[WILLIS]

FWC Federation Window Cleaners

Questions for members
Also for those of you that would join

Are you a member and if not why not
Are you a member and happy with the FWC
Are you unhappy with the work the FWC does for its members and or the industry

What do you see the FWC main activity in the past and of late?

What would you like to see in the future?

This is a question from myself as a member, someone with over 35 years involvement in the industry and not in my role as a committee executive   

[paul rulton]

YET ANOTHER LOAD OF POO, & A COMP WAISTE OF OUR HARD EARNED £££££££££

[drwindows]

Are you a member and if not why not

Not a member, probably will never join.

Why?  They don't have any point to them, and I perceive it as an old-fashioned, mainly northern type of thing.  Perhaps more suited to trad window cleaners, especially older ones.  It looks like an amateurish, not very professional organization.  When I have seen their stuff, like its from about 20 or so years ago.  And for what you "get" its quite expensive to join.

What do you see the FWC main activity in the past and of late?

No idea.  To me it doesnt seem to actually do anything of any consequence, it just ...exists.  All of the things its website lists are being done far better by other organisations.  For example insurance, when I was looking around to get my van & system insurance as well as pub liability, I looked at theirs (or tried to) their insurance broker was less than useless and the policies were completely crap.  Not suited to window cleaning at all.  And suprise suprise was way up in the north somewhere.  If they can't get something as basic as that right, then to me there's no point.

What would you like to see in the future?

I don't think there is a future for the FWC.  I think it will just quietly disappear one day, having only like 20 members left or something.

Also, I hear that they are using some training company where the blokes that do the training have never ever used waterfed poles and dont know anything about them, which says it all really. 

[daz1977]

i think a lot of these organsiations are just after your money   give you a place on there websites and a fancy pic for your web site,  but dont bring in any work

[Ian Mason]

I am thinking about joining, & weighing up the pros & cons at the moment, so this is a helpful topic for me.

I have noticed some odd off putting things though, such as the online shop. 1 or 2 items are value for money, but many items are hugely over priced compared to other outlets! I would have thought ALL items would be better value to members, so I do question why this is?

[Moderator David@stives]

willis

I think the FWC has come a long way in the last 5 years, partly due to as well as other things , is people like yourself.

I liked that someone took the stance in the FWC mag recently about access onto balconies, would love to see that as an official guidline, another hot topic is flat roofs, myself and Trevor Perry have a lot of questions on that subject, and want official answers from our trade body, if you want to be pre armed with those questions before Windex, give us a call.

Most of the time when you ask the HSE a question, they say look to your industry association for there current advice and reccommendations.

5 years ago, i feel we didnt have access to that advice only vague answers, If the FWC sees itself with any future, it has to address those questions and give definitive answers , not wishy washy, advice.

I am happy and support the Fed, but it has to stay with the times and be there with a shoulder of support when its needed.

[trevor perry]

same as dave says but i also feel the fed shouldnt only show us the guidelines to follow with health and safety but also fight our corner a little showing how some of these guidelines just arent workable in our industry and remain cost effective for the customer.
 i sincerely hope they dont just see health and safety as a money making opportunity by offering course after course to its members but rather take a role in advising the HSE on cost effective workable solutions for our industry.

[Terry_Burrows]

  This is the one time I will speak up for the Federation since 1996 they have done nothing but support me in every way with success comes people behind you and they have been just that!I could not have done some of the things I have over the past years without them,from day one they shared my dream,in
return I could only give them nationwide coverage in return,and I still; do so to this day, I was on the board but because I live some 250 miles away it become
just to much,even that the fed put me up the day before,it was the long drive back which is a killer! I came off the board but this was the hardest thing I had to do,and still miss this very much, I have made some very special friends and still do,there is a lot behind the that you dont know thats all good,
last year alone I was hell bent to make blackpool show I did this with a shoe string because just like every one including myself was having a bad time,
and I was not about to let the Federation down this time I was needed so I went
and Glad I did just to see all my buddys,yes I know I am not skint now
after a life changing win on the horses which netted me a cool £41439 47 pee

but has it changed me nar not one bit I still me

[matt]

FWC Federation Window Cleaners

Questions for members
Also for those of you that would join

Are you a member and if not why not  -- NO, but recently with the vast improvments i have considered it, i have been vocal in my issues with them, BUT this has changed, its good to have a representative speaking for window cleaners as the other option is a spokesman who represents his company ( and customers ) who has alternative motives when speaking to government working parties etc etc, at least the FWC have no ties to selling


Are you a member and happy with the FWC -- No, not a member, see above

Are you unhappy with the work the FWC does for its members and or the industry -- see above, better to have a spokesperson who doesnt have alternative motives


What do you see the FWC main activity in the past and of late? -- I know they did work with the government over the hose pipe ban, keep up representing the average joe window cleaner

What would you like to see in the future? --

This is a question from myself as a member, someone with over 35 years involvement in the industry and not in my role as a committee executive   

replies in red

[luther1]

Dave,what was the balcony access outcome as i do loads of flats and some management firms want these windows done and some don't. A decent argument as why not to do them would be great. Thanks Jamie

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I view it as a joke.

A few chancers out to make some dough from the gullable & give themselves a job title.

[poleman]

What happen to the NEW guideline regarding the Safety in window cleaning using portable ladders! because with out them how are we going to comply with the working at height regulation!

Andy

[matt]

no voice to govt over hose pipe bans etc.

Slumpy, i know 100% thats not true

oh and the other option if they didnt speak up is a very frightening one ( with some1 representing window cleaners BUT only looking out for a certain few )

[idealrob]

Nothing to do with survey, but "THE SOUTHERNERS" are racist against anything that is based up North, its a disgrace, we even have hot running water for window cleaning and have heard and used of WFP, yes technology has reached up north

idealrob a Proud Northerner

[Ian Mason]

Nothing to do with survey, but "THE SOUTHERNERS" are racist against anything that is based up North, its a disgrace, we even have hot running water for window cleaning and have heard and used of WFP, yes technology has reached up north

idealrob a Proud Northerner

You do kind of have a point there related to this topic. I mean in your words, it could also be said that the FWC is racist towards southerners.

I seem to remember a short while back how frequent training courses were held by the FWC up north, in comparison to courses held in the south! :

[Clive McDonald]

When defra did the consultation mr Knight (remember him?) came on here and asked us what he might put forward. I don't remember the fed wanting to be part of this.

[Terry_Burrows]

  yes from the south myself I can understand where his is going and a good question  :)but there is no defied just understanding

[Moderator David@stives]

What happen to the NEW guideline regarding the Safety in window cleaning using portable ladders! because with out them how are we going to comply with the working at height regulation!

Andy

Hi Andy

This leaflet was withdrawn by the HSE, I know it was written in conjunction with the FWC, but they had nothing to do with it being withdrawn.

Dave

[Moderator David@stives]

Maybe not

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc613.pdf

For those who do not know this was produced in conjunction with the FWC

[Bryan_Dolby]

Slumpbuster

You know everything about the FWC,without knowing the truth
 See your previous posts

The FWC / APWC and Craig Molem from ionics attended meetings with defra
For your information the FWC / HSE / BCC and DEFRA had a meeting to sort out the problem with the hose pipe ban and the outcome was the window cleaning industry would not be stopped.

I personally put a post on here saying please leave the water ban to the experts and thats what  happened in the end

Everybody

The document that the FWC and HSE  did was taken out and as now been re- amended
The FWC have meetings with the HSE to disscuss industry problems

To everbody on here come to windex and talk to the FWC,i personally will be there to answer your questions

What you get on this site is not  the truth about the FWC
Peoples perception on what they want to think is the truth

Please give some feedback on how you want the FWC to change and act on behalf of the window cleaning industry
Answer the first post
The FWC does listen to feedback

Bryan Dolby