CWU / UK MAIL ????

[Cheetah]

What's your thoughts on the CWU recruiting UK Mail workers to join the CWU......

Pretty mixed feelins me but can't see it working, often when a company is in dispute with its workforce the so called opposition see it as a golden opportunity to poach custom. Is it the CWU's position to get us to support them and visa versa, with the strangling legislation against trade union activity this surely can't be a prospect. Just can't see where the union is going with it me, RM could be out on strike whilst UK Mail is picking up RM work, prolonging the RM dispute and filling their workers boots with O/T ......

I Dunno what's your take ???????

[POSTMAN]

The idea (one of them anyway)is to get them on board,raise their T&C's,so RM can't use the competition pays less bollox in wage negotiations ect.

[fishtank]

My take is the CWU is desperate for members.

[Cheetah]

The idea (one of them anyway)is to get them on board,raise their T&C's,so RM can't use the competition pays less bollox in wage negotiations ect.

Hmmm good point, wonder how they are going to sell themselves, as their record at representing us is far from something to use in a recruiting campaign......

[fishtank]

Royal Mail and BT are a diminishing pool of members.
Long term full-time staff are leaving through retirement and VR.
The overall size of both businesses is shrinking
Replacements when they do come are part-time on short-term contracts.
The Union has to cast it's net wider to survive.
The real question is can the CWU offer these new members from UK Mail and others genuine representation against anti-union employers...or are they just there in name to pick up the subs?
I would hope they can but i'm not sure the Union has the resources to spread so thinly.

[Cheetah]

Royal Mail and BT are a diminishing pool of members.
Long term full-time staff are leaving through retirement and VR.
The overall size of both businesses is shrinking
Replacements when they do come are part-time on short-term contracts.
The Union has to cast it's net wider to survive.
The real question is can the CWU offer these new members from UK Mail and others genuine representation against anti-union employers...or are they just there in name to pick up the subs?
I would hope they can but i'm not sure the Union has the resources to spread so thinly.

I understand what you're saying FT but I just can't see how it works regards the conflicting interests.

AS RM has rationalised so has it's workforce, perhaps the union should think of rationalising it's high paid top dogs and giving it's current members better value for money to ensure its survival, fewer members in reality need fewer paid union officials and workers, a bitter pill i know but food for thought. In my opinion nationaly it's not doing that great for us (though as i have said in another thread i'm personally encouraged by its latest BT2010 document) so perhaps they should look towards providing us with a better service than taking oposition workforce members on board, hence creating a situation they give us even less representation /support / time than we curently get .....

[POSTMAN]

I can just see the various negotiation teams now...

UK Mail HQ:Mon

Now look here Buswell,our members deserve the 2% above inflation pay rise,they work their socks off for the company and are a hard working and dedicated workforce.

RM HQ:Tue

Now look here Greene,our members deserve the 2% above inflation pay rise,they work their socks off for the company and are a hard working and dedicated workforce.
RM is ignoring the fact our members are highly skilled, professional individuals, who are dedicated to their jobs whilst providing excellent customer service. Our members deserve better!

Oh hold on,haven't we been here before.

Kinda private joke,depending on what forums you read on RMC.

[fishtank]

I get the reference.

I don't think Buswell would think twice about "persuading" potential CWU members that a union was not in their best interests...
I think there will be problems there.
What happens if recruitment stalls at a low level?
What's in it for the members other than a free will making service.

Another reference to the "others".

[dvbuk55]

Well good luck to UK Mail employees - if they want worse terms and conditions join the CWU and fill yer boots boys!

[wandle]

My take is the CWU is desperate for members.

My take is that the UK Mail employees must be desperate to be union members if they choose the CWU

[Cheetah]

If they did get enough members to be their recognised negotiatorand their first offing is the likes of BT 2010 then they sit in their cushty office whilst UK Mail ignore it, my sympathy is with them. However, in my opinion they will only ever be there to put plasters on cuts, as it is most unlikely they will ever get enough members in UK mail to be their recognised negotiator, just seems like an attempt to get revenue, possibly for more union cheifs pay rise

Best bet start and represent properly your current pay masters in my opinion, as their is plenty of work to do on that front