Many calls and emails have been flying around this week in the face of the Electrue/NESN saga which seems to be rumbling on for the moment. But the people on the ground appear to be getting very nervous over the whole situation.
I have received several phone calls and emails from agents that are very concerned over their futures and their livelihoods this week, the general consensus being that they favour neither of the two protagonists and many seem to be refusing to sign up to either camp. Whether or not this situation will be resolved by any means seems unclear as many agents have had a bitter taste left by recent events.
There is also a strong sentiment that this is a re-enactment of the Mastercare/Philco debacle of a few years ago where many agents got badly stung, some to the point of losing their businesses and even their homes in some cases. Many seem not too keen to work for DSG in any way due to this.
General complaints seem to be with the contract terms from both parties as well as the service rates on offer being very low.
It has come to light that the immediate crisis faced on Monday by Electrue was averted by an eleventh hour back down on their part to NESN.
However, we have learned that a proposed meeting of major agents and Electrue which was scheduled for this Saturday to try to find a resolution appears to have been thwarted by NESN who have told any member invited that should they attend they would be immediately kicked off the network. NESN seem to be threatening to enforce a clause in their contract which, effectively, bans a member from workng for another network. Of course there is no official confirmation of any of this, which is another cause for concern amongst agents at this time and further fuelling worries of an escalation in hostilities and fears that agents are being used as pawns in this power struggle.
As we go into another weekend there seems to be little end in sight, no resolutions and no reassurances from either side.
Kenneth Watt