Union Work

[Pat Ostman]

Can you help out and get trained by the union without being elected? I want to get some experience in this field before I rush in and out and out apply for a position in my DO?

Anyone know the rules on this? Would ask my rep but he is newly appointed and still training himself.

[belle]

When the union rep has to be re elected, stand against him if you are successful ask your branch to put you forward for
union skills one
union skills two
union skills three
postal agreements course
procedures

is there an elected health and safety rep in your office if not put your name forward and apply to go on
health and safety 1,2,3 good place to start alot of safety reps go on to be IR reps.

All courses are held at Alvescott lodge and some are held locally get your courses so your just not an elected rep but you will then be an accreditated rep best of luck

[belle]

Managers hate a good hEALTH AND SAFETY REP

[belle]

Under the facilities agreement they can turn you down for a course due to operational needs but have to prove it give plenty of notice and secondly if they turn you down twice put a grievance in or contact your branch as the education dept wont like this make sure you apply for the course through your branch

[brothermagrew]

Managers hate a good hEALTH AND SAFETY REP

In a strange sort of way this is healthy, because the safety rep then knows that they are performing their functions effectively.

[andy2007]

Me and my assistant rep having been doing the repping in our office for nearly a year now and still we havnt been on a course why cos the F**KING DIM wont release us but the good news is that hes had his arse kicked all over his little office by his boss which was very pleasant to witness just go for it like we did and jump straight into the deep end its a great baptism of fire

Give it time. My H&S Rep, had been in the position for 18 Months before he got any training whatsoever! He's trained up now. But only completed it last Month!

[rogue]

training is always very helpful but take my word for it jump in at the deep end and enjoy the ride ,if you need any assistance contact your area or divisional rep

[Pat Ostman]

It's something that interests me as I have seen Managers verbally attacking staff in inappropriate ways far too often.

I am going to see who our health and safety rep is tomorrow and if not might jump for that, as the work rep jobs are already taken.

Many thanks to you all!

[Ahebban]

Whether you receive training on both IR and Health and Safety courses or not, two qualities essential for any Rep are a 'thick skin' and 'commonsense' in abundance ...

one other thing to remember too is that respect is earned, whether it be from colleagues or your DOM, and not a given.

[DOM]

Managers hate a good hEALTH AND SAFETY REP

I dissagree.

I believe that every office would benefit from having a good Health and Safety Rep.

[DGP1]

Managers hate a good hEALTH AND SAFETY REP

I dissagree.

I believe that every office would benefit from having a good Health and Safety Rep.

Unfortunately following H&S regs costs money and most offices ignore them to get the job done quickly, I know that I follow most of the rules but I'm constantly harrassed by my managers over the time it takes me to do everything.

[Ahebban]

Yes, very often Managers and colleagues pay mere lip service to H&S. Very often H&S Reps have to resist using the 'told you so' and 'if only ...' phrases. It is not until there is a serious accident that people take note, even then it can only be short-term. Old habits die hard with 'Job and Finish' a good example. H&S is rarely flavour of the month, unless it suits either management or worker for a particular purpose, but rarely suiting both at the same time. You are at greater risk of alienating yourself as a H&S Rep, taking flack from all sides at times over what on the face of it appear trivial matters.

If risk assessments are done properly there should be room for flexibility on both sides on minor H&S issues where risk can be minimised. However, there should be no compromise on safety where risk assessments show real concern. It is then that your H&S Rep will look for support from people. Any H&S issues should be addressed urgently, irrespective of cost. A commonsense approach very often provides a cost-effective solution in any case.

I take my hat off to all Union and H&S Reps at all levels having done both myself in the past .. both can be inwardly rewarding when you get a particular issue resolved.

[andy2007]

Managers hate a good hEALTH AND SAFETY REP

I dissagree.

I believe that every office would benefit from having a good Health and Safety Rep.

It really depends on the Manager. There are some, like you, who take H&S seriously, rather than just paying lip service to it. I've encountered both "camps", over the years. Although, for the last couple of months, there's been a major drive from Management to improve H&S. Although, I'm far from convinced that it will continue, once the WCM Initiative has been completed, and the spotlight has moved elsewhere.

But although the Managers who take H&S seriously, do indeed benefit from a good H&S Rep. There are many others, who detest them. Because they have the knowledge, and backup, to FORCE them to deal with an issue, which they may not want dealt with.

For example: The RCCs (Rigid Cardboard Cages) that we had for years, for dealing with the Christmas Deferred. They caused vast numbers of Near Misses (I believe at one point, they reached 100 in one Shift), and a handful of accidents, every year. Because they were never "fit for purpose". It took YEARS, to get RM to stop using them. Despite a mountain of evidence that they were dangerous. We only succeeded in getting rid of them this year. By now, there shouldn't be any of them in use, anywhere within RM.