Delegates and Industrial Issues – some guidelines
The process by which industrial assistance is provided varies from Branch to Branch and state to state. The role of Branch Committee members, Delegates and the Industrial Officer will also differ from one Branch to the next.
As a Delegate, it is important to know the established protocols for dealing with industrial issues at your Branch.
In some Branches, Delegates will refer industrial queries to a member of the Committee or the relevant Industrial Officer. In other Branches, if the information or advice requested is simple and straightforward, a Delegate may provide that information or advice.
The difficulty with the latter is that a seemingly simple industrial query may, in fact, be underpinned by complex technical issues or have far reaching implications and Delegates will not necessarily have the expertise to recognise such factors.
The following guidelines may be useful for new Delegates:
The Branch Committee is responsible for determining the role of Delegates and providing training and resources to support that role. Regardless of what decision your Branch has reached with regards to Delegates dealing with industrial queries, all Delegates should be clear on their role in such circumstances.
If your Branch Committee has not adequately explained the Branch protocols contact a Committee member and/or your Industrial Officer immediately to arrange a briefing for yourself and any Delegates in the same position.
At the very least Delegates should know who to refer a member to in the event they bring an industrial issue to a Delegate.
IN SUMMARY:
Do not take any action or deal with any issue unless you know you are acting within Branch protocols and if you aren’t sure DON’T DO ANYTHING until you have checked with either a Branch or Division official.