If it's a YES vote, will you GENUINELY leave the CWU?

[bexhil palace]

I have just had an appeal regarding a 2 year serious upheld.(I was completely exonerated).
If it wasn't for my superb rep,and the hard work of the area rep i would not be in a job.
So although i feel the agreement is a pile of crap,i don't think we should ever underestimate the importance of the union in the workplace.
I can fully empathise with the anger and frustration felt by the members, but it is vital that people stay members,and protect the union at grassroots level.
The alternatives do not bear thinking about.

[EJL]

There is no worse situation for a rep, than telling a tearful ex-member that you cannot represent them at a conduct interview because they have ended their membership and in my experience, they always get sacked.

Whatever your feelings are on the agreement, think long and hard before tearing up your card?

[billyhayes]

After 60 votes so far, it's a 50/50 split. A great point made about boycotting payment. Remember folks, WE ARE the union.

It is so true about the local reps doing all the work/fighting, with no back-up the higher they go.. Or at least it is with Counters.

I have heard "staff Association" bandied about somewhere on this site, many moons ago. Not got the clout of a fully recognized union but that would be a start to an otherwise non-existent alternative. What do others think? Tell us the pros and cons...

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I have just had an appeal regarding a 2 year serious upheld.(I was completely exonerated).
If it wasn't for my superb rep,and the hard work of the area rep i would not be in a job.
So although i feel the agreement is a pile of crap,i don't think we should ever underestimate the importance of the union in the workplace.
I can fully empathise with the anger and frustration felt by the members, but it is vital that people stay members,and protect the union at grassroots level.
The alternatives do not bear thinking about.

Your right though sometimes I think the Union at the Unit level and that at HQ level are like two separate and different organisations. The problem is neither end of the Union could do without the other end and all the support structure linking us.

Although very disappointed in the deal, which I think will get in by a small but significant majority, I will stay in just for the sad fact that without the Union RM would and will be a very bad place to work in. At least with the CWU we have a chance of holding back or stopping RMs push to get us on NMW.

BTW accepting that the deal will get in no way will stop me trying to reject or improve the deal.

[steven100]

I'd leave, i'm leaving September anyway so i'd just save £12 a month on fees for a few months.

[dubdaz]

I'll be leaving after I vote no.We were told by our rep today that we should all vote yes as if its a no vote Royal Mail will just bring it all in anyway without the carrots.
I'm not paying any more to Billy and his mates,it just sticks in my throat to much,they have no idea how gruelling this job is,as it is now,and they think we'll be able to do more.

[norfolk n chance]

Remember that most of us get a massive amount of help from the local reps and if/when this deal comes in then we're going to need them more than ever.

and if there is a yes vote us reps are going to need your support more than ever

[davespan]

I would stay, but I don't think I would ever again stand on the picket line.

[BELIAL]

It would depend on the size of the vote . I think anything more than 55% yes would be the cut off point. Since this union seems to have ceased to function as a union in the traditional sense then the only point staying on is to try to change it. Given the fact that it is not overburdened with democratic principles (how many of you could make an informed vote for this PEC, ever get to see PEC members voting records ?) you would struggle to overturn a 10% majority.

[Pegman]

I would stay but only because of the other benefits I have access to as a Union member, it's not just about pay rises is it ?
i find both my Reps very helpful and supportive, and to let them down now is wrong, but if they ask me to go on strike again, thats a different matter, I would have to think really long and really hard about that one.

[stokes11eg]

If Big Billy goes, then I'll stay--but there is no room for him and me!

[Exrep]

After all my rants and long thought on this matter i will decide to stay in the union.

I will be voting no on this agreement and i hope the majority will aswell but i do not trust R/M one bit and i just like the feeling knowing i have union backing should anything happen in the future were i might need them.

Gut feeling tells me to leave but that could be a rather hasty decision.

At the moment i am one confused postie.

[BELIAL]

Membership of a staff association is free and, it would appear, confirms all the same benefits

[spilie]

i will leave

[packmule]

it's not a good agreement but royal mail would be a minimum wage outfit if there was no union

Looks as though we're heading that way already and with cwu blessing

:mfo :mfo :mfo