Unions

[Allwood]

If a person is in a union and paying their subscriptions are the union representatives responsible in advising a employee regarding a work matters or is there a limit that they will advise on:confused:.

[jonni2bad]

The work-placed union reps don't have any 'responsibility' other than to pass on your specific concerns to their own regional reps. If they didn't feel as though they could handle the query, I would imagine that they would put you in touch with a legal representative - most unions have a facility to offer legal advice through a chain of solicitors, and I would imagine that was still free as part of your membership.

 

What Union is it?

 

Have you checked on the availability of that service on their website or in any literature they gave you on joining?

[Allwood]

Thanks jonni2bad, unfortunately at my workplace there is no reps and if want advise I have to go to the main office. The people there are not always available so I have to take the initiative and do things myself, such as replying to a grievance hearing things that were not correct and indeed DDA was breached recently.

[Cellbar]

What are you paying your subs for then?I have had to ask this question myself, as I am a union member, but when I needed the support, there was no one available to help.. so whats the point?In point of fact, they cost me more than they helped me, and I have lodged a complaint with the branch, but they have not responded to it, now there is a shock.They seem only answerable to themselves and then they back each other up to the hilt - I have cancelled my subs now though, but still intend to follow through the complaint.

[Allwood]

Cellbar I agree it seems that all that companies nowadays wants is your money and do as little as possible for it and unfortunately it is the same with unions.

[Mmmmmmm]

unions are a waste of time and money (imho ;-)

[jonni2bad]

Allwood - have you found out who your 'area' rep is - the person responsible for the place you work or live (this could be a wide area rather than just for a town etc).

 

What union are you in?

[Allwood]

Yes I have been in contact with my rep but have not the support that I needed from my union and am very disappointed in them. Now if they responded to me just a quarter of the amount that they have been trying to sell me their services than I would be more than happy. Union are very much like the 'New Labour Party' just all froth and bubbles no substance there when you need it.

 

Let me Cellbar how you get on as I have lost all faint in my union they are unwilling to do anything about the breach of the DDA by my employer. :-|

[Cellbar]

Allwood - there are other avenues available to you besides the Union, especially in DDA cases. What was the breach if you don't mind me asking? As for the Union, I now have a solicitor looking into the matter for me, as the Union are pointless. I was waiting for a meeting with a rep from Nov until last month, during which time, the limits for an ET were exceeded, hence I have had to go through a solicitor, and I still haven't heard anything about my complaint against the union rep, but I do intend to follow this up throught the solicitor as well, as I class this as misrepresentation and negligence on their part. Just becuase they are a union, they are also not above the law!

[Allwood]

Hi Cellbar, yes my employer is clearly in breach of DDA and I have suffered more beside from them, my union is a dead loss a wast of money in my case and I think I will go and see if there are other avanues that I can take.

Although in the unions literature they said that they will give legal advice the moment that people join them what a load of cog wash that was to try and get people to join them.

[paulgmb]

Not all Unions are the same!

 

As a member you will be a member of a branch so even if there is no Rep at your workplace you should be able to make contact with your branch secretary whos details might be on your membership card or your local office will have their contact details.

If you have any difficulties getting any help speak to the local organiser and if you get no reply speak to the senior organiser or even the regional secretary.

Most Union officials will be very busy due to all the wonderful employers they have to deal with on behalf of their members but do persist.

Its a daunting task facing an employer all alone!

Edited May 22, 2008 by paulgmb
Typo!

[Cellbar]

Paulgmb - I had been waiting for a meeting with my Regional Rep for 6 months! and I am not exaggerating that. he ignored letters, emails and phonecalls and when I did manage to get hold of him on the one occasion, he was extremely rude and told me he was too busy! I reported it to the branch AND lodged a complaint and what have I had back? Nothing at all. they just dont want to know. I am at the point now where I have asked for legal advice on where I stand with them becuase his and their actions have caused me a lot of stress and even more problems at work instead of assisting me. So would your Union take me and my case if I were to switch? I doubt it very much.

[Allwood]

I agree with you Cellbar, I have had the same and I feel I know more about the law than my area rep. Unions are very reluctant to give a case out to solicitors and therefore employers can get away with whatever they want and they know it as well. Unions will not do anything positive until you are sacked from your job and prior to that employer can get away with harassment bullying and downright discrimination but it seems that unions turns a blind eye to all of that.

 

Union promise very much to get you to join them but when you have joined they do nothing for the subs that you paid them every month and as Cellbar says they can cause a lot of hassle and stress because you feel that you are fighting two battles one with the union and one with the employer.

 

Some said that they are very busy because of the bad employers but why not employ more people to deal with the bad employers.

Edited May 23, 2008 by Allwood

[paulgmb]

Cellbar, if you are unhappy you should contact your regional (not local) office, find out who the Regional Secretary is and tell them of your experiences. Also most Unions have a regional committee (executive) and a national one. They are your reps and like you are ordinary members and will take complaints very seriously indeed. Get a copy of the rule book too, that will detail how to complain.

You are absolutly right, the Union I am a member of would not take an existing case on the same as an insurer would not insure your house the day after it had burned down!

 

Calls come into my local office every day from individuals who are on disciplinaries or who have alredy been sacked many from organised workplaces where there is a Union already but they have been too tight to join then expect the Union to drop everything for them.

If you feel you will be stronger by yourself I wish you luck.

[Cellbar]

Actually, I have been stronger, I have more control and I can get things done quicker!!

 

I complained to the local and regional offices but have heard absolutely nothing back at all, but tis becuase they know they are in the wrong and they have cost me in this situation.

 

I am looking at suing them for negligence - I can't even find a complaitns process on their website or in their book.

[poppynurse]

which union is this?

[cal37]

I would like to know which union; I find it very strange that you have been ignored. Unions take these things very seriously and any Regional official who was rude to you would find his job on the line in my union.

Unions do in fact help in hundreds of case. They don’t always get things right but some cases are beyond help even if the person believes they have been wrong done.

[Allwood]

Cal that has been my experience, my employers have stopped my wages would not give me my payslips until just before my grievances hearing and I had a terrible time getting my holidays and they would not let me have any of the options in their handbook for compassionate leave although others got it without any hassle and are in breach of DDA, my union knows about this. All I get from my union is to keep putting in grievances if my employer does not comply with DDA. I have asked why and was told to keep putting grievance until they do comply. What good is that going to do me.

 

My employer has about sixty thousand people working for them and it make me wonder that because the labour is in power the unions do not want to upset them and do not want to cause any unemployment, I wounder will the unions change when the Tories get back into power in 2 years time.

[labrat]

all wood sounds like my workplace, still think they owe me about £300 from when i left as they charged me for using too many bank hols, however we had to work a bank holliday before we earnt that day off so dont see how i could have used too many.

 

till prob too late to argue i suppose about 7-8 months ago now....

 

still to get back to guessing, got big when labour came in, took over alot of businesses, had alot sub-contracted to them. wouldnt be a certain company starting with a C ending with an (A missing a R after the A) and got alot of posts about Brainslugs on a certain wiki?

[Allwood]

No the are not the initial of my employer but it is sad when unions do not do their jobs, it is stressful enough with employment problems, which is why people join unions for support. I feel that my employer knows that no union will touch them not matter what they do to their employees.

[paulgmb]

We still don't know which Union is causing the OP problems. There will always be good and bad but I know the Union I'm a member of gives advice, support and representation including legal every day of the week. It recovers well over a million pounds per week on behalf of members but the priority is always to keep members jobs in the first place which they do in many many cases and make workplaces safe and healthy so accidents become a thing of the past.

You are far less likely to have an accident in a Union organised workplace~fact!

We take on the big boys all the time who treat their workers unfairly, currently Asda and the AA to name 2!!

[Allwood]

You union probably do take on the big boys but it would be unlikely if your union would accept me as a member due to my own union not being pro active with my employer.:?

[gmail]

The union that I'm in either reeks of corruption or genuinely haven't got a bloody clue.

Advice i have been given has been wrong, denied legal advice from day 1 to date, shop steward frustratingly feels as if his hands are tied and I've always been urged to sort everything out behind closed doors.

[gmail]

Another thing to add from my experiences is that you will get legal advice from day 1 if it involves a personal injury claim, why? because unlike employment cases they will be able claim their fees/costs back and probably get a kick back from the solicitors for the business. Try getting an employment solicitor, almost impossible.

A lot of these so called special union member offers that come through the door (insurances, discounts etc) are nothing more that an affiliate/commission earner for the unions.

[Allwood]

We still don't know which Union is causing the OP problems. There will always be good and bad but I know the Union I'm a member of gives advice, support and representation including legal every day of the week. It recovers well over a million pounds per week on behalf of members but the priority is always to keep members jobs in the first place which they do in many many cases and make workplaces safe and healthy so accidents become a thing of the past.

You are far less likely to have an accident in a Union organised workplace~fact!

We take on the big boys all the time who treat their workers unfairly, currently Asda and the AA to name 2!!

 

Paul, I have PM you regarding Unions.