Month: September 2015

Unions Together Trade Union Bill

  
Unions TogetherDear Friend

Have you heard about the Trade Union Bill? It’s a new law the Government are bringing forward that drastically cuts our rights to speak up at work, and in politics, through the trade union movement. Will you email your MP now to ask them to oppose the Trade Union Bill?
http://action.unionstogether.org.uk/protect-email
This Bill, and other changes the Government are making, are a huge attack on working people and trade unions. It will:
• undermine our right to strike for better pay and conditions or against unfair treatment

• threaten freedom of speech, with new restrictions on protests and pickets

• allow employers to use agency temps to replace striking workers

• introduce new red tape that not only makes it harder for unions to run political campaigns, but that will also drastically cut union funding to the Labour Party

• reduce the rights of union reps in the workplace, making it harder for them to represent their members.
Our MPs were back in Westminster this week after the Summer break, and now we know the date that has been set for the first debate and vote on the Bill – next Monday, 14th September.
We need to contact as many MPs as possible, of every Party, so that they know that their constituents feel strongly that this Bill is the wrong move.
Email your MP today to ask them to speak out against the Bill on Monday:
http://action.unionstogether.org.uk/protect-email
The Trade Union Bill weakens our voice at work, and weakens our voice in politics. It undermines the right to strike and makes it harder for unions and working people to win a fairer deal at work. It undermines freedom of speech, with new restrictions on protests and new red tape that makes it harder for unions to run political campaigns. It goes further than even Thatcher dared.
Help to protect our voice at work, and protect our voice in politics – and make sure you email your MP to ask them to vote to stop this Bill.
Thank you,
Helen
Helen Pearce, Head of Campaigns, unionstogether

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DESPATCH OF BALLOT PAPERS

1.​DESPATCH OF BALLOT PAPERS 

This LTB is to advise Branches that we have received confirmation from ERS that the ballot papers for the CWU Assistant Secretary (Postal) were handed over to Royal Mail today (10 September 2015).

 

I would also take this opportunity to advise that the method of posting is Royal Mail Economy.

 

This information is being provided to assist those Branches that are intending to send out a corresponding mailing to their members.

 

2.​CWU ELECTION MEMBERS OBSERVERS

 

Branches will be aware that the regulations for the above election contain the following statement:

 

“Returned ballot papers will remain unopened in their envelopes until the close of ballot. Two lay CWU members (who do not hold any elected or appointed position) will be selected as observers. The Observers together with the Senior Deputy General Secretary will attend the start of the count of the ballot papers. Their sole responsibility will be to ensure that the envelopes are unopened prior to the commencement of the count, after which the Scrutineer shall arrange to count the number of valid votes cast for each candidate. The Scrutineer will declare the results of the election as soon as possible after the completion of the count.” 

 

The purpose of this LTB is to seek your branch assistance in publicising the information detailed below to all members of your branch.  

 

CWU ELECTION MEMBERS OBSERVER – 2015

 

The CWU is looking for two lay members of the union (who do not hold an elected or appointed position) to be Members Observers at the election count for CWU Assistant Secretary (Postal) election. The count will take place at offices of ERS, London on 6th October 2015.

 

Interested? The two observers will receive 2 paid days off work, subsistence and travel expenses and a fee of £100 after tax. If you would like to put your name forward then please contact Tony Kearns, Senior Deputy General Secretary, CWU, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX by no later than 22 September 2015 or by email to sdgs@cwu.org.

 

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

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns 

Senior Deputy General Secretary

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

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

Branches would wish to know that the agenda for the forthcoming CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference being held in Glasgow on Saturday 3rd October 2015 has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the link below:

 

Click to access cwu__1441885047_LGBT_conference_agenda_2015.pdf

 

Hard copies of the agenda will be sent to Branch addresses of everyone that has registered using the online registration system.

 

Credential cards for delegates/visitors and voting cards for this conference will be issued on the Saturday morning at registration prior to the conference opening.    

 

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by telephoning 020 8971 7256 or by post to head office or by email to conferences@cwu.org

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

 

 

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Corbyn backs People’s Post at Burston strike event

  
Corbyn backs People’s Post at Burston strike eventCWU activists from the Eastern Region spent the weekend in Norfolk with fellow activists and supporters from across the trade union movement to commemorate the Burston school strike – the longest running strike in history. The strike started in 1914 when children attending Burston school ‘went on strike’ in support of their sacked teachers, and lasted 25 years.

The annual summer event, traditionally held on the first weekend in September, set off on a march using the historical route that the Burston school children and strikers used to get to the school. The lanes were awash with an array of colourful banners from every union, including the CWU Eastern Region banner. “Along the route, we handed out People’s Post bags and badges so that by the end of the event almost everyone was wearing one,” explained CWU Eastern regional secretary Paul Moffat.

Below

Pat Bister, Sue Lewis, Paul Moffat, Andy Beeby, Colin Tull and Jeremy Corbyn 

  
The People’s Post campaign also formed the backdrop to the Eastern Region’s stall which drew much support from eventgoers, including CWU-supported MP and Labour leadership candidate, Jeremy Corbyn, who made a point of visiting the stall and publicly supporting the union’s campaign.

As guest speaker at the rally, Corbyn told thousands in the audience who had gathered to hear him speak, how he is building his campaign and putting forward the wider case for progressive politics within the UK and the Labour Party.

  
Summing up the overall success of the weekend, Paul concluded: “This was great start to the campaign in the Eastern Region and went a long way to raise awareness and support as we move into the next phase of our campaign both regionally and nationally with a view to achieve our objectives for the People’s Post campaign, the future of Royal Mail and Postal Services in the UK.”

Find out more about the People’s Post campaign.

http://www.cwu.org/peoplespost.html

 

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The view from the floor – CWU Activist History Online 

The view from the floor – CWU Activist History Online 

As part of our Union Learning Fund Project, the Education & Training Department are developing a CWU history of activism resource which will be located on CWU Left Click.

 

The aim is to gather and store eye witness accounts, images, films and key documents relating to some of the major disputes and campaigns which have shaped the CWU and its founding unions. Rather than a formal archive this is very much an activist’s view of events. These resources will then be available to CWU students and activists who have an interest in finding out more about our own unique history.

 

Learning Project Worker Ray Atkinson will be gathering information and interviews with activists and retired members to populate this resource over the next few months. The first major event that we will be researching is the Grunwick dispute and we will be following up with the Critchley Labels dispute.

 

In 2016, we hope to expand this project to research the DRAS dispute, the 1971 Strike, the Mercury Boycott as well as other notable events. We are also developing a CWU timeline which will give an historical overview of the CWU. We will be issuing an LTB inviting Branches to get involved and to put us in contact with people who could provide eye witness accounts or historical material.

 

NEC members and CWU Officers will be well placed to assist with this project and we hope that you will actively get involved as the resource develops. The aim will be to launch the first chapter on Grunwick in November 2015 and the Critchley Labels Chapter by January 2016.

 

If any NEC members wish to contribute please contact Ray Atkinson via email at ray.atkinson7@virginmedia.com in the first instance.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Trish Lavelle

Head of Education & Training

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The Refugee Crisis: CWUHA Appeal for Assistance 

The Refugee Crisis: CWUHA Appeal for Assistance 

There has been widespread concern and horror among working people over the developing humanitarian crisis in Calais, the Mediterranean and across Europe as refugees flee the war zones in the Middle East and North Africa.  

 

In keeping with our longstanding tradition in the trade union movement of providing humanitarian aid via our own CWUHA and other international solidarity action, the CWU is liaising with the Trustees of CWUHA and with the CALAID Organisation – in planning help, collection and dispatch of urgent aid to Calais. Further details of this will follow in due course.

 

Branches may also wish to note that a number of organisations to which we affiliate have arranged a “Refugees Welcome Here – National Day of Action” on the 12th September 2015 assembling at Marble Arch (London) at 2pm followed by a Rally at Downing Street – further details here: http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/

 

In the meantime, Branches are urged to get involved in this urgent appeal and it would be appreciated if consideration is given to seeking and offering the following:-

 

• Donations to CWUHA marked “European Refugee Crisis”

• Provide supplies as listed at the CALAID website http://www.calaid.co.uk/

 

Branches can view further information by visiting the CWU HA website http://www.cwuha.org or by contacting Carl Webb, North West Regional Secretary northwestregion@cwu.org

 

Thank you for anything you can do to assist with this appeal.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

DAVE WARD

GENERAL SECRETARY
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

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RETIRED MEMBERS RECRUITMENT

Dear Colleagues,

RETIRED MEMBERS RECRUITMENT

 

Please find attached a copy of a poster relating to members who are about to retire.   I would be grateful if this could be displayed in workplaces within in your branch area.   Additional copies can be obtained by contacting aniven@cwu.org

 

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Chris Tapper in the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on telephone number 020 8971 7331 or email ctapper@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

Click on link below to view or download 

retired members poster

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