Poor Union Rep's (and how to deal with them?)

[Jeff Vader]

Hi Guys,

Myself and my Union colleagues are looking for some help regarding poor Union representation at our local depot.

It's been an ongoing issue over the last few years. Unfortunately consecutive reps have shown to be primarily self-serving, or uninterested in dealing with the membership in any shape or form. This has meant rubber stamping management decisions that should've been presented to workers for consultation, even agreeing to a change of contracted working hours for individuals and only informing those people of the decision afterwards.

Added to this was a serious allegation of misconduct and a suspension, where the member had to defend himself and the Union rep sat and said nothing (the latter had even failed to inform the local area branch of what was happening).

As a couple of members succinctly put it, "you wouldn't know there was a Union here".

We've now been told that the rep's have been returned for another two years - apparently unopposed due to a notice for their election being put on a piece of paper "on a noticeboard somewhere" that none of us saw.

Is there anything we can do about this other than waiting another two years?

[coxie]

I think you need to get a certain amount of people sign a sort of petition of a vote of no confidence to trigger a union election vote in your office. If you don't have someone prepared to stand against him then it's pointless

[enskied]

To be fair it is not easy being a Union Rep and the biggest obstacle to doing an effective roll is not Management, it is the lack of unity of the union members in the office. This is a very selfish workplace and f**k you I'm ok is the norm. Most workers only whinge about the union when they themselves have an issue. Quite happy for the rest of their colleges getting shafted week in week out as long as they are fine. We are the union not our reps. If you have no confidence in your rep bypass him/her and go to the Area rep and tell them why you are bypassing the Rep.

[Jeff Vader]

To be fair it is not easy being a Union Rep and the biggest obstacle to doing an effective roll is not Management, it is the lack of unity of the union members in the office. This is a very selfish workplace and f**k you I'm ok is the norm. Most workers only whinge about the union when they themselves have an issue. Quite happy for the rest of their colleges getting shafted week in week out as long as they are fine. We are the union not our reps. If you have no confidence in your rep bypass him/her and go to the Area rep and tell them why you are bypassing the Rep.

I understand what you're saying. In my previous depot before this one, it was very much a case of "the Union doesn't do anything for me". Most wouldn't give a monkey's about anyone else, yet when we were threatened with closure and job losses they joined in their droves.

The case here unfortunately is that many colleagues are either quitting the Union or refusing to join simply because they have no faith in the rep's concerned. For most people here, they are the first point of contact and are essentially dissuading them from pursuing their cases further up the chain. For those with minimal experience of Unions and representation they have no idea that they've a right to take it outside of the depot. Such as it is, it's a terrible advertisement for the CWU if it wants to build support.

It's a fair point saying that "we're the Union, not our rep's" but at the end of the day colleagues pay their dues and expect fair representation in the dealings with the company to the best of that ability.

It's a bit like paying for a lawyer in a court case and having the guy sit and read a newspaper all the way through it.

[TheBushBaby]

I also have a rep who is in receipt of acting Managers money. WTF ?

[BB brother]

Sorry you're having a bad experience.Reps are like all other walks of life some good, some bad
It really sounds like you need to get rid of this one though.As posted above You should write to the branch or fone first with a vote of no confidence.
It only takes 2 members to bring such a motion. But, again, as said above. you need someone else to stand for the position or your jiggered.
That's democracy !