jetblack wrote:
But you do if he is guilty, presumably ?
Depends on how he is found guilty. If due process is followed and he is found guilty in a court of law then he is. A court of law or an official investigation who find him guilty THEN remove his rights (ie imprison or sack him) but even then the "guilty" person still has rights of representation.
A bunch of blokes in a DO who "know" he is guilty. No.
jetblack wrote:We can agree on that much surely.
Only if he is guilty, but now how.
jetblack wrote:So lets say we have an out and out crook - we know (the workers and the union reps) that he's an out and out crook cos we work with him day in and day out and experience it at first hand.
Shop him to the IB, whistleblow him for fraud. Or if he is a slow worker claiming overtime fraudulently then force the managers to do something.
jetblack wrote:The management don't - and so are powerless.
Only because they chose to be - force their hand with a grievance, or if everyone is of the same opinion put in a group grievance for unfair application of standards.
jetblack wrote:Thats like saying I was a witness to a crime but I'm going to deny, when push comes to shove, that I saw anything -
Your choice, one that people make every day through fear or not wanting to get involved or put their heads above the parapet. In fact, the main reason a lot of threatened grievances are not actually placed.
jetblack wrote:cos, well, it's not my job to judge. I shall abdicate my responsibility.
Correct it's not our place to judge, we provide the evidence as we see it. The Judges/Jury are the ones that balance both sides and decide whether someone is guilty or not.
jetblack wrote:The courts are , therefore, powerless - and justice is out the window.
No justice is out of the window as soon as Mob rule takes over. An extreme example
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-35531002" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Bijan Ebrahimi, 44, was killed in Bristol nearly three years ago amid false claims he was a paedophile.
he was killed because people "knew" he was a paedophile - only he wasn't
jetblack wrote:Listen - I know what its like to be without. And I would fight the corner of anyone wronged or discriminated against through genuine reasons when they are only trying to earn a decent living for themselves and their families.
As would I.
jetblack wrote:But I draw the line at backing crooks.
As do I - but after they are found guilty not before
jetblack wrote:Its a fine line between being a defender of the rights of the oppressed and being a soft touch.
No, in my opinion, its a fine line between surrendering someone's rights because you think or "know" they are guilty, and those same rights being removed from everyone.
Remember our legal system, and Royal Mails discipline system is based on the simple fact that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. If we ever give up that simple tenet and base guilt on mob justice it will be a sad day.
It's better to defend a guilty man than punish an innocent one.
jetblack wrote:Personally, I'd use my discretion.
As would I - although the application of that discretion is different. Even if I thought or "knew" he was guilty, I still think it's wrong that his rights should be surrendered without due process.
Of course, in the world of the CWU and RM there is a simple solution if he is ever brought to task. He can get representation from higher up the CWU structure.