how to become a cwu rep

[grizzleandtan]

To get back to the question. What does it involve? Well thick skin for one, as some members will call you alsorts of things because you cant do miricles. Their are some who think its royal mails right to actually keep them employed even if they cant actually do the job properly.
You must also be able to listen to a huge amount of total bull crap from Royal Mail managers who will hate you more than they hate themselves for being stuck as a manager. And the ability to recognise what the workforce want putting personal gain aside and standing your ground for your members. You are there to reflect their views and not yours. Watch your back all the areswipe wanabe managers will be out to conduct you asap to get a feather in their cap. Show an example and do the job properly. Oh and listen listen listen listen go home and never take union work home with you work stays at work your family will never forgive you for spending hours of your free time on the phone dealing with your members problems. And lastly try to enjoy it..........it is rewarding sometimes and keeps the old brain working.

thanks

[grizzleandtan]

do go on as many cwu traning courses as you can

these are residential for a week at a time like alvescot lodge in oxfordshire

it takes time to be competant and you will learn by your mistakes
having a thick skin is a must

as soon as you become qualified, like having the employment law deploma, royal mail will try and make you a manager (turn coat)

put your own interests aside and remember

the membership is the cwu

a sum part of the whole

you have rights being a rep, once you know what royal mail can and cant do, take great delight in reminding them of that as most of the time

they have not got a clue themself

education is the key

thanks