The American union system is vastly different to ours. Theirs are run nearly as a business and don't seem to get the level of grass route support as ours. They dont have the same coverage of the workforce as the CWU do (best guess is 130,000 union members out of 170,000 workforce)Trends Guild wrote:Ok..I'm not a postie, I'm just a whinging customer, but reading your threads with interest.
Many of you seem dissatisfied with the way the CWU represent you, and I can see why. And on reading the CWU charter on their website , you could easily think you were reading a RM policy statement. Certainly they are sophisiticated and business orientated, which they have to be, but I'm not convinced that they balance that with the interests of the front-line workers (just as I'm not convinced that the giant unions are in touch with their members at all anymore - they have become super-sized organisations in themselves...).
I read lots here about anti-globalisation - the CWU are certainly globalisers from reading their charter. I read lots about supporting an 'unnoficial' walkout' but being afraid to go against the CWU and alienate any support you may have and even fears that the CWU is finished if you don't get what you have asked for. You also seem to have a lot of support among the workers for your cause.
If you really feel that this is make or break, do or die time, why not form a seperate union? There are sure enough of you to do so.
The Americans have several unions -
* American Postal Workers Union
* National Association of Letter Carriers
* National Postal Mail Handlers Union
* National Rural Letter Carriers Association
* National Association of Postmasters
* National Association of Postal Supervisors
* National League of Postmasters
You appear to be suffering from the same malaise that I am - a monopoly!
So if you really all feel that strongly, why not start a parallel union and get some leaders that are not as remote as the ones you have (and not riding the same gravy train as your employer), so you can know exactly what is being said, when, by whom and you can make sure your message gets across?
Personally I would like all unions to go back to grass roots...lots of small affilated local branches...the current ones are just too gargantuan to be of any real use anymore IMHO, even if people believe that the more of you there are, the more powferul you are. It's only true if your leaders are prepared to back you up whatever you vote to do, but this lot act like mini-governments in themselves. They are supposed to be representing you...
Just a thought.
<runs for cover>
The CWU do have a few problems and their lack of communication with the grass routes is shown up by the success of this forum. However the idea that we separate from the union while it has merit in the future would be a suicidal move at the moment.
If we did split we as a workforce would be fighting on 2 fronts. 1 Keeping or starting a union and 2 against royal mails bankrupt dogma and plans.
About the backing of the union they are doing what we want them to do we gave them a mandate to reject the offer 77% of those who voted rejected the offer. If a political party got that backing in general election they would have a vast majority and could probably remain in power for decades.
The CWU are also an amalgamation of 2 separate unions the Union of Communication Workers and the National Communications Union and since they did the imho it is better to have one union talking to the bosses than having 2 continually infighting with each other to gain a better bargaining position. AT least they can concentrate on the proper issues.
