WARD & HAYES

[fishtank]

Do you see yourself primarily as an elected representative of the CWU or the elected representative of your DO?
What happens if the two conflict?

The two often conflict,more now than at any time in the past but without representing your members what are you doing...playing at a role that doesn't really exist.
CWU rep for...nowhere and no-one.

[Big Daz]

Do you see yourself primarily as an elected representative of the CWU or the elected representative of your DO?
What happens if the two conflict?

That my friend is the 64 million dollar question for reps and members alike to answer

Its a question I often think about.

That said Ive been IR rep on and off since Feb 2003 and NEVER EVER been challenged.

[clashcityrocker]

Obviously the question should have been what happens WHEN the two conflict.

You can still represent your members - attendance. conduct etc. and all the other daily stuff.
But what happens when they want you to defend their right to other things that are against CWU advice.

If for instance the manager said he was going to enforce the meal relief, would you defend your member's right not to take it, if that's what they wanted?
Or if he said he couldn't be arsed with all the paperwork that goes with PCOD?.............

[fishtank]

If for instance the manager said he was going to enforce the meal relief, would you defend your member's right not to take it, if that's what they wanted?

Yes...because meal relief cannot be enforced...only encouraged..
I might not agree with it and i would make that clear but i would still defend their right to be treated lawfully.

Or if he said he couldn't be arsed with all the paperwork that goes with PCOD?.............

If a manager could not be arsed with the paperwork concerning PCOD then the members could not use PCOD.
That would be a management decision,not a union decision.

[Straight4ward]

The union's first duty and responsibility is to protect and promote the interests of its members in the workplace.

pasted from the CWU website.

The question, as always, is who decides, and how, what is in the best interests of the members?

I'm glad I ain't a union rep. Good luck to those that are.

[dvbuk55]

I've said it often enough before, there is the CWU and all IT represents and there is the rank and file membership and it would appear that it's a question of never the twain shall meet in recent years. Unit reps in the main do a great job, which is often not appreciated by the membership at local level who fail to realise that the Rep needs support from them AND Area and Div Reps, who often seem to have a different agenda.

[clashcityrocker]

Yes...because meal relief cannot be enforced...only encouraged..

A bit confused........

Rest breaks - a break during your working day

As an adult worker (over 18), you will normally have the right to a 20 minute rest break if you are expected to work more than six hours at a stretch.

A lunch or coffee break can count as your rest break. Additional breaks might be given by your contract of employment. There is no statutory right to 'smoking breaks'.

The requirements are:

* the break must be in one block
* it cannot be taken off one end of the working day - it must be somewhere in the middle
* you are allowed to spend it away from the place on your employer's premises where you work
* your employer can say when the break must be taken, as long as it meets these conditions

[TrueBlueTerrier]

A right is something that cannot be removed or withdrawn, but it is something that can be given up.

So as to breaks management must gives us the opportunity to take them thats the law, but we can elect not to take it and we wont be prosecuted.

[fishtank]

An employer can only provide and encourage a meal break and they definitely cannot do anything that would discourage an employee from taking a meal break but for a manager to enforce a meal break they would i assume have to use the conduct code which would be unacceptable.Unless he/she planned to lock the members in the canteen for 40 mins which i might turn a blind eye to.

[Straight4ward]

Unless he/she planned to lock the members in the canteen for 40 mins

God, a canteen full of captive flyers. It would make the Wailing Wall sound positively cheerful by comparison.

[hans solo]

BH has been relelected UNOPPOSED for a further five years.

The mbrs huffed and they puffed but they failed to blow Billys house down.

Moaning on here will not see a new GS and DGSp it requires action out in the real world.

yes and action required is for evey d.o. to walk out unofficially on strike action let rm take union to court and fine them
then the fat 2 can fcuk right off

[Big Daz]

To have replaced BH as GS you would need somebody who actually wants the job of GS. That said I bet we will see a contested election the day BH decides to call it a day.

[fishtank]

To have replaced BH as GS you would need somebody who actually wants the job of GS. That said I bet we will see a contested election the day BH decides to call it a day.

Are we saying that no-one in the top bracket of the CWU wanted to be General Secretary?
That is an assumption based solely on the fact that no-one stood against him and it is i'm afraid false.
If no-one wants to be GS you might as well switch the lights off at HQ.

No-one stood against him because no-one could be sure of gathering enough support to beat him and no-one wants to be second prize in a leadership challenge because that's when the gravy train pulls up at your stop.
You don't vote to shuffle the pack unless you are 100% sure you will still be around when the next hand is dealt.

[dvbuk55]

To have replaced BH as GS you would need somebody who actually wants the job of GS. That said I bet we will see a contested election the day BH decides to call it a day.

Are we saying that no-one in the top bracket of the CWU wanted to be General Secretary?
That is an assumption based solely on the fact that no-one stood against him and it is i'm afraid false.
If no-one wants to be GS you might as well switch the lights off at HQ.

No-one stood against him because no-one could be sure of gathering enough support to beat him and no-one wants to be second prize in a leadership challenge because that's when the gravy train pulls up at your stop.
You don't vote to shuffle the pack unless you are 100% sure you will still be around when the next hand is dealt.

Sounds a lot like politics - hitch your wagon to the wrong star and before you know it you're coming last in an election and the proles are baying for your blood

[fishtank]

Sounds a lot like politics - hitch your wagon to the wrong star and before you know it you're coming last in an election and the proles are baying for your blood

It's a lot like politics DV..
Many get in to both systems for the right reasons and spend years trying to help your constituents because they are your protection but once you have climbed to the top you get yourself a nice comfy "safe seat" with a large majority and the importance of the electorate starts to fade a little..then the "party" becomes all important because the "party" is your protection.