Anyone here a Union rep?
Discussion
I have almost been talked into becoming a union rep. I work for a large organisation with multiple offices and probably 10,000+ staff. The most appealing thing is assisting others with disciplinary matters - I think it could be interesting and rewarding.
The are other duties for reps, for exmaple, keeping up to date with Union activities and being the go to person in my own office for advice - luckily there is someone else that already does that so I may well just be able to stick to the niche of doing employee disputes. Obviously that would mean less work/hassle for me too.
Anyone have any experience to share?
The only sticking point is that it is a (fairly small) but significant step because it means I will have to use some of my employed time to carry out these duties and this could POTENTIALLY cause issues with my employer. I do not think it actually will, but it could. I know of multiple stories of Union reps being victimised, though I do not think that would happen in my own department.
Apparently there is a bit of a backlog of disputes because there are not enough Union reps to deal with them. I understand I would require multiple days worth of training as well as a bit of time looking over cases etc as well as attending discilipnary hearings - so as you can imagine it could mean quite a few days worth of work per year. As I work on a pretty busy team, my manager may not like it!
On the plus side, the guy I spoke to today reckons the majority of cases go in favour of the employee and the employer most likely saves on employment tribunals!
The are other duties for reps, for exmaple, keeping up to date with Union activities and being the go to person in my own office for advice - luckily there is someone else that already does that so I may well just be able to stick to the niche of doing employee disputes. Obviously that would mean less work/hassle for me too.
Anyone have any experience to share?
The only sticking point is that it is a (fairly small) but significant step because it means I will have to use some of my employed time to carry out these duties and this could POTENTIALLY cause issues with my employer. I do not think it actually will, but it could. I know of multiple stories of Union reps being victimised, though I do not think that would happen in my own department.
Apparently there is a bit of a backlog of disputes because there are not enough Union reps to deal with them. I understand I would require multiple days worth of training as well as a bit of time looking over cases etc as well as attending discilipnary hearings - so as you can imagine it could mean quite a few days worth of work per year. As I work on a pretty busy team, my manager may not like it!
On the plus side, the guy I spoke to today reckons the majority of cases go in favour of the employee and the employer most likely saves on employment tribunals!
Just general experiences really - but hows about:
Of the disiclipanries she has been in, how often is the employee in the wrong and how often do they get sacked?
Is there much employment law stuff to learn?
I imagine being the person that could save someones job is relativley high pressure, especially if its a volatile situation or the person is under pressure due to their work/home life etc What does she think?
Of the disiclipanries she has been in, how often is the employee in the wrong and how often do they get sacked?
Is there much employment law stuff to learn?
I imagine being the person that could save someones job is relativley high pressure, especially if its a volatile situation or the person is under pressure due to their work/home life etc What does she think?
Du1point8 said:
My mother is for the NHS... send me some questions you want answering and I will pass them on if you want to know as she doesn't exactly come on here... at all
Good morning son; how's your day been? Got the wooden flooring down yet? We must have lunch next week if you're free. Not much time this week, what with work and surfing PH! 
NoNeed said:
I have been, i spent 5 years as a senior shop steward. The advice i would offer is dont think you have to win, thiink everybody has to win. A manager would not lkke to lose face anymore than yku will want to lose members so finding the better way becomes important.
Wish someone would tell Bob Crow this.Not everyone in the Union is a dick you know. The person I was speaking to is quite high up and has strong feelings - but even he said there has been many cases he has sat in on where the employre didnt have a leg to stand on and he couldn't do a thing
On the other hand he has said there have been man yexamples of very poor managers trying to screw employees over or not following procedure.
On the other hand he has said there have been man yexamples of very poor managers trying to screw employees over or not following procedure.
Mojooo said:
Not everyone in the Union is a dick you know. The person I was speaking to is quite high up and has strong feelings - but even he said there has been many cases he has sat in on where the employre didnt have a leg to stand on and he couldn't do a thing
On the other hand he has said there have been man yexamples of very poor managers trying to screw employees over or not following procedure.
Yep this is what my mother does... you ask her to strike due to not getting quad pay and a day in lieu and she will tear your head off as its not what she joined for... someone has an issue with a dismissal or a warning she will step in... she also stepped in when the staff were asked to work longer hours for effectively less pay but the managers got less hours and a pay rise... that went down like a sOn the other hand he has said there have been man yexamples of very poor managers trying to screw employees over or not following procedure.
t storm when she found that out.Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff