Delivery office union rep

Ralph Wiggum · Post by **Ralph Wiggum** » 29 Oct 2016, 20:15

Looking for some advice please. Our delivery office rep has been off ill for quite some time. Is it possible, and how would i go about nominating myself as acting union rep until ours returns? As some of the things going on in our office atm should be challenged immediately. Any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

worktotime · Post by **worktotime** » 30 Oct 2016, 06:46

contact your branch and apply to be sub rep of your office and there shouldn't be a problem . these dims need putting down a peg and abide by the agreements put in place by cwu and r/m , go for it and good luck.

exphg1961 · Post by **exphg1961** » 31 Oct 2016, 00:03

Speaking as an IR Rep (now retired),the firdt thing i did was to ensure i had a deputy rep,for the reason you highlight, but also to help share the burden of dealing with (in my case) over 100 members.
If you can, tell your rep you wish to help him he should be grateful. Also speak to your AR and Branch Sec in order to get a ballot arranged, it sounds like you're the only viable candidate but there is a procedure.
Best wishes and good luck.

Ralph Wiggum · Post by **Ralph Wiggum** » 31 Oct 2016, 14:57

Thanks for your replies. I will be looking into this :-)

UnhappyGremlin · Post by **UnhappyGremlin** » 31 Oct 2016, 20:18

It is quite simple.

The Branch Secretary should put up a poster asking for any other possible volunteers, and if no one else is interested, then you will be elected unopposed.

You just need to be nominated, with I think 2 staff supporting you.

postiept · Post by **postiept** » 07 Nov 2016, 16:25

Union reps are a waste of time. I've worked in 3 different offices and the reps are in the managers back pockets to get the best duties, holidays when they want and do nothing when the managers are shafting the workers. No longer get my money.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 07 Nov 2016, 17:49

postiept wrote:Union reps are a waste of time. I've worked in 3 different offices and the reps are in the managers back pockets to get the best duties, holidays when they want and do nothing when the managers are shafting the workers. No longer get my money.

When an office has a bad rep usually it's because no one is willing to overthrow him and take on the job themselves, or try to form a committee to guide him.

It may sound harsh but if an office isn't willing to get rid of a bad rep then they can only harvest what they reap. Someone needs to raise their head for the good of others, and they need support when they do. Sadly, neither is likely in todays work environment. Glad I work where I do.

exphg1961 · Post by **exphg1961** » 07 Nov 2016, 22:59

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:
postiept wrote:Union reps are a waste of time. I've worked in 3 different offices and the reps are in the managers back pockets to get the best duties, holidays when they want and do nothing when the managers are shafting the workers. No longer get my money.
When an office has a bad rep usually it's because no one is willing to overthrow him and take on the job themselves, or try to form a committee to guide him.

It may sound harsh but if an office isn't willing to get rid of a bad rep then they can only harvest what they reap. Someone needs to raise their head for the good of others, and they need support when they do. Sadly, neither is likely in todays work environment. Glad I work where I do.

I agree with much of what you say,TBT however the poster raises some issues which I'm not letting go.
There are fixed procedures for choosing both leave, and duties. How anyone, rep or otherwise can circumvent this process is beyond my ken.
Even if that was the case, one phone call to the Area Rep would sort that out for good.
Local reps aside, who i know for a fact work bloody hard with no thanks;anyone who is prepared to accept the conditions of service, Pensions,working hours,pay H&S etc etc without paying the union (whose members achieved all this and more)is nothing more than a parasite.

postiept · Post by **postiept** » 08 Nov 2016, 16:30

Wouldn't say these people are parasites when they maybe have paid into the union for years but see their reps bending over to keep the managers on side to give them the best of the duties etc. To me that's the parasite and probably the reason most employees feel let down and overworked, they don't even have the support of the people their paying to support them.
Glad you have it good but as said 3 different offices and the rep is in the back pocket.

exphg1961 · Post by **exphg1961** » 08 Nov 2016, 18:33

postiept wrote:Wouldn't say these people are parasites when they maybe have paid into the union for years but see their reps bending over to keep the managers on side to give them the best of the duties etc. To me that's the parasite and probably the reason most employees feel let down and overworked, they don't even have the support of the people their paying to support them.
Glad you have it good but as said 3 different offices and the rep is in the back pocket.

I refer you to my previous comments and stand by them.

Newbie001 · Post by **Newbie001** » 08 Nov 2016, 18:54

Let's be honest. Being a union rep is a lot of extra work for no thanks, no extra pay and lots of grief. I wouldn't do it. WPC's get 30 quid a week for doing mostly nothing. Maybe if union shared some of them subs to the local office we'd get some stronger reps.

FinishOnTime · Post by **FinishOnTime** » 08 Nov 2016, 22:38

postiept wrote:Wouldn't say these people are parasites when they maybe have paid into the union for years but see their reps bending over to keep the managers on side to give them the best of the duties etc. To me that's the parasite and probably the reason most employees feel let down and overworked, they don't even have the support of the people their paying to support them.
Glad you have it good but as said 3 different offices and the rep is in the back pocket.

Did you or your colleagues do anything to challenge these poor reps?

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 09 Nov 2016, 09:24

postiept wrote:Wouldn't say these people are parasites when they maybe have paid into the union for years but see their reps bending over to keep the managers on side to give them the best of the duties etc. To me that's the parasite and probably the reason most employees feel let down and overworked, they don't even have the support of the people their paying to support them.
Glad you have it good but as said 3 different offices and the rep is in the back pocket.

and at them 3 offices the members were perfectly happy to accept that as obviously no one else put their name into the hat to become the unit rep

postiept · Post by **postiept** » 09 Nov 2016, 11:58

exphg1961 wrote:
postiept wrote:Wouldn't say these people are parasites when they maybe have paid into the union for years but see their reps bending over to keep the managers on side to give them the best of the duties etc. To me that's the parasite and probably the reason most employees feel let down and overworked, they don't even have the support of the people their paying to support them.
Glad you have it good but as said 3 different offices and the rep is in the back pocket.
I refer you to my previous comments and stand by them.

Similarly I stand by mine.

postiept · Post by **postiept** » 09 Nov 2016, 11:59

FinishOnTime wrote:
postiept wrote:Wouldn't say these people are parasites when they maybe have paid into the union for years but see their reps bending over to keep the managers on side to give them the best of the duties etc. To me that's the parasite and probably the reason most employees feel let down and overworked, they don't even have the support of the people their paying to support them.
Glad you have it good but as said 3 different offices and the rep is in the back pocket.
Did you or your colleagues do anything to challenge these poor reps?

Yes I did, within a couple of months I was moved to another office.