Our DO thinking of leaving CWU

[andy2007]

Some of the posties in our DO have been talking of leaving the CWU. More and more of them are asking whats the point of paying into a union that is so out of touch. I heard one old timer real of a list as long as your arm of all the things the union have given away over the the last 10 yrs. The general feeling is the the CWU is part of the problem and part of the reason we are now in such a mess.

What are you thinking of doing, if you do leave the CWU?
Join another Union?
If you do, you'll have a hard time getting it "recognised" by RM. If you don't, they'll treat you like a doormat!

[Martin Walsh]

In times of strikes and trouble you have offices adopting a number of positions some bury their heads in the sand , others get angry with Royal Mail and choose to fight normally the majority and some choose to blame the CWU.

The CWU have not chosen to give up any terms and conditions these have been proposed by Royal Mail and have been normally resulted in Royal Mail paying for change be that by improve basic pay , improved attendance remember the right to work less than 6 days week was only introduced in 2003. Basic pay was improved by £26.28 in 2003 as a result of two deliveries going when in reality over 95% was delivered on the GP.

The CWU is not perfect but it is a voluntary organisation which has over 90% of members within Royal Mail more in big cities and it is an effective organisiation which has defeated the Government both tories and Labour 3 times on privitiasation.

In addition it is attempting to fight the attacks on us. The most improtant thing is every member is the union , as are all reps what exactly has your office done to defend those terms and conditions.

If you seriously think coming out of the CWU will protect you from the most ruthless employer in the UK then do so , but dont come crying when they target you because you might as well put a white flag on top of your office because they will see you as an office with no backbone and will attack your terms and conditions in the full knowledge that your office is not protected by the union and will not fight back.

I personally would rather have a smaller union with people willing to fight for the future then have people in it who frankly have no backbone and just want to moan about things.

The real enemy is the employer who is intent on destroying your jobs , your earnings , your pensions , your job sercuirity and your future. Yet if you listren to some people its all the thought of the CWU , get real ! Wake up and smell the coffee Royal Mail intend to attack you like never before and the only defence we have got is if we stick together and fight.

September will be our month as the traffic biulds up and we have more and more ballots on stream. We will win these but you have to choose which side your on , its either the CWU or Royal Mail , there is no middle ground only appeasement.

[shadow]

Well said.

[mailman71]

as a postie for nearly 39 years i could be called an old timer and there's no way i would ever contemplate leaving the union,in all the time i've been in the union i dont think the members have ever been under so much pressure as just now.
the union have'nt covered themselves in glory just now with the time there taking to get ballots organised etc but anybody leaving the inion and then getting into problems with management will be in real trouble so stand together or fall .

[brothermagrew]

Bill Morris – former General Secretary of the Transport & General Workers Union,
once said, “if trades unions did not exist in today’s world then someone would invent
them”.

This statement is certainly very true. Despite the fact that the introduction of new
technology has resulted in more sophisticated ways of working, it has not eradicated
the poor working conditions that many workers still face.

Today’s workers continue to experience bullying, harassment and discrimination at
work. They continue to work excessive hours, and their jobs have become more
stressful. More importantly workers today continue to be underpaid for the work that
they carry out.

The type of work that is performed may have changed but the fact remains. Where
there are bosses that are driven by the desire to achieve higher profit margins and
increased productivity – there are workers that are being treated unfairly. Quite
simply trade unions are just as necessary in today’s employment world as they were
in Victorian times.

Every worker deserves to be treated with respect at work and deserves to be
reasonably paid for their labour. Every worker deserves to have a Voice at work and
they deserve to have their views listened to. Every worker deserves to have a safe
environment to work in that is free from hazards. Every worker deserves to be able to
turn to someone for advice, guidance and, if they require it, representation and every
worker deserves to be treated equally where they can work in an environment that is
free from bullying, harassment and discrimination.

These are the reasons why people join trade unions and until we have a society that
has eliminated these problems from every workplace then trade unions will always be
needed.

The trade union movement continues to campaign for better working conditions and
more rights for its members. We believe that this will be easier to achieve if we are
bigger - the bigger our membership – the stronger we become.

If we are stronger and we unite workers from across the country then we can improve
the lives of our members - UNITY IS STRENGTH.

[tiredwalker]

we have 2 DO's near us that have very little union members in, RM love them so much one has van share in and guess what both are getting walk sequencing ,machines to test mainly cos there is no union resistance to it. Think very carefully about leaving the union for all its fault its better in than out.

[belle smith]

Some of the posties in our DO have been talking of leaving the CWU. More and more of them are asking whats the point of paying into a union that is so out of touch. I heard one old timer real of a list as long as your arm of all the things the union have given away over the the last 10 yrs. The general feeling is the the CWU is part of the problem and part of the reason we are now in such a mess.

The 2007 agreement should never have been recommended, let alone drafted so in a sense the CWU are part of the problem. The apparent need for a hasty resolution then has lead us to this point - perhaps the most precarious situation for RM employees ever.

But lets not forget that Royal Mail DO NOT care about your working conditions, your pay, you future, your family...THEY COULDNT CARE LESS.

Make no mistake, without the Union (the other people who work for this company) you are alone.

If you want a full time, permanent job and dont fancy a part time, ad-hoc job in the near future - stick with the Union.

well said that man!

btw this is a problem for all of us if enough people leave RM wouldn't think twice about derecognising the CWU

[delboy]

There is good points to the CWU but in my office the feeling is the same as the original post..

[michris]

20 reasons to stay in the CWU for all it's faults:

1. Union members get paid more (TUC figures show this can be by around 17%).
2. Health & Safety at union workplaces is better (there are 50% less accidents in
union workplaces).
3. Redundancies happen less in unionised workplaces; payoffs are negotiated
and usually higher than where there is no union.
4. CWU members are covered by 24 hour accident insurance.
5. CWU members can be accompanied by their union representatives to
grievance meetings.
6. CWU members can be accompanied by their union representatives to
disciplinary meetings.
7. CWU members have access to union training and a variety of courses at Union
learning centres (from computer courses to languages and vocational training).
8. CWU member’s next of kin receive funeral benefit should the worst happen.
9. CWU members win millions of pounds a year in compensation claims backed
by our legal team.
10. CWU members have access to advice, support and legal back up on work
related issues.
11. CWU members can access legal advice on non work related issues.
12. The CWU campaigns nationally amongst employers, politicians and industry
groups to improve working rights and legislation.
13. All CWU members have a voice in our democratic union and all can get
involved in their branch and stand for union elections.
14. The CWU has thousands of trained reps who ensure that employers keep to the
law at work and stick to agreements made with the company.
15. The CWU fights for the rights of all workers and is opposed to all forms of
discrimination in and out of work.
16. CWU members get discounts on a range of financial services including cheap
health insurance through the Communication Workers Friendly Society.
17. Many CWU branches offer a discounted Will making service for members.
18. CWU members are covered by our motor breakdown cover scheme.
19. The CWU backs equal treatment for part time and temporary workers.
20. Joining the CWU lets you join forces with hundreds of thousands of other
workers and be able to speak with a stronger voice for a better working life.

Question now being do ya all still want to come out

well said sir
never heard of no 18 though can you expand

[spilie]

another of these anti union posts

[brothermagrew]

Michris afraid not brother, as I do not have a car it isn't particularly relevant to me personally, but I am sure if you contacted your Branch they may be able to provide you with further information. Failing that I am sure that someone on RMC will know where to point you in the right direction.

[westlondonpostie]

another of these anti union posts

Don't think so mate, the membership and colleagues are solid, people are just angry that HQ don't seem to be up for the fight.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

20 reasons to stay in the CWU for all it's faults:

18. CWU members are covered by our motor breakdown cover scheme.

well said sir
never heard of no 18 though can you expand

http://www.cwu.one1one.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[brothermagrew]

See what I mean michris, pure excellence from brother Teebs

[spilie]

another of these anti union posts

Don't think so mate, the membership and colleagues are solid, people are just angry that HQ don't seem to be up for the fight.

Up in Scotland mate weve been given the shaft big time for years, we started long ago with the strikes glad you have now joined us but on here recently there has been a wave of lets say dubios posts.