Comments on: What matters to trade unions? http://blog.matthewcain.co.uk/what-matters-to-trade-unions/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:27:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Martin ORoyan http://blog.matthewcain.co.uk/what-matters-to-trade-unions/comment-page-1/#comment-2035 Martin ORoyan Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:35:21 +0000 http://blog.matthewcain.co.uk/?p=330#comment-2035 I joined the union for the same reasons as yourself and received a blue plastic card, but sadly I pulled the plug on my membership because quite simply, they weren't there when I needed them after a bucket load of promise and political bravado proved( to me) to be a load of counter productive, machine made box ticking that would have never helped my situation. I was working for an employer who wanted only spanish/hispanic people who were willing to work stupid hours for stupid money. I had emailed, posted and even left countless answer-phone messages after being passed from pillar to post by less than apathetic staff between departments at the union offices. When I was 'let go' I tried yet again to get some help and advice I got the same treatment. The really insulting bit is that since I left (stoped the direct debit) I all of a sudden get things through the post about meetings and Ed Miliband yadda yadda. What a surprise, when I phone and email (I refuse to waste another stamp) I get the same old, same old responses. Recently I found David Turnbull's mobile phone number online so I phone him. Naturally I got voicemail but left a message as to my frustration with no results and got no reply. Today I got through the post more of there printed stuff (straight in the bin). I tried phoning Mr. Turnbull again and again I got voicemail. I left another message stating that I was considering going to the press regarding the matter. Minutes later I got a phone call from the man himself. His immediate stance on the matter was that I should speak to another department and 'I am a regional managager...'. I felt that even 'at the top' I was getting marginalised and I started to express (a bit loudly) the situation and asked if he could possibly appreciate my frustration to which he almost chuckled a reply 'well no I don't'. I then started to ask why the union only tries to get in touch when 'they' want something (e.g. up-coming elections) etc. All of a sudden he expressed his wish to discontinue the conversation as he felt I was shouting at him and he was 'very busy'. I hung up. Five minutes later I texted him to say 'you lot are bloody useless...stop sending me your waste of printed matter...I have an appointment with the BBC tomorrow and your name will definitely be in the conversation.' 15minutes later I get a reply text 'To be clear I have not at any stage directly sent any materials to you. I am a Regional Industrial Officer and not involved in any shape or form in mailshots to members. If you have concerns contact my office on (phone number) have your name address and membership number along with the date on which you cancelled your membership ready and they should be able to request the admin error in respect of the campaign materials rectified.' to which I immediately replied: Been there and did that with no result. I had to find your number on the a website. Where or with whom does the 'buck stop'. I apologise if you feel that I was venting my frustration on you but no one at the union offices listened to me when I needed help with my employer. I went through all the channels and did as I was instructed with faith in the union and even encouraged others to do the same in the name of solidarity. Can you imagine how stupid that made me look. Those people decided not to join and I lost my job. Where was the union? How can anyone expect to support their union with any degree of confidence when the union doesn't regard all of it's members? I just wanted you (the union - not you personally...to be clear) to leave me to get on with my life if your not going to help. Isn't that a fair expectation? So far it has been 30min and no reply. But hey what can you expect? Wonder what they'll send me next. Martin Ex union member I joined the union for the same reasons as yourself and received a blue plastic card, but sadly I pulled the plug on my membership because quite simply, they weren’t there when I needed them after a bucket load of promise and political bravado proved( to me) to be a load of counter productive, machine made box ticking that would have never helped my situation.
I was working for an employer who wanted only spanish/hispanic people who were willing to work stupid hours for stupid money. I had emailed, posted and even left countless answer-phone messages after being passed from pillar to post by less than apathetic staff between departments at the union offices. When I was ‘let go’ I tried yet again to get some help and advice I got the same treatment.
The really insulting bit is that since I left (stoped the direct debit) I all of a sudden get things through the post about meetings and Ed Miliband yadda yadda. What a surprise, when I phone and email (I refuse to waste another stamp) I get the same old, same old responses. Recently I found David Turnbull’s mobile phone number online so I phone him. Naturally I got voicemail but left a message as to my frustration with no results and got no reply. Today I got through the post more of there printed stuff (straight in the bin). I tried phoning Mr. Turnbull again and again I got voicemail. I left another message stating that I was considering going to the press regarding the matter. Minutes later I got a phone call from the man himself. His immediate stance on the matter was that I should speak to another department and ‘I am a regional managager…’. I felt that even ‘at the top’ I was getting marginalised and I started to express (a bit loudly) the situation and asked if he could possibly appreciate my frustration to which he almost chuckled a reply ‘well no I don’t’. I then started to ask why the union only tries to get in touch when ‘they’ want something (e.g. up-coming elections) etc. All of a sudden he expressed his wish to discontinue the conversation as he felt I was shouting at him and he was ‘very busy’. I hung up.
Five minutes later I texted him to say
‘you lot are bloody useless…stop sending me your waste of printed matter…I have an appointment with the BBC tomorrow and your name will definitely be in the conversation.’
15minutes later
I get a reply text
‘To be clear I have not at any stage directly sent any materials to you. I am a Regional Industrial Officer and not involved in any shape or form in mailshots to members. If you have concerns contact my office on (phone number) have your name address and membership number along with the date on which you cancelled your membership ready and they should be able to request the admin error in respect of the campaign materials rectified.’
to which I immediately replied:
Been there and did that with no result. I had to find your number on the a website. Where or with whom does the ‘buck stop’. I apologise if you feel that I was venting my frustration on you but no one at the union offices listened to me when I needed help with my employer. I went through all the channels and did as I was instructed with faith in the union and even encouraged others to do the same in the name of solidarity. Can you imagine how stupid that made me look. Those people decided not to join and I lost my job. Where was the union? How can anyone expect to support their union with any degree of confidence when the union doesn’t regard all of it’s members? I just wanted you (the union – not you personally…to be clear) to leave me to get on with my life if your not going to help. Isn’t that a fair expectation?

So far it has been 30min and no reply.
But hey what can you expect? Wonder what they’ll send me next.

Martin
Ex union member

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