Union Help

KME91

Our union has a rule that if an issue started before the person joined, they will not represent on that issue unless there is a wider benefit to the current membership. The reason for this is because we have repeatedly had people join, just to get help with a problem, and then leave when it's sorted, being a drain on resources but not contributing anything.

The point of a union is not as work insurance, or to provide services to members. The point of a union at it's most fundamental level is that it is a collective group of people standing together to help each other and provide support and care to the vulnerable in it's midst. One element of that is helping members through work problems.

dmliverpool

Googlewhacker wrote: »

I am inclined to agree but if it is an ongoing issue then its fair enough that they should put a timelimit on them starting to help because you can just tell from the original post that if they had come in and sorted the problem out the OP's missus would have likely left the union once her problem was sorted.

Hmm, I wouldn't join a Union because I had a problem with a boss. Joining a Union is about joining a group of like minded workers who value there working conditions. There are lots of unions and you have to join one that fights your cause. Most employers now do crack the whip every now and then as a matter of process and shaking the tree to find any useless staff or staff that are not working even harder than before.

Supervisions are usually a good time to discuss issues and to resolve them without throwing a Union in that may cause more harm than good, especially if you want she wants this job? The boss may feel betrayed by this intrusion and may get worse.

I would try sort it out in a discrete manner, then bring it up in supervision, then met with the union. I wouldn't advise going to your bosses boss, they won't look at this softly at all.

londoner1998

yellowlawn wrote: »

The reason she wasn't a member of her work Union is because those same people also work for the MBC. And in the past they have been bullied into keeping schtum at meetings were they are representing staff. The local chair person of the union branch socialises with Senior management. My OH has overheard conversations with management and other staff discussing personal conversations resulting from appraisals with other staff. She wants to put in a grievance but needs help with it, but cannot seem to get help from anywhere!!

You can't have it both ways...my Union (who by the way are being great at the moment) will take you on even if you are not a member... at a price- I can;t remember if it is 75 or 100 quid. Which is only fair as they are mega busy with around 500 redundancies at the moment and the numerous appeals that people decided to go ahead with (mine included) and resources are not endless. Back in April, my rep had 17 union meetings with management... in a week.

I'm afiard I have to agree with other posters- I am a Union rep and frequenctly have been told 'don't know why you bother, striking won't do anything, blah blah...' but when the brutal pension scheme proposals were 're-thought' and we got a much better offer and pay increases weren fought for, the same non-members that talk about how useless the unions are benefitting from them now... without a word of acknoledgement or having fought for it putting their head above the parapet.

So I guess the OP needs to think whether they respect a Union or not in the first place and also whether the issue is a Union issue one.

vax2002

To be honest you are better putting your money down the nearest grate, unions are bought and paid for long ago

The_Thrilla

yellowlawn wrote: »

My partner works for our local MBC she wasn't a member of a union but recently has been enduring bullying at work by her manager. She has joined the biggest Union only to be told after a few weeks of joining that she is not entitled to assistance from them as the issues happened before she joined.

Is this correct and if so what is the point of a Union?

Yes it is correct. As others have said, you would treat a union like you would an insurance policy. Incidentally, under the European Union grievance procedures, you can turn up at grievance and disciplinary proceedings with a rep from ANY recognised union. You might have proceedings against a factory that makes plastic gnomes, and turn up with a rep from the Musicians Union.

While you can't get a union to retrospectively represent you, you can get yourself an ambulance chaser. There is also the old trick of reading the symptoms of depression in a book, go to the quack and get a few months off work. Use your sick leave to find a new job.

The_Thrilla

Googlewhacker wrote: »

Was such a good post until the last bit....

Thanks, Googlewhacker.

In your post #9 above, "time limit" are two words.

Sambucus_Nigra

KME91 wrote: »

Our union has a rule that if an issue started before the person joined, they will not represent on that issue unless there is a wider benefit to the current membership. The reason for this is because we have repeatedly had people join, just to get help with a problem, and then leave when it's sorted, being a drain on resources but not contributing anything.

So if the bullying started on day one and they joined on day 2 then you'd turn them away?

ILW

Seems that half the world seem to think they are being bullied at work. Is it real or is someone just expecting you to do your job properly?

The_Thrilla

ILW wrote: »

Seems that half the world seem to think they are being bullied at work. Is it real or is someone just expecting you to do your job properly?

I know where you're coming from. However, I have noticed over the years a certain spring in the step of macho management. Years of anti-unionism, debt, high unemployment, have cowed the workforce, and they are just a shadow of what they were back in the 1970s. Instead of striking for higher pay, they just get the credit card out. Because of this, they don't deal with a workplace bully as he should be dealt with - metaphorically hit him/her right between the eyes. Tolerating these people only encourages them.

Sooner or later, someone is going to reach the end of their tether, and some tragedy is going to happen. Either a worker will harm themselves, or - with a bit of luck - a perpetrator. Maybe even a customer.

A politician (He is such a no-mark that I have forgotten his name. I do know he was a Liberal, so he is used to being kicked around.) recently said that we should get all those layabouts on the dole back to work because working was good for you. But for many people their job is an absolute nightmare.