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New Union

Started by tempworker2020, 05-07-20, 04:12AM

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Nomad

And of course the company do everything in their power to divide, conquer and alienate the work force from each other  >:(
Nomad ( Forum Admin )
It's better to be up in arms than down on your knees.

penguin

Redshoes it does not matter how strong the membership is, those members and for many years when I worked for Tesco I was one of them, if the said membership has no support from those further up, and you might well say well become rep and change things the problem is reps who stick up for members and do not just repeat what management say tend to be viewed as trouble makers and end up getting nowhere despite having the best of intentions.
Do not let anyone tell you there is not a decent job and life beyond Tesco.

Redshoes

Most managers are members too. Many, many years ago I was a rep for a short while. When I went into it I was told most people who come to you are managers. They need to keep themselves right too. That may not still be the case but people dismiss other roles.
On another thread I have just had someone try and point out to me that the front end has a small skill set so a large head out for a manager is easy. They have little understanding of the job, they don't know how much work is to be done and the main part is, they don't care. This is exactly what I am saying. We all work hard. We all have to deliver the whole shop but there is bitterness because so many think others have it easy.
There is bitterness that there are actually other jobs to be completed. If a manager is not filling shelves they are in the office drinking coffee and on social media.
There has become a general feeling that is dividing people and if it was accepted that there are people working equally as hard but doing different tasks we would all get along better.
We have two fresh colleagues in my store who stand about when they get a chance. They spend this time talking about how other people are not working. When asked if fresh is in a good place they say they could do with help. If two of they had not spent ten mins talking about this, the help would not resent helping and the duty manager who was rushing about would not have to stop mid task to interrupt a needless conversation. As the duty manager did not have a box in hand and at fixture filling it does not seem to mater what they were doing. They expect the store manager down to be filling fresh, daily. Not matter how big the team or the delivery. If a small delivery they say it will get us ahead but this is at the expense of other jobs etc.
It's the tunnel vision of there being only one task in the store and that task being the most skilled and most important. It's not all about checkouts, it's not all about PFS, it's not all about fresh or grocery or any area. It is about the whole store

lucgeo

The store is run by senior team...now that senior team will have a preference for their own depts..a fresh and an ambient senior manager, as was the case in my store, will vie for support to have their own depts looking good. Add to that the SM who will also have an affinity to one and it was fresh in my old store.
All hands was always on fresh. As the fresh teams arrived they would be tasked with their daily routines, take their breaks on time, while the support from ambient ( mainly stock control) was expected to continue to fill!
Next day ambient senior team manager would kick off that his dept's routines and fills hadn't been done, and the book stocks were corrupted! Add to this, the checkouts continually called for support, but fresh were ring fenced from answering, same for dot com support picks!
The division and back biting from depts comes directly from the top! As I've stated before, the checkout manager role is the hardest and most unfair, amongst the management team! Produce is notoriously the easiest management position!

Store reps do not rep managers, that is for Sata reps...however I did have a lot of managers seek advice from me, mainly because they progressed through the store, and I knew them from starting, and always encouraged them on options by "sharing the knowledge" some had their heads turned on being signed off...but the majority remained as before!
As a poster before stated, good reps are disliked by some management, especially the SM...the amount of times they attempted to discipline me, for petty things and always looked surprised when I was readily prepared for the meetings...thanks to the heads up from the progressed in store managers  ;)

Now the PP's are no longer in stores,  I'd imagine it's become even harder to gain answers to problems, that could be solved just by bit of straight talking, and problem solved, without the faffing about and time wasting with investigations and disciplinary procedures!

If I recall correctly, the stores gave up their rights to strike action and votes on pay rises, when the partnership agreement was introduced...the agreement book used to look like a big A4 war and peace...last I saw it looked more like a monthly mag  :-X
Live for today. Learn from yesterday.

ElderEnclave

Yeah Tesco are becoming a joke and I hope the warehouse and drivers strike over the pay per hour.

We were told we'll get a pay rise every year (or 2) and stopped our bonus... Still on £9.40.

I refuse to join a union for the same reason as overs, they are useless and not worth my hard earned money.

Chambers21

#30
Is there any reason I cant seem to start a new topic anymore?

[gmod=gomezz]It sounds like your Supporter status may have expired with it being over a year since your last donation[/gmod]

Modena

#31
Ocado are now paying there their drivers £12.40 a hour up to £16 for overtime and £19 on Sunday after 6pm, I believe even Iceland pay more although only 10p a hour but Tesco do claim to be the leading supermarket.  Yesterday our pick finished at 6pm and the drivers had to get there their trays off the trolleys themselves, this is due to lack of staff as a lot of pickers have gone to Aldi who also pay more.  When Usdaw are you going to fight for us ?

Modena

Thank you for correcting my spelling.

horatiocain

The porblem is tesco still think in old terms, they think drivers are easy to replace  but they're not anymore, too much competition.
My depot has 9 other major delivery companies within minutes of the CfC, everyone has left, and the solution of management is that it must be the drivers fault.

In all honestly Ocado is a better place to work for many reasons  tesco only has their fixed rota as a benefit over the others, ocado is better pay  better equipment  better management  better rules, and job and knock is amazing.

Tesco need to change or their dead at the point

ElderEnclave

#34
USDAW are doing an okay job if they go on strike on the 20th. Tesco keep a kick up their arses. Tesco drivers are on £13 something an hour, we're on £9.55 an hour and was promised £10 per hour 2 years ago.

XPO pay £16 per hour for our frozen deliveries. Tesco seem very low. They need a kick to keep everyone happy they're raking in money and we see nothing and have no bonus any more if our store does well.

[admin]I'm confused by this post :-\[/admin]

redeo

Quote from: Redshoes on 05-11-21, 11:00AM
A union is strong if it has strong membership. If I remember right it was a closed shop when I joined the company but that was over 30 years ago so I can't be sure I'm remembering right. It may be a poor union, on that score I can't comment but a strong union has high membership. It has people power. On another thread someone has commented about how the police firearms banded together and had each other's backs. The reality of retail is its poorer paid, people can't afford not to work and we have high numbers of people who come to work, do the job and go home but are not interested until it comes to hours being changed or some such thing like that. When a job role has been removed it's only the people involved that try and fight or complain. Somebody sat on a till is not interested in changes to stock control and back door is not interested in bakery, and so it goes on. Part of this is we are just so busy delivering the job. The bigger the store the more the areas break down into smaller Depts within the store. Smaller stores tend not to divide up as much. I have worked in stores where you see people and ask if they are new and you find out they have worked in the store three years. It's all a matter of who you see on the shifts you work.
I suspect this is one of the reason why so little support is given to the social club at our store, the last thing they want is everyone talking and socialising with each other. At least it up and running now. Now if covid disappears we can start to organise some events.

Cinderella

Quote from: tempworker2020 on 05-07-20, 04:12AM
We all know USDAW is a useless union within Tesco as they are part of the management establishment but why isn't there a movement in Tesco to promote alternative unions like GMB or Unite.

A union that will fight for us employees rather than promise the world and delivers us nothing.

I agree that they are useless! I've been trying to get advice from them for five months now. In that time, the situation I needed support with has gotten worse!

The instore reps don't have the information I need, so they bring it up in their monthly union meetings. When it got serious, the guy leading the meeting told them to ask me to contact him directly, I did so and the response was that he doesn't deal with individuals. So why ask me to get in touch? I've asked if he can forward it on to someone who will help me, and that has gone ignored too.

When a rep told me two weeks ago to "give the manager a Let's Talk" it made me realise they absolutely have no idea what they are doing!

I emailed their main office, stating all the above and asking how I can actually get some support from them? I am now at three weeks with no reply to that email.

I wish I could get my money back. They are absolutely useless!

Sherwoodforest

#37
There is a staff protector line if you feel something is not getting sorted at store level, they do listen as I know of managers being moved store because people used it.  There should be a number for an USDAW area rep, but yes you can use a "lets talk" with your manager, it is a 2 way tool, both sign and date it, take a picture of it with your phone, bring your issue up on viewpoint annual review.  It sounds like you need to seek outside store advice.
Tesco Finest Karma,best served bent over💩

lucgeo

Ditto to above...you can ring your area USDAW office, or Tesco helpline and ask for advice.

A " let's talk" will highlight you have a problem, the manager will need to answer your direct questions, and act accordingly. Especially if you ask for a time frame for a future meeting update. It could end up just being a case of crossed wires, or lack of communication.

I don't understand why you're not getting feedback from the reps monthly meetings? As regard the person who doesn't deal with individuals? Is this person the area organiser? In which case they will have advised the reps on procedures to follow. I'm thinking it's a case that the store reps are passing the buck, either they don't have the experience or knowledge to deal with the situation, ( which is common as rep training is hit and miss and wholly inadequate) or they don't want the hassle or possible comeback from the managers!

You can request a rep from another store to support you, they aren't so bothered in repercussions from your store managers.
You are always at liberty to cancel your union subscription at any time! 
Live for today. Learn from yesterday.

NightAndDay

I cancelled my union subscription a few months in after the union bent the knee for the area manager, an incident where he manipulated the payroll systems to not pay us Sunday premium when we worked sundays, I got my money back in the end off my own back.

The union is just a money grubbing organisation in my experience who will always kowtow to the Tesco seniors.

horatiocain

Not paying a dunday premium would be automatic breach of contract and unauthorised deduction of wages, a very quick grievance would have solved the issue, if they continued a very short refusal claim would have solved the issue.

Unfortunately Tesco have created a system of isolation in that a store can keep very thing in house most of the time  meaning the regional managers aren't being made aware fully and things get hidden.

If your store rep isn't delivering, contact the office to speak with the area officer who will help, if they don't complain to the divisional officer, climb the tree until your emailing Paddy.

But sometimes people think the union are magicians, the number of guilty people who are upset that we can't make  isconsuct go away is shocking.

NightAndDay

There was a group grievance, it went to the AM, the union got involved and the AM threatened them and they dropped it, the solicitors I got involved got me my money. The AM later got dismissed but then got hired as AM at Booker where they remain to this day.

Nomad

Twice I took Tesco through the small claims while in their employ, both times getting what I was owed.  The second time bailiffs were poised to go into  Cheshunt, before they paid up.

Never be afraid to stand your ground if you know you are in the right.
Nomad ( Forum Admin )
It's better to be up in arms than down on your knees.

BUY TESLA STOCK

I remember one guy refused to come in for some of his contracted shifts as he hadn't been paid from his overtime 2 months back they soon had it resolved no need for bailiffs.   

pitdiver

I worked for Tesco for 8 years but never joined USDAW. I didn't think it was worth it. I used to be a union rep for
the TSSA so I had something to compare USDAW with.
However my wife who also worked for Tesco, She was a shift leader in an Express joined USDAW. She had an accident at work. After much effort the solicitor employed by USDAW got her compensation. However I was getting so frustrated with Tesco's delay tactics that I contacted the Environmental Health Officer for the area where she worked.  Tesco soon sat up and took notice and contacted the solicitors. So in her case it was worth joining USDAW.

penguin

Quote from: horatiocain on 26-03-22, 08:13PM
Not paying a dunday premium would be automatic breach of contract and unauthorised deduction of wages, a very quick grievance would have solved the issue, if they continued a very short refusal claim would have solved the issue.

Unfortunately Tesco have created a system of isolation in that a store can keep very thing in house most of the time  meaning the regional managers aren't being made aware fully and things get hidden.

If your store rep isn't delivering, contact the office to speak with the area officer who will help, if they don't complain to the divisional officer, climb the tree until your emailing Paddy.

But sometimes people think the union are magicians, the number of guilty people who are upset that we can't make  isconsuct go away is shocking.

Have to agree on the last point, people doing stupid things and then thinking a rep can just get them off. Not just a Tesco issue either it seems to happen in most places I have worked.
Do not let anyone tell you there is not a decent job and life beyond Tesco.

NightAndDay

If someone needs sacking, they get sacked, bar 1 case I have not seen the union successfully defend anyone from being sacked, the exception was when the target used the race card (She was black the out of store SM was Indian) and it worked, the union said the people partner was woefully incompetent, it got to the point that not only did the final written warning get overturned, but the union supported her in building a case for racial discrimination against Tesco, my opinion on the case was that she needed to be disciplined for conduct, not sacked, but at the same time the SM in question (not the Indian one but her normal SM) had posters of A Dictator in the office, was openly racist and ableist. Last I heard she went on long term sick but played the game to get as much company sick pay as possible (she also got caught working another job but they couldn't prove it.) And the SM, even though he was found to be racist, got moved to another store (as seems to be the case with a lot of managerial misconduct).

Every other time though the union has been ineffective, even bending the knee for some puff chested SMs.

MerchMan007

Quote from: BUY TESLA STOCK on 28-03-22, 02:27PM
I remember one guy refused to come in for some of his contracted shifts as he hadn't been paid from his overtime 2 months back they soon had it resolved no need for bailiffs.   

Well that works out great , lose money by not turning up for your scheduled contracted shift/s in order to get back money owed from a previous time . Stick to the bailiffs me thinks

Nomad

Quote from: BUY TESLA STOCK on 28-03-22, 02:27PM
I remember one guy refused to come in for some of his contracted shifts as he hadn't been paid from his overtime 2 months back they soon had it resolved no need for bailiffs.   
Old saying about nose and face comes to mind  :thumbup:

MerchMan007  :thumbup:
Nomad ( Forum Admin )
It's better to be up in arms than down on your knees.

horatiocain

#49
Wow a lot of responses since i last visited.

Firstly Tesco have always employed the Catholic approach to a problem, move it and hide it  if you can't move them promote them so they MUST move.
Its a c**p solution to their shockingly bad management.

As for joining USDAW, I was a rep and fought hard for every member I represented, never having one dismissed for conduct only sickness, even those who deserved to be dismissed or disciplined, they pay for representation so they get it, even the ones I'd like to beat unconscious, they've paid for representation so they get it.

I stepped down years ago and a fellow like me did the same over the stock control redundancies being allowed  his wife was made redundant and his daughter given her job, it was a joke.
He's trying to go back because he wants to help people  so there are fantastic reps

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