CWU BRANCH DECISION MAKING FORUM 30 JANUARY 2020 – LABOUR LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS
Further to our successful Branch Decision Making Forum held yesterday on the Leader and Deputy Leader Labour Party elections, we are writing to confirm the declared results for both elections.
Please find attached a copy of the result of the branch ballot including the detailed branch analysis.
We want to thank Branches for their participating in this democratic process and the manner in which the meeting was conducted.
TUC BLACK WORKERS CONFERENCE VISITORS – 24TH – 26TH APRIL 2020
The TUC Black Workers Conference 2020 is being held from 24th – 26th April 2020 at the TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS. The Conference sessions will be as follows:
Friday 24th April 14.00 – 17.30
Saturday 25th April 09.30 – 17.30
Sunday 26th April 09.15 – 13.00
The CWU are allowed a limited number of visitors to attend the above Conference and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Due to the need for extra security at all TUC Conferences, names and addresses of those wanting visitor tickets must be supplied and tickets are not transferable.
Anyone interested in attending will need to contact their Branch initially for funding, to include a £10 visitor ticket fee. The easiest way to pay the £10 fee will be for us to transfer it directly from your Branch’s account through the rebate system, therefore please contact Angela Niven on conferences@cwu.org with details of which Branch the individual belongs to on application. Alternatively you can send a cheque (made payable to ‘CWU’) addressed to Angela Niven at CWU HQ with a covering letter. Please note that places will not be reserved until the £10 fee is received.
Please let me know if you would like to attend the Conference as a visitor by no later than midday on Wednesday 11th March 2020.
TUC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE VISITORS – 4TH – 6TH MARCH 2020
The TUC Women’s Conference 2020 is being held from 4th – 6th March 2020 at the TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS. The Conference sessions will be as follows:
Wednesday 4th March 14.00 – 17.30
Thursday 5th March 09.30 – 17.30
Friday 6th March 09.15 – 13.00
The CWU are allowed a limited number of visitors to attend the above Conference and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Due to the need for extra security at all TUC Conferences, names and addresses of those wanting visitor tickets must be supplied and tickets are not transferable.
Anyone interested in attending will need to contact their Branch initially for funding, to include a £10 visitor ticket fee. The easiest way to pay the £10 fee will be for us to transfer it directly from your Branch’s account through the rebate system, therefore please contact Angela Niven on conferences@cwu.org with details of which Branch the individual belongs to on application. Alternatively you can send a cheque (made payable to ‘CWU’) addressed to Angela Niven at CWU HQ with a covering letter. Please note that places will not be reserved until the £10 fee is received.
Please let me know if you would like to attend the Conference as a visitor by no later than midday on Wednesday 19th February 2020.
Any further enquiries with regards this please contact conferences@cwu.org or Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.
Due to the increased activity, especially within Royal Mail, regarding Industrial Action we thought it would be appropriate for us to remind branches of the CWU Industrial Action Policy which came into effect from 1st March 2017.
Accordingly please find attached a copy of the CWU Industrial Action Branch Guidelines.
Could you please ensure that this information is publicised to Representatives of your Branch.
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.
CWU BRANCH DECISION MAKING FORUM 30TH JANUARY 2020– LABOUR LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS
Further to LTB 20/20, the purpose of this LTB is to advise Branches on how the Forum will be conducted, including documentation and the ballot process.
Previously we informed Branches that we had written to all candidates outlining what the key issues for the CWU and its members are in this election. The responses received containing the candidates answers are designed to inform both the debate and the decisions to be made at the Forum. We will be making available these responses alongside the views of the NEC and our recommendations on the day.
This is because following consultation with the President, we have taken a decision that given the personal and detailed nature of the responses from each candidate and the obvious media interest throughout this process, it has been agreed that we will not be circulating the candidates’ responses in advance of the Forum. Instead, appropriate reading time will be given prior to the Forum commencing.
The NEC has met today and made its recommendations and no publicity will be given on these in advance of the Forum.
As previously explained, ballot papers will be provided to Branches at the Forum and only Branches in attendance will be able to cast a vote. The result of the Branch vote will determine CWU national policy on who we nominate for Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
Any enquiries on the process should be address to jloftus@cwu.org.
At the NEC held on the 22nd January 2020 the following programme of business was agreed for CWU Conference 2020:
Sunday 19th April 2020 – General Conference
Monday 20th April 2020 – Equality Day
Tuesday 21st April 2020 – General Conference
Wednesday 22nd – Friday 24th April 2020 – Industrial Conferences
Branches should be aware that the Equality Day at Annual Conference 2020 will include motions in the morning and afternoon (subject to SOC placement). The aim for the Equality Day is for it to be informative and interactive with a number of panel sessions, campaign presentations for our National Equality Leads and guest speakers.
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
Further to LTB 037/20 dated 23rd January 2020, we have now been advised that the current responsibilities under the Assistant Secretary (TFS) are not as previously published and are as follows:
Assistant Secretary (TFS)
The above position is currently responsible for dealing with the following companies; BT Technology, Santander Group, Manpower, Telefonica O2, Paragon and Connect 44.
We would be grateful if you could ensure that this LTB is brought to the attention of the members of your branch.
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.
Millions of Waspi women who lost out by state pension increase given sliver of hope.
Campaigning group Backto60 has been granted the right to appeal
the High Court’s ruling CREDIT: ISABEL INFANTES/ AFP • Jessica Beard, pensions reporter
22 JANUARY 2020
Women born in the Fifties affected by the rise in their state pension age from 60 to 65 have been given a sliver of hope after being granted approval to appeal a High Court ruling from last October.
Two women from the Backto60 campaign group took the Government to a judicial review, arguing the delay in receiving their state pension had disproportionately affected them. Until 2010, women were entitled to receive the state pension from the age of 60, but the government announced in 1995 that this would increase to the age of 65 to equalise the playing field with men.
The two women argued that many others of their generation took time out of work to care for children which limited their earnings, meaning they had less opportunity to build up a healthy private pension.
The High Court judges decided they had not been discriminated against, and claimed the government’s move was to “correct historic direct discrimination against men”.
But now the group has had a breakthrough in its fight by receiving the green light to contest the ruling in the Court of Appeal.
Many of the complaints made by campaigners including group Backto60 and Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) have called for a reinstatement of the age of 60 for women’s state pension and for compensation of the amount they have missed out on since the ruling.
Campaigners and complainants argue they did not have enough time to prepare for the change, which has left them worse off in retirement and that they have experienced financial loss with a negative impact on their health, emotional well-being or home life. They contend that the change has discriminated against 3.8 million people, leaving them £47,000 out of pocket in retirement.
Separately, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is set to begin investigating a sample of complaints from women affected, after sending out communications to them last week.
The PHSO has been barred by the High Court ruling from recommending the reimbursement of these “lost” pensions, and nor can it advise in favour of a reversal of the Pensions Act legislation. However, it has been investigating to see if there has been an injustice as a result of maladministration, under which it could make recommendations to pay out compensation.
The investigation differs from the judicial review in that not all the issues considered were taking into account as part of the review, including DWP’s and ICE’s complaint handling and the communication of changes to National Insurance.
The ombudsman will look at whether the DWP conducted its communication of the changes to women’s state pension age wrongly or poorly, focusing on what the department should have done to better voice the changes.
State pension age: Fresh hope for WASPI & Back-to-60 women as court appeal is granted.
STATE PENSION: Campaigners who have been affected by the state pension age changes for women have been granted permission to appeal the decision lodged regarding the Judicial Review about the age and sex and age discrimination.
Julie Delve and Karen Glynn, from the campaign group Backto60, challenged the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with a judicial review, which took place last year. The campaigners argued that rising their state pension age “unlawful discriminated against them on the grounds of age, sex and age and sex combined”.
On Monday this week, (20th January) Back-To-60 confirmed that the campaign group had been granted permission to appeal the decision.
An announcement on the Back-To-60 website reads: “We are delighted to confirm that http://www.back-to-60.com have been granted permission to Appeal ON ALL GROUNDS at The Court of Appeal.”
Speaking in a video outside Number 10 Downing Street on Monday, Joanne Welch, Back-to-60 director said: “We’re delighted to be here today at Number 10 Downing Street, and share with you the brilliant news that Back-to-60 has been granted an appeal in the High Court based on all grounds argued.
“Absolutely thrilled to share that with you, and thank you everybody who’s donated and supported us, because without you, we would not be here.”
State pension age changes: Backto60 campaigners have been granted permission to appeal the decision.
The Case Tracker for Civil Appeals states that the case is currently awaiting a hearing.
It says that the hearing will be by February 25, 2021.
Also speaking outside Number 10 Downing Street on Monday, Jackie Jones, a Labour MEP for Wales, said: “I’m here at Number 10 Downing Street for Back-To-60. We just handed in a petition for women born in the 50s to get their pensions back, and this is absolutely vital. Legislation should be passed.”
However, changes to the state pension age for women were announced the Pensions Act 1995.
Under the Pensions Act 2011, the state pension age for women increased more quickly to 65 between April 2016 and November 2018.
Now, the state pension age for women is increasing for both men and women.
In October last year, Ms Delve and Ms Glynn, supported by campaign group Back-to-60, took the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to court over the changes.
The women, supported by Back-to-60, claimed the increases discriminated against them on the grounds of sex, age and both sex and age combined, and that they were not given adequate notice of the changes, in order to prepare for the years without their state pension.
State pension age changes: A judicial review took place last year, but the claims were dismissed
However, High Court judges dismissed their claims “on all grounds”.
Lord Justice Irwin and Mrs Justice Whipple said in a statement: “There was no direct discrimination on grounds of sex, because this legislation does not treat women less favourably than men in law,”
“Rather it equalises a historic asymmetry between men and women and thereby corrects historic direct discrimination against men.”
The DWP cannot comment on pending legal action.
Last year, Ms Welch spoke to Express.co.uk about the campaign. During an exclusive interview, she said: “They [50s women] were quite happy. They had raised their families, looked after them, and probably cared for the elderly in some cases.
State pension age changes: The DWP released new figures of the total cost estimate of reversing the changes last year.
“Maybe they were looking forward to their retirement, and then the rug is ripped up from beneath their feet.”
The Campaign Director also explained that the group are seeking a “fair equality”.
She said: “Generally speaking, people are pro equality – as are we. However, we will be looking for a fair equality.
“50s women have suffered lifelong inequity, like the pension gap, the pay gap, the maternity gap. It’s like, ‘Mind the Gap’.
“You’d have to be a 50s woman to actually understand these gaps.
“Women weren’t even entitled to occupational pensions. It was seriously as bad as that.”
Elsewhere, the campaign group Women Against State Pension Age Inequality (WASPI) has received a notification from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) that they will proceed with a revised proposal to investigate six sample Complaints of Maladministration.
From June millions of pensioners are going be £154 worse off.
That’s because this Tory government reneged on its promise to maintain free TV licences for the over 75s.
Age UK says the loss of the benefit will leave hundreds of thousands of elderly struggling to pay their heating and water bills.
Boris Johnson has tried to wash his hands of all responsibility by blaming the BBC.
This is unfair on the cash-strapped broadcaster, which was told by ministers to accept responsibility for funding free TV licences or risk losing its charter to operate.
Pensioners left out of pocket will realise that the fault lies with a Tory government.
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 