Becoming a rep questions

[Welshgazza]

Hello I work in a medium sized office in Wales, and I'm thinking about becoming the office rep because the place is a mess and our rep is up the managers arse, yes I know u have got to get on with them a bit but this is to clingy.
The problem is due to family stuff I don't think I would be able to do much if any training courses, would I be ok not going on them? Seems like a lot of info is on here anyways.
Also when u represent ppl would your job get covered etc? And any reps on here tell me how much facilty time they get a week?

Thanks guys

[AnotherLimey]

Hello I work in a medium sized office in Wales, and I'm thinking about becoming the office rep because the place is a mess and our rep is up the managers arse, yes I know u have got to get on with them a bit but this is to clingy.
The problem is due to family stuff I don't think I would be able to do much if any training courses, would I be ok not going on them? Seems like a lot of info is on here anyways.
Also when u represent ppl would your job get covered etc? And any reps on here tell me how much facilty time they get a week?

Thanks guys

I'm in an office of around 60 people and get 45 mins off the sorting to deal with union matters, as for training courses my branch let us do the at the local mail centre in work hours so we don't have to spend a week away at the union college.

[Welshgazza]

Thanks for your reply.
All I'm concerned about is how much work you have to do when u get home, or can most of it be done in your duty time and can managers refuse facilty time?

[clashcityrocker]

You probably won't be as effective a rep if you haven't had any training.
The work will expand as far as you want it to.
If you can't/don't want to do any at home then you don't have to.
If you want to do it 24/7 = you can.
Your manager will probably never give you sufficient release time.

[beanmuncha]

A lot of the training is on the job training, you learn as you go along. There are lots of good and knowledgeable people on
here that have helped me, if you really want to do the reps job then yes you will be doing some work at home it's unavoidable.
Like being on here getting info for what ever problem you have.
You should get time you need under the IR framework for union duties as long as you don't take the mick, he/she can't refuse a
reasonable request for Union time, if does then you put a disagreement in and go from there.
I personally think a rep has to WANT to do the job to the best of their ability else there's no point doing it.
That's my 2pence worth

[Welshgazza]

Yeah I don't mind checking on here for stuff, and doing a bit at home.
Are most meetings with Dom and attendance meetings done within your duty time? And like our current rep do any of you have fixed Monday-Friday morning job? As ours does and apparently it's because union reps have to be on the same shift as the office DOM, well that's what the DOM told me.

[dvbuk55]

Thanks for your reply.
All I'm concerned about is how much work you have to do when u get home, or can most of it be done in your duty time and can managers refuse facilty time?

Not just in for yourself there are you?

[dre33dd]

i get two hours a week out of my duty to do union work..to be honest it often takes a lot longer!
be aware its not as easy as you might hope,being in with management does help the members,its really about working together for best solutions...and a good working relationship helps a lot
expext lotsof outof hours phone calls and lots of unappreciative comments until they truly need you
a loveless yet fulfilling role
go for it

[Sidley]

How does one go about obtaining the requisite training to be a rep?
Ours, it would seem in view of recent events, has little regard for part time workers' treatment. I have asked him what i should do/courses i could apply for but he has been evasive and less than encouraging. Where do i go from here please?

[Sidley]

Anyone?

[fishtank]

Anyone?

You're putting the horse before the cart.
First you need to become a rep and then the training opportunities become available.

[Sidley]

Ah right. So no education nor training for the 'lay' members. It would make a change in rep more likely and easier with some knowledge available to us you'd think.

[dvbuk55]

Ah right. So no education nor training for the 'lay' members. It would make a change in rep more likely and easier with some knowledge available to us you'd think.

There's a great deal of information on this web site Sid which would make you more knowledgeable than most of your colleagues, take a look at the downloads section.

[PhilthyPhil]

And like our current rep do any of you have fixed Monday-Friday morning job? As ours does and apparently it's because union reps have to be on the same shift as the office DOM, well that's what the DOM told me.

No that is total BS. Sounds like a poor excuse for your rep to get out of working saturdays.

[Sidley]

There's a great deal of information on this web site Sid which would make you more knowledgeable than most of your colleagues, take a look at the downloads section.

Undoubtedly this site is a veritable goldmine of info and very much appreciated.