TO JOIN THE CWU OR NOT TO JOIN

[hannie2002]

im a new starter just waiting on start date but im wondering is it worth the money off your wages to join the cwu or is it not worth it.
do they help you in anyway or do they take a memership fee to do naff all would like to hear your comments please.

been a joiner since i left school 16 years ago and never had to join anything like this so havent a clue about the union

[George door to dawes]

Its always nice to know that you can give some one a phone call to confirm if your lino is making up rules etc. Also good to have witness should you get yourself into trouble with the bosses. CWU is pretty weak on a national level but i think its worth it to help with personal dispites.

[hannie2002]

thanks for that mate if my contracted hours are 20 do i pay the fee for that or doe it go on what you have worked that week doe it auto come off your wages

[Straight4ward]

hannie2002, I've been in - and out - and back in.

Happier to be back in. In some ways it's a little like having an insurance policy, you hope you won't need it but it's there if you do.

However, perhaps more importantly, it gives you a sense of belonging and a sense of worth that you might not experience otherwise. For the less than the price of a pint, who could argue?

[fishtank]

thanks for that mate if my contracted hours are 20 do i pay the fee for that or doe it go on what you have worked that week doe it auto come off your wages

Your subs are based on your contracted hours it comes off automatically and i think you would be plan 4..£1.90 with political fund...£1.80 without.
Don't listen to anyone who says it's a waste of money.
The union has it's faults but i'd rather have a dodgy safety net than none.

[Thehair]

its a safety net for when things go wrong. Have an accident at work, get bitten by a dog or any other misfortune and See how much RM wil help you.

[hannie2002]

the posts im receiving here is fantastic exactly what i wanted im very happy with this forum and would recommend it to any new starter
it just gives you that boost you need and exactley what to do. thanks guys and girls

[fishtank]

You can join online...

http://www.cwu.org/application-forms.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All forms should be returned either via email to:
joinunion@cwu.org

or posted (no stamp required) to:
FREEPOST RRGT-GURE-TXHX
CWU Organising Department
London
SW19 1RX

[hannie2002]

thanks for that i have the forms but ill need my start date and pay roll number first i think before i can fill them in just a waiting game but im sure i will join for the sake of price of a pint.

[madmartin]

I think it depends on how good your local rep is, if he's good then it's worth joining but if he's a usless then I would save your money. What gets agreed at national level i.e pay rise and such everyone gets regardless of if they're in the union or not so why join and pay money for something you'll get for free.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I think it depends on how good your local rep is, if he's good then it's worth joining but if he's a usless then I would save your money. What gets agreed at national level i.e pay rise and such everyone gets regardless of if they're in the union or not so why join and pay money for something you'll get for free.

Even if you have the worst rep in history of the CWU its still a good idea to join. If you need representation or formal advice you can always go above them to Area, Regional, Division or even HQ. Otherwise your depending on your own local knowledge or, though we have the best intentions, advice from unknown internet users. If my job was on the line, I know what I would prefer to do, but you might prefer HQ.

[Straight4ward]

I think it depends on how good your local rep is, if he's good then it's worth joining but if he's a usless then I would save your money. What gets agreed at national level i.e pay rise and such everyone gets regardless of if they're in the union or not so why join and pay money for something you'll get for free.

Fishing? Okay, I'll nibble.
If everyone were to take the view that it wasn't worth joining then with no membership there would be no union.

No one to negotiate at national level. No national agreements. Everyone left to fight their own corner.

Do you honestly believe that you could negotiate as good terms and conditions as you currently enjoy if you were left to your own devices?

[scum_opg]

i think its fair to say that most RM employees will moan about the union at one time or another for the deals they make with RM on our behalf...

but it is worth the loss of a few quid a week to know you have back up if RM try and pull a fast one when it comes to stage warnings or diciplinary action...

as said above... even if your office rep is a lazy tosser... you can still get your regional rep to represent you.


plus if work gets to a point where the staff are asked to vote on whether to strike or not, or to agree to an office revision that local or regional management are trying to force in... if you ain't a member you dont get a say,

[silly suffolk]

I think it depends on how good your local rep is, if he's good then it's worth joining but if he's a usless then I would save your money. What gets agreed at national level i.e pay rise and such everyone gets regardless of if they're in the union or not so why join and pay money for something you'll get for free.

at times i dispare of the human race. selfish immoral freeloader

[steven100]

I'd advise everyone to join the union even if their union rep is useless. Royal Fail use all the tricks of the trade and managers are complete liars and chancer. As someone said before its a nice insurance policy.