CWU help

Harri74 · Post by **Harri74** » 04 Mar 2019, 09:22

Hi guys,

Wondering if anyone could help with a situation in our local office.

We have an arrogant Union rep who has been in the position around 18 months. Combined with a lazy DOM it is making for a lot of bad feeling as the rep is managing and arranging the rota. Consequently if you have a problem with the rota the Union rep rolls his eyes, shrugs his shoulders and walks away. Not good enough. As an office we are on the brink of calling for a vote of confidence in Union reps abilities but personally i dont think we will get it as he is very pally with a number of the younger crowd.

The help i am looking for is from a personal perspective. Union rep came to me just after January and offered me a 'hybrid' job - delivery from 12-3. 30 minutes break and then manage the dock, collection and segging from 3:30 until 6:30. This job was created because Union rep had been doing 12 hour shifts 6 days a week so the latter dock work would give him a break. I was also told the role was Monday to Friday. Union rep specifically told me if i chose this duty i could not change my mind. After some thought i agreed to the role and at first it was fantastic. Mornings and weekends free whats not to like? However 2 weeks in and i am told its not Monday to Friday anymore. 6 weeks in i am told he cannot guarantee me every 4th Saturday off (I am a reserve with 7 years experience) and 1in4 Saturday didnt mean every fourth. It could mean the first Saturday in January and the last Saturday in February. Finally as of next week half of my work is back on normally delivery. One day start at 8 am the next day afternoon shift starting at 12. As you can imagine i am livid. I have spoken to my area Union rep who just doesnt seem interested in helping and can only say technically 1in4 weekends off doesnt mean every fourth. I have already had to cancel plans for this weekend which should have been first long weekend.

In my opinion the Union rep wants all the power without any responsibility. He is constantly tinkering with peoples duties, start times, weekends off etc. I dont think we will get the 22 signatures we need for a vote of no confidence but many people think we wont be far off. What do you think? Is there anything i am missing here or anything that i can use in my case against the rep?

Two more points - I am not the only one coming in for this kind of treatment. There is another monday to friday duty which is currently being undertaken by a relative new starter but seeing as he is new to the company they make him work saturdays. Its either a monday to friday duty or it isnt right? Secondly Union rep asked me if i wanted to just come in every Saturday and then just take Saturdays off when i needed them. Now he claims he cant give me every fourth Saturday off but he didnt have any problem doing that for myself and others over the Christmas period when we had far fewer staff. This guy is a bully and a power crazed megalomaniac. Please help.

Post by **Trail** » 04 Mar 2019, 11:12

Harri74 wrote:Hi guys,

Wondering if anyone could help with a situation in our local office.

We have an arrogant Union rep who has been in the position around 18 months. Combined with a lazy DOM it is making for a lot of bad feeling as the rep is managing and arranging the rota. Consequently if you have a problem with the rota the Union rep rolls his eyes, shrugs his shoulders and walks away. Not good enough. As an office we are on the brink of calling for a vote of confidence in Union reps abilities but personally i dont think we will get it as he is very pally with a number of the younger crowd.

The help i am looking for is from a personal perspective. Union rep came to me just after January and offered me a 'hybrid' job - delivery from 12-3. 30 minutes break and then manage the dock, collection and segging from 3:30 until 6:30. This job was created because Union rep had been doing 12 hour shifts 6 days a week so the latter dock work would give him a break. I was also told the role was Monday to Friday. Union rep specifically told me if i chose this duty i could not change my mind. After some thought i agreed to the role and at first it was fantastic. Mornings and weekends free whats not to like? However 2 weeks in and i am told its not Monday to Friday anymore. 6 weeks in i am told he cannot guarantee me every 4th Saturday off (I am a reserve with 7 years experience) and 1in4 Saturday didnt mean every fourth. It could mean the first Saturday in January and the last Saturday in February. Finally as of next week half of my work is back on normally delivery. One day start at 8 am the next day afternoon shift starting at 12. As you can imagine i am livid. I have spoken to my area Union rep who just doesnt seem interested in helping and can only say technically 1in4 weekends off doesnt mean every fourth. I have already had to cancel plans for this weekend which should have been first long weekend.

In my opinion the Union rep wants all the power without any responsibility. He is constantly tinkering with peoples duties, start times, weekends off etc. I dont think we will get the 22 signatures we need for a vote of no confidence but many people think we wont be far off. What do you think? Is there anything i am missing here or anything that i can use in my case against the rep?

Two more points - I am not the only one coming in for this kind of treatment. There is another monday to friday duty which is currently being undertaken by a relative new starter but seeing as he is new to the company they make him work saturdays. Its either a monday to friday duty or it isnt right? Secondly Union rep asked me if i wanted to just come in every Saturday and then just take Saturdays off when i needed them. Now he claims he cant give me every fourth Saturday off but he didnt have any problem doing that for myself and others over the Christmas period when we had far fewer staff. This guy is a bully and a power crazed megalomaniac. Please help.

CWU reps are absolutely useless. I had a harassment claim lodged against me and had five of them trying to fight my corner. Not one had any idea what to do. I might as well have got the job done myself. Useless c*nts.

I remember being on delivery in a North Nottinghamshire town when one of the managers came out to see if I was carrying too much mail, she brought a CWU rep with her. He was basically just a Yes Man as they looked inside my bag and saw I had 1 bundle of mail, no packets...and all he said was "You're carrying too much mail". F*cking stupid.

Stick your £4 a week in your pocket and buy yourself a pint.

ruorbe · Post by **ruorbe** » 04 Mar 2019, 14:45

Can you please please pm me and Ill try to help

redneck · Post by **redneck** » 04 Mar 2019, 18:47

I don't see the reps job as involving anything that a manager should be doing. IR Framework/Disagreement Process should be used if they are not doing their job properly and this will result in area getting involved. A lazy manager is not a reason to start doing their work.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 04 Mar 2019, 19:26

Trail wrote:
CWU reps are absolutely useless.

some are, many are great

Trail wrote: Stick your £4 a week in your pocket and buy yourself a pint.

without union youd prob already be on close to min wage, unpaid breaks, bare minimum paid holidays, even less favorable terms than many cry about on here already. But yeah, enjoy your pint we`ll cover for you.

Harri74 · Post by **Harri74** » 04 Mar 2019, 19:48

Thanks for the responses. We are drafting a motion of no confidence as we speak.

I agree that without a Union we would be screwed however, Union officials need to be working for the welfare of the workforce or not at all. If its all about custard creams and early finishes then frankly i would rather enjoy that pint.

The Postman · Post by **The Postman** » 04 Mar 2019, 20:04

Him being pally with the younger crowd might make no difference, chances are most of younger crowd aren’t in the union. Only union members can partake in union business. Good Luck.

tommyrep · Post by **tommyrep** » 05 Mar 2019, 10:51

Postie45 wrote:
Trail wrote:
CWU reps are absolutely useless.
some are, many are great

Trail wrote: Stick your £4 a week in your pocket and buy yourself a pint.
without union youd prob already be on close to min wage, unpaid breaks, bare minimum paid holidays, even less favorable terms than many cry about on here already. But yeah, enjoy your pint we`ll cover for you.

Great post! Well said, so many short sighted people out there.
Maybe once he/she becomes the target of a real problem, he/she will then see the benefit of paying Union dues.

Harri74 · Post by **Harri74** » 05 Mar 2019, 19:59

Just come off the phone to our Branch Secretary. Apparently this guy and his behaviour has been on his radar for some time. In my colleagues words 'its one thing a bullying manager but a bullying Union rep is totally unacceptable'. Awaiting details of how to proceed regarding the vote of no confidence.

Interested-seeker · Post by **Interested-seeker** » 05 Mar 2019, 21:24

Postie45 wrote:
Trail wrote:
CWU reps are absolutely useless.
some are, many are great

Trail wrote: Stick your £4 a week in your pocket and buy yourself a pint.
without union youd prob already be on close to min wage, unpaid breaks, bare minimum paid holidays, even less favorable terms than many cry about on here already. But yeah, enjoy your pint we`ll cover for you.

WallaceCat · Post by **WallaceCat** » 08 Mar 2019, 19:00

The union reps are only as good as there members, if the members won’t stick together in an office , the rep hasnt got much of a chance