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Ok the nice part of me says there’s nothing In Ades post
The cynical part says we are being tested and expect more of it .We need to be VERY careful , the agents have all signed an agreement with repaircare , thats between them .
We can’t get dragged in to itDisputes
Just read Ade’s post and I think I know where it’s headed.
So, here’s my tuppence…
The WTA is an association to represent the member’s best interests but that cannot extend to becoming embroiled in a commercial dispute over a contract or deal between two businesses in any shape or form. Apart from anything else, as a NFP organisation there is no commercial interests in the WTA or attached to it, so, the WTA is Switzerland on it.
The WTA can of course offer to mediate if required but that’s only if there is a compromise that can be reached, the mechanism is the AC for that. Where the guys get fired there’s not a lot the WTA can do I don’t think.
It’s a bummer, but sadly true and the safest path for the TA.
If we were to take any action over something like this the WTA would be a union or a union like organisation, not a trade association as any action could be perceived as “militant” or “unionised”.
No TA can demand an answer from a third party company that is not answerable to, in this case, our (WTA) constitution or COP so as such, we cannot force anything on these companies. We can request that they engage with us but that’s about it really, if they tell us to stuff off, well, that’s the end of that.
(However, that does give me a brilliant idea for later on fair contracts. Someone can remind me at some juncture.)
The TA can report that members are unhappy about the treatment, do a news article and so on about it for members and publish to the site.
Bearing in mind that, as a NFP organisation that does not charge high memberships fees we would have no funding available to chase this down any legal avenue if it was a real scrap. That said, if there were enough members affected we could possibly help coordinate and direct the members in taking a “class action” type thing. Not sure on this one though, that’s into uncharted territory for me in UK law.
In other words, there’s not too much the WTA can do beyond stating that they are disappointed in the turn of events and so on.
K.
Re: Disputes
I think the best we could do is offer guidance if any agents feel aggrieved enough to want to take it further. We certainly don’t have much clout with repaircare unless they are worried about not being invited to future meetings, but I doubt it.
I suppose it also depends how many members are affected and if they wanted to get together but most people will just take it on the chin and move on I would think.
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