Union Representative (Shop Steward)

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Oh, the tales. There's one about British Leyland / Rover where they'd removed or re-routed wiring, but kept employing one chap to keep drilling holes that were no longer needed, plus another to plug them up again.
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hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

People love to knock Unions until they have an issue with management. Then in my experience they're suddenly very intetested. I don't tolerate it any more. If someone comes beetleing up to me trying for free advice I refuse. Then just advise they join a Union if they want advice and representation.

So, if you do become a rep at least you know you can represent actual members and not just get badgered by people who have stuck their head in in the sand until it was too late.

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

BigTim · Trackday Trickster Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Can someone explain what this 'Union Gravy Train' thing is all about, I'm not expecting any financial benefits form doing it.

As to losing chances of becoming a manager I do not care, I'm a technical person, I never wanted to be a manager and I do not believe I have the skill set to do it.
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Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

[quote="chris-red"]Can someone explain what this 'Union Gravy Train' thing is all about, I'm not expecting any financial benefits form doing it.

As to losing chances of becoming a manager I do not care, I'm a technical person, I never wanted to be a manager and I do not believe I have the skill set to do it.[/quote]

Then you likely don't have the skill set to be an effective union rep, you will just be multiplying your work load, with no realistic prospect of any kind of reward.

If you neither know nor care how management works, management will walk all over you.
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MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

In my opinion and experience:

The union rep generally does jack-all real work, certainly when compared to those who are not union members. The reasoning behind it is often that the people in question do not think they want to ever be a manager, but they want to have job security but get away with doing the minimum. As the union rep they have enormous power over the other more junior workers, and as such don't get pulled up on things.

The type of person who seems to go high into the structure of a union, seems to also be the type of person to want to gain benefit from that. I'm not saying that is always the case, but it seems to be a trend.

So, despite having no direct financial benefit, there is job security and a bit of blind eye turning to how you are actually working. As I said, I'm sure this is not always the case, but in my experience, the union reps I've dealt with have been the lazy feckless ones who take three hour lunch breaks and do very little actual work.

I suppose what I'm saying is that being you don't get extra pay for having to do all the extra work of a union rep, the type of people who are drawn to the hassle of it likely have an ulterior motive.
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Speedy23 · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 04 Dec 2017 Karma :

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Train companies have no incentive to run on time since they're subsided by the tax payer AND they get paid extra for delays that Network Rail are accountable for.