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CWU Postmaster, CWU Staff: Conflict Inevitable?

Post Office® discussion forum for our Post Office® colleagues from Crown, Franchise to Sub Post Offices.
JacksterD
POST OFFICE
Posts: 16
Joined: 13 May 2011, 21:48
Gender: Male

CWU Postmaster, CWU Staff: Conflict Inevitable?

Post by JacksterD »

Hi folks.

I was just wondering what you make of the new CWU Postmasters campaign? I'm not sure I like it - on the one hand I understand that the NFSP is fairly poor and it makes sense for the CWU to jump in there, but on the other hand I'm not sure as a worker I'd like to be a member of the same union as my manager, it just seems like a recipe for conflict in the future.

What does everyone else think?
Full-time student, part-time sub Post Office counter clerk.
Can be found tweeting at https://twitter.com/#!/JacksterD
subbie
POST OFFICE
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 11:41
Gender: Male

Re: CWU Postmaster, CWU Staff: Conflict Inevitable?

Post by subbie »

Hi Jackster

What areas of conflict do you envisage? I take it you are a Sub Office assistant?

Subbie
andy2007
Posts: 3971
Joined: 14 Sep 2007, 10:16
Gender: Male
Location: Earth

Re: CWU Postmaster, CWU Staff: Conflict Inevitable?

Post by andy2007 »

I don't work in the PO myself (I'm RM), but presumably, the needs of the Postmasters will be different from their staff. That in itself, can cause conflicts. For example: Postmasters will inevitably be outnumbered by their employees, so if there was a vote on something which was in the interests of the majority, but not in the interests of the minority. You'd be in a very bad situation.

Another example, would be if there's a grevance put in against a Postmaster. One CWU Rep representing the Manager, and another representing the staff member? :shock:
Surely that's a conflict of interests, isn't it? :hmmmm

Now obviously, I could be completely wrong about the structure in POs. Postmasters might not be the ones who handle conduct issues with their staff. It might be someone more senior. In which case, the second example wouldn't be an issue.
Don't knock Insanity
it's just another outlook on Reality!
JacksterD
POST OFFICE
Posts: 16
Joined: 13 May 2011, 21:48
Gender: Male

Re: CWU Postmaster, CWU Staff: Conflict Inevitable?

Post by JacksterD »

Hi Subbie,

Yes I'm a part time sub office assistant - and andy2007 pretty much hit the nail on the head. The NFSP and CWU have similar interests when dealing with Royal Mail - a better deal for Postmasters will result in more stability for staff - but when it comes down to basic employment issues, staff and bosses' interests are often at odds.
Full-time student, part-time sub Post Office counter clerk.
Can be found tweeting at https://twitter.com/#!/JacksterD
Nige97
Posts: 6
Joined: 01 Jul 2012, 16:48
Gender: Male

Re: CWU Postmaster, CWU Staff: Conflict Inevitable?

Post by Nige97 »

I think you guys might be missing an important point. Postmasters/subpostmasters are self employed business people who employ their own staff who, in my experience, are never members of the CWU so their is as far as I can see zero potential for conflict UNLESS the sub postmaster runs a Mailwork Office in which case he has some management/supervisory responsibilities for CWU OPGs.

Nige97