H&S Main Issue In Success Of CWU Recruitment Drive At UK Mail
Health and safety, along with equality, are the big issues that persuaded 22-year-old Jabar to join the union and then volunteer to become the union's second rep at the 400-strong workplace.
CWU national website recruitment report shows once again what most Union safety Reps already know: health and safety issues are the main driver behind people joining a union.
Whilst most of the media would have you believe it must be simply an issue of pay, those involved in recruitment over the years will tell you that the physical environment and health and safety concern are in fact the key issue for new employees.
Birmingham Amal Branch secretary Steve Reid commented:
"I do think it's beginning to dawn on the company that we're a feature here now and we're not going away - I have been able to represent individual members on conduct code and individual grievances - four or five in the last couple of months.
Health and safety is a massive issue here - by far the biggest - although there are many other grievances, including pay of course, shift and overtime rates and annual leave."
Steve added that, in an informal conversation with one of the senior UK Mail managers, the manager had said that he was still resolutely opposed to union recognition.
"But," Steve recalled: "I told him we were absolutely determined to win full recognition. No matter how long it takes or how hard it is - we will get there."
The CWU national website quotes night shift worker Jabar Malik:
"There's more and more enthusiasm for the union here and when you guys come to do a recruitment drive, we get lots more people joining up. I worked here for the agency for two-and-a-half years and then I was employed by the company direct and I just completed my probationary period a couple of months ago," he explains, adding: "I joined the union as soon as I finished my probation and volunteered to become a rep with Abu."
"Abu" to his friends and colleagues, Abubakar Haruna (pictured) was the first CWU rep here, completing the union's first-stage training course and achieving his full accreditation back in April.
But, although he has won the respect and trust of his colleagues, the company has not yet granted formal recognition to the union for collective negotiation purposes.
"Things are beginning to improve here. But we still need to push on and get more members," says Abu, as he and others from the local CWU branch hand out leaflets and membership forms at shift-change time.
"I'm already in the union," and "give me some forms for my friends" are the most common responses from employees leaving the site, while workers arriving early stop for a chat with the CWU crew - which tonight includes general secretary Billy Hayes - while they enjoy their pre-shift cuppas or smokes.
"The workers here are very pleased you're here tonight, especially when I told them Mr Hayes, the national leader of the union was coming," adds Abu, whose determined efforts have led to a trebling of membership at the site over the last five months.
Summing up the evening's work, Billy Hayes said:
"Tonight's been really positive - it just brings home to us that there are so many workers out there, right across the country who want union representation - and it's up to all of us in the CWU to make it happen.
Currently, Royal Mail terms and conditions are by far the best in the industry, but we want this to become the norm right across the industry, then this removes any pressure on Royal Mail to 'compete' by undercutting.
The Government's own statistics office shows that trade union members have higher wages, longer holidays, more training, better pensions, and greater health and safety at work than unorganised workers. UK Mail workers are recognising this in growing numbers, now UK Mail management should recognise the CWU."
Source: CWU
