Union won't pay for my Solicitor?!

[ScotPost40]

I am a Postie from Scotland and have been called to court for a traffic offence claiming I had driven into a car with a RM van when I did not.

Called Union Line back in October and they said that it would be funded and connected with a solicitor. On the day of the Intermediate Diet (last week) my lawyer wasn’t there and I was told that the funding had not been confirmed. They had delayed the Trial Diet for this to be cleared up.

Got back to Union Line and after three days of chasing I called them today and they said that I would not be funded because: “Scotland region don’t support road traffic offences”.

They said I can pay for a solicitor privately, but this has really landed me in the **** with only a week to arrange.

Any advice and should I make a complaint to CWU local branch?

Any help would be welcome!

[Geordiepapa]

Try contacting Jim McKechnie at Glasgow branch, he's branch secretary. Have you asked your manager to check your pda/trundle in the van to ascertain if you were anywhere near at the time of the "alleged" accident. Also, were you the only one using the van that day or could anyone else have been? Won't be the first time someone hasn't signed a van out which has then ended up in a minor accident, so the previous driver gets the blame.

[ScotPost40]

It was confirmed that it was me who had driven the van at the time, I have asked for the PDA information about speed etc from my manager but nothing can move forward until the solictor costing was confirmed. Which I had been told it had been until this week when I arrioved at court. So now they've left me with a week to find a solicitor.

I was going to get in touch with my Branch (Scotland No. 2) on Monday would I have grounds for a complaint?

[rubberbond]

It was confirmed that it was me who had driven the van at the time, I have asked for the PDA information about speed etc from my manager but nothing can move forward until the solictor costing was confirmed. Which I had been told it had been until this week when I arrioved at court. So now they've left me with a week to find a solicitor.

I was going to get in touch with my Branch (Scotland No. 2) on Monday would I have grounds for a complaint?

It’s the Trimble information you need.

[broughts]

If they have no proof and you have no proof what’s the problem it’s your word against there’s Trimble doesn’t do location so speed etc is irrelevant unless u have a tracker in the van like the lorry’s your wasting your time asking

[R5001]

If they have no proof and you have no proof what’s the problem it’s your word against there’s Trimble doesn’t do location so speed etc is irrelevant unless u have a tracker in the van like the lorry’s your wasting your time asking

Trimble (If working) does track location.

[tramssirhc]

its not a complaint you need to make. you need to check that the union do cover traffic accidents and if they do you need to get the branch secretary to appeal the decision not to support you. the union and the solicitor work for us not themselves and they do as their told. the ultimate decision is the general secretary's who can instruct the solicitor to proceed with your case.