It has been ages since I last blogged and some of you have been kind enough to bother to ask why. Well the sad truth is that I am too scared to be honest in case I get into trouble! One of my friends remarked that was the same excuse her young son gives her...! Not promising major revelations so may not be worth your while reading any further!!
So what has happened, since last we blogged? Been on holiday with my recovering other half (now fully recovered) and bought a 'new' car. My last car was clearly very sick while we were away and sadly I decided I really couldn't afford the burnt orange mini convertible I really wanted, not even second hand, so I bought the next best thing. It's very much a girl's car, although (again, sadly) it's not pink. There was a pink one.....but it was quite old and I wanted something relatively new. And cheap. Ok, it's a smart. I know it doesn't match my girl racer image that I have been cultivating for so many years now, but it's cheap - did I mention that already??? - cheap on petrol, cheap on road tax, cheap to buy, and still a convertible. I have been shocked though by the number of cars that now cut in front of me and the a tad frustrated to find I can't cut them up in return. The only way is to have some calm motoring. It's not for distances, I have to say, but its fab round London. Should I ever want to take it into central london, its also congestion charge free! The other half has christened it and asked me where my little hat with the bell has gone. Of course that makes him Big Ears, but strangely he still thinks this is funny.
And work? Ah, work. Least said, soonest mended I would say. Interesting times we live in, with a new smaller executive that saw off all its opposition, in telecoms. It's opposition that keeps us honest (as someone once said to me) and I have never believed no opposition is a healthy state for any organisation. It encourages complacency and ultimately in-fighting and there are some who should recognise that state!
Bt remains the basket case we all know it to be these days. Unable to make the progress I want in some areas, I have done some good deals for people in bad situations. sadly they all involve them leaving the company which is not my preferred outcome, but in all cases that's either where they already were or about to be. One of these actually involved a very good friend from the postal side who helped out one f our branch officers recently. I was really pleased to meet up with him briefly earlier this week, for the first time in at least a year - probably more - and I it was great to have a good old honest chat and gossip with someone who knows me well and where we can have that rarity of things these days, an honest conversation!
Since I last blogged, my hair went pink again. Then it faded, very fast, so I complained. Never complain to a hairdresser about your colour as I found out to my cost. I wanted lots of pink, quite bright and in a way that will last. Be careful what you wish for!!! My discreet (erm, really) pink streaks are now so pink they are almost purple and I'm struggling to find anything other than pink. Now, I like pink, and I'm not afraid of a little, or even a lot, of colour but you could pick me out of a crowd now from at least a mile away. The other half has been wearing dark glasses for a week and warning everyone who comes to the house to not look directly at me in case it causes hair-glare.
In a weird about turn, a friend has been asking me about standing for the WAC and I have to say that unless it radically changes I can't see the point, and yet another friend, to whom I have previously referred on this very blog, has told me she may go to the women's conference, for the first time. Be still my beating heart! She quite rightly says its for them to win her over. Now the women's conference is a different thing from the WAC and I believe a good conference usually and well worth women in the union attending.
Got to go, the Seething Wells Talcum Colliery band is marching through Surbiton today - not to be missed ! www.seethingwells.org
Glad to be back, though..............later x
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Monday, 20 June 2011
Reflections in a Muddy Puddle
So! HQ has been all atwitter since the officers received letters inviting them to come and see the GS and SDGS about their jobs. Meetings were to be set up and everyone is to be interviewed, much fevered speculation which then blew itself out smartish when no meetings were set up! However, they are underway now and methinks there will be rumour and speculation abounding as people hope that the worst will befall their sworn enemies. [Actually, I'm making that up, don't think we have many 'sworn enemies' amongst the officers but it sounded more thrilling].
The content of the meetings are confidential, so not for revealing on a public blog site. (Tee-hee!!) Its the first time I've ever had a formal meeting with the two most senior officers together and it was actually quite scary. However, its smart to see this as an opportunity for just that reason. One colleague is so keen to have his interview he may be sending the wrong signals. He has no other motive than he hasn't had an opportunity to talk to the GS in about 2 years but genuinely I think the senior officers don't understand that need, sometimes. If you are an industrial officer it is just nice to have your presence and your work acknowledged by the central leadership as there is a feeling that because we are at the sharp end and not dealing with the day to day intrigue (we wish) of the union, we simply don't count. Saying hello to the GS on the platform at Conference doesn't quite deliver the same as a 1-2-1 chat about you, your job and the union's future.
It's an interesting time. I don't believe that there is any reason why we cannot go on being a stand alone union for many years to come. Our finances are controllable and under pretty good control now, thanks to the SDGS. We may need courage to take some decisions and perhaps slaughter a few sacred cows/bulls - no need to be gender specific - but as long as we show that courage, we should be fine for the medium to long term. Sometimes I doubt our ability to take those decisions, or sometimes that we will take them and then immediately take another one that will undermine the right decision! Of course there are those amongst us who want to merge and fancy themselves as a big fish in a bigger pond. Naturally they over-rate their own importance hugely and it is usually those so nakedly ambitious who go onto be politically murdered at the hands of the much less niave and more streetwise in the larger union. May be worth it just for that, come to think of it..........only joking, honest!
You will be glad to know I am off on holiday tomorrow. My partner is finally on the mend although only in the last few days, so fingers crossed he's alright while we are away. It's a risk worth taking though, as we both would have been gutted by not getting away. I know I need to sleep for several days on end! Only down side is I have to leave my cat in the hands of her personal au pair. I would do like any other normal cat owner and put her in a cattery but this is no normal cat and once she'd been in one they'd never have her back. Vicious little beggar that she is. Likes her home comforts and is prepared to fight to ensure she is left with her own personal staff to look after her while we are away.
While I am on the subject of personal staff, can't thank Angela enough. Easily the person who has consistently cared about both of us the most over the last few weeks. Don't know where she gets the time, energy or inclination but we are both very grateful. Threatening us with her presence ensured we recovered more quickly so that wasn't necessary lol. Love you loads xxxx
BTW, she took great exception to the idea that she didn't 'get' equality. Still, you can't make all the people happy all the time..! A colleague reflected that she hadn't realised just how sexist some activists can be - and how she had been shielded from it because of where she came from. Sometimes however, we get so caught up in being robust and not looking weak that we don't realise its going on around us until we get slapped in the face by it. Without meaning to, we emulate the machismo of the organisation and I know I have had to try and step back from that on more than one occasion. It's too easy to become one of the boys, when really, we are actually better than that! It's interesting that people are lamenting the failure of the rule amendment to make one of the regional committee officers a woman. Either they really didn't understand what they were doing when they put that forward or they did it to ensure it was going down. A bit of both, I'll wager. I think I've said that deep rooted cultural change is what's needed and for that you require political will. Dipping your toe in the water in the least obviously offensive way possible will be treated with the derision it deserves. It serves both sides of the argument so well, it could only fail! Oh well.
I will have much to reflect on while I'm away. My blog, is it worthwhile? Don't know but I quite like talking to myself, so something to muse on. My family, all of them facing challneges, some more than others, but all of us with differing problems. My meeting with the TopTwo, my current patch and the challenges being faced there, reflecting on the future, my job, missing an opportunity to change pitches because I was looking the wrong way at the wrong time although that may well turn out to be the right way at the right time... and all the many, many things we (ie me and the TT) discussed that I can't tell you about... Not to mention indulging inthe idle speculation that I referred to at the very beginning of my blog. Well, I'm only human after all!
Try not to miss me too much, although if you're VERY lucky, I may blog from holiday x
PS Title courtesy of an album my sister used to own. Dreadful music but a great title, anyone recognise it?? Prizes too fabulous to mention, if you do.
The content of the meetings are confidential, so not for revealing on a public blog site. (Tee-hee!!) Its the first time I've ever had a formal meeting with the two most senior officers together and it was actually quite scary. However, its smart to see this as an opportunity for just that reason. One colleague is so keen to have his interview he may be sending the wrong signals. He has no other motive than he hasn't had an opportunity to talk to the GS in about 2 years but genuinely I think the senior officers don't understand that need, sometimes. If you are an industrial officer it is just nice to have your presence and your work acknowledged by the central leadership as there is a feeling that because we are at the sharp end and not dealing with the day to day intrigue (we wish) of the union, we simply don't count. Saying hello to the GS on the platform at Conference doesn't quite deliver the same as a 1-2-1 chat about you, your job and the union's future.
It's an interesting time. I don't believe that there is any reason why we cannot go on being a stand alone union for many years to come. Our finances are controllable and under pretty good control now, thanks to the SDGS. We may need courage to take some decisions and perhaps slaughter a few sacred cows/bulls - no need to be gender specific - but as long as we show that courage, we should be fine for the medium to long term. Sometimes I doubt our ability to take those decisions, or sometimes that we will take them and then immediately take another one that will undermine the right decision! Of course there are those amongst us who want to merge and fancy themselves as a big fish in a bigger pond. Naturally they over-rate their own importance hugely and it is usually those so nakedly ambitious who go onto be politically murdered at the hands of the much less niave and more streetwise in the larger union. May be worth it just for that, come to think of it..........only joking, honest!
You will be glad to know I am off on holiday tomorrow. My partner is finally on the mend although only in the last few days, so fingers crossed he's alright while we are away. It's a risk worth taking though, as we both would have been gutted by not getting away. I know I need to sleep for several days on end! Only down side is I have to leave my cat in the hands of her personal au pair. I would do like any other normal cat owner and put her in a cattery but this is no normal cat and once she'd been in one they'd never have her back. Vicious little beggar that she is. Likes her home comforts and is prepared to fight to ensure she is left with her own personal staff to look after her while we are away.
While I am on the subject of personal staff, can't thank Angela enough. Easily the person who has consistently cared about both of us the most over the last few weeks. Don't know where she gets the time, energy or inclination but we are both very grateful. Threatening us with her presence ensured we recovered more quickly so that wasn't necessary lol. Love you loads xxxx
BTW, she took great exception to the idea that she didn't 'get' equality. Still, you can't make all the people happy all the time..! A colleague reflected that she hadn't realised just how sexist some activists can be - and how she had been shielded from it because of where she came from. Sometimes however, we get so caught up in being robust and not looking weak that we don't realise its going on around us until we get slapped in the face by it. Without meaning to, we emulate the machismo of the organisation and I know I have had to try and step back from that on more than one occasion. It's too easy to become one of the boys, when really, we are actually better than that! It's interesting that people are lamenting the failure of the rule amendment to make one of the regional committee officers a woman. Either they really didn't understand what they were doing when they put that forward or they did it to ensure it was going down. A bit of both, I'll wager. I think I've said that deep rooted cultural change is what's needed and for that you require political will. Dipping your toe in the water in the least obviously offensive way possible will be treated with the derision it deserves. It serves both sides of the argument so well, it could only fail! Oh well.
I will have much to reflect on while I'm away. My blog, is it worthwhile? Don't know but I quite like talking to myself, so something to muse on. My family, all of them facing challneges, some more than others, but all of us with differing problems. My meeting with the TopTwo, my current patch and the challenges being faced there, reflecting on the future, my job, missing an opportunity to change pitches because I was looking the wrong way at the wrong time although that may well turn out to be the right way at the right time... and all the many, many things we (ie me and the TT) discussed that I can't tell you about... Not to mention indulging inthe idle speculation that I referred to at the very beginning of my blog. Well, I'm only human after all!
Try not to miss me too much, although if you're VERY lucky, I may blog from holiday x
PS Title courtesy of an album my sister used to own. Dreadful music but a great title, anyone recognise it?? Prizes too fabulous to mention, if you do.
Friday, 3 June 2011
What a bloody awful fortnight!
You know when I started this I intended it to be full of little titbits about the frustrations of my union but every time I went to write something actually controversial, I kept rethinking it and chickened out. For example, the senior union person that told me I shouldn't be the officer in Openreach because I didn't have an engineering background. Erm, good enough for Virgin Media, but not BT? Hmmm. (not to mention I've never been a mechanic, or worked in a stores, or a call centre, or a shop, or a factory......). Reflections of a failed election campaign where one activist was honest enough to say I wasn't an engineer. The fact I represented engineers perfectly well didn't cut any ice at all. Anyway it wasn't going to be personal, in a personal sense and so my blogs in the last couple of weeks have been particularly dull.
However, I'm in this now for good or for evil and as I'm really only talking to myself and doing so because I have no-one else to talk to, I might as well update you on the sorry state of my life. Self-pitying? Moi? Perish the thought!
Conference was awful. Dreadfully ill and never went anywhere all week except out with the fabulous Dave and Imelda to the pizza place next to the hotel and with my bestest colleague Nigel for a Mexican another night, all within a couple of hundred yards of the hotel.
Looking forward to a long weekend of being ill but pampered came to nought when my partner got ill at the end of conference which ended up with him being taken to hospital on Tuesday morning. Lights, sirens, the works. Scary stuff. He's still there and likely to be there for about another week. Didn't get to work Tuesday or Wednesday and had a dreadful falling out with someone who I now acknowledge is not even a colleague, never mind friend or comrade. Not that I was ever under any real illusions, but all the same.
Next week is an important week with lots of decisions to be made and here I am with another chest infection and running to the hospital twice a day. Don't mind that at all, but so tired, I can hardly blog!! Timing just could not be worse as carefully laid plans over many months now seem to be undone and I have no idea what to do. No doubt an answer will emerge.
On a lighter work front have sent my ideas for the PM campaign to communications and hope to get some mock-ups at least next week. Have only had one morning actually in the office so haven't yet actioned any of the motions other than to start the ball rolling on the campaign. Missed the exec (missed in the literal, NOT emotional sense) but am delighted to say that they did the right thing on the 'other company' elections. Much credit to Dan Andrews who worked his socks off convincing his colleagues.
Am terribly worried about my partner and also my sister and my brother and his family for differing reasons not for sharing here. None of us having a good time at the moment but some, I always remember, much worse than the rest of us.
Did I mention we also missed Clapton at the Albert Hall, Rod Stewart at the Liberty Stadium and are going to miss Peter Kay at the O2 on Wednesday as well. To be honest I actually don't care about any of it, just hoping we can get on holiday ok on the 21st but we'll have to wait and see.
Must, must, MUST try and be a) more upbeat and b) more interesting in next blog. So many stories of sexist behaviour or just plain barminess screaming to be told! In the meantime a real high point of the week was this morning when we met BT Fleet over my wee TUPE guy and I am delighted to say I was able to tell him to relax over the weekend. Don't have the letter yet -BTF better not renege or else - but am very, very optimistic we have won that one.
Well campers as I am half way through my bottle of wine and the next glass is calling me from the fridge, must go. Feel better for talking to you, thanks x
However, I'm in this now for good or for evil and as I'm really only talking to myself and doing so because I have no-one else to talk to, I might as well update you on the sorry state of my life. Self-pitying? Moi? Perish the thought!
Conference was awful. Dreadfully ill and never went anywhere all week except out with the fabulous Dave and Imelda to the pizza place next to the hotel and with my bestest colleague Nigel for a Mexican another night, all within a couple of hundred yards of the hotel.
Looking forward to a long weekend of being ill but pampered came to nought when my partner got ill at the end of conference which ended up with him being taken to hospital on Tuesday morning. Lights, sirens, the works. Scary stuff. He's still there and likely to be there for about another week. Didn't get to work Tuesday or Wednesday and had a dreadful falling out with someone who I now acknowledge is not even a colleague, never mind friend or comrade. Not that I was ever under any real illusions, but all the same.
Next week is an important week with lots of decisions to be made and here I am with another chest infection and running to the hospital twice a day. Don't mind that at all, but so tired, I can hardly blog!! Timing just could not be worse as carefully laid plans over many months now seem to be undone and I have no idea what to do. No doubt an answer will emerge.
On a lighter work front have sent my ideas for the PM campaign to communications and hope to get some mock-ups at least next week. Have only had one morning actually in the office so haven't yet actioned any of the motions other than to start the ball rolling on the campaign. Missed the exec (missed in the literal, NOT emotional sense) but am delighted to say that they did the right thing on the 'other company' elections. Much credit to Dan Andrews who worked his socks off convincing his colleagues.
Am terribly worried about my partner and also my sister and my brother and his family for differing reasons not for sharing here. None of us having a good time at the moment but some, I always remember, much worse than the rest of us.
Did I mention we also missed Clapton at the Albert Hall, Rod Stewart at the Liberty Stadium and are going to miss Peter Kay at the O2 on Wednesday as well. To be honest I actually don't care about any of it, just hoping we can get on holiday ok on the 21st but we'll have to wait and see.
Must, must, MUST try and be a) more upbeat and b) more interesting in next blog. So many stories of sexist behaviour or just plain barminess screaming to be told! In the meantime a real high point of the week was this morning when we met BT Fleet over my wee TUPE guy and I am delighted to say I was able to tell him to relax over the weekend. Don't have the letter yet -BTF better not renege or else - but am very, very optimistic we have won that one.
Well campers as I am half way through my bottle of wine and the next glass is calling me from the fridge, must go. Feel better for talking to you, thanks x
Friday, 27 May 2011
Reflecting the week
Well, still ill and home sick today, chest infection not shifting although the cold is beginning to go. Probably be fit by Tuesday, sod's law, would love a week off work!!
Not a good week, conference is a terrible place to be ill. Didn't get any calls or emails done and very aware my poor Scottish BT Fleet chap is awaiting his outcome, so need to get that sorted asap.
Dreadful speech on 49, can only blame the combination of no sleep, chest infection and various painkillers - the only comfort is that I think 49 was going through anyway. Fair play to Coventry who did the work and also caught the mood of conference. Somewhat mixed messages though as we then almost immediately supported the emergency motion and some others that called on us to do a joint launch of a PM document based on the agreement and changes to the procedure from which we are withdrawing! To be serious though the main message is that enough is enough and branches have lost patience with BT, who need to find another approach smartish or we are on a collision course. Got some good campaigning ideas in my head to take to the team and executive. While I didn't want 49, got to admit a campaign against this nonsense is altogether more interesting than yet another attempt to polish the poo.
I did get the chance to informally talk to some senior managers about the mess that is PM and also the problems with sick absence. No easy answers on PM but hopeful they were listening on Bradford Factor. Seemed to be listening on both but frankly actions speak louder than nice words, so we'll see.
So, now we will be having executive elections no doubt and those will certainly be interesting. Bit of flack for those who published a tad early (rightly) and clearly not all clerks are enamoured of the new set up so I guess it's watch this space. I am more interested in the non BT seats, how they are going to be elected and who will stand. I hope the exec do the right thing and allow those members within each company to be the people who elect their representative and not allow it to be dominated, as it is now, by BT members. One constituency was described as a leap of faith, let's hope they can lose the controlling strings and leave the fate of the three non-BT to the people to whom they are most accountable for the elections they will be leading - their own members.
Right, another cup of tea and a nap, I'm knackered again x
Not a good week, conference is a terrible place to be ill. Didn't get any calls or emails done and very aware my poor Scottish BT Fleet chap is awaiting his outcome, so need to get that sorted asap.
Dreadful speech on 49, can only blame the combination of no sleep, chest infection and various painkillers - the only comfort is that I think 49 was going through anyway. Fair play to Coventry who did the work and also caught the mood of conference. Somewhat mixed messages though as we then almost immediately supported the emergency motion and some others that called on us to do a joint launch of a PM document based on the agreement and changes to the procedure from which we are withdrawing! To be serious though the main message is that enough is enough and branches have lost patience with BT, who need to find another approach smartish or we are on a collision course. Got some good campaigning ideas in my head to take to the team and executive. While I didn't want 49, got to admit a campaign against this nonsense is altogether more interesting than yet another attempt to polish the poo.
I did get the chance to informally talk to some senior managers about the mess that is PM and also the problems with sick absence. No easy answers on PM but hopeful they were listening on Bradford Factor. Seemed to be listening on both but frankly actions speak louder than nice words, so we'll see.
So, now we will be having executive elections no doubt and those will certainly be interesting. Bit of flack for those who published a tad early (rightly) and clearly not all clerks are enamoured of the new set up so I guess it's watch this space. I am more interested in the non BT seats, how they are going to be elected and who will stand. I hope the exec do the right thing and allow those members within each company to be the people who elect their representative and not allow it to be dominated, as it is now, by BT members. One constituency was described as a leap of faith, let's hope they can lose the controlling strings and leave the fate of the three non-BT to the people to whom they are most accountable for the elections they will be leading - their own members.
Right, another cup of tea and a nap, I'm knackered again x
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Too much excitement is bad for a girl
Well, here we are at conference and already I have had to retire through injury. Not as I may have misled you with the title because the excitement proved too much but because the chest infection I had hoped was just a minor annoyance has turned into a full blown infection, bah.
BTW thanks to one loyal follower who told me she is enjoying the blog and that I shouldn't worry about being too grumpy (see first blog), it makes the more upbeat ones even better. I started to thank her before realising there hadn't been any upbeat updates and realised she was indeed accusing me of being grumpy. Hmm.
Despite chest infection, I was heroically in conference nearly all morning to listen to the tense debates around important structural changes. What! I hear you cry, What tense debates were those then??? Well there was one debate which made the morning more interesting but sadly that was it. So little debate has there been that we were well ahead of time by lunchtime and headed for an early bath. Either this morning was a testament to the quality of consultation that has taken place or branches have just lost the plot. Not sure which, frankly, but methinks its probably a bit of both. Not that anyone wants to return to the days of terrible scenes at the rostrum with constituencies being bitter and twisted about each other but a bit of considered debate wouldn't have gone amiss.
Thinking of considered debate, the most lively one was the internal debate I had about whether or not to go the joint WAC and RAC fringe meeting. Having not gone to the Equality do last night (tucked up by 11, much good it did me) I kind of thought I should. But then I looked at the flyer. No subject, no speakers, just come along and hear what work the committees have been doing for the past year. Did that last year and really wasn't too impressed at the reports such as the conference working party of the WAC who decided how many chairs were needed for delegates to sit on. I like to think I take an interest in all the equality committees but especially the WAC. I'd love to hear what they've been doing all year as I have yet to see any outcomes. There has been debate around proportionality but no lead on this issue from the WAC or any of the other committees. Isn't it time they decided if they want it, if so what form it takes and then plan how they are going to achieve it, or change the rule if they don't want it at all? The committees are under attack and yet have not taken the opportunity presented by conference to prove their worth. Turkeys and Christmas come to mind. So rather than go and be depressed beyond measure I went and got my prescription and headed back to the hotel. I will check with sisters later but hope that turned out to be the wrong decision, though I suspect not.
For the record, I am dropping my position on reserved seats. I actually believe that more fundamental change is needed and also that until the sisters start getting their act together, deciding what they want and actually putting some work in to achieve it, I have done all I can. I will still support women throughout the union as I generally think I have, but time to bow out of that debate.
The most interesting thing for me about conference and the agenda is that of all the worthy (but generally inaccurate, ill conceived or misguided) papers that were floating about over the last few months and spawning facebook pages etc., have just died a death. They are not reflected in the rule changes nor are they really reflected in the general conference agenda. I could speculate about why not but am guessing this blog has already got me in enough trouble...x
BTW thanks to one loyal follower who told me she is enjoying the blog and that I shouldn't worry about being too grumpy (see first blog), it makes the more upbeat ones even better. I started to thank her before realising there hadn't been any upbeat updates and realised she was indeed accusing me of being grumpy. Hmm.
Despite chest infection, I was heroically in conference nearly all morning to listen to the tense debates around important structural changes. What! I hear you cry, What tense debates were those then??? Well there was one debate which made the morning more interesting but sadly that was it. So little debate has there been that we were well ahead of time by lunchtime and headed for an early bath. Either this morning was a testament to the quality of consultation that has taken place or branches have just lost the plot. Not sure which, frankly, but methinks its probably a bit of both. Not that anyone wants to return to the days of terrible scenes at the rostrum with constituencies being bitter and twisted about each other but a bit of considered debate wouldn't have gone amiss.
Thinking of considered debate, the most lively one was the internal debate I had about whether or not to go the joint WAC and RAC fringe meeting. Having not gone to the Equality do last night (tucked up by 11, much good it did me) I kind of thought I should. But then I looked at the flyer. No subject, no speakers, just come along and hear what work the committees have been doing for the past year. Did that last year and really wasn't too impressed at the reports such as the conference working party of the WAC who decided how many chairs were needed for delegates to sit on. I like to think I take an interest in all the equality committees but especially the WAC. I'd love to hear what they've been doing all year as I have yet to see any outcomes. There has been debate around proportionality but no lead on this issue from the WAC or any of the other committees. Isn't it time they decided if they want it, if so what form it takes and then plan how they are going to achieve it, or change the rule if they don't want it at all? The committees are under attack and yet have not taken the opportunity presented by conference to prove their worth. Turkeys and Christmas come to mind. So rather than go and be depressed beyond measure I went and got my prescription and headed back to the hotel. I will check with sisters later but hope that turned out to be the wrong decision, though I suspect not.
For the record, I am dropping my position on reserved seats. I actually believe that more fundamental change is needed and also that until the sisters start getting their act together, deciding what they want and actually putting some work in to achieve it, I have done all I can. I will still support women throughout the union as I generally think I have, but time to bow out of that debate.
The most interesting thing for me about conference and the agenda is that of all the worthy (but generally inaccurate, ill conceived or misguided) papers that were floating about over the last few months and spawning facebook pages etc., have just died a death. They are not reflected in the rule changes nor are they really reflected in the general conference agenda. I could speculate about why not but am guessing this blog has already got me in enough trouble...x
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Conference -5 days and counting
So as the approach to conference reaches fever pitch there is much excitement on the telecoms side about the planned changes and what, more importantly, they mean for people and positions. This has culminated in one of the slates getting so excited they have prematurely despatched their preferred list in case the changes all go through. As a mere observer of these things I have to say there is some good news and some bad news. Nearly all the good news is about who's going and nearly all the bad news is about those hoping to stay. The changes mean that more lay reps will have quasi national positions, which may or may not attract facility time and again there is significant jockeying for position....I will say the ineffectives (as I believe some still call them despite their name change from Effective Left to LAN) have pulled together a decent gender split. I suspect the Broad Left (BL) will not be able to field any kind of gender split as they are both telecoms dominated [LAN are all telecoms] and engineering dominated, the clerks having walked out on them many years ago, shortly after Tony Young (sorry, Lord Anthony) was elected General Secretary of the NCU. Since the engineering community is overwhelmingly male, my suspicions are that so will their slate. The LAN have also not fielded any women from the constituency formerly known as engineering.
So where are the women engineers and why are they not standing for the executive? The BL currently has one woman on their slate but there are others out there. Its not like the male talent is outshining the women! The fact is that women get a harder time in the organisation. Over the past few years I've watched women being bullied out of their branch or sidelined or threatened with extinction if they don't toe the line. Are all these women saints, am I making them martyrs for the cause? Well no, they make mistakes, one in particular was incredibly naive. But women don't get to make mistakes, one slip and they have failed. If they are shining at all, they become a threat to the hierarchy at whatever level and must be taught a lesson. This happens across all the current constituencies but from a telecoms perspective is sometimes more obvious in the engineering constituency where there are fewer women to start with. While the merging of the constituencies is a good thing I fear it may mask some of the issues we have with bringing women through the organisation and may well foster the view that if I can survive then so can others; that women have to 'toughen up'; that if you have talent you will shine through. I genuinely hope they are right.
Out with my good friend Ed last night. Ed is Chair of ACAS and therefore gets involved in all sorts of interesting stuff, not least of which is the BA dispute. Sadly the consummate professional he doesn't gossip about it! We had a great time however gossiping about people we knew when we worked together and a fair number who are still or have become mutual acquaintances. Ed is unfailingly supportive and always makes sure I know he thinks I'm brilliant. However, too much wine and an almost fatal decision to have a Vecchia Romagna after the meal have left me a tad delicate this morning.
Don't shout x
So where are the women engineers and why are they not standing for the executive? The BL currently has one woman on their slate but there are others out there. Its not like the male talent is outshining the women! The fact is that women get a harder time in the organisation. Over the past few years I've watched women being bullied out of their branch or sidelined or threatened with extinction if they don't toe the line. Are all these women saints, am I making them martyrs for the cause? Well no, they make mistakes, one in particular was incredibly naive. But women don't get to make mistakes, one slip and they have failed. If they are shining at all, they become a threat to the hierarchy at whatever level and must be taught a lesson. This happens across all the current constituencies but from a telecoms perspective is sometimes more obvious in the engineering constituency where there are fewer women to start with. While the merging of the constituencies is a good thing I fear it may mask some of the issues we have with bringing women through the organisation and may well foster the view that if I can survive then so can others; that women have to 'toughen up'; that if you have talent you will shine through. I genuinely hope they are right.
Out with my good friend Ed last night. Ed is Chair of ACAS and therefore gets involved in all sorts of interesting stuff, not least of which is the BA dispute. Sadly the consummate professional he doesn't gossip about it! We had a great time however gossiping about people we knew when we worked together and a fair number who are still or have become mutual acquaintances. Ed is unfailingly supportive and always makes sure I know he thinks I'm brilliant. However, too much wine and an almost fatal decision to have a Vecchia Romagna after the meal have left me a tad delicate this morning.
Don't shout x
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Copenhagen
First off, must say it was a really good and productive meeting. Worked until about 10 on the Thursday evening so we finished a bit earlier on Friday and had some time before dinner to actually see the city. That was a good call, as it is lovely. Tivoli is stunning and buzzing, and the city is just a mass of waterways. Managed to do the open top bus and a boat trip but nothing else, but at least that way I saw a lot, even if I didn't get time to look around much.
Couple of pics: top is the little mermaid and bottom is nyhaven, bustling with boats and outdoor restaurants, below id the End Hunger boat, with spookily fab sculptures.
Finally, Tivoli Gardens where HK took us for dinner.
Well aware of the need to spice this up, will do my best, later x
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Promises, promises
I know I promised an update of Copenhagen and I will do that, I just need to co-ordinate with the pics. Bet you can't wait.
In the meantime, what have I been doing? Virgin media reps meeting yesterday, unfortunately none of the new guys were able to be there, but we elected the negotiating team, talked round some occupational and health & safety issues and received a report on recruitment and organising activity. Good discussion around recognition generally, we have a small issue of another union being non-existent but with recognition that gets in our way but more positively, there's been a good campaign amongst the Head End engineers and I am confident we will get recognition for that group of members soon.
My cat is at the vets today being sedated so she can be microchipped now that she wanders further than the confines of the garden (and I don't just mean in cyber space) and given various injections. They're also checking her tum as she's been sick a few times. She can't get these things done without being sedated as she's a vicious little beggar sometimes, so I've taken advantage of the sedation to have her claws clipped - at least when the retribution comes later today, she won't be able to gouge as deep as usual!
Sent my F*** off letter to Supply Chains, with some evidence of extreme naughtiness by a manager as well. Wait to see what that brings but no doubt there'll be much denial and cries of me being a complete harridan. C'est la vie.
The run up to conference rumbles on with (not) much excitement about rules revision and telecoms conference. Having a rethink on some issues personally where I think maybe we need to be less concerned with wording and more concerned with substance.
People speculating, apparantly, on how long it will be before I go too far, bring the union into disrepute and get into trouble. Won't ever intentionally bring the union into disrepute but that won't stop me being critical if I think its warranted but will almost certainly get into trouble. To be frank I think I've been very tame so far and most of my fire has been at BT who thoroughly deserve it. Anyway so as to continue to disappoint those cynics, I will not comment on the often disappointingly snidey internal politics, but instead stick to the somewhat safer ground of the privacy film abut which I get taunted everywhere I go, it seems. Amusingly dubbed Grace Brothers - because the offices look like changing rooms - you can imagine the spin off jokes from that. I wouldn't mind, but I didn't want the damned thing, I didn't ask for it, nobody asked if i wanted it and I don't like it. However, I'm still not going to start a revolution over it!
My partner read my blog for the first time yesterday. Says he doesn't get blogging. Not sure I do. Said that as far as he was concerned he lives with me and I'm blogging to him continually. If I could muster that much imagination I'd have a really witty retort, but Yah! Boo! Sucks! will have to do , later peeps x
In the meantime, what have I been doing? Virgin media reps meeting yesterday, unfortunately none of the new guys were able to be there, but we elected the negotiating team, talked round some occupational and health & safety issues and received a report on recruitment and organising activity. Good discussion around recognition generally, we have a small issue of another union being non-existent but with recognition that gets in our way but more positively, there's been a good campaign amongst the Head End engineers and I am confident we will get recognition for that group of members soon.
My cat is at the vets today being sedated so she can be microchipped now that she wanders further than the confines of the garden (and I don't just mean in cyber space) and given various injections. They're also checking her tum as she's been sick a few times. She can't get these things done without being sedated as she's a vicious little beggar sometimes, so I've taken advantage of the sedation to have her claws clipped - at least when the retribution comes later today, she won't be able to gouge as deep as usual!
Sent my F*** off letter to Supply Chains, with some evidence of extreme naughtiness by a manager as well. Wait to see what that brings but no doubt there'll be much denial and cries of me being a complete harridan. C'est la vie.
The run up to conference rumbles on with (not) much excitement about rules revision and telecoms conference. Having a rethink on some issues personally where I think maybe we need to be less concerned with wording and more concerned with substance.
People speculating, apparantly, on how long it will be before I go too far, bring the union into disrepute and get into trouble. Won't ever intentionally bring the union into disrepute but that won't stop me being critical if I think its warranted but will almost certainly get into trouble. To be frank I think I've been very tame so far and most of my fire has been at BT who thoroughly deserve it. Anyway so as to continue to disappoint those cynics, I will not comment on the often disappointingly snidey internal politics, but instead stick to the somewhat safer ground of the privacy film abut which I get taunted everywhere I go, it seems. Amusingly dubbed Grace Brothers - because the offices look like changing rooms - you can imagine the spin off jokes from that. I wouldn't mind, but I didn't want the damned thing, I didn't ask for it, nobody asked if i wanted it and I don't like it. However, I'm still not going to start a revolution over it!
My partner read my blog for the first time yesterday. Says he doesn't get blogging. Not sure I do. Said that as far as he was concerned he lives with me and I'm blogging to him continually. If I could muster that much imagination I'd have a really witty retort, but Yah! Boo! Sucks! will have to do , later peeps x
Friday, 6 May 2011
Serious political stuff
Can't really tell you about Copenhagen until I have uploaded some pics, but caught a fab afternoon in a fab city.
Serious stuff. Am unsoundly thrilled at SNP result, even though I don't support them. Labour so flaming complacent in Scotland with such a no mark leader that you really want to scream "What were you thinking!!" The fact that Andy Kerr, possible leadership hopeful (no relation, although hysterically, Solectron once thought so) lost his seat underlines that yet another male, pale and stale leadership hopeful needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Or retire. Iain Gray vs Alec Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, I really don't think so and more to the point, neither did the electorate.
In Wales, where I have some friends and connections, I understand that labour are one short of a majority. Still too complacent for my liking otherwise they would have elected Edwina Hart leader, they are at least more in touch with the voters in Wales. Edwina increased her majority. Genuinely could name without thinking that Rhodri Morgan was First Minister, who exactly is the First minister now....?
Lib Dems, well got what they deserved and methinks tis not over yet.
Bin thinking about Osama. To be honest, even though I knew that the assassination was naughty, I couldn't find it in myself to care much. But of course that's just what the US are banking on. I suspect its a tad difficult if you are American (and my cat has loads of american pals who either are whooping or just taking the time to point out that the reason Obama took so long to produce his birth certificate is because he was out hunting down and killing the bad guy, got to love those democrats) to criticise the killing. Murder, actually. Even the word assassination is ducking the issue. The man did not face trial, was unarmed and killed in cold blood. Why is the killing of one man, even one who admitted his crimes publicly, any better than the killing of another? Let's not forget that if the US want to kill somebody as the perpetrator of a heinous crime, they can still do so legally, so why do it this way?
SO! Now the answer to the question you all really wanted to ask! And yes, the little mermaid was there, back from her jaunts abroad, as I will be tomorrow.
Final thought, Angela had a result in Vodafone today even though she doesn't think so and while I should thank my (extremely) well paid spell checker, its a bit late when I've already posted! For the record, euphemism is not spelt euphamism and had I been on any PC except the coal fired one at work which is so shit and out of date and slow and aaaaaarrrgggghhhh, I would have picked it up myself. Not that there is any excuse, my expensive and quality Scottish education should have delivered a better quality blog. My apologies x
Serious stuff. Am unsoundly thrilled at SNP result, even though I don't support them. Labour so flaming complacent in Scotland with such a no mark leader that you really want to scream "What were you thinking!!" The fact that Andy Kerr, possible leadership hopeful (no relation, although hysterically, Solectron once thought so) lost his seat underlines that yet another male, pale and stale leadership hopeful needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Or retire. Iain Gray vs Alec Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, I really don't think so and more to the point, neither did the electorate.
In Wales, where I have some friends and connections, I understand that labour are one short of a majority. Still too complacent for my liking otherwise they would have elected Edwina Hart leader, they are at least more in touch with the voters in Wales. Edwina increased her majority. Genuinely could name without thinking that Rhodri Morgan was First Minister, who exactly is the First minister now....?
Lib Dems, well got what they deserved and methinks tis not over yet.
Bin thinking about Osama. To be honest, even though I knew that the assassination was naughty, I couldn't find it in myself to care much. But of course that's just what the US are banking on. I suspect its a tad difficult if you are American (and my cat has loads of american pals who either are whooping or just taking the time to point out that the reason Obama took so long to produce his birth certificate is because he was out hunting down and killing the bad guy, got to love those democrats) to criticise the killing. Murder, actually. Even the word assassination is ducking the issue. The man did not face trial, was unarmed and killed in cold blood. Why is the killing of one man, even one who admitted his crimes publicly, any better than the killing of another? Let's not forget that if the US want to kill somebody as the perpetrator of a heinous crime, they can still do so legally, so why do it this way?
SO! Now the answer to the question you all really wanted to ask! And yes, the little mermaid was there, back from her jaunts abroad, as I will be tomorrow.
Final thought, Angela had a result in Vodafone today even though she doesn't think so and while I should thank my (extremely) well paid spell checker, its a bit late when I've already posted! For the record, euphemism is not spelt euphamism and had I been on any PC except the coal fired one at work which is so shit and out of date and slow and aaaaaarrrgggghhhh, I would have picked it up myself. Not that there is any excuse, my expensive and quality Scottish education should have delivered a better quality blog. My apologies x
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Urgh
Well, aren't you honoured? Two posts in one day! Well, its more than Royal Mail manages these days. Gosh, Royal Mail and managing, a real contradiction in terms.
My day went to hell in a hand basket towards the end, and now feel totally stressed out. Bloody BT Supply Chains, a load of chancers who aren't even very good at being chancers. Methinks I need to roll up all our grievances into one big F**k OFF letter and send it like a wee bomb through the email. (Apologies to those Celtic supporters feeling a touch victimised at the moment).
Add to that VM totally screwed up their information to me, meaning we sent out a press release before they had finished communicating and then blamed me! Wouldn't be so bad but we don't actually want to be the ones who tell their employees their jobs are going and to be frank we had just got to a more trusting place that allowed the info to be shared so ach, I'm fair vexed about the whole thing, so I am. Not as vexed as the 500 odd people told today their site is closing, however, may not be in the recognised area, we may not have tons of members there, but its a tragedy for them and for the community in Trowbridge where Vodafone only announced two weeks ago they were pulling out as well.
So here's a picture of my cat just to cheer me up!
Oh, and I've promised (actually threatened) to mention Angela every time I post. Fabulous rep, shame she hasn't a clue about equality....
I know everyone has done it, and I know its corny but I have smiled every time I've seen it.....May the 4th be with you x
My day went to hell in a hand basket towards the end, and now feel totally stressed out. Bloody BT Supply Chains, a load of chancers who aren't even very good at being chancers. Methinks I need to roll up all our grievances into one big F**k OFF letter and send it like a wee bomb through the email. (Apologies to those Celtic supporters feeling a touch victimised at the moment).
Add to that VM totally screwed up their information to me, meaning we sent out a press release before they had finished communicating and then blamed me! Wouldn't be so bad but we don't actually want to be the ones who tell their employees their jobs are going and to be frank we had just got to a more trusting place that allowed the info to be shared so ach, I'm fair vexed about the whole thing, so I am. Not as vexed as the 500 odd people told today their site is closing, however, may not be in the recognised area, we may not have tons of members there, but its a tragedy for them and for the community in Trowbridge where Vodafone only announced two weeks ago they were pulling out as well.
So here's a picture of my cat just to cheer me up!
Oh, and I've promised (actually threatened) to mention Angela every time I post. Fabulous rep, shame she hasn't a clue about equality....
I know everyone has done it, and I know its corny but I have smiled every time I've seen it.....May the 4th be with you x
Exciting day at the executive
Yes, folks this is what passes as exciting in my life! Whoo, the telecoms executive met today and I was nearly inspired, but I woke up at the last minute.
There was a very interesting debate on the issues surrounding BT Retail in particular and of course we had conference propositions. Can't say anymore on that though, as careless talk costs lives and all sorts of cats could be let out of the bag, so mum's the word. Excited yet??
Much frustration around BT Retail who are, in my view, not committed to a better management style. They are far and away the BT LoB with the highest number of exits, people on warnings, people leaving 'with a small payment' to use a well known BT euphamism. Bad, lazy, managers working for badly misguided senior managers none of whom are actually delivering better customer service as a result of their regular terrorising of our members.
Asked the National Organiser to take back my thanks to all the organisers for the grand job they are doing on Virgin Media's red sheds, which I mentioned on this blog yesterday and to tell them its been such a success that we are completely committed to continuing the program and approach. That should teach them!! (Red sheds, Angela, sheds, not doors!)
Have to say my blog's boring me today, never mind you, but then it is an ordinary life of an everyday woman, a simple tale of union folk in fact.
Off to a UNI meeting in Copenhagen tomorrow. Thought about not telling you that as I can hear the cries of junket now. I am actually a UNI sceptic and this particular meeting isn't helping, still I will reserve judgement until I get back. Its a meeting of the Presidium of the Womens Committee. A very high faluting title for a meeting of the officers to the committee - I am currently one of two vice-presidents and the one who deputises for the president, its a bit like being a seconder in the brownies, actually. Outside of the Presidium meetings there is a stark inequality of approach. The boys (largely, and from the UK and Ireland, solely) meet at the Executive committee where they stay in a decent hotel and have a nice lunch laid on for them, meeting in premises in central Brussels easily accessible by metro. The women have to meet on dates determined by the EESC in their premises because they are free, stay in the grottiest hotels I've seen almost always in a red light district and have to go out and get their own lunch. The metro journey is a nightmare as if you get the wrong exit there is no easy way back. Grr.
God, UNI, now you must be really bored! (Sorry Philip).
Must thank everyone for their kind words in messages back to me and for following and commenting on my blog. Yep, really must do that.
My partner is back in the land of the boyos for a couple of days so its just me and my cat. I like my cat. She' s a real character. schizophrenic some might say. She is both deeply, intensely affectionate, and bad temperedly lashing out all at the same time. It's fair to say life is never dull with her. Anyway quality cat time, when she gets to sleep in the bed with me. I wish she'd stop complaining about how much time I spend online all the same, I'm only doing her chores for her. (This is a reference that only some will understand, I am such a woman of mystery). She spends too much time on facebook complaining about the staff, cheek!
And now a flavour of the postcards on the wall in my office, to brighten your day:
Remind me next time to tell you about how I was interviewed by Funny Women for International Womens Day as an example of someone using humour in their job. My partner thought that WAS the joke! Next time peeps, may be a couple fo days what with the flying visit to Denmark and all x
There was a very interesting debate on the issues surrounding BT Retail in particular and of course we had conference propositions. Can't say anymore on that though, as careless talk costs lives and all sorts of cats could be let out of the bag, so mum's the word. Excited yet??
Much frustration around BT Retail who are, in my view, not committed to a better management style. They are far and away the BT LoB with the highest number of exits, people on warnings, people leaving 'with a small payment' to use a well known BT euphamism. Bad, lazy, managers working for badly misguided senior managers none of whom are actually delivering better customer service as a result of their regular terrorising of our members.
Asked the National Organiser to take back my thanks to all the organisers for the grand job they are doing on Virgin Media's red sheds, which I mentioned on this blog yesterday and to tell them its been such a success that we are completely committed to continuing the program and approach. That should teach them!! (Red sheds, Angela, sheds, not doors!)
Have to say my blog's boring me today, never mind you, but then it is an ordinary life of an everyday woman, a simple tale of union folk in fact.
Off to a UNI meeting in Copenhagen tomorrow. Thought about not telling you that as I can hear the cries of junket now. I am actually a UNI sceptic and this particular meeting isn't helping, still I will reserve judgement until I get back. Its a meeting of the Presidium of the Womens Committee. A very high faluting title for a meeting of the officers to the committee - I am currently one of two vice-presidents and the one who deputises for the president, its a bit like being a seconder in the brownies, actually. Outside of the Presidium meetings there is a stark inequality of approach. The boys (largely, and from the UK and Ireland, solely) meet at the Executive committee where they stay in a decent hotel and have a nice lunch laid on for them, meeting in premises in central Brussels easily accessible by metro. The women have to meet on dates determined by the EESC in their premises because they are free, stay in the grottiest hotels I've seen almost always in a red light district and have to go out and get their own lunch. The metro journey is a nightmare as if you get the wrong exit there is no easy way back. Grr.
God, UNI, now you must be really bored! (Sorry Philip).
Must thank everyone for their kind words in messages back to me and for following and commenting on my blog. Yep, really must do that.
My partner is back in the land of the boyos for a couple of days so its just me and my cat. I like my cat. She' s a real character. schizophrenic some might say. She is both deeply, intensely affectionate, and bad temperedly lashing out all at the same time. It's fair to say life is never dull with her. Anyway quality cat time, when she gets to sleep in the bed with me. I wish she'd stop complaining about how much time I spend online all the same, I'm only doing her chores for her. (This is a reference that only some will understand, I am such a woman of mystery). She spends too much time on facebook complaining about the staff, cheek!
And now a flavour of the postcards on the wall in my office, to brighten your day:
- All I want is a warm bed and a kind word and unlimited power
- So many men, so few bullets
- Free castration upon demand
- Bobbit (one for the older generation there)
Remind me next time to tell you about how I was interviewed by Funny Women for International Womens Day as an example of someone using humour in their job. My partner thought that WAS the joke! Next time peeps, may be a couple fo days what with the flying visit to Denmark and all x
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
My first blog
I've come very late to blogging and discovered in an experimental very private little blog how much I liked talking to myself, almost Shirley Valentine in style. I talk to myself a lot, probably because when I talk to people at work, I may as well be talking to myself.
There is no doubt in my mind - and those who know me will understand this well - that if I ruled the world it would all be different. Not THE WORLD, you understand, just my world.
This really will be inconsequential chatter with the occasional serious observation, or frustration edging its way out. People tell me I'm too grumpy to blog, believe me if you were surrounded by fools and idiots, you'd be grumpy too!! Others suggest I'm too authoritarian to blog. I refer you to my second paragraph - you may have a point.
I probably don't really have time, but I discovered it is quite therapeutic, so I'm going to make time. I may not blog every day but I will try and blog regularly. It's all very exciting unless you are one of my readers in which case you are probably already bored to death.
So, Osama then. Dead then. That's an end to that then. Er, no, actually, probably just a fresh start. Now if he had just stuck to trying to through over the corrupt regime in Saudi then he probably still would have ended up being killed by the US, but at least he may have been trying to do some good.
AV. Yawn. Dreadful campaign. decided I'm a NO voter, althoug really took exception to the NO Campaign leaflet. Yes, I believe Nick Clegg is a liar, has broken promises and is generally an arse, but why is that a reason for me to vote no?
SNP look like they are taking Scotland again. Wales more interesting. Spoke to Edwina Hart at the weekend at the May Day rally in Swansea, a small but perfectly formed event. Nice to meet up with some old friends, even, probably especially, the trots. Edwina will probably win her seat (my words, not hers) but it will be interesting to see where the votes go and who ends up in coalition with whom.
Work today. Discovered that even when I do a good thing, someone out there somewhere thinks I've sold out again. A tad frustrating but becoming the norm. Privacy film in the offices is causing a stir. For the record, I didn't want it, wasn't asked if I want it and didn't know we were getting it. However, its really not something to launch a revolution over so I shall just be an observer in this particular skirmish, methinks.
Told the organisers still don't like the red shed concept. However, the figures speak for themselves and there is no doubt in my mind that the doors it opens and the ability to actually speak to our members face to face in their workplace is worth a few dull hours. The trick is to visit them 2 or 3 times, making sure you know there are numbers due to attend on the follow up events. I've loved the ones I've done, even when I've only seen a couple of people. Glasgow probably the most successful, picked up a couple of new members there and then, spoke to loads of members, sorted some issues out and got a new rep.
Oh, for those of you who don't know me and I'm quite sure that those of you who do gave up reading ages ago, I'm a trade union official. Thought of calling the blog the ordinary life of an everyday trade union official, but its about more than that, really. It is the ordinary life of an everyday woman working in a man's world, of which more later, I promise x
There is no doubt in my mind - and those who know me will understand this well - that if I ruled the world it would all be different. Not THE WORLD, you understand, just my world.
This really will be inconsequential chatter with the occasional serious observation, or frustration edging its way out. People tell me I'm too grumpy to blog, believe me if you were surrounded by fools and idiots, you'd be grumpy too!! Others suggest I'm too authoritarian to blog. I refer you to my second paragraph - you may have a point.
I probably don't really have time, but I discovered it is quite therapeutic, so I'm going to make time. I may not blog every day but I will try and blog regularly. It's all very exciting unless you are one of my readers in which case you are probably already bored to death.
So, Osama then. Dead then. That's an end to that then. Er, no, actually, probably just a fresh start. Now if he had just stuck to trying to through over the corrupt regime in Saudi then he probably still would have ended up being killed by the US, but at least he may have been trying to do some good.
AV. Yawn. Dreadful campaign. decided I'm a NO voter, althoug really took exception to the NO Campaign leaflet. Yes, I believe Nick Clegg is a liar, has broken promises and is generally an arse, but why is that a reason for me to vote no?
SNP look like they are taking Scotland again. Wales more interesting. Spoke to Edwina Hart at the weekend at the May Day rally in Swansea, a small but perfectly formed event. Nice to meet up with some old friends, even, probably especially, the trots. Edwina will probably win her seat (my words, not hers) but it will be interesting to see where the votes go and who ends up in coalition with whom.
Work today. Discovered that even when I do a good thing, someone out there somewhere thinks I've sold out again. A tad frustrating but becoming the norm. Privacy film in the offices is causing a stir. For the record, I didn't want it, wasn't asked if I want it and didn't know we were getting it. However, its really not something to launch a revolution over so I shall just be an observer in this particular skirmish, methinks.
Told the organisers still don't like the red shed concept. However, the figures speak for themselves and there is no doubt in my mind that the doors it opens and the ability to actually speak to our members face to face in their workplace is worth a few dull hours. The trick is to visit them 2 or 3 times, making sure you know there are numbers due to attend on the follow up events. I've loved the ones I've done, even when I've only seen a couple of people. Glasgow probably the most successful, picked up a couple of new members there and then, spoke to loads of members, sorted some issues out and got a new rep.
Oh, for those of you who don't know me and I'm quite sure that those of you who do gave up reading ages ago, I'm a trade union official. Thought of calling the blog the ordinary life of an everyday trade union official, but its about more than that, really. It is the ordinary life of an everyday woman working in a man's world, of which more later, I promise x
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