CWU rep`s abuse of power

[DICK43]

Recently our CWU union rep seems to have gone power mad, he is happy to let our DOM bring in any hairbrained idea he can think of, as long as they don`t affect him personally, if I don`t stop him, he`s going to mess this office up good and proper, does anybody know how I can get him out?.
Oh, and also, we didn`t vote him in, nobody else wanted the job, so he just took it!.

[db]

Recently our CWU union rep seems to have gone power mad, he is happy to let our DOM bring in any hairbrained idea he can think of, as long as they don`t affect him personally, if I don`t stop him, he`s going to mess this office up good and proper, does anybody know how I can get him out?.
Oh, and also, we didn`t vote him in, nobody else wanted the job, so he just took it!.

Vote of no confidence to your area rep

[dvbuk55]

nobody else wanted the job, so he just took it!.

And that's what happens when apathy is rife and no one else stands. It would be better if there was a minimum number of candidates before an election is allowed but in the absence of others then when another suitable candidate comes forward an election is called.

[beanmuncha]

I would say it's better having NO rep than a bad one.

[ebbzie]

Recently our CWU union rep seems to have gone power mad, he is happy to let our DOM bring in any hairbrained idea he can think of, as long as they don`t affect him personally, if I don`t stop him, he`s going to mess this office up good and proper, does anybody know how I can get him out?.
Oh, and also, we didn`t vote him in, nobody else wanted the job, so he just took it!.

This is a VERY common problem

[fishtank]

I would say it's better having NO rep than a bad one.

I would agree with you.
My personal opinion is that every rep every year should have to ask the members for a mandate to continue.
Less than 50% and you should be out whether there is someone to take your place or not.
I think it would encourage better representation and improve engagement.
It would also help to silence the bitching of the "canteen reps" if the rep had a mandate to continue.

[clashcityrocker]

There is something wrong when someone who when actually obliged to stand in an election only got 6 votes, is allowed to be the rep because a vacancy has arisen.

[daveyeff]

I would say it's better having NO rep than a bad one.

I would agree with you.
My personal opinion is that every rep every year should have to ask the members for a mandate to continue.
Less than 50% and you should be out whether there is someone to take your place or not.
I think it would encourage better representation and improve engagement.
It would also help to silence the bitching of the "canteen reps" if the rep had a mandate to continue.

should the branch not be responsible for this though fish?. wouldnt like to comment on ours. but if the branch asked members for a vote on the continuity of the reps services, i think he would be out. no one seems to be the one to start the ball rolling though. seems he will go unchallenged.

[fishtank]

should the branch not be responsible for this though fish?

Branch Officers will not get involved unless there is a supported,formal request for a vote of no confidence.
In a lot of cases this only happens when someone else is willing to take over,which brings division and personalities into the equation,members might not support their existing rep,but may like the person proposing the vote of no confidence even less.

In my opinion there has to be a contingency for offices who may just need a period of time without a rep or who may prefer a committee situation with the Area Rep overseeing things.

I also do believe it's good for democracy,office solidarity and engagement to give your rep a solid mandate to represent every now and again which is what would hopefully happen in the majority of cases.

[LinChong]

Recently our CWU union rep seems to have gone power mad, he is happy to let our DOM bring in any hairbrained idea he can think of, as long as they don`t affect him personally, if I don`t stop him, he`s going to mess this office up good and proper, does anybody know how I can get him out?.
Oh, and also, we didn`t vote him in, nobody else wanted the job, so he just took it!.

Removing your local rep will not stop your DOM bringing in hairbrained ideas. Your Area rep might only be able to visit your unit once a month and all the time you don't have a rep on site, management will argue that there was nobody around to consult. The problem is your rep is not stopping the hairbrained ideas being implemented. Maybe this is because your DOM is not discussing these hairbrained ideas with your rep in the first place. If your unit is understaffed, your rep may not be available to be released from duty. If your DOM won't release your rep from their duty to discuss hairbrained ideas, your DOM is not going to release a committee from their duties.

If the hairbrained ideas are reasonable requests, it may be difficult to refuse trying them unless you can come up with a good argument to show they are unreasonable. If you can't refuse, try out the hairbrained ideas but don't bust your gut. If these ideas don't work, they will be dropped.

Unless you are willing to stand yourself, don't get rid of the rep. Challenge him at the next election. This is how democracy works. Unions are not one party states. If the majority want a change, they should be allowed a change and not be intimidated by a minority who don't want change. Branches should allow members to make this choice even if a change might temporarily divide the unit. Branches should accept the democratic decision of the members. Putting restrictions on the right of members to stand for election will kill off trade unions.

[pop it in pete]

We have a notice on our union board for several years now asking for anyone thats not happy with the rep to put their name forward and and election will be held inorder for the workforce to decide who they wish to have as rep, any time any day. In over 5 years no body ever has stepped up to challenge the rep. Yet they moan and groan about them all the time. So if your unhappy get your act together and put action to words.

[vigilante]

I would say it's better having NO rep than a bad one.

I would agree with you.
My personal opinion is that every rep every year should have to ask the members for a mandate to continue.
Less than 50% and you should be out whether there is someone to take your place or not.
I think it would encourage better representation and improve engagement.
It would also help to silence the bitching of the "canteen reps" if the rep had a mandate to continue.

Yes but if you are a good/reasonable rep you will have gained experience with dealing with many matters.
Members may feel you haven't looked after their interests, especially with the rubbish revisions, but it is the management who make the job
bloody ridiculously hard for local reps, as you well know and members only blame the rep. They don't see the frustration a rep faces dealing with these arseh*les.

If you are up the managers ass then yes you deserve to be voted out.

[daveyeff]

I would say it's better having NO rep than a bad one.

I would agree with you.
My personal opinion is that every rep every year should have to ask the members for a mandate to continue.
Less than 50% and you should be out whether there is someone to take your place or not.
I think it would encourage better representation and improve engagement.
It would also help to silence the bitching of the "canteen reps" if the rep had a mandate to continue.

Yes but if you are a good/reasonable rep you will have gained experience with dealing with many matters.
Members may feel you haven't looked after their interests, especially with the rubbish revisions, but it is the management who make the job
bloody ridiculously hard for local reps, as you well know and members only blame the rep. They don't see the frustration a rep faces dealing with these arseh*les.

If you are up the managers ass then yes you deserve to be voted out.

up the managers arse, ha. he,s so far up you can only see his ''toenails'' thats his knickname by the way.,,,,,before him was ''dungbeetle'' he was rolling all the gaffers shyte into a ''load of balls''