Sorry Hooligan Bill, I disagree. It does matter which union we are with. What I want from my union is that it is offers leadship whilst obeying the directions that we give it via branch policy. Prospect and the BEC has chosen (for dubious reasons?) to disregard the branch policy on negotiating about the pensions which was clearly laid down a couple of years ago. Paraphrasing and not wishing to teach you to suck eggs - any approach from management about the pension would result in an immediate ballot for industrial action and any mention of a seperate pension for new entrants would result in the pulling of the AAVA agreement.
(Which reminds me, why do I have to listen to my colleagues who come in an AAVAs whinging on and on about the pension situation - they're obviously not that upset as to refuse to do AAVAs in protest!)
I fully agree that we have been selling ourselves short over T & Cs but once again that is because we've had poor leadership from the current union. We used to be told that this was the best agreement that could be obtained through negotation and if you wanted more then industrial action would be required (being spineless we never rose to the challenge). Now it appears to be a coupe de grace. Take it or .........., we'll get you to vote again until we get the answer we want.
How can we support a union which has said during the pension briefings that even if they get a 100% no vote on a 100% turn out then they would probably not support us and so any industrial action would be illegal. So much for democracy. It may also mean that a no vote is worthless.
As for getting off my back side and getting involved, good idea, I look forward to meeting you at the next union conference (maybe ASLEF, maybe RMT, anyone for BALPA?)