Strike(non union members)?

[dt123]

As an employee ... I also have a say ... OK I haven't got the "full force" of a Union behind me - but my "say" should be taken just as seriously as a collective "say" ... and remember that collective "say" might not have 100% support - but my "one man army" is 100% support - or as Gandhi put it “Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.”

You can believe what ever you want, your say means nothing, your T & C's are determined by CWU members. When you signed your contract you bound yourself to collective agreement. If you think it doesn't deliver what you want then you have a choice of working for a non-unionised company. Our pay is a lot better in comparison to every other competitor, that is the power of collective bargaining. You have the power of your own conviction, but you chose to forego your involvement in collective negotiation by declining membership. Not meant to be harsh, just fact.

[Jimbobb]

Red bag man !

After your detailed rant about past union experience,( being an ex -rep and committed union supporter), I find it strange with that level of morale belief that you have so easily accepted the fact that your application to join the union was ignored !!!! I do not accept your reasoning for one minute, despite the fact that you say you would never pass a picket line. Join the union and get involved with the fight we cannot afford to lose !!!

I don't ever remember winning one!!!

[tommyrep]

As an employee ... I also have a say ... OK I haven't got the "full force" of a Union behind me - but my "say" should be taken just as seriously as a collective "say" ... and remember that collective "say" might not have 100% support - but my "one man army" is 100% support - or as Gandhi put it “Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.”

Ok. you may have your own agenda, with it's 100% support - I wish you well in your battle and Moya will no doubt re-think the sell off due to the pressure you exert !
But............ even you must agree that on the issues of securing our current T&C's for "all employees" we need to secure a massive YES vote to challenge RM's proposals. Privatisation will bring along many future problems and the Union have every right to take up a strong challenge - on the back of a resounding yes vote - to send out that message to any futures owners, that WE the current employees do not see the prospect of zero hour contracts and any reduction in our T&C's as something to look forward too.

[tommyrep]

Red bag man !

After your detailed rant about past union experience,( being an ex -rep and committed union supporter), I find it strange with that level of morale belief that you have so easily accepted the fact that your application to join the union was ignored !!!! I do not accept your reasoning for one minute, despite the fact that you say you would never pass a picket line. Join the union and get involved with the fight we cannot afford to lose !!!

I don't ever remember winning one!!!

Jimbob
So all our current T&C's were gifted to us out of the goodness of RM's heart ??
Nothing has ever been gained without a fight. So you may be disappointed in some aspects of past agreements but on the issue of securing those very same benefits and T&C's for the future, we cannot do anything less than give our union the backing of a massive YES vote to take back to RM. Any future under privatisation will be bleak, but to throw the towel in now without any fight would be a disgrace from a workforce of 140,000+ employees

[OnAFlyer]

Can the non-union members go on strike as well?

Don't bother, you made your choice by not joining the union. I'm sure your managers will appreciate someone coming in to make their tea for them. I'm also sure that you'll be declining any pay offer that might be achieved by IA. if your a new starter then stop putting it off and fill in the form, you need protection more than anybody.

There are people like me who were union members for years, then saw them make a total and utter f*ck up of every agreement in the last 10 years. Recommending a worse agreement than was offered prior. Basic overtime pay reducing to below basic after 10 hours. 7 lots of D2D for £20 a week minus any early start payments you used to get. Bullying and harassment rife, hours cut all over the place, regular USO failures. Full timers going and never being replaced. Work a Friday night on OT now and get paid less than you did 15 years ago.

On the positive side, we got colleague shares - oh wait, RM ripped us off with those and the CWU settled for £100 with barely a whimper.

That's why some people consider the union to be a joke. And for the record, I'm a non CWU member but I won't be going in to work - my attitude isn't any different just because I don't pay £3 a week any more. The 3 or 4 strike breakers in my office are mostly members.

[RedBagMan]

... and my (very reliable) grapevine tells me of members in our neck of the woods who will be voting YES ... but will still be going into work on strike day (assuming there'll be nowt to do/post) ... hmmm ...

[yjafor]

Hi, as a non member I support YES then what is the procedure going on strike with majority. Do I have to give RM notice personally? What's the legal procedure going on strike with Union as a non member? Can someone pls advice?

Thanks in advance.

[postypie]

I joined the CWU almost the first day I started...why???....I looked around the managers who were erm ruining ....sorry running the business...and thought I would need help when dealing with these clowns having seen the way they treated staff with no or little respect.... never regretted joining the CWU. And I never will...they may not be perfect....but they are up against a far from perfect company.

[Chelseablue]

If it's official which it is ,,then you're fine no problem

[Jimbobb]

Red bag man !

After your detailed rant about past union experience,( being an ex -rep and committed union supporter), I find it strange with that level of morale belief that you have so easily accepted the fact that your application to join the union was ignored !!!! I do not accept your reasoning for one minute, despite the fact that you say you would never pass a picket line. Join the union and get involved with the fight we cannot afford to lose !!!

I don't ever remember winning one!!!

Jimbob
So all our current T&C's were gifted to us out of the goodness of RM's heart ??
Nothing has ever been gained without a fight. So you may be disappointed in some aspects of past agreements but on the issue of securing those very same benefits and T&C's for the future, we cannot do anything less than give our union the backing of a massive YES vote to take back to RM. Any future under privatisation will be bleak, but to throw the towel in now without any fight would be a disgrace from a workforce of 140,000+ employees

Tommyrep
I never said I wouldn't fight but after 24 years and numerous strikes I have never felt like I have walked back through the gates having won,I don't know about anyone else and I know this is the most important one of all but I just feel we don't have the people at the top of the union who will be able to get us a decent deal this time either.I hope to be proved wrong but I won't hold my breath.

[dubdaz]

I left after 20+ years in the cwu after the last agreement was pushed through,everything we had spent the last 20 years fighting against was being accepted.(loads of part time duties,later starts,less money ie d2d payment etc.)The union in my eyes just became another tier of management.Ive been doing the job properly for years like the rep had been asking the office to do but only about 10% listen the rest just carve it up,and most are union members.Also whenever there's a vote so many of my colleagues couldn't be bothered to tick a box and post it,ffs how ambivalent is that.In the end I looked round at most of my colleagues and the union hierarchy and realised the jobs f****d. I left the cwu not to save a couple of quid a week,but because it was actually winding me up the way the union big wigs were seemingly getting into bed with RM,that's not what I was paying my subs for.
I'll be interested to see what percentage of my union colleagues vote.

[tommyrep]

... and my (very reliable) grapevine tells me of members in our neck of the woods who will be voting YES ... but will still be going into work on strike day (assuming there'll be nowt to do/post) ... hmmm ...

RedBagMan
I wish I was, but will admit that I am NOT surprised that the jungle drums in your grapevine may contain a grain of truth !!!
It is a simple fact that there are some "colleagues" and I use that term loosely, who do not have an ounce of principal in their spineless bodies, who will attend for work and benefit from the efforts/sacrafice of others, but those reptiles obviously seem to believe that the bogie man will not come calling at their door !!

[k979aaa]

I left after 20+ years in the cwu after the last agreement was pushed through,everything we had spent the last 20 years fighting against was being accepted.(loads of part time duties,later starts,less money ie d2d payment etc.)The union in my eyes just became another tier of management.Ive been doing the job properly for years like the rep had been asking the office to do but only about 10% listen the rest just carve it up,and most are union members.Also whenever there's a vote so many of my colleagues couldn't be bothered to tick a box and post it,ffs how ambivalent is that.In the end I looked round at most of my colleagues and the union hierarchy and realised the jobs f****d. I left the cwu not to save a couple of quid a week,but because it was actually winding me up the way the union big wigs were seemingly getting into bed with RM,that's not what I was paying my subs for.
I'll be interested to see what percentage of my union colleagues vote.

Will be brief but what % say you for or against

[dubdaz]

I left after 20+ years in the cwu after the last agreement was pushed through,everything we had spent the last 20 years fighting against was being accepted.(loads of part time duties,later starts,less money ie d2d payment etc.)The union in my eyes just became another tier of management.Ive been doing the job properly for years like the rep had been asking the office to do but only about 10% listen the rest just carve it up,and most are union members.Also whenever there's a vote so many of my colleagues couldn't be bothered to tick a box and post it,ffs how ambivalent is that.In the end I looked round at most of my colleagues and the union hierarchy and realised the jobs f****d. I left the cwu not to save a couple of quid a week,but because it was actually winding me up the way the union big wigs were seemingly getting into bed with RM,that's not what I was paying my subs for.
I'll be interested to see what percentage of my union colleagues vote.

Will be brief but what % say you for or against

Its not the % that vote yes or no,its the % who don't bother to vote so when the result is commented on by RM there always able to say the majority of our employees HAVEN'T voted for strike action.Id be supprised if they get above 70% ballots returned.

[blobbyh]

I'm a part-timer with 9 months service and union member straight away. However I never received a ballot paper and so couldn't vote in the earlier consultative ballot! I don't agree with the strike. Turkeys voting for christmas springs to mind as the only ones that I see will benefit are our competitors. I was half expecting not to get a ballot paper this time and so would not have striked. However I did and voted no - but I will obviously go with the majority. Surely that is what a vote/poll is all about.