LTB No. 535/12 The State of the Union 2012

[sad]

i have been a member of the cwu for 22 years and do you know what we might have lost are way a nationally. but why numbers are down is more to do with some local reps looking after themselves and not really being up to the job
that and the union is only as good as its members look at the people you work with how many come in early ? run round there duties ? we are own worst enemies.
i still believe there is a chance we can still turn it round or maybe i am just a little

[dvbuk55]

i have been a member of the cwu for 22 years and do you know what we might have lost are way a nationally. but why numbers are down is more to do with some local reps looking after themselves and not really being up to the job
that and the union is only as good as its members look at the people you work with how many come in early ? run round there duties ? we are own worst enemies.
i still believe there is a chance we can still turn it round or maybe i am just a little

Keep taking the medication sad it's obviously working

[fishtank]

i still believe there is a chance we can still turn it round or maybe i am just a little

I agree but it's time for action not words and i think some will need to be dragged away from the tea and biscuits kicking and screaming.

[Martin Walsh]

For all it's thoughts the CWU are still within the majority of the workplaces within the UK. No other union is as strong on the shop floor nationally.

Unlike some on here I am opposed to a centralised union. I don't believe the union is just 150 the Broadway. It is down to each unit , each Branch and Each Divison to organise and get the best for the members within their own unit. That's why national agreements allow for local agreements. I am all for blaming CWU HQs when they warrant it but also I think some Branch's and local offices need to take some blame as well.

How many local reps , area reps, Branch secretaries and Divisonal Reps regular have meetings with the members ? How many Branches ensure that each workplace has all the information needed , how many ensure each unit has regular visits ?

How many local reps have the support of the members within their unit as well as the support of the area rep and Branch ?

How many members really support their rep ? Do they say well we don't like this or that and we willing to stand together and support the local rep in changing it or do they talk behind his back and post on this site or Facebook moaning about things rather then want to do something tough to get things changed.

Equally What does a Branch or area rep do ? Do some believe they are co mangers ? Or CWU HQs police officers or do they listen to the voice of the local rep and office and argue for their issues.

As for Divisional Reps do they just fire fight issues running from one problem to another or do they try and organise the Branch's and members within their division.

The PEC sure that work to the various officers which they are allocated too but do they question decisions enough ? Plus are they too remote from the workplace ?

CWU officers the PEC were always there to challenge the officers , however the workload now means that the PEC are often working to the officer and have been involved in the Negotations themselves so they will hardly amend or reject an agreement which they have agreed in the first place.

The members , well the members have a role too. One is no member should underestimate the change this industry has gone through. The status quo on door to door or job and finish , later starts and later Saturdays would have happen regardless of the stance of the CWU. Equally I believe the membership should have a pledge card from the CWU a commitment to them from the CWU . The membership have changed over the last 10 years , a lot more part timers , a lot of FTCs we need to engage all of these.

Like I said for all it's thoughts the CWU reprsent 81% of the employees in Royal Mail. Without being a members you have no voice in the workplace. Sure you will recieve the benefits but without any influence or protection.

The closed shop finish decades ago , so the CWU is a voluntary organisation and has very good membership levels for a union. Still should be better. However Improving standards within the CWU must be down to all Members whether your a PEC member or a local rep or just an ordinary member. Change will only be good if we all ensure it is the right change and everyone agrees to it.

[fishtank]

Unlike some on here I am opposed to a centralised union. I don't believe the union is just 150 the Broadway. It is down to each unit , each Branch and Each Divison to organise and get the best for the members within their own unit. That's why national agreements allow for local agreements. I am all for blaming CWU HQs when they warrant it but also I think some Branch's and local offices need to take some blame as well.

I wouldn't argue with most of your post and a fully centralised union simply wouldn't work.The problem we have is that our present structure is an ideal structure when it works but an absolute nightmare to fix when it is broken because there is little accountability through any of the various levels.
That is why there is no quick fix and that is why we cannot afford to waste time waiting until membership levels are at the point where certain people finally wake up.
We need to get area reps away from "other things" and back into units up and down the country,we need to engage staff in these units so that they won't simply put up with poor or zero representation and we need to get these area reps reporting back to branches and divisional reps on the state of play.
We need divisional reps all pulling in the same direction,following the same national line and an end to regional agendas that have divided the union for so long.
We need more than anything for the CWU Branches to come out of the shadows and be visible in the workplace again.

[dvbuk55]

I don't really want to get into the polemics of the CWUs performance/judgement over the last five years; all I would say is that my terms and conditions are worse than they were five years ago despite strike action.

[fishtank]

I don't really want to get into the polemics of the CWUs performance/judgement over the last five years; all I would say is that my terms and conditions are worse than they were five years ago despite strike action.

Point one you could perhaps make an argument for,point two is open to interpretation but i don't think many would say that this is now a better working environment that it was three years ago.

[clashcityrocker]

I really don't know how you can say it isn't a better working environment.
Haven't you got indoor flow?
Or a stupid picture reminding you to use the handrail as you go up or down stairs?