Carphone Preston branch joins union blackout

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/28 ... oneworker/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Carphone Warehouse is continuing its blocking of union web sites, this time deciding that employees working at Tulketh Mill, Preston, don't need access to information hosted at the Carphoneworker website.

On Friday, those working at Preston found their web filter was preventing access to the Communication Workers Union-run website, as had happened to staff in Irlam ten days ago. That block appeared to be down to a zero-tolerance attitude to spelling, though why the company has now decided employees in Preston should be denied access to union information remains a mystery.

Last week Carphone Warehouse told us that the Irlam block was because of "inaccurate information" on the site. The company also promised to rush us, and the union, the details of those inaccuracies - though we're all still waiting.

We're also waiting to hear from the company about the Preston block, having been told someone would be call us right back. The Irlam block mysteriously vanished after our enquiries, so we'll keep you informed if that happens again, or if the company finally decides to tell us anything useful. ®

Update: The union tells us that while http://www.carphoneworker.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; remains verboten, Preston workers can now access the site at carphoneworker.wordpress.com, which points to the same content: we're still waiting for a rational explanation and will let you know once we have one.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/28 ... ker_again/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Carphone Warehouse has resolved the confusion surrounding the blocking of a union website, by explaining that the company provides for all employees' needs, thus making the union redundant.

CarphoneWorker is run by the Communication Workers Union and provides information for the several-hundred union members employed by CPW, as well as anyone else who's interested. But it's recently been unavailable to employees at a couple of CPW sites, and now the company has told The Register that it feels access to the site is unnecessary for the happy employees at CPW.

Previously we've been told that there was inaccurate information on the site, and that the company would be talking to the union about rectifying that. But CPW failed to provide us, or the union, with any examples of such inaccuracy and in that instance simply removed the block without explanation. This time there is an official explanation, though not what we expected:

"We have taken the decision to restrict access to this website. We already have established ways of communicating and consulting with our employees including forums, meetings with employee representatives and regular engagement."

Companies often try to present union membership as unnecessary, though rarely in such stark language, but perhaps all the employees at CPW really are happy bunnies and in no way worried about the forthcoming division of the company. It is worth noting that Carphone Warehouse does not officially recognise the union, and that there aren't enough members to force it to do so, so the company is at liberty to block access to anything it wants, as the union accepts:

"We are pleased Carphone Warehouse has now decided that union information is not, in fact, inaccurate. However, we're disappointed that the company wants to stop employees accessing independent advice on their rights and contacting a union of their choice."

At the time of writing the site remains accessible to employees as carphoneworker.wordpress.com, though that's unlikely to last, and union-minded CPW employees will have to get their information at home, or trust that the company will tell them everything they need to know. ®

[DGP1]

I'm confused surely you should'nt be accessing non work sites in work (or course I don't have anytime at work to surf the net as I'm sure many delivery posties also don't).

[norbert]

I'm confused surely you should'nt be accessing non work sites in work (or course I don't have anytime at work to surf the net as I'm sure many delivery posties also don't).

managers do have the time

[DGP1]

I'm confused surely you should'nt be accessing non work sites in work (or course I don't have anytime at work to surf the net as I'm sure many delivery posties also don't).

managers do have the time

[Big Daz]

Irony is the CPW workers can simly access from their home PC's/internet connection or if they havent got that go to a public libary.

[DGP1]

Irony is the CPW workers can simly access from their home PC's/internet connection or if they havent got that go to a public libary.

Or their internet enabled mobile phone