So, another week begins - fun and frolics (i said F R O L I C S, madam) in the world of union thuggery; only - as hopefully you all know - there is very little thuggery in the real world of union activity. Forty years of activism and I've yet to meet a Mafia don or bury someone in liquid cement. Christ knows I've been tempted, mind you. . . . .
No; today I met with a Corporate Chief Officer, to see if there were further adaptations we could make to accommodate a disabled worker. As a large employer (No, I don't mean they are fat bastards; we talking local government who employ 12000+) they are usually pretty good at the physical changes - widening doors for wheelchairs, flashing fire alarms for deaf, etc. Where they, and many others have a problem is job redesign or job restructuring to accommodate need for altered days, hours, etc.
It was a good meeting; she's a pleasant lady (the Corporate CO) and she listened politely. She'll get back to me, because - sadly in austerity Britain - the money angle has to be discussed with her muchkins in the accounts department. Now I have to spend some time with my union member, calming him down because he wants it all done yesterday.
Then I travelled across town to see a new Advice centre, which brings a number of advice givers under one roof. They have money & debt advice, benefits, work search, credit union, housing and energy advice too, plus a number of agencies, all in one place. Brilliant. I wanted to show our support for it, and walked around the whole set up with the centre manager, a lovely, really engaging woman called Helen.
Back to base, to fire off an e-mail to several senior managers and some elected members (Councillors) to tell them that this union fully endorses their advice centre. Lots of positive comments about the staff, which will feed back to them, and - hopefully - encourage them.
Then a dozen e-mails to reply to; I don't "do" phone calls, as I lost my hearing (effectively) about five years ago. It actually works - amazingly - to my advantage sometimes, because the buggers are forced to reply in writing, so I have a record of it all! No later denials possible, :-)
Frequent text messages disturb my quiet, as a man keen to leave the council, and looking for Voluntary severance, is constantly asking for an update. If he wasn't 6'6", 17 stone & built like a brick shit-house, I'd tell him to bugger off!
A final walk around the building, to ensure members see me and have chance to speak if they want, and I'm off home.
Best news of the day; text from my youngest saying she has safely landed at Gatwick airport, after her holiday in Turkey, and is on the bus home. Missed her lots; can't wait to see her.
Tomorrow, as they say, is another day. . . . . .
"The spirit of Ernie Bevin"
No; today I met with a Corporate Chief Officer, to see if there were further adaptations we could make to accommodate a disabled worker. As a large employer (No, I don't mean they are fat bastards; we talking local government who employ 12000+) they are usually pretty good at the physical changes - widening doors for wheelchairs, flashing fire alarms for deaf, etc. Where they, and many others have a problem is job redesign or job restructuring to accommodate need for altered days, hours, etc.
It was a good meeting; she's a pleasant lady (the Corporate CO) and she listened politely. She'll get back to me, because - sadly in austerity Britain - the money angle has to be discussed with her muchkins in the accounts department. Now I have to spend some time with my union member, calming him down because he wants it all done yesterday.
Then I travelled across town to see a new Advice centre, which brings a number of advice givers under one roof. They have money & debt advice, benefits, work search, credit union, housing and energy advice too, plus a number of agencies, all in one place. Brilliant. I wanted to show our support for it, and walked around the whole set up with the centre manager, a lovely, really engaging woman called Helen.
Back to base, to fire off an e-mail to several senior managers and some elected members (Councillors) to tell them that this union fully endorses their advice centre. Lots of positive comments about the staff, which will feed back to them, and - hopefully - encourage them.
Then a dozen e-mails to reply to; I don't "do" phone calls, as I lost my hearing (effectively) about five years ago. It actually works - amazingly - to my advantage sometimes, because the buggers are forced to reply in writing, so I have a record of it all! No later denials possible, :-)
Frequent text messages disturb my quiet, as a man keen to leave the council, and looking for Voluntary severance, is constantly asking for an update. If he wasn't 6'6", 17 stone & built like a brick shit-house, I'd tell him to bugger off!
A final walk around the building, to ensure members see me and have chance to speak if they want, and I'm off home.
Best news of the day; text from my youngest saying she has safely landed at Gatwick airport, after her holiday in Turkey, and is on the bus home. Missed her lots; can't wait to see her.
Tomorrow, as they say, is another day. . . . . .
"The spirit of Ernie Bevin"
~cheers
Poppet