including consultations with security and the local authority before deployment.

The HCT is intended to be used on level or undulating surfaces. Further information can be viewed from the CWU Lighten the Load - CWU Safe Working on Delivery Guide - Helping you to collect, sort and deliver safely. As you are concerned with health and safety why don't you put in for the position of unit health and safety representative, suggest you contact your area health and safety rep for the in's and out's.

Who told the DOM 5 times about the carpet in the mess room? Better still is it in writing, worded as a formal complaint about the condition of the carpet in the mess room being a serious and potential hazard to members of staff well-being. The CWU Rep functions are as an Industrial Relations Rep not as a health and safety rep so it is not really any of his concern although I know of some reps that perform dual functions IR & H&Safety. It is the manager's job to provide his staff with a safe working environment. Your local enforcing authority inspector could be asked to pay a visit to your workplace if conditions are not safe.

brothermagrew · Post by **brothermagrew** » 09 Oct 2008, 18:12

paul_skinback

If you think there is a health and safety problem in your workplace you should first discuss it with your employer, supervisor or manager. You may also wish to discuss it with your safety representative, if there is one. You, your employer or your safety representative can get information on health and safety in confidence by calling HSE's Infoline telephone service on 0845 345 0055.

If you think your employer is exposing you to risks or is not carrying out legal duties, and you have pointed this out without getting a satisfactory answer, you can contact the enforcing authority for health and safety in your workplace. Health and safety inspectors can give advice on how to comply with the law. They also have powers to enforce it. HSE's Medical Advisory Service can give advice on health at work. Youremployer can give you their names and addresses. You can get advice on general fire precautions etc from the Fire Brigade or your fire officer.

pickaname · Post by **pickaname** » 09 Oct 2008, 18:39

Luckily we have good representation...the only downside is this makes management more agressive and stubborn. Even more so after the last national "agreement"

CWU is a democratic organisation. If youre unhappy then vote the guy or guyess out.

paul_skinback · Post by **paul_skinback** » 09 Oct 2008, 21:01

silverback wrote:I can also sympathise somewhat. I dont know your rep or unit so cant comment on that, specifically. What DOM`s are doing is taking bits and pieces from Phase 3 of the Pay and Mod agreement which suits them. Reps are bound by this agreement (that the majority of CWU members signed up to). It is no picnic for the reps and they must take what little scraps out of this agreement that benefit the members and push this with management. If you are really that miffed, then why not take the responsibility on and become a rep.

Thanks for your comment abd pleaser note my origianl post:

Before anyone says "YOU DO IT THEN" When I complained a while back to our rep he flung his box of paperwork on the desk and said "You phuqing do it then" So i applied and got the job. He only got 1 vote. I then flung the box of paperwork back at him and said "look and learn. You have it back and do it properly this time" Did he learn? NOPE he is still 100% grade A hopeless.

Why do people volunteer for a job they dont want to do? Why do some reps BS instead of looking for the right answer? As i say looking at this forum we have a lot of staff who are being taken advantage of and yet we are paying for a service. What worries me is when the time comes or us to get the squeeze that many already have on this forum, my rep will be no support whatsoever so I may as well submit to the DOMs now

Credit to good reps i just wish we had one instead of a twat who transmits either silence or BS but does not do any recieving form the members.

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 09 Oct 2008, 21:07

Im a local IR Rep and with a pegasus revision and flexibilty phase 3 going on at the moment im bit fed up with the job and the hassle from my members.

My DOM dosent seem overly intersted in phase 3 at the moment which one would assume is good, but the members are impatient for something to be sorted out, which as soon as it is means covering sick leave so im happy to wait. Its RM that wanted flexibilty not us, so let RM come to us.

I do my best and if anybody else wants a go at the job I will stand aside for them guaranteed, cant be fairer than that.

In fact I wish somebody would take over so I can concentrate all my energies on being a branch political officer.

paul_skinback · Post by **paul_skinback** » 09 Oct 2008, 21:07

linkinpark wrote:Sorry Brother i feel i cant sign that for two reasons first "OUR" reps do a bloody hard and often thankless task for nothing, with little / no support from HQ and infact with their hinderence often times! And that brings me neatly to the second reason "I" feel it is the leadership that is flawed and cant have ago at a rep as long as they are given a sh*t example by HQ! With that said if as an office you feel your own rep is wanting in some aspects then the office should get together with the rep and discuss in the open what is going wrong, why and how best to move forward. None of that will be easy but if as you say the office feel the same then you all should be able to come to some agreement on what you expect from each other from there. Good luck.

Fair doo's and as I have stated credit to good reps who want to do the job. If you had our rep you would see its nothing to do with head officie in his case as he could find a lot of answers on this forum instead of dishing the BS he does daily. As for the office getting together, I have tried that as well and even when other menbers tell him he is crap he just throws his toys out the pram and sulks or in the past has chucked the stero across the office! He also will not keep a secret so buggered if I am gonna aks him anything private. We tried to get him to Sweden once for an assisited suicide but he saw my hammer as we dragged him on the ferry!

saga · Post by **saga** » 10 Oct 2008, 19:23

As a rep I know how difficult it can be so if you think you can do any better than your own rep - then have the balls to do it ! All reps positions are up for grabs in January so step forward and take the position. It is so easy to critise on the sidelines but step into a reps shoes and you will realise that suddenly YOU are the person who has to take the flak from all sides and only then can you appreciate what reps go through. Put up-or shut up!

andy2007 · Post by **andy2007** » 10 Oct 2008, 20:05

I'm sorry, but I can't sign your Petition either. At least not in it's current form. All but a couple of our Reps are excellent. But they are often undermined by HQ, when it comes to the Local Agreements, for the Pay and Modernisation Agrement. If you were to change it, to demand that CWU HQ pay attention to their Local Reps. Then I'd be happy to sign it.

paul_skinback · Post by **paul_skinback** » 10 Oct 2008, 20:27

andy2007 wrote:I'm sorry, but I can't sign your Petition either. At least not in it's current form. All but a couple of our Reps are excellent. But they are often undermined by HQ, when it comes to the Local Agreements, for the Pay and Modernisation Agrement. If you were to change it, to demand that CWU HQ pay attention to their Local Reps. Then I'd be happy to sign it.

OK fair diccum See it now, tell your mates get em all to sign and then we can send it to head office. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/CWU/

Last one to sign it is a big girls blouse

paul_skinback · Post by **paul_skinback** » 10 Oct 2008, 21:18

linkinpark wrote:
paul_skinback wrote:
andy2007 wrote:I'm sorry, but I can't sign your Petition either. At least not in it's current form. All but a couple of our Reps are excellent. But they are often undermined by HQ, when it comes to the Local Agreements, for the Pay and Modernisation Agrement. If you were to change it, to demand that CWU HQ pay attention to their Local Reps. Then I'd be happy to sign it.
OK fair diccum See it now, tell your mates get em all to sign and then we can send it to head office. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/CWU/

Last one to sign it is a big girls blouse
Sorry yet again. I know you think your rep sucks and thats real sad and bad but most reps try to do their best, and do so with the tools in front of them, and i truly feel you need to direct your anger in the right direction or better still go for it yourself cause in all truth you would get my vote! I cant have ago at a rep i dont know, about problems in your office that i dont understand. Please if your not happy talk, get elected as a rep and move forward cause that lot up there need someone with a bit of fire and decency! Good luck.

I cant apply for another reason and do get a tad tired (with respect) of the same you do it answer. Why do some volunteer if they dont want to do the job. CWU should take a tuff stance on the few cowboy reps.
As I said ealier credit to the good ones.

Our rep is OK looking after his own problems but sod all the rest. he is OK BSing cos he cant be bothered to look up the answer and if our Area CWU rep cant be bothered shall I put in for both jobs then?

Looking at this forum we are not alone!

Geordie · Post by **Geordie** » 10 Oct 2008, 21:26

You've already mentioned you stood for, and got elected to the job.

You then handed it back to the Rep who you have no faith in, and now you simply criticise them.

You obviously have a significant issue with your rep, so in your position, I'd stand for the job, get on the committee, learn more about the job, and if I felt the same way about the Area Rep i'd stand against him.