No response from my Union

teajug

Need some help in getting a union to reply to me. The union has all information about the problems that I have at work and would like an opinion as to whether I have a case for ET but they refuse to let me know one way or another. What can I do to get a response from them?

Contacted the regional secretary and was told to go back to the rep but when I got through to his secretary I was told he was away from work. I was transfer to another rep and again I am having the same problem no reply from her either. Sent email to their boss and again no reply. What else can I do, this is more stressful than the issues that I have been experiencing at work.

All I need from them is an opinion as to whether I have a case to take my employer to ET and the time limit for that expires for expires at the end of this week.

getmore4less

Why not lodge the claim anyway

Have you asked ACAS?

you could outline here and see if anyone thinks you have a case.

teajug

getmore4less wrote: »

Why not lodge the claim anyway

Have you asked ACAS?

you could outline here and see if anyone thinks you have a case.

The reason I joined union was because I was though that I would be able to get help from them with employment issues, it seems that they are causing me more stress than anything else.

You would think they would at the very least say 'yes' you got a case or 'no' you have not got a case just a couple of words that is all that is needed but this organisation does not even want to do that.
The union seem to have no problmes taking my subscriptions every month.

Can I sue them if I go to a solicitors and get advice for them not dealing with my case in a appropriate manner. I will try and get my many years subscriptions back from them. :mad:

lincroft1710

teajug wrote: »

Can I sue them if I go to a solicitors and get advice for them not dealing with my case in a appropriate manner. I will try and get my many years subscriptions back from them. :mad:

Do you have a contract with your union wherein it states that the union will deal with a case in an appropriate manner?

There could be several reasons why you haven't been given a reply. Your case may not be as straightforward as you believe. Were I in your position I would be phoning union HQ.

teajug

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Do you have a contract with your union wherein it states that the union will deal with a case in an appropriate manner?

There could be several reasons why you haven't been given a reply. Your case may not be as straightforward as you believe. Were I in your position I would be phoning union HQ.

Thank you for your reply. Do unions give contracts when you join them. I got no contract instead some literature that they have on their GMB's website. I have been told that 2 big unions that are in bed with big stores and will look after the stores interest before their members do you know if this is true.

If my case is not straightforward then why not drop me an email saying that they are looking at it. No they have chosen to ignore all my correspondence and not a word back from them, the union is acting as if I do not exist.

I cannot find a telephone number of the union HQ to phone them.

lincroft1710

You asked if you could sue your union. Unless they categorically state they will deal with all such matters in a timely manner they are not breaking any agreement. The literature they sent should say what they will do and how they can help their members, but I'll bet anything it doesn't bind them to any particular action within a given period of time.

I have not heard of any unions getting into bed with large employers, this may be an urban myth, equally it may be true.

I am surprised that the union doesn't publish its HQ phone no.

If you haven't already done so, providing it doesn't cost too much and doesn't jeopardise your future employment prospects I also would suggest you proceed with the unfair dismissal claim. I also echo getmore4less' suggestion that you post details of your claim so you can get more advice.

steve1980

Ah, the GMB. I'm with them, and yes, they are useless, I've had problems and the most they done was make a phone call to my line manager to tell him to call me! Something I could have done.

Don't bother with them, speak to ACAS or at least use the free legal service they offer.

mpblunders

If it is the GMB you are wasting your time. I was a member for over 6 years and on the three occasions i contacted them they were so vague that i thought the person on the other end of the phone had passed away. I had a problem with the leader of the personnel office and phoned for advice and told me to see the personnel office. When i explained it was that person i was in dispute with they said they would have to help. Why would a personnel office staff help me build a case against themselves. GMB are a total and utter waste of time and if i were you i would find another union. All the best.

teajug

lincroft1710 wrote: »

You asked if you could sue your union. Unless they categorically state they will deal with all such matters in a timely manner they are not breaking any agreement. The literature they sent should say what they will do and how they can help their members, but I'll bet anything it doesn't bind them to any particular action within a given period of time.

I have not heard of any unions getting into bed with large employers, this may be an urban myth, equally it may be true.

I am surprised that the union doesn't publish its HQ phone no.

I have checked their website again and looked more closely at the content this time (found their HQ phone number) and I also note that their first paragraph is about members rights at work.

The first paragraph 'right at work' says: ‘You have many rights when you go to work. These rights are backed up by laws that apply wherever you work and whatever job you do but laws are broken and ignored all the time so unless you belong to GMB how will you make sure your rights are enforced’. Dose this mean that they will only deal with issues at work and no where else like ET for instance.

They website says rights at work shame that their rep do not read it. As he/she will not act on any breach of right at work for me. Indeed the union makes it worse for me as I felt safe in knowledge that they would help me with serious issues at work but from all accounts this is not happening instead they are making me more stressful by having to continuously chase them for a reply and getting no where not even the courteous of a repy to my many requests for help.

One of their 'rights' mentioned in the website was for employees not to be victimised for being in a trade union, nothing about employer’s victimisations at work or other breaches under the DDA or unlawful deductions from my salary.

Not in their website, I also note from some literature from my employer about a service that they provide for employees and a fee is charges for it, however the literature goes on the say that same service is provided this services in conjunction with the GMB. Why is my employer advertising the GMB when my company is not unionised.

I was with USDAW before I joined the GMB lot. I have found both unions were equally a bad as each other. I also noted from posts on this wonderful website that Tesco bailed out USDAW when they were near bankrupt a couple of years ago.

I will be leaving unions forever at the end of this month and will not be joining another one. Unions have only created more stress for me and that is bad for your health as well as for your pocketl. It seems that the unions I have been in only wants your subscriptions and give you more added stress for being a member with them.

ACAS will be my next port of call and then I will be looking for a no win, no fee solicitors to give me an opinion, which the union will not do for me despite paying them for support, which for me has been a complete waste of money and time since joining first with USDAW AND NOW GMB.