whats your view on the cwu

[fishtank]

So what you are saying gb is that you could put anything in front of an office and a mixture of apathy and ignorance and a sprinkling of fear will carry the vote.
It's frightening....but probably true....so who's fault?....and much more importantly...how do you fix it?

[andy2007]

As you've no doubt noticed. I think that those in their Ivory Towers, are so out of touch, that they're risking the terminal decline of our pay, conditions, and eventually employer. But we've got another chance to actually DO something about it this month. All we need to do, is find some volunteers to nominate, to replace the ones we've got now. Didn't any of you see this?

22 December 2010
LTB 1149/10 Election of CWU general secretary, CWU assistant secretary (postal) and CWU assistant secretary (TFS)


To: All Branches

Dear Colleague



Election of:



CWU General Secretary


CWU Assistant Secretary - Postal (Parcelforce/RM Logistics)


CWU Assistant Secretary - TFS




Please find below important information regarding the above elections.

1. CWU General Secretary, CWU Assistant Secretary - Postal (Parcelforce/RM Logistics) and CWU Assistant Secretary - TFS

The NEC is required to agree and publish the election timetable and regulations for the statutory election of the General Secretary and the election of the Assistant Secretary - Postal (Parcels/RM Logistics) and Assistant Secretary - TFS which are subject to election in accordance with the CWU national rule that requires election every 5 years. The timetable for the elections is as follows:

Nominations Open: 10 January 2011

Nominations Close: 31 January 2011 (14.00)

Accept Nomination: 3 February 2011 (14.00)

Dispatch ballot material from: 8 March 2011

Close of ballot: 29 March 2011 (first post)

Result: 31 March 2011

The Election Regulations stipulate that a copy of the regulations for the elections must be distributed to all branches in advance of the nomination process. A copy of the Election Regulations is therefore enclosed and I would be grateful if you could ensure that these are brought to the attention of the membership.

The regulations will also be published on the CWU website and a copy will be issued to all candidates nominated to stand in the elections.

The relevant nomination forms for the above elections will be distributed to branches prior to the opening date for nominations.

2. Elections Prize Draws

Branches are once again reminded that in order to protect the integrity of these very important national elections and more importantly, ensure that the union is legally compliant with the relevant legislation covering such elections, that election prize draws should not be conducted under any circumstances unless written authorisation has been given by the Senior Deputy General Secretary.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Senior Deputy General Secretary Department, CWU HQ, for the attention of Peter Metcalfe, Telephone: 0208 971 7368, Email: pmetcalfe@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary




Now's our chance!

[fishtank]

Didn't any of you see this?
Now's our chance!

Read it and...weep Andy. http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... +secretary" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Postal1]

So what you are saying gb is that you could put anything in front of an office and a mixture of apathy and ignorance and a sprinkling of fear will carry the vote.
It's frightening....but probably true....so who's fault?....and much more importantly...how do you fix it?

Well this is a very good question. I mean i feel personally it's down to being comfortable and rocking the boat. I will explain.
We have some who's round is very doable atm they can finish early on easy days and a bit over on hard days, they are pretty happy atm. They don't rock the boat and management leave them alone because of this. Then we have the camp who's round is totally unachievable even on light days, many of them have been working to time because 4.30pm finish times and to thirds of the cars already left the car park. This is is bad for ones moral. So they complain, whinge, and work to time. The lino then has them in his sights. Not always i'd say because they are slow, one day sitting in the car watching them will disprove this. But they are getting it in the neck from above on OT and also being lumbered with the said cutoffs. So we have
two main camps. Some of us have been fighting for ages. Now we have a re-pick and this has unsettled the other camp of people who are atm in their comfort zone and kept under the radar. Now they are getting worried. Now imho the only way to get parity is to test EVERY ROUND with rep and manager and not using the quietest month as a figure for geo-route. Some may say, well if you don't use this then absorbing will have to occur. Well it's the only way to get all year round achievability. I mean most posties don't mind working 30-40mins over their time. But 2hrs wed/thurs/fri really takes its toll over the year on the body.

I'd personally like to do away with union subs and employ an employment solicitor. 12/m x 300workers == £3,600 (enough for a law firm i'd hope)

This then we can have proper knowledgable help in matters that count. Like not getting paid ot when we work it, bullying that goes on, having to pay back hours when we get sent home because of weather etc.

The union has al but gone, my best guess is they got threatened with going back onto delivery and paid time taken away if they didn't sign up to changes.
Privatisation, it's gonna happen and the union will be gone.
Why pay for profesional help? Well we have reps with ltd knowledge, doesn't help our large office. I'm sure people would have seen the panarama show if i recall about what appears in London and how much easier they get things.

[andy2007]

The problem we had last time, was that no-one stood against them, so they stayed in by default. But if we can find other candidates, who're capable of doing a better job (let's face it, they can't be much worse!), we can get rid of them, like we did a decade ago, after The Way Forward Agreement.

The way I see it, we've got a 2 tier Union. At local, and even area level, there are excellent Reps. They actually REPRESENT US, rather than doing whatever they think they can get away with. Obivously, there's a minority of Reps, who're in it for the wrong reasons. But they're easier, and quicker to replace. The vast majority, in my experience, work damn hard for us. Despite getting no financial reward (unless you count reimbursement of out of pocket costs, during release (e.g. travel expenses)), and very rarely thanks for all their hard work. Yet those "at the top" get paid far more than any of us, and seem to have little idea of what happens in the Real World! We need people who actually know what they're talking about. Before they destroy our Union, leaving us virtually defenceless!

Any chance of Roy Mayall putting himself forward?
He'd get my vote!

[andy2007]

Didn't any of you see this?
Now's our chance!

Read it and...weep Andy. http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... +secretary" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Why weep?
Yes, I did miss that one, as my PC was knackered for a couple of weeks, and I was down to using my Mobile to come on here (it was like being back on bloody Dial-up!). But my point still stands: There's a lot of people on here saying the Union is finished, and that it doesn't represent us. But have they tried to come up with potential candidates?
I doubt it.

Now as was pointed out in that thread: It's very hard to come up with potential candidates, as they need to be supported by more than one Branch. But it's not insurmountable.

[clashcityrocker]

...and much more importantly...how do you fix it?

I don't think changing anything at the top will make the slightest bit of difference to us on the shop floor.
A start would be to do away with the self-serving reps. The unit reps have to be seen to be doing something other than feathering their own nest. And that means doing away with bollox like a "reps walk".

Perhaps the only way to change anything is for the Union to stop representing anyone who doesn't toe the Union line.
Most people are only interested in their unit rep or Area rep when they need something - attendance procedure/conduct code etc.
If they start early/use their car etc - they forfeit the right to CWU representation at any level.

Maybe when we are all playing on a level playing field, we will see less apathy and more interest in union affairs.

[fishtank]

...and much more importantly...how do you fix it?

I don't think changing anything at the top will make the slightest bit of difference to us on the shop floor.
A start would be to do away with the self-serving reps. The unit reps have to be seen to be doing something other than feathering their own nest. And that means doing away with bollox like a "reps walk".

Perhaps the only way to change anything is for the Union to stop representing anyone who doesn't toe the Union line.
Most people are only interested in their unit rep or Area rep when they need something - attendance procedure/conduct code etc.
If they start early/use their car etc - they forfeit the right to CWU representation at any level.

Maybe when we are all playing on a level playing field, we will see less apathy and more interest in union affairs.

I agree with you up to a point but if you deny a member representation....they will leave.
You could argue that we don't need those kind of members but the financial reality is...we do.
As well as the financial implications there is also a need for the union to keep it's bargaining strength and that requires membership density....no matter how dense the individual member.

[bunkerland]

but when 60,000 members dont vote whats the point of a vote

That's a very good point and the simple answer is.......... not much point at all!

Funny thing is,could you ever have a job where it's easier to vote? I mean it's not like anyone could say that they weren't near a postbox is it,and a reasonable percentage of staff probably got their ballots whilst at work anyway! So to summarize,all that was required was to put an x in a box and take your envelope to a place you were going anyway! Not too much to expect........you would think.
I still can't get my head round it!

[clashcityrocker]

I agree with you up to a point but if you deny a member representation....they will leave.

You are right of course.They might leave.
But then again they might not. It is a risky strategy.
Perhaps the fear that drives them to accept poor deals/revisions will keep them under the umbrella of union representation.

[andy2007]

Why don't you think it would change anything, making changes at the top?
The Local and Area Reps, only know what they're told by the Ivory Tower lot, when it comes to negotiations (the root of much of our problems as a Union). If you change the leadership, you have a chance to change the flow of information. And more importantly, in the long run. Improve the likleihood of the negotiators working towards a deal which will REPRESENT the views of the Members. Not what THEY decide is in our interests. It could be the salvation of the CWU. The hard part, is finding potential candidates, who are well known, and popular enough, to be nominated by enough Branches. Even if we fail this time. There's another chance in 5 years. There's always hope.

It really frustrates me, when I see my Reps, working their ass off, to protect us. Only for someone "higher up" to let us down.

[fishtank]

Why don't you think it would change anything, making changes at the top?

Any realistic challenger would have to be a recognised "face" within the CWU already.
They would have to have made it to that position without making any enemies within the major "power areas" within the CWU so it would more than likely be a case of the King is dead...long live the King or same old..same old.
The only way you will see a challenger to Billy is if there were a major geographical split within the CWU.
Besides Billy is more of a political figurehead now and wasn't directly involved in BT2010.

[clashcityrocker]

Why don't you think it would change anything, making changes at the top?

The unit rep has one agenda - the area rep has another.
The Divisional rep, well how many people even know who their Divisional Rep is, let alone what his agenda is?
Up above him, WTF has that got to do with us anyway.

I understand the point about changing the flow of information etc, but in the meantime......

[Big Daz]

With the current HQ postions that are up for re-election not one of them will make any noticeable difference to RML OPG's if a new person is elected. The GS role is not actively involved in the same was as the DGS(p) and DGS(T&FS) are. As fishtank points out the GS role is very political and personally I would like to see a major overhaul of the political levy and affilation to Labour so if a challenger to BH came along I would be looking at this area of their pitch to the membership.

Out of the two assistant roles one is T&FS so no use to us in RML and the other is PF and logistics so not much use to OPG's in RML. That said the current incumbent deals with CC and AP.

Its the postions currently held by Dave W and Bob G where you would find a new officer taking a different approach that would impact on RML OPG's.

Also lets not forget that we have a PEC who get to say yes or no to anything and everything Dave and Bob bring to them and we also have annual conference which INSTRUCTS the PEC.

[Martin Walsh]

In my view there will not be a challenge to the GS role , why because the challenge would really have to come within Headqaurters ie Dave Ward or Tony Kearns. Neither have idicated that they intend to do that , and in Tony`s case him and Billy come from the same Branch so would not in my view happen.

Andy makes reference to Roy Mayall , well does anyone know him personally , does any know what he has done other than a few stories in the newpapers etc ? Thats not a criticism of him , but the way people are elected in these elections is by going to Branch meetings and trying to get the Branch to recommend you as when a Branch recommends a cadindiate then normally the members vote for that person.

Now even if Roy wanted to stand attending a Branch members meeting or committee meeting or even a hustings activists and members want to know that you walk the walk as well as talk the talk and most will look at what you have done in the past , ie is your background one for fighting for the members , leading disputes , having a well organised branch , speaking at conference ,leading debates , getting good agreements etc.

Now there may be an election this year , as the PEC have voted not to fill the former role fo Martin Collins who was the indoor secretary , therefore mail centres will in the future come under the role of the indivudual in charge of Logistics and parcel force and therefore may mean a challenge to the incumbent .

Now the most glaring thing about last year is that despite the uproar from some over the agreement no one got kicked of the Postal Executive . Back in 2000 when the way forward came in 5 PEC members got kicked off and some saw their vote dimished. Funny enough that year saw the election of those who opposed the Way Forward get on the PEC for the first time they included Dave Ward , Bob Gibson and Noel McClean.