Building the CWU at UK Mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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"There's more and more enthusiasm for the union here and when you guys come to do a recruitment drive, we get lots more people joining up," reports CWU member Jabar Malik (pictured) as he stands outside UK Mail's Birmingham site, where he works as a night-shift loader.

Health and safety, along with equality, are the big issues that persuaded 22-year-old Jabar to join the union and then volunteer to become the union's second rep at the 400-strong workplace.

"I worked here for the agency for two-and-a-half years and then I was employed by the company direct and I just completed my probationary period a couple of months ago," he explains, adding: "I joined the union as soon as I finished my probation and volunteered to become a rep with Abu."


"Abu" to his friends and colleagues, Abubakar Haruna (pictured) was the first CWU rep here, completing the union's first-stage training course and achieving his full accreditation back in April.

But, although he has won the respect and trust of his colleagues, the company has not yet granted formal recognition to the union for collective negotiation purposes.

"Things are beginning to improve here. But we still need to push on and get more members," says Abu, as he and others from the local CWU branch hand out leaflets and membership forms at shift-change time.

"I'm already in the union," and "give me some forms for my friends" are the most common responses from employees leaving the site, while workers arriving early stop for a chat with the CWU crew - which tonight includes general secretary Billy Hayes - while they enjoy their pre-shift cuppas or smokes.


One HGV driver stops his lorry and comes and asks for recruitment forms, while another hoots his horn and Billy pops over the road to hand him the union's literature.

"The workers here are very pleased you're here tonight, especially when I told them Mr Hayes, the national leader of the union was coming," adds Abu, whose determined efforts have led to a trebling of membership at the site over the last five months.

Birmingham Amal Branch secretary Steve Reid points out that, despite the lack of formal recognition, "I do think it's beginning to dawn on the company that we're a feature here now and we're not going away - I have been able to represent individual members on conduct code and individual grievances - four or five in the last couple of months.

"Health and safety is a massive issue here - by far the biggest - although there are many other grievances, including pay of course, shift and overtime rates and annual leave."

Steve added that, in an informal conversation with one of the senior UK Mail managers, the manager had said that he was still resolutely opposed to union recognition.

"But," Steve recalled: "I told him we were absolutely determined to win full recognition. No matter how long it takes or how hard it is - we will get there."


Summing up the evening's work, Billy Hayes said: "Tonight's been really positive - it just brings home to us that there are so many workers out there, right across the country who want union representation - and it's up to all of us in the CWU to make it happen.

"Currently, Royal Mail terms and conditions are by far the best in the industry, but we want this to become the norm right across the industry, then this removes any pressure on Royal Mail to 'compete' by undercutting.


The Government's own statistics office shows that trade union members have higher wages, longer holidays, more training, better pensions, and greater health and safety at work than unorganised workers. UK Mail workers are recognising this in growing numbers, now UK Mail management should recognise the CWU."

[ebbzie]

Wouldnt it be nice if the f**king CWU could actually try to sort out the sh*t we are having to put up with at RM ?????
I like many others are sick of the lack of "action" over the colleague share issue and the "revision" money which we have been robbed of!!!
Shame as much effort hasnt gone into this as the Recruitment drive (more money for the CWU)
The CWU is fast becoming a joke!!!!

[DirtyHarry]

The CWU are not "fast becoming a joke", they have become a joke.
As far as I'm concerned, the CWU might as well just not have been here the last 15 years, in that time my job has gone to the dogs, I've lost every semblance of dignity in my workplace I once had, I could do overtime, but the rate has fallen through the floor and then some, my workload is at it's absolute capacity, but try tellin' my mutton-head of a DIM-DOM.
I could go on........but why bother, most of you get my drift.

[knackeredneedadayoff]

poor uk mail once they get in the union, bang goes there minimum wage with there deal of the century.

[fishtank]

What would happen if the CWU suddenly got formal recognition at UK Mail?
Would they argue for DSA to protect full-time jobs at UK Mail?

[Donk]

What would happen if the CWU suddenly got formal recognition at UK Mail?
Would they argue for DSA to protect full-time jobs at UK Mail?

Was thinking along the same lines meself. Bit like having a lawyer representing both sides in a case.