CWU officials pay structure

[first_class_stamp]

Can anybody tell me who pays CWU officials wages and how the whole system works. Are Branch secretary’s full time postmen who voluntary do union stuff or are they full time union officials who are employed by the CWU? I have always been under the impression that our Branch Secretary was employed by the CWU and was paid out of the monies raised by CWU subscription contributions, but today I have learned different. This is a snippet of an e-mail my Branch secretary sent me, “

As for my pay, I am not employed by the union but by Royal Mail and my pay structure is a matter of record. So you can now rest easy *first_class_stamp* you don’t pay my wages.

I e-mailed him back saying,
“"Royal Mail then claim the money back for their release from the CWU via an arrangement called central billing.
If my understanding is correct Royal Mail pay you then claim that money back from the CWU. If I am incorrect then I do apologize but if this is correct then CWU members do indirectly pay your wages!!”
He then phoned me to explain that Royal Mail paid his wages and he is on a postman’s wage and Royal Mail don’t claim anything back via central billing.
Well if this is the case then he has a vested interest, how can he be paid by Royal Mail but represent CWU members, they are opposite faces of the coin? How can this possibly be the case? No wonder Royal Mail always get everything they propose put into practice if CWU officials are on their pay roll. It’s like being in a war and your squad leader is on the payroll of the opposing army, aint they called spies?

[first_class_stamp]

This person is Branch secretary and area processing rep. and he claims he dont get paid by the CWU. Does he hold these positions at no cost to the CWU?

[clashcityrocker]

how can he be paid by Royal Mail but represent CWU members?

Isn't that exactly the situation of every unit rep?
Are they all spies?

[JaneM]

Area processing reps get full release,royal mail obviously agree its mutually beneficial.

[first_class_stamp]

Hey i have just thought of a great way for Royal Mail to save loads of money, don't pay postmen to do the job of the CWU, let them pay their own staff????????? Then we will have CWU officials who don't have a conflict of interest. I just can not see how officials can represent CWU members if they are on the royal mail payroll. Local reps are different they represent the union on a voluntary basis, Full time officials, its their full time job. Of course Royal Mail think its in their interest to pay CWU officials, Royal mail can sack them, Royal Mail pull their strings, Royal Mail own them. It's all f***ed up.

[first_class_stamp]

I am beginning to realize why the CWU has made every possible concession possible over the past few years, they have agreed to everything Royal Mail has proposed from door to door payments to colleague share schemes to utilization of hours, the end of job and finish, later start and finish times, van sharing. Every single thing Royal Mail has proposed the CWU has agreed to. It must be cos they are on the Royal Mail pay roll.

[silly suffolk]

Hey i have just thought of a great way for Royal Mail to save loads of money, don't pay postmen to do the job of the CWU, let them pay their own staff????????? Then we will have CWU officials who don't have a conflict of interest. I just can not see how officials can represent CWU members if they are on the royal mail payroll. Local reps are different they represent the union on a voluntary basis, Full time officials, its their full time job. Of course Royal Mail think its in their interest to pay CWU officials, Royal mail can sack them, Royal Mail pull their strings, Royal Mail own them. It's all f***ed up.

area reps are elected by the membership. royal mail pay them the wage they recieved before they were elected. if you don't like your area rep vote for another candidate. better still have a go at it yourself.

[wandle]

I am beginning to realize why the CWU has made every possible concession possible over the past few years, they have agreed to everything Royal Mail has proposed from door to door payments to colleague share schemes to utilization of hours, the end of job and finish, later start and finish times, van sharing. Every single thing Royal Mail has proposed the CWU has agreed to. It must be cos they are on the Royal Mail pay roll.

That would explain why our area rep is so pally with the management. They're happy to pay his wage when he recommends that the members vote FOR sh!te pay deals, and they all follow his directives, like sheep. RM couldn't get the lazy git to work at all before he rode the union gravy train, so at least this way, RM get some value from paying him.

[silly suffolk]

I am beginning to realize why the CWU has made every possible concession possible over the past few years, they have agreed to everything Royal Mail has proposed from door to door payments to colleague share schemes to utilization of hours, the end of job and finish, later start and finish times, van sharing. Every single thing Royal Mail has proposed the CWU has agreed to. It must be cos they are on the Royal Mail pay roll.

That would explain why our area rep is so pally with the management. They're happy to pay his wage when he recommends that the members vote FOR sh!te pay deals, and they all follow his directives, like sheep. RM couldn't get the lazy git to work at all before he rode the union gravy train, so at least this way, RM get some value from paying him.

i've met many area reps who are an absoulute pain in the arse to rm managers and it baffles me why rm in affect pay them. at the other end of the spectrum there our others who are comprimised by their posistion and relationship with managers. but the membership have the final say who they put in post.

[MinisterofCucumber]

Area reps are elected by the members but members can only choose from a list of candidates nominated by the Branch committee. Often only one candidate gets nominated and so automatically gets the position and is considered "elected unopposed". This saves the Branch the expense of an election and prevents members from voting in an 'unsuitable' candidate.

This process is known as "democracy".

I believe that Branch Secretaries don't get full time release but Area Processing reps do. Obviously, getting full time release is a priority for first_class_stamp's Branch Secretary so he can spend more time doing good for the members.

[silly suffolk]

Area reps are elected by the members but members can only choose from a list of candidates nominated by the Branch committee. Often only one candidate gets nominated and so automatically gets the position and is considered "elected unopposed". This saves the Branch the expense of an election and prevents members from voting in an 'unsuitable' candidate.

This process is known as "democracy".

I believe that Branch Secretaries don't get full time release but Area Processing reps do. Obviously, getting full time release is a priority for first_class_stamp's Branch Secretary so he can spend more time doing good for the members.

in the last election for area rep here every candidate was on the ballot paper. its called democracy

[POSTMAN]

I was under the impression that if I wanted to go for ADR when elections come up then I can and the branch can't do feck all about it.
Not that I would,but i'm curious as to what MOC is saying,and why he's saying it.

[johnnyp]

I was under the impression that if I wanted to go for ADR when elections come up then I can and the branch can't do feck all about it.
Not that I would,but i'm curious as to what MOC is saying,and why he's saying it.

Thats how it is in our branch,any one can stand for all positions as far as i know,as long as you fill out the form.
Every year all positions are up for grabs for everyone within the branch,it normally takes place a few weeks before the branch AGM.If there is more then one candidate for a postion then a ballot is held across the branch and the person with the most votes gets elected.This does not happen very often as nobody wants to take up the challenge of an easy life

[Martin Walsh]

Area reps are elected by the members but members can only choose from a list of candidates nominated by the Branch committee. Often only one candidate gets nominated and so automatically gets the position and is considered "elected unopposed". This saves the Branch the expense of an election and prevents members from voting in an 'unsuitable' candidate.

This process is known as "democracy".

I believe that Branch Secretaries don't get full time release but Area Processing reps do. Obviously, getting full time release is a priority for first_class_stamp's Branch Secretary so he can spend more time doing good for the members.

Minster your wrong. Each Branch should send out posters alerting all members of the election of the Branch Secretary and other postions like Branch Chair , Treasurer , equal Opps officer , Deptury Secretary . Also area reps postions which do not cross over into other Branch`s.

All CWU members are entitled to stand for the Branch Offices postions. All of those who are effected by the area reps role are entitled to stand for the areas postions.

[keithposty]

and branch officials do not get an easy life as sugested

they have to validate there posistion each week by spread sheet to the dsm

having paid release is a privilage and not a right

branch officials work bloody hard for there members

well they do in mine