Doom & Gloom or an Opportunity?

Scott Haslam

28 July 2010

For my blog this week I was unsure whether to talk about last weekends Dragon Boat Race in Doncaster or about something orientated around revisions. In the end I thought I’ll hit two birds with one stone! I’ll quickly mention that Jo Lawton and I have written a short article for the forthcoming Youth e-mag and will include some great photos, so keep a look out for it to find out the details and how the day was.

And so onto the uncertain change that faces our postal members following the ratification of the Business 2010 and Beyond Agreement. Well there is one thing certain, like many I shall potentially have to alter my life outside work to enable me to be in work! Now would this mean that it’s all doom and gloom? Definitely not and I would say that the agreement gives opportunity to reps to mould duties and duty structures in a different way to established practices.

I come from an RDC as a Network Driver and have been part of regular change since the Professional Drivers Agreement was struck in 2007. In fact it was this shock of change that engaged me within the union and subsequently got me active. Shortly after the revision in 2007/2008 an opportunity to become the shift rep came about. So I took it and through the training CWU offer, my knowledge and ability grew.

I’m now taking part in the Network 2010 revision and following experience gained from previous revisions I feel there is an opportunity to enhance the previous duty structures. It would be wrong of me to say everyone is the same and how I do things wouldn’t necessary fit others in different areas/functions, but I believe in asking what the members want, to help me and thus dictate the structures during the planning stages.

Ultimately these revisions within each office will lead to a new precedence of structures that should benefit the members of those offices. A by-product of revisions usually means redundancies (of which the CWU secured non-compulsory), and so as a young member who has still the most of their working life to go, it is important you engage in those revisions to ensure this opportunity is grasped and executed fully. Indeed, ask your Branch if you can come along to the National Youth Education Event in October or contact your relevant Branch Youth Officer/Regional Youth Committee to help you gain the skills with an aspiration to fill a reps position and deliver a successful revision for years to come.

Unity is strength. Youth is today and tomorrow.

Scott Haslam

YAC Member

Leeds No1. Amal.

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