What is NI Combined Branch recommendation?

[BelfastPostie]

Are there any other delivery people from the Belfast Branch on here? I heard that the branch are recommending a yes vote. I couldn't believe it when I heard it from another postie until we had a teamtalk and a WTL yesterday on our floor by a few branch officials. As they were attempting quite hard to rearrange the meanings of the agreement and point out the positive aspects of their interpretation more posties were throwing questions at them about all areas of the agreement to which they didnt really have any reply, which further enhanced my rejection of this let down. Last week there 10 members on our floor (BT8) who withdrew their membership from the union. I know its not a good thing to do but its hardly awe-inspiring when you read in between the lines of the goings on in our union both at home and across the water.

[DirtyHarry]

That could be 10 less "NO" votes, mate.
I would urge all colleagues, as it were, not to shoot their load too soon, vote first, then if we're truly screwed again, then leave the discredited CWU.

[mucker]

Last week there 10 members on our floor (BT8) who withdrew their membership from the union.

IMO that's jumping the gun,however i can understand how they feel.my question is,if we get a yes vote will we have a big numbers leaving the union

[dolphinsweremonkeys]

There is another meeting of divisional reps next Wednesday, God knows what for, seems to be that most are following the party line and pushing for a YES vote from the members, probably because they have'nt the balls to say or do otherwise or they are just thick and cant argue the point why the members see this as the shite deal most of us see it as.

I mean to say, more work, less time to do the work in, less money on the scale of things, later Saturdays, targeted d2ds ie Saturdays every drop point hit, unlimited delivery spans, the list goes on and on.

Would love to have had a deal were I could have given a yes vote but this is just shambolic!

Slan.

[DirtyHarry]

Last week there 10 members on our floor (BT8) who withdrew their membership from the union.

IMO that's jumping the gun,however i can understand how they feel.my question is,if we get a yes vote will we have a big numbers leaving the union

I would answer that with another question.
After the 2003 SDD agreement, the 2007 Pay & Modernisation agreement, and now, the 2010 and Beyond agreement, would there be much point in either of us handing another £150 to the CWU?
I don't know about you, but I want to be part of a union that fights to improve things for postal workers, not one that continually leaves us worse off than before.

[DirtyHarry]

Would love to have had a deal were I could have given a yes vote but this is just shambolic!

Slan.

Me too, would have made a pleasant change.

[belle smith]

Lots in office talking of leaving the union, there staying for the vote though!
I don't have the inclination to even attempt to persaude them to stay.

[DirtyHarry]

Lots in office talking of leaving the union, there staying for the vote though!
I don't have the inclination to even attempt to persaude them to stay.

I'm not surprised, I mean, what could any rep say to a member that would tempt them to stay in a union that only ever agrees with management in increasing workloads for postal workers, delivers deals that in real terms are pay cuts, completely wrecks the little quality time at weekends postal workers enjoy?
I'm guilty of persuading people not to leave the CWU after the God-awful 2007 P&M deal, not only will I not make the same mistake again, but I will be part of the inevitable exodus myself.

[belle smith]

Lots in office talking of leaving the union, there staying for the vote though!
I don't have the inclination to even attempt to persaude them to stay.

I'm not surprised, I mean, what could any rep say to a member that would tempt them to stay in a union that only ever agrees with management in increasing workloads for postal workers, delivers deals that in real terms are pay cuts, completely wrecks the little quality time at weekends postal workers enjoy?
I'm guilty of persuading people not to leave the CWU after the God-awful 2007 P&M deal, not only will I not make the same mistake again, but I will be part of the inevitable exodus myself.

I'm not a rep Harry.
I wont be leaving, but if this goes through, and we are balloted again in a couple of years time for another "save the union" national strike i'll be voting no

[Big Daz]

Last week there 10 members on our floor (BT8) who withdrew their membership from the union.

IMO that's jumping the gun,however i can understand how they feel.my question is,if we get a yes vote will we have a big numbers leaving the union

I would answer that with another question.
After the 2003 SDD agreement, the 2007 Pay & Modernisation agreement, and now, the 2010 and Beyond agreement, would there be much point in either of us handing another £150 to the CWU?
I don't know about you, but I want to be part of a union that fights to improve things for postal workers, not one that continually leaves us worse off than before.

The union can be changed, by the time I retire the current topbods will be just another page in the history books and the replacements may well be the best ever top bods!!!

[DirtyHarry]

The union can be changed, by the time I retire the current topbods will be just another page in the history books and the replacements may well be the best ever top bods!!!

I take very little comfort from that, Daz. It's taken seven very hard years for walking postmen/women to see the fantastic, easily do-able job, we had then, become the hugely bulky, teetering on the brink of impossible to complete every day, exhausting, pain inducing, bitch of a job we labour under now. And that, with the full co-operation of the CWU. It should never have turned out so bad for us, never.
I'm afraid, if this latest debacle, which will make our jobs even more intolerable, gets accepted, I'm through with the CWU, my patience will have finally been exhausted, and no amount of hoping that things will change, will induce me to carry on subsidising an organisation which is so blatantly letting down it's members, and is really starting to show an element of "well, once I'm alright, stuff everybody else", amongst those levels above unit rep.

[andy2007]

That could be 10 less "NO" votes, mate.
I would urge all colleagues, as it were, not to shoot their load too soon, vote first, then if we're truly screwed again, then leave the discredited CWU.

Precicely! Those who leave before the vote, are helping to force this deal on us! If they choose to leave AFTER the vote, then fair enough. Although I still believe that the best thing to do, is to try to change the CWU from the inside. Although I realise that there are some who don't believe that it's possible.

If you feel you must leave the CWU. Then PLEASE wait until after the Ballot!