CWU Union Learning Representatives Networking Event 2015
#CWULearn15; #Time4Revolution

This year’s networking event will see an updated and refreshed agenda and will take place on the 24th / 25th November 2015 at: The Ramada City Centre Hotel, 17-31 Wollaton Street, Nottingham, NG1 5FW.

 

This event will ensure that our ULRs can discharge their legally recognised responsibilities to great effect through networking with other educationalists. Over the two days, delegates will help develop strategies and initiatives to guarantee that CWU provides, first rate education and training opportunities can continue at a time when we are seeing massive cuts to adult education funding.

 

This year’s theme is “Working Class Education – Time for a Revolution?” and will focus heavily on how we can safeguard and develop new and innovative methods in learning activities.

 

There will be opportunities:

· To meet with other CWU Union Learning Representatives

· To attend facilitated workshops
· To hear from high profile guest speakers

· To learn about the latest CWU learning developments

· And to celebrate your achievements!
Programme
Wednesday 24th November 2015, 12.50pm until 6.00pm

Registration from 11.30am, lunch from 12.00 noon – 12.45pm  

Followed by Introductions, guest speakers and workshops. 

Evening event from 7.30pm at the Canalhouse, 48-52 Canal St, Nottingham NG1 7EH

 

Thursday 25thNovember 2015, 9.00am until 1.00pm

Main Event, Workshops and Panel Session 

(Exact programme to be confirmed) 

Conference Registration
Places are limited for this event so priority will be given to one ULR from each branch in the first instance but if you would like to send additional ULRs to this event please let us know.

 

Any additional places will be awarded on a first come first served basis and will be confirmed once the final date for registration application has closed.

Please note that CWU HQ will not be able to cover travel or hotel expenses for this event. However, we will be providing lunch and an evening dinner on the evening of the 24th November 2015.

Further details – please read

ULRs can book a place by email in the first instance to learn@cwu.org with contact details including name, Branch, contact number and an email or postal address to which an application form can be sent. The form will be sent out to the individual ULR and this will need to be countersigned by the Branch Secretary. Delegates who have specific dietary needs or allergies must advise us of any requirements on the form.

To guarantee that your Branch is represented you must return your completed and signed application form to the Education and Training Department by Friday 2nd October 2015. 

This year we have negotiated with more than one hotel in Nottingham. Once your application has been approved you will receive a booking code with which you can contact one of the hotels (there are various prices at different hotels to give a choice to delegates.) The code will also be useable should your branch agree that you need any additional nights’ accommodation. Payment should be made to the appropriate hotel at the time of booking.

Bookings made with the hotel without registering first may mean a higher room rate and would not guarantee registration for the conference. The code will be valid for bookings made prior to the 9th October 2015. Any bookings made after this date may be subject to the hotels normal rates.

Unfortunately due to registration and accommodation not being linked, we will not be able to arrange substitutions for delegates. The Branch will need to contact both the Education and Training Dept. and the hotel directly to either notify of cancellation or replacement by another ULR from within the Branch.

This event is being supported by the CWU and the Union Learning Fund (England).

Release

This event should attract paid release for those accredited ULRs working for employers where the CWU is recognised. The event is specifically designed to meet the aims of ULR legislation and is fully supported through the Government Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The ACAS Code of Practice applies.

 

 

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Michelle Simpson or Neil Coleby by telephoning 0208 971 7340 (Michelle) or 07801 364088 (Neil) or by email to learn@cwu.org  
Yours sincerely,
 
Trish Lavelle

Head of Education and Training

 
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

URGENT INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS

 Facebook: Dave Ward CWU @DaveWardGS

 

 

 

 

CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference – Saturday 3rd October 2015 

The CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference will be held on Saturday 3rd October in the Victoria Suite, The Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow G1 3SF.

 

Accommodation – The Grand Central Hotel

 

The CWU has arranged for a limited amount of accommodation for delegates/observers to the conference at the Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow, G1 3SF.

 

It is important that Branches book places early at the hotel, as they will be holding a number of rooms on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

 

Booking arrangements:

 

Accommodation rates: (preferential CWU rates for Friday & Saturday night only)

 

All rooms are double rooms charged at £130, bed and breakfast (single occupancy) and at £120, bed and breakfast (double occupancy).

 

(Rooms will be held at this rate until 4th September, after which time they will be released)

 

 

Creche Facilities/Special Requests

 

In order that we can cater for any delegates with special needs such as seating or prayer room etc. it is important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than 4th September.

 

Upon request, crèche facilities will be available to delegates during the Conference and Branches should advise in writing by return no later than 4th September if they require the use of this facility. Please ensure that the names and ages of the children together with an appropriate address for sending the crèche form to for completion are included in this advice. It will not be possible to provide on the spot facilities for those delegates who have not informed us advance.

 

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be directed to Chris Tapper, SDGS Department on 020 8971 7331 or ctapper@cwu.org.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

A P Kearns

CWU Black Workers Conference – Saturday 17th October 2015 

The CWU Black Workers Conference will be held on Saturday 17th October in the Victoria Suite, The Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow G1 3SF.

 

Accommodation – The Grand Central Hotel

 

The CWU has arranged for a limited amount of accommodation for delegates/observers to the conference at the Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow, G1 3SF.

 

It is important that Branches book places early at the hotel, as they will be holding a number of rooms on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

 

Booking arrangements:

 

Accommodation rates: (preferential CWU rates for Friday & Saturday night only)

 

All rooms are double rooms charged at £130, bed and breakfast (single occupancy) and at £120, bed and breakfast (double occupancy).

 

(Rooms will be held at this rate until 4th September, after which time they will be released)

 

Creche Facilities/Special Requests

 

In order that we can cater for any delegates with special needs such as seating or prayer room etc. it is important that you advise us in writing of the name of the delegate(s) and the particular requirement by return but no later than 4th September.

 

Upon request, crèche facilities will be available to delegates during the Conference and Branches should advise in writing by return no later than 4th September if they require the use of this facility. Please ensure that the names and ages of the children together with an appropriate address for sending the crèche form to for completion are included in this advice. It will not be possible to provide on the spot facilities for those delegates who have not informed us advance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be directed to Chris Tapper, SDGS Department on 020 8971 7331 or ctapper@cwu.org.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

A P Kearns

RE: TRADE UNION BILL  

The Government published its Trade Union Reform Bill on 15th July 2015, which set out a series of changes to the laws applying to Trade Unions in the UK. It has also launched two consultations on further reforms it is proposing to bring forward (by other legislative means) alongside the Bill.  

 

This LTB is to update Branches on the details of the proposed changes and to outline the NEC’s initial strategy for campaigning against the bill. Attached to this LTB in hard copy is a booklet which contains three briefing papers from the CWU Research Department, TUC and TULO. The Trade Union Bill and the briefing documents can viewed on the Union’s website and can be accessed via the following: – http://www.cwu.org/tradeUnionbill.html

 

The Government’s Proposals

 

Taken together it is clear that the proposed reforms represent a very significant attack on our movement and includes wide ranging measures to reduce the influence and freedoms of UK Trade Unions and our rights to organise collectively.

 

The Reforms also constitute a significant restriction on civil liberties and the rights of individuals that are generally taken for granted in a modern democracy.

 

The key changes in the Bill are as follows:

 

1. A 50% turnout requirement for industrial action ballots.

 

2. An additional requirement in ‘important public services’ for 40% of those balloted to vote in favour of industrial action.

 

3. A requirement to re-ballot for industrial action every four months in longer disputes.

 

4. Requirements for greater information to be included on ballot papers including a description of the dispute, the expected timetable for action and the form of action-short-of-a-strike being proposed.

 

5. A 14-day notice period for industrial action (replacing the existing 7 day period).

 

6. Upgrading restrictions on from the Code of Practice on picketing into legal requirements on Unions, meaning a failure to comply will leave a Union open to an injunction or liability for damages.

 

7. A requirement for members to expressly opt-in to paying into a Union’s political fund every five years.

 

8. Limits on facility time for Unions in the public sector.

 

9. Increased reporting requirements to the Certification Officer and new powers for it to investigate trade Unions and impose financial penalties.

 

The key issues being consulted on by the Government are:

 

1. A proposal to remove the ban on the use of agency workers in place of striking workers during industrial action.

 

2. A proposal to create a new criminal offence of intimidation for workers on picket lines.

 

3. A proposal to require Unions to report in advance their plans for picketing and running social media campaigns on industrial action to employers and the police.

 

Although the specific impact of the threshold reforms would not have made a difference to the validity of the majority of CWU ballots conducted in recent years, this will clearly be an important factor in holding and conducting ballots for the Union in the future.

 

Furthermore, whilst the threshold issue has dominated much of the media scrutiny of the Bill thus far, it is the combined impact of all the changes that will definitely restrict all Unions’ ability to stand up for workers, completely undermine collective bargaining and increase both the financial and administrative pressures on our movement.

 

The second reading of the Bill is expected to be in October and the consultations (running to a shortened timetable) close in September. The campaign against this therefore needs to get underway quickly and the CWU will play a full part in it. This commenced with a major public meeting on Wednesday 29th July with numerous organisations coming together under the banner of “Kill the Bill”. The meeting was very well attended and as General Secretary I spoke in support of the campaign.

 

The NEC has agreed to campaign against the proposals by all means necessary and to co-ordinate effectively with other Unions and the TUC. We will be publishing details soon of a TUC demonstration on Sunday 4th October at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester and we will expect all Branches to attend this rally. The TUC are also organising a mass lobby of Parliament for the Bill’s report stage on the 2nd November.  

 

There is no doubt that if we want to change the balance of forces in the world of work and wider society, then the Union movement must now come together and mobilise workers in both its opposition to this Bill, but also in making a positive case for new workers’ rights and solidarity amongst working people throughout the country. This campaigning approach is reflected in a CWU Motion submitted to this year’s TUC Congress on reasserting Trade Union values in society, a copy of which is also attached.

 

Further information will be issued and we would ask Branches for your full participation and support in any campaign activities in the coming weeks and months. Branches are asked to familiarise themselves with the briefing document booklet and to circulate copies (or the link) above to their Branch representatives.

 

If you have any enquiries on this LTB, these should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office at gsoffice@cwu.org quoting the reference GS1.3/LTB 506/15.

 

Yours sincerely

​​​ ​​

 

Dave Ward​​​​​​

General Secretary

TUC MOTION 2015

 

 

1. Reasserting trade union values in society

 

Congress agrees that in the aftermath of the general election it has never been more important for the TUC to come together and re-assert trade union values in society.

 

In the world of work we have seen a fundamental shift from fair and decent jobs towards insecure employment models characterised by exploitative contracts, bogus self-employment, agency work and low pay.

 

This has been mirrored in wider society with working people, and particularly the young, bearing the costs of austerity with declining living standards, a growing housing crisis, cuts to essential services, rising in-work poverty and the privatisation and marketisation of public services.

 

With the proposed anti-trade union laws, and welfare and public spending cuts that will hit the poorest hardest, we cannot sit back in the hope that a new government will come around to our way of thinking in five years’ time.

 

Congress therefore agrees that the union movement must develop a comprehensive strategy through the TUC which includes the following:

 

– a joint campaign against anti-trade union laws;

– the development of a workers’ charter, pursued by every trade union signing up to a co-ordinated collective bargaining approach;

– a co-ordinated day of action; and a programme of ongoing action.

– a national campaign engaging working people and a wider coalition of groups to redress the balance of forces in society and the workplace.

 

Congress agrees that the General Council should prepare a report outlining this strategy for a special TUC Conference by March 2016.

Election of National Representative Positions -Postal Standing Orders Committee 2014-2016 (Vacancy)

 

Branches will be aware that the election for the Postal Standing Orders Committee was held in May/June 2014. The term of office for the Postal SOC is for 2 years and therefore we are scheduled to conduct the next series of elections in May/June 2016.

 

Additionally branches will also be aware that following Annual Conference 2015 Neil Robinson decided to resign his position on the Postal SOC and subsequently there is now a vacancy.

 

The NEC have considered this matter and due to the fact that there is in reality only 9 months left on the current term of office have decided to invite the first unsuccessful candidate from the 2014 election (Richard Wilkins) to take up office for the remainder of the current term i.e. until the 2016 elections.

 

For ease of reference the ballot result for the 2014 Postal SOC election was as follows:

 

Postal SOC (7 Members)

 

Colin Cairns​21,245

Phil Callaghan​58,098​(Elected)​

John Gaby​57,882​(Elected)

Scott Haslam​21,664

Brian Irvine​67,760​(Elected)

Eric Jones​20,086

Ian MacDonald​24,046

Paddy Magill​93,131​(Elected)

Neil Robinson​74,231​(Elected)

Alan Smith​13,121

Tony Sneddon​76,812​(Elected)

Julia West​80,786​(Elected)

Richard Wilkins​43,247​

 

 

 

 

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department for the attention of Peter Metcalfe.

 

Email: pmetcalfe@cwu.org

Telephone: 020 8971 7368

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary