militancy

ronpetetrevchris · Post by **ronpetetrevchris** » 25 Mar 2008, 16:07

I am currently considering becoming a union rep for our office. The office is down south and is considered a good office, by good i mean that most things are accepted without protest by union rep and the staff hardly get to hear of them unless they are personally involved. In our current climate i believe this to be very dangerous.

The question i would want to ask the experienced union reps is this. If i were to take this role on i wouldnâ€™t be accommodating to management, which means knowing the manual, procedure and arguing as much as possible. Never mind team, i would be there to represent the workers and keeping hours in the office, not mediating between them and persuading my members to put up and shut up. So ultimately where is this gonna land me? I mean are there any militant reps out there any more? Do you feel urself a dying breed? Does the union (higher echelons) care any more? repercushions?

baggee · Post by **baggee** » 25 Mar 2008, 16:16

Yes you should become a CWU Rep and be proud to represent you colleagues, but always speak to your members first and then you go and speak to your manager about your colleagues issues and if you have problems with your manager then you speak to your area rep or branch or even CWU HQ for advice on the problem. JUST WATCH YOUR BACK and DO EVERYTHING BY THE BOOK, GOOD LUCK COMRADE

borderscot · Post by **borderscot** » 25 Mar 2008, 19:18

I agree with Baggee become the office rep but make sure you keep within the rules, keep notes of all discussions, speak regularly to your colleagues and the local branch and area rep. read all the agreements you can almost guarantee your manager hasn't.
Welcome to the madhouse

pop it in pete · Post by **pop it in pete** » 25 Mar 2008, 20:47

Good luck to you mate. Not many postal workers give a s**t about the job at the moment.Which is why we are in the muck we are in now.
By all means be as militant as you feel but remember you are elected to represent the C.W.U. members in your units views if you push your own adgenda you risk being ousted at the next election and a yes man replacing you. Its a fine wire to tread no good running off with the red flag only to look behind and find the bulk of the workforce has stopped at the first hurdle.
Good luck and enjoy.

drb · Post by **drb** » 25 Mar 2008, 21:09

Don't use just YOUR opinion. Get your senior members opinons too.Do not be everyone's moral guardian either.
You'll just get let down.
Study everything once a proposal is made,give it a couple of days to mull over and discuss.
and NEVER agree anything IN PRINCIPAL!