what does the union do for you?

[drevil1969uk]

As the title says, what does the union do for you, are they any good?

Im a strong union man but im getting more and more fed up with my reps, they seem to make a joke of alot of things and argue my case wrongly if taken for counselling. I really do have to rack my brain for the last time they did anything substantial to help me out and i really am at a loss.

The current dispute they havent done anything for me and more personal things they havent been much use either, it always take an area rep to get anything done but they arent in the building often.

If i leave the union now, which is a real possibilty, where do i stand? I havent had much support anyway but then wont have to go on strike when royal mail has us by the short and curlies in the new year and we strike for a battle we already lost. I am presuming rejoining union at a later date is possible or can they refuse to allow someone to join them?

[Dogs of War]

The CWU are useless we had Royal Mail by the balls but Billy and Dave took a back hander.

[Sci_Dog]

My local Union Rep has been absolutely priceless! He has been a rock for me when slimy lil managers manufacture conduct cases against me. Just read my previous posts. I think all local Reps do a very robust job in very hard conditions.

As for the guys at the top of the Union tree.....well that's a different story.

However I can't fault the Union at a local level. I really can't. No matter how pathetic you think they are, it would be so much worse without them. They make a hard and very demanding job that bit better. Even if it's only a little better, it's still better. The local Union Reps are worth the fees alone. They are the guys and girls which take the s**t day in, day out. They are the guys and girls which have to sit in on conduct meetings. They are the guys and girls that have to fight against management when they fabricate conduct cases. They do so much for so little or no thanks.

Each and every local Rep deserves a pat on the back. They really do.

And I for one appreciate my Union mainly because of the local Reps.

As I said the people at the top of the Union tree, I have different views on....http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... =1&t=21761" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

drevil1969uk - You call your rep useless - I take it you realise that its a voluntary position in which they can only get training when RM release them from their duties. They only know slightly more than you probably and have to rely on reps further up the chain feeding them the information they need.

The reason the Area Reps are usually better is they have full time release and more experience and therefore its easier for them to keep up to date and abreast of any situation.

The reason an Area Rep is not always in the building is that they represent members outside of your unit and will have to visit them occasionally.

If you really think the rep is useless, you must by definition think you can do a better job, and if you do then why not apply for it. I wish you luck in your endeavours in what appears is a thankless and frustrating task, not made any easier by CWU HQ.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

If i leave the union now, which is a real possibilty, where do i stand? I havent had much support anyway but then wont have to go on strike when royal mail has us by the short and curlies in the new year and we strike for a battle we already lost. I am presuming rejoining union at a later date is possible or can they refuse to allow someone to join them?

To Answer there points rather than post my views as I did above.

1. Where will you stand - that could depend on the local branch rules - having read through mine you could be left out in the cold.

2. Even though you wont be a member, and in fact when you where a member, the decision to go on strike is yours and yours alone. The is nothing that a Union can do to force a member or non member to strike.

3. Yes you can join again, However as per 1. If you join when you need representation you may fall foul of branch rules in that situations that arise before you joined cannot be considered.

3.3
The officers and representatives of the Branch will not represent or carry out any business for new members regarding issues that have happened prior to their membership being received by the Branch, except in cases where the Branch officers feel it would be in the interests of the Branch and its membership to do so.

[kwikpost]

My local Union Rep has been absolutely priceless! He has been a rock for me when slimy lil managers manufacture conduct cases against me. Just read my previous posts. I think all local Reps do a very robust job in very hard conditions.

As for the guys at the top of the Union tree.....well that's a different story.

However I can't fault the Union at a local level. I really can't. No matter how pathetic you think they are, it would be so much worse without them. They make a hard and very demanding job that bit better. Even if it's only a little better, it's still better. The local Union Reps are worth the fees alone. They are the guys and girls which take the s**t day in, day out. They are the guys and girls which have to sit in on conduct meetings. They are the guys and girls that have to fight against management when they fabricate conduct cases. They do so much for so little or no thanks.

Each and every local Rep deserves a pat on the back. They really do.

And I for one appreciate my Union mainly because of the local Reps.

As I said the people at the top of the Union tree, I have different views on....http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... =1&t=21761" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

agree 100% with sci_dog. our area rep seems always more then ready to go the extra mile. it's those at the top that seem to be lacking.

[La Poste]

My local rep has been a diamond, my area rep allways helpful, I have only just got in touch with branch and they are helping me alot too in my conduct case at the moment.
I don't know what people expect from a union, that they wave their magic wand and everything all becomes good.
If you are in the sh1t and you are guilty there is not a lot the union can do to help you if however you are in the sh1t and it looks like you didn't do it the union will help you 100% IMO.
The union has much more experience in conduct issues than me and have given me very sound and solid advice.
They have sent reps to all my conduct meetings.
They have helped behind the scenes in encouraging witnesses to come forward and say what they saw which helped me a lot.
Without the union in my case I would have been shafted ages ago but with their help the case in still ongoing and looking better for me as time goes by.
The union are there to advice you not to fight all your battles for you.
And they cost next to nothing, a very good deal IMO.

[drevil1969uk]

see this heres the thing, i am not getting much support from my reps to be honest, most cases that have gotten that serious i have had to fight myself. I know the job they do is hard and there is no doubting that it is, espiecially a H & S, in my opinion, but they still doesnt change the fact that several things have happened where i have worked personally and i felt that they should of been fought much harder and better. feel i was in a win win situation and somehow was allowed to lose the situation

[snoddy]

The one and only time I fell foul of the conduct code, the area reps deputy represented me and he was brilliant (better than the area rep).
However he wasnt well in with the local branch and is no longer a rep. Pity really as he was a genuine trade unionist who wanted to help the members but because he wasnt interested in his own advancement was forced out by others only interested in their own careers.

[drevil1969uk]

I am getting feed back from people at work that have said themselves they are fed up amd arent getting supported so guess really wanted to try and see what the vibe was on here