Can the union help?

[bigtee]

Hi, Could someone advise what to do please, i've been signed off work due to work related stress (financial difficulty). Over the last 9 weeks i have been paid £170 every week, with outgoings of nearly £165. I have spoke to 3 managers on average 3 times a week voicing my difficulties, each and everyone has said i will have a word with the book room. NOTHING has changed, i am only on a 25 hour contract, but so are 60% of the leave reserves at our place, but they seem to get 40 hour duties. I get no overtime, even though the managers know my situation.

I want to do something about this, i am not going to be pushed out by this "if you don't like it, you know what to do attitude"

I was given a stage 2 in Feb 09, will this sickness put me on a stage 3? I want to know whether i have good grounds, to either put in a grievance or something that makes these gaffers stand up and listen. This has totally ruined our Christmas, i have a 8 year old daughter who has just overcome heart surgery and wanted to make things a little bit more special this year, but thanks to this place i am stressed out to the max.

Is their any help i can reach out to?

Any help would be grateful

Thank

[bigtee]

Have been off for 9 weeks ? Or just flat wages for 9 weeks ? If your warning was in Feb09 , you`ll trigger stage 3 by taking 10+ days in 1 absence in the next 12 months ,or 2 absences in any 6 month period in the same 12 month period. So if its your 1st absence that parts fine , its just the number of days you`ve had off ?

Flat wages for 9 weeks.
My first day of sickness was yesterday but the sick note is for 2 weeks, so if i stick to what my doctor suggests then i will get a stage 3?

The grievance, who would i put that in against? My line manager, collections manager, distribution manager, book room? I have spoken to them all about my situation since the end of September, so should i go straight to the top and ie. distribution manager?.

How do i contact a local union rep, i have looked everywhere for a phone number and found nothing!

[adelm]

Phone the helpline for employees on 0800 6 888 777,they may be able help get your outgoins down a bit,,also ask about the rowland hill fund(operates to help rm employees and families),,in view of your daughters illness they may be able to help,,look at the cwu website and follow the branches link to find local support,,or phone headquarters and ask on
0208 9717 200
even if you face a stage 3 a union rep can point out mitigating circumstances and look into your problems with o/t,,also you might qualify for some help from union hardship fund.Good luck with it all

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Phone the helpline for employees on 0800 6 888 777,they may be able help get your outgoins down a bit,,also ask about the rowland hill fund(operates to help rm employees and families),,in view of your daughters illness they may be able to help,,look at the cwu website and follow the branches link to find local support,,or phone headquarters and ask on
0208 9717 200
even if you face a stage 3 a union rep can point out mitigating circumstances and look into your problems with o/t,,also you might qualify for some help from union hardship fund.Good luck with it all

Cracking first post - welcome adelm

[bigtee]

Phone the helpline for employees on 0800 6 888 777,they may be able help get your outgoins down a bit,,also ask about the rowland hill fund(operates to help rm employees and families),,in view of your daughters illness they may be able to help,,look at the cwu website and follow the branches link to find local support,,or phone headquarters and ask on
0208 9717 200
even if you face a stage 3 a union rep can point out mitigating circumstances and look into your problems with o/t,,also you might qualify for some help from union hardship fund.Good luck with it all

Thanx for that, will give em a ring tomorrow.

Regarding the grievance! should i see what the reps says regarding, who is in the wrong? i have heard that some reps will try talking me out of it, is that true?

Regards

[coxie]

yes bigtee if you follow your doctors 2 week sign off you will trigger a stage 3, if you can keep your absence to 9 days and then go back you will be ok and if you can go without anymore sick till the same time in feb you were issued the stage last year you will go back to a stage 1. If you can keep it to 4 days or less I think it is then go another couple of months you will be clear of all stages and then you can start going sick again if you feel like it.

[adelm]

Phone the helpline for employees on 0800 6 888 777,they may be able help get your outgoins down a bit,,also ask about the rowland hill fund(operates to help rm employees and families),,in view of your daughters illness they may be able to help,,look at the cwu website and follow the branches link to find local support,,or phone headquarters and ask on
0208 9717 200
even if you face a stage 3 a union rep can point out mitigating circumstances and look into your problems with o/t,,also you might qualify for some help from union hardship fund.Good luck with it all

Thanx for that, will give em a ring tomorrow.

Regarding the grievance! should i see what the reps says regarding, who is in the wrong? i have heard that some reps will try talking me out of it, is that true?

Regards

Suggest make the calls to helplines,don`t be afraid to tell them everything,get the union invoved,see what the rep says,tell him you feel unfairly treated re: o/time,,isnt a matter of talking you out of anything but he may be able to help you improve your situation short of putting in a grievance(which isn`t without stress of its own 4 you)having the bottle to stand up for whats right is good but,,your position at the moment through no fault of your own isnt great so get all the help and advice that you can,,think about what You need most right now and consider,,can you get it by co operation or does it have to be confrontation.Either way good luck

[bigtee]

Spoke to the union rep today, he was very helpful saying he will ring me tomorrow, after speaking to the distribution manager. I was took back by his eagerness to help to be honest, after all the negativity the CWU have received over the last few weeks, plus the on going saga with RM, i was more than satisfied by his attitude towards the matter. Thanx

Regarding the 0800 6 888 777, that didn't offer much, apart from me disclosing the matter to the lady, she only gave me CWU HQ phone number and offered nothing else!