Changing the CWU from within

[Cut Off King]

Lots of debate about the agreement on this site basically boils down to people either

A -- Not liking the agreement, but willing to stay within the union and changing it from within

B -- Not liking the agreement, and leaving the CWU if the vote is a YES

Which of these two options will work?

Will option A work ? How easy if it to replace the sort of KEY senior members to change the direction that the union is heading in? Who will step up to the plate and actually put forward grass roots views of the job? How quick would the change be ?

Will option B work? Would a mass exodus of members subs force the senior CWU to change direction quickly? Would RM cash in on the situation and accelerate the demise of the RM ? Would a new union be formed from the crash ? Would another union step in and represent us ?

Your thoughts please.........

[westlondonpostie]

For me it's got to be a change from within, the likes of Billy, Dave & Bob and the PEC have spent to much time away from us on the front line and they do not really understand how the job has changed.
I would like to see them all have to work 1 week in 4 back as a Postman rather than have full release, maybe then they would really know how the membership feel and a better understanding of the conditions we all endure day in day out!

[Bouncing Souls]

I'm a 'A' person you can't change anything by being on the outside, agree with WestLondonPostie, that Billy and co should do a stint every year as a postie, either in delivery or Mail Centre, RDC etc, i'm sure Sir Tom Farmer used to do this when he owned Kwik Fit.

I'm not keen on everything in the deal, but i'll make sure my voice is heard and the only way to do that is by staying within the CWU and going to meetings etc etc

[spilie]

it is just about impossible to change this lot from within, has anyone been to a area meeting lately ?, i was and they had more plants in the room than the botanic gardens, anyone who disputed the rhetoric was treated with contempt and greeted with the same kind of patronising remarks that have been used on this site by the so called "in the know" crowd, so sadly i will withdraw if a yes is achieved

[dongash]

ALL THE SO CALLED LEADERSHIP HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE WHAT DELIVERY STAFF HAVE TO PUT UP WITH NOWADAYS. THE ONES THAT HAVE WORKED IN DELIVERY (IF THERE ARE ANY) DID SO A LONG TIME AGO AND JUST DON'T HAVE A CLUE. NONE OF THEM WOULD LAST A WEEK ON A DELIVERY. THE LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE A CROSS SECTION OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY DONE THE JOB RECENTLY. HOW CAN THEY NEGOIATE ABOUT A JOB THEY NO f**k ALL ABOUT ??

[MinisterofCucumber]

I'm with spilie.

We need to put the pressure on now. You can always leave the union and re-join later on.

To change from within you need to take control of your branch because the branch controls nominations for the professional positions. All the branch AGMs have taken place for this year (deadline 31st March). To take over a branch you would need to get quite a few supporters at the AGM.

Why go through this rigmarole?

My advice is to vote 'no' then leave the CWU. There will still be people in your office who are willing to pay £156 a year to these jokers. Let the union and management play their silly games but be ready to pull them up with the grievance procedure if they try to take the piss. There are plenty of people on RMC who can provide advice if you need it. Non members have a right to be informed of any proposed changes that will affect them. Your unit manager and rep will not be able to keep information from you under the guise of 'confidentiality'.

We could all go down to Wimbledon and urinate all over HQ but the best way to send these people a message is to cut off their money supply .

[spilie]

I'm with spilie.

We need to put the pressure on now. You can always leave the union and re-join later on.

To change from within you need to take control of your branch because the branch controls nominations for the professional positions. All the branch AGMs have taken place for this year (deadline 31st March). To take over a branch you would need to get quite a few supporters at the AGM.

Why go through this rigmarole?

My advice is to vote 'no' then leave the CWU. There will still be people in your office who are willing to pay £156 a year to these jokers. Let the union and management play their silly games but be ready to pull them up with the grievance procedure if they try to take the piss. There are plenty of people on RMC who can provide advice if you need it. Non members have a right to be informed of any proposed changes that will affect them. Your unit manager and rep will not be able to keep information from you under the guise of 'confidentiality'.

We could all go down to Wimbledon and urinate all over HQ but the best way to send these people a message is to cut off their money supply .

well said that Minister

[BELIAL]

I'm with spilie.

We need to put the pressure on now. You can always leave the union and re-join later on.

To change from within you need to take control of your branch because the branch controls nominations for the professional positions. All the branch AGMs have taken place for this year (deadline 31st March). To take over a branch you would need to get quite a few supporters at the AGM.

Why go through this rigmarole?

My advice is to vote 'no' then leave the CWU. There will still be people in your office who are willing to pay £156 a year to these jokers. Let the union and management play their silly games but be ready to pull them up with the grievance procedure if they try to take the piss. There are plenty of people on RMC who can provide advice if you need it. Non members have a right to be informed of any proposed changes that will affect them. Your unit manager and rep will not be able to keep information from you under the guise of 'confidentiality'.

We could all go down to Wimbledon and urinate all over HQ but the best way to send these people a message is to cut off their money supply .

The trouble with your plan is that nothing changes. The union careerists might groan about the lack of participation and widespread apathy but in reality that is exactly what they rely on to keep their safe little jobs . That very apathy will mean they will always get funding.
You would have more impact if you made that apathy work for you. I think you would be pleasantly surprised by the numbers required to transform your branch especially with the fallout from this deal.
As for missing this years AGM well imagine if you had been organised in 2007 , 2013 is not far off ,wonder what our overlords have got planned for us then.Dib Dib Dob Dob

[SpacePhoenix]

Option B would NEVER work, if too many people left the union we would risk RM de-recognising the CWU. Would they ever then recognise a new union? Everyone would then have no one to fight changes that they don't like and RM could basically do what the hell they liked within the law.

[spilie]

Option B would NEVER work, if too many people left the union we would risk RM de-recognising the CWU. Would they ever then recognise a new union? Everyone would then have no one to fight changes that they don't like and RM could basically do what the hell they liked within the law.

derecognise the union! look around you look at BA and even the RMT employment law is changed nearly every week, what we needed was a FIGHT we had the upper hand back in november but the snakes preferred to save thier skins rather than thier principles, and lets not forget to keep our eyes open in the future for billy and daves political careers

[BELIAL]

derecognise the union! look around you look at BA and even the RMT employment law is changed nearly every week, what we needed was a FIGHT we had the upper hand back in november but the snakes preferred to save thier skins rather than thier principles, and lets not forget to keep our eyes open in the future for billy and daves political careers

If that is what you think, and I'm not saying you are wrong, the question is what are you going to DO about it? Hiding in a corner will suit the "snakes" just fine, they will still be funded and you will be irrelevant .
You will be surprised how much you can achieve if you start acting in your own defence instead of hoping others will do it for you. Every fightback starts somewhere, and you are not as powerless and insignificant as some folks would have you believe

[spilie]

belial i know you have to start somewhere and that somewhere for me is leaving the union voting with my feet, only money hurts these people lack of money will be blamed on someone and hopefully if enough withdraw then the spineless and selfish ones will be exposed, then when i am happy with the direction of the CWU i will join again, and your right i will try and be more involved because when i see the competency level required i think i am well capable of that

[BELIAL]

belial i know you have to start somewhere and that somewhere for me is leaving the union voting with my feet, only money hurts these people lack of money will be blamed on someone and hopefully if enough withdraw then the spineless and selfish ones will be exposed, then when i am happy with the direction of the CWU i will join again, and your right i will try and be more involved because when i see the competency level required i think i am well capable of that

Trouble is not enough people will get around to withdrawing for many reasons and any cash shortage will be gleefully bridged by management who have wet dreams about running RM with a puppy dog staff association on a short financial lead. I'd advise being more proactive rather than relying on "hope' because if and when you want to join again ,the union may not exist

[sash]

i think the best way round this would be for all members to join the solidarity union and then withdraw from the cwu . at least then we will have a union thats there for the workers not for their own benefit. olso the plus side the solidarity union wants to keep royal mail public not like the goverment/royal mail run cwu.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Sorry that's one Union I would never join. My own political beliefs are not compatible with a Union that promotes Nationalist policies. I prefer inclusion rather than exclusion.