Do all big unions work just like management?

[Serge Forward]

The clue is in the words "Barely anybody in work is in the union". In other words, not enough income from members subs. Sadly, that's how the bigger unions often operate.

 

[purenarcotic]

The clue is in the words "Barely anybody in work is in the union". In other words, not enough income from members subs. Sadly, that's how the bigger unions often operate.

There are basic issues like the last three times I’ve called I’m not down as the rep even though I have told them every single time I am. That’s just piss poor administration and there’s absolutely no excuse for it when they have plenty of people paid to do that job.

 

[Guineveretoo]

I can’t work out if the second paragraph is a piss take or not. I’m sorry if I’m not a good enough rep for you. Barely anybody in work is in the union and those who are have little interest in doing anything; they are only in it in case they get into trouble. There are things I would like to argue for but I have no clout and there’s no appetite for it. I’ve never been a rep before and have had no support from Unite at all since I started. My calls are never once returned and when we had a period of big redundancies I met with a full time officer once and that was it. He offered all this help and then never returned my calls. Even when I asked for someone else to call back it never happened so I just had to do it on my own. So to me, they are ‘the union’ because they have done nothing to make me feel a part of them and I don’t think it’s for lack of me trying.

I am not taking the piss. Genuinely, ACAS offer support to union reps, so well done using your initiative and getting help from them.

And I am not suggesting that you are "not a good enough rep". I was commenting on the language. I find it disappointing when people see the union as something outside of themselves who will swoop in on demand and sort everything out. Not saying that is what you are doing, but my comment related to earlier posts where people were doing that, and it surprised me to see a union rep doing the same thing.

Sorry that you are struggling to get anyone to join, or to get the help you need from the rest of the union.

 

[Guineveretoo]

The clue is in the words "Barely anybody in work is in the union". In other words, not enough income from members subs. Sadly, that's how the bigger unions often operate.

In their defence, that is how they have to operate because they need members' subs to pay their wages... Although you would think that would lead union officials to want to support local reps more, and to help them to recruit more members, but that rarely seems to happen.

When I was a union official, I always prioritised supporting local reps over anything else because they are the backbone of the union, and they are the ones who, if properly trained and supported, will represent the members, and they are the reason unions will recruit more members.

 

[purenarcotic]

I am not taking the piss. Genuinely, ACAS offer support to union reps, so well done using your initiative and getting help from them.

And I am not suggesting that you are "not a good enough rep". I was commenting on the language. I find it disappointing when people see the union as something outside of themselves who will swoop in on demand and sort everything out. Not saying that is what you are doing, but my comment related to earlier posts where people were doing that, and it surprised me to see a union rep doing the same thing.

Sorry that you are struggling to get anyone to join, or to get the help you need from the rest of the union.

Ah yeah, I’ve only called them when it’s been something really big / ACAS have told me it’s a bit of a grey area legally so I’ve felt I’ve needed their input. If I’m honest I don’t get a lot of issues anyway and the ones I do are things that are not very difficult (e.g I’ve got a meeting to discuss flexible working, what can I expect / I’ve got dyslexia what are my rights). I think that frustrates me too - it’s not like I’m on the phone to them three times a week asking about something a basic internet search would tell me.

 

[purenarcotic]

The clue is in the words "Barely anybody in work is in the union". In other words, not enough income from members subs. Sadly, that's how the bigger unions often operate.

Actually this has made me really cross. I pay my subs, I am just as worthy of support as anybody else in the workplace. How many members there are in my work is irrelevant. If a members calls the branch for support either they help or clearly state they can’t and the reasons for it.

 

[Ms T]

In my experience this is a political/organisational and a technical question.

In my workplace we’ve had no CV either. But before we returned to work we conducted a joint risk assessment. This included travel to an from work (which resulted in agreement that workers who use the bus would not be safe to return). We also negotiated that all workers in the 3 vulnerable categories or looking after vulnerable groups were not safe to return. In both groups members are either working from home or on paid special leave.

In the remaining group every member was spoken to and asked if they wanted to come back. Those who didn’t (and I was shocked tbh how many were desperate to come back) or couldn’t because they were looking after kids have also been allowed to work from home, put on SPL or are working new shifts to suit them.

A similar approach has been put in place for each workplace. Management were unusually keen to adopt the right approach to be fair because reconfiguring offices and factories to make them Covid safe is expensive.

Yes we did all of that too. Only 8% of staff were actually going into the office - the rest WFH or on exceptional leave. It’s getting more difficult now becauSe of the public transport situation as you say. But some people cannot do their jobs from home because of the nature of the work (Broadcasting).

 

[Ms T]

There are basic issues like the last three times I’ve called I’m not down as the rep even though I have told them every single time I am. That’s just piss poor administration and there’s absolutely no excuse for it when they have plenty of people paid to do that job.

Our HQ admin is also woeful.

 

[Ms T]

Same here. The RA we did marked bus travel as ‘red’ and it was the number one concern of workers who don’t drive in. The other red areas were getting in and out, break areas, bogs and walkways. Reconfiguring the organisation of work areas was the easiest bit.

We had support with travel for a while but it was costing a million pounds a month plus so cannot be sustained long term. We’re already facing extra job cuts because of Covid expenses. My experience of public transport in London atm is that it’s empty.

 

[Serge Forward]

Actually this has made me really cross. I pay my subs, I am just as worthy of support as anybody else in the workplace. How many members there are in my work is irrelevant. If a members calls the branch for support either they help or clearly state they can’t and the reasons for it.

And so it should make you cross!