A manager as a union rep?
Submitted on 21 April, 2006 - 23:47
A young worker writes...
"I am a member of Amicus. When I joined AMICUS two months ago there was one Union rep in my workplace because another rep had just retired. Both of these reps were honest unionists cowed by their fellow workers' apathy rather then being the bosses' lackeys.
However today I discovered that the replacement rep is actually a manager. Looking in the union's constitution there seems to be no bar to this, even though there is a obvious conflict of interest.
If possible please can you give me some advice about what I can do?
Unfortunately I dont have any real experience of unionism, and any advice will be welcome".
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In fact....
...I was a union rep and a manager for a time, largely because no-one else in the shop wanted the steward's position. This was at a time when we were being TUPE'd from local government to an outside employer. It certainly did cause a conflict of interest, but mainly because the new employer thought they could exert pressure on me (they couldn't).
So it's not an ideal situation, but it can be better than nothing providing you have the right person. Managers are salaried employees too, at the end of the day.
Perhaps you should consider standing yourself, next time round.