OT- Need some opinions/ideas

This is nothing to do with babies but I am in need of some advice from an outsiders perspective.

I've been working for council for a year and 1/2. I started off in the lab and got so fed up with working conditions and support that I had a big meeting with HR and the general manager as well as my own manager. Basically what came out of that was a promise for training (of which I had had none) so I moved to the main building for 2 months to learn a few things to help me in my job.

Soo, 6 weeks into it I got offered a job up here full time as they were impressed with how fast i learnt and adapted to this new role which I accepted.

There is one thing that bugs me about this situation.. We are basically a team of 4, there is 2 people who have been here a while, there is another chick who has been moved from another unit to where we are and then there is me. The thing that annoys me is that the 2 who have been here a while seem to act differently towards me and the other chick. They always bugger off without telling us and leave us behind and take breaks whenever it suits them rather than checking to see if we had any plans etc. They always seem to have the last say.

To me this behaviour is wrong. They were apparently trying to make it more of a team than making us feel on the outer and it changes for all of 2 days and goes back to the same old. We have mentioned this a few times but nothing really changes. I'm getting fed up with it. Another thing that bugs me is that when we have a team meeting with the manager and ideas are asked for its always asked from the oldies first, then we are considered as an afterthought and whenever anything is asked of us it seems as though they are only asking to make it look good but dont actually really listen to us (my workmate feels the same as well)

Can anyone suggest an approach I could take to try and fix the situation?

You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!!!
I always find that in a situation like that it is easier to win people over than go head to head with them, that way you can make suggestions "from the inside" of the group and they will be more likely to be heard... It will take a bit of time but it is worth it...
As frustrating as it may be for you, they probably feel like you are the new person so you have fewer "rights", and if you make suggestions now about doign things differently now they will think you are being quite foward or even very presumptious - even if it is a good suggestion... Its just a territory thing. They will losen up in time, and if they dont then you can have a serious chat with them, but if it was me I would wait a while first, bide my time and get to know them and try and befriend them...it will get you further in the end than confronting it head on when they dont know you that well to start with...
Or you could always go with the old military strategy - divide and conquer - pick the strongest personality and make friends with her, that will break the group up a bit and make it easier to fit in...I remember being at a conference once about interaction amongst work groups and them talking about this... personally it is too calculated for me, but it is a strategy that works for some people that need to gain influence quickley in a group...????!?!?!?!

Edited by mrs frantic

yeah it's tough breaking into pre-existing groiups - it is usually just a time thing - anyway good luck with that - it can be hard when you arent comfortable with the people you work with, I hope it gets easier soon...