When Bad is Great!

When is a bad rep of benefit to the union & its members??

No idea?

When someone stops complaining about the rep being bad & does something about it! 

That’s how Noel McClean got started as a rep.

As a delivery postman he was getting little support from his rep. Unlike many others, he decided to do something about it. Noel stood for election in opposition to the rep, & he won. 

From there he has gone from strength to strength, representing firstly Delivery staff in the Peterborough Brassey Close Delivery office, then onto area delivery rep & for the past four years as a member of the National Executive Council. 

Even though, as is necessary with this position, Noel is involved with the ‘bigger picture’ he still keeps an eye on what’s happening here in the Peterborough & surrounding area. After all, you never know when he might return to being a delivery postman again. 

Not so long ago Noel was back in Peterborough negotiating a return to work agreement after staff had ‘walked out’. It wasn’t the first time Noel had attended the office as a national official. 

Increasingly Noel has become involved in wider reaching union issues, some unpopular but all of benefit to the membership in one way or another. 

Noel has been, & remains to be, one of the key players in restructuring the union & making it more accessible and relevant to the membership. It is, after all, OUR union! It should be a union to be proud of, we hope to make it that again. 

I’ve personally known Noel for many years & know him to not be some ‘glory hunter’.

You don’t see Noel shouting about the many agreements he has had a hand in.

Nor have I known him to bend the truth to members, unlike some ex union officials I could (but wont) mention. 

He has also dealt with some of the most sensitive and high profile appeals throughout the country. There are many people still working who would not have a job at all were it not for Noel's expertise in this area. Again, you won't hear Noel shouting about this but it is a fact. 

For an honest hard working ‘value for money’ National Official you could do far worse than to vote for Noel McClean. 

So, rather than just throwing away the NEC Ballot paper, that will be included in the packaging of the next issue ‘the Voice’. Use your vote & Vote for Noel McClean for a fifth year as a Nation Executive member who WILL represent YOU. 

Michael J Williams

Deputy Branch Secretary, Branch Editor, Shift rep, Postman.

Eastern 5 branch. Peterborough.