TRADES UNION CONGRESS 2021: CWU DELEGATION REPORT
The 2021 Trades Union Congress took place online from Sunday 12th September to Tuesday 14th September 2021.
All unions were entitled to submit two motions to the agenda. The CWU National Executive Council agreed the following motions:-
MOTION 1: NEW DEAL FOR WORKERS MOBILISATION STRATEGY
It has never been more important in the history of our movement for this generation of trade union leaders and all trade unions to campaign and take action together in pursuit of shared industrial and political demands.
TUC policy is firmly established in this area and in 2020 we agreed to mobilise for the New Deal for Workers Campaign and we must now urgently up the ante on this by taking the following actions:-
- The existing TUC New Deal Charter must be sharpened with simple overarching demands and a contemporary narrative.
- A mobilisation strategy must enable each union to pitch their key issues to their own members, whilst also linking this to the overarching demands and narrative of the New Deal Campaign.
- A national rally will be held in spring 2022. In advance of this there will be a national tour and town hall style meetings to strengthen the campaign and the turnout for the rally.
- All unions and their Branches, TUC regions and Trade Councils will be asked to make the New Deal Campaign an ongoing key agenda item, including a coordinated communications/engagement strategy in advance of the rally.
- We will build a social movement in support of the New Deal Campaign by engaging community and appropriate national membership organisations.
The New Deal mobilisation plan will be agreed by the General Council by October 2021 and will include an ongoing programme of action beyond the rally.
MOTION 2: BUILDING COLLECTIVISM
We face some of the most difficult circumstances in the history of the Labour movement.
As we grapple with the challenge of building a post- Covid and Brexit future, we do so knowing that prior to the pandemic there were deep structural imbalances of wealth and power in the world of work, the economy and wider society, that were decades in the making.
Climate change and the fourth industrial revolution will also accelerate the growing sense of insecurity and anxiety that people are feeling over the future.
Against this background, the fundamental question facing all trade unions is how to unite working people, end inequality and build a coalition of support across race, gender and class to deliver change.
This should be a 1945 moment with a new social settlement, not only to rebuild from a crisis but to tackle the very same issues we face today that the Beveridge report highlighted then.
Trade unions must now join together and lead the way through the collective power of campaigning and action to make change happen on the ground.
Congress calls on the General Council to agree a plan before the end of 2021, for cross-union action – as part of a mobilisation strategy for a New Deal for Workers – to stop and reverse the privatisation of the NHS, defend public services, guarantee everyone a living income through the welfare system, establish a fully funded National Care Service and promote a national mission to abolish in-work poverty.
The CWU was also entitled to submit two amendments. These were as follows:-
Amendment to UCU Motion:
Insert new paragraph 7: “Congress notes that the growth of automation has brought new urgency to this debate. We must strive for workers to benefit from new technologies and associated productivity improvements through a shorter working week with no loss of pay.”
Amendment to RMT Motion:
In paragraph 5, sub-paragraph iii., delete “highlighting this issue” and replace with: “that brings together affiliates and community organisations in order to recognise the wider role that key workers play in providing vital service to their communities.”
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
2021 TRADES UNION CONGRESS – ONLINE
MINUTES OF THE TUC DELEGATION MEETING
HELD AT CWU HEADQUARTERS
150 THE BROADWAY, WIMBLEDON SW19 1RX
ON SUNDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER AT 11.30 A.M. &
MONDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
AT 9.30 A.M.
___________________________________________________________________
PRESENT: Karen Rose (Chair), Dave Ward (General Secretary), Tony Kearns (SDGS), Andy Kerr (DGS T&FS), Andy Furey (Acting DGS Postal), Maria Exall (ex officio), Steve Croke, Huge Gaffney, Keith Hamilton, Armajite Singh, Michelle Bailey, Jacky Morrey, Trish Vollans, Mel Wilson, Ken Woolley, Emma Garner, Mick Kavanagh
IN ATTENDANCE: Bill Taylor, Lionel Sampson, Liam Young, Janina Dunn, Kate Hudson
1 WELCOME – INTRODUCTIONS & APOLOGIES
The Chair welcomed all CWU delegates to the meeting, in particular those who were attending the TUC Congress for the first time and asked the delegation to introduce themselves.
Apologies were received from Jane Loftus (family bereavement).
2 GENERAL SECRETARY OVERVIEW
The General Secretary welcomed all CWU delegates to Headquarters for the TUC online Congress and thanked them for making the journey under the current circumstances.
The General Secretary gave a brief overview of the two CWU motions submitted to TUC Congress.
3 EXPLANATION OF TUC DOCUMENTS
Bill Taylor and Liam Young provided an explanation of the TUC pack provided at the meeting which included:
- General Council Report 2021
- Final Agenda 2021
- General Purposes Committee Report and Consolidated Final Agenda 2021
- Programme of Business and General Council members’ responsibilities for motions and report paragraphs.
- Summary of CWU Conference Policy 2019
- CWU – TUC Congress 2021 Policy Positions.
- CWU POLICY POSITION ON MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS The SDGS went through the CWU policy positions.
1. Responding to Covid-1901 UNISON
02 NASUWT
amend NEU
amend Community
70 CWU
amend UNISON
03 PCS
04 EIS
05 CSP
amend Usdaw
amend RCM
06 POA
07 AEPComposite 01
Recover and rebuild: a post-pandemic plan for public services and safety at work
CWU – SUPPORT08 TUC Disabled Workers ConferenceStands
CWU – SUPPORT2. The economy09 GMB
amend Unite
10 Prospect
amend FDA
12 Community
15 ASLEFComposite 02
The climate emergency, defending jobs and a just transition
CWU – OPPOSE11 UCU
amend NASUWTStands
accepted
CWU – SUPPORT13 ASLEF
14 TSSAComposite 03
Rail cuts, climate change and a post-pandemic recovery
CWU – SUPPORT16 Community
amend UCU
amend TSSA
17 Nautilus InternationalComposite 04
Tackling the UK skills gaps and boosting maritime training
CWU – SUPPORT18 Equity
amend AUE
19 MU
20 FDA
amend Prospect
21 AUE
22 AUE
amend PCSComposite 05
Support for the cultural sector
CWU – SUPPORT23 Prospect
amend CommunityStands
accepted
CWU – SUPPORT24 RMT
amend CWUStands
accepted
CWU – SUPPORT25 FBUStands
CWU – SUPPORT26 UCU
amend CWU
amend RMTComposite
CWU – SUPPORT27 Accord
amend FDAStands
accepted
CWU – SUPPORT28 Nautilus InternationalStands
CWU – SUPPORT29 TSSA
amend RMTStands
accepted
CWU – SUPPORT30 AegisStands
CWU – SUPPORT31 UsdawStands
CWU – SUPPORT32 BFAWU
amend Unite
33 BDAComposite 06
Right to food
CWU – SUPPORT34 MUStands
CWU – SUPPORT3. Respect and a voice at work35 Unite
amend GMB
37 UsdawComposite 07
End fire and rehire; redundancy rights now!
CWU – SUPPORT36 TUC Young Workers ConferenceStands
CWU – SUPPORT38 NUJStands
CWU – SUPPORT39 RCPStands
CWU – SUPPORT40 PFA
amend CSP
amend RCM
amend AccordComposite 08
Online abuse: time for real change
CWU – SUPPORT41 NASUWT
amend Prospect
amend FBUComposite 09
Strengthening regulatory bodies
CWU – SUPPORT42 UNISON
amend CSP
43 RCP
44 HCSA
amend GMBComposite 10
Tackling structural racism, inequalities and the ethnicity pay gap in medicine following the Covid-19 pandemic
CWU – SUPPORT45 TUC Black Workers ConferenceStands
CWU – SUPPORT46 NEUStands
CWU – SUPPORT47 RCMStands
CWU – SUPPORT48 TUC Women’s ConferenceStands
CWU – SUPPORT49 TUC LGBT+ ConferenceStands
CWU – SUPPORT50 Unite
amend PCS
51 FBU
amend UNISONComposite 11
Tory attacks on our rights: defend democracy, trade unions and the right to protest
CWU – SUPPORT52 TUC Trades Councils ConferenceStands
CWU – SUPPORT4. Good services53 UNISON
54 CSP
amend FBU
55 RCM
56 BDA
amend RCP
57 GMB
amend UNISONComposite 12
Invest in public services
CWU – SUPPORT58 PCS
59 EIS
amend NASUWTComposite 13
Public sector pay and pensions
CWU – SUPPORT60 HCSAStands
CWU – SUPPORT61 NAHTStands
CWU – SUPPORT62 FDAStands
CWU – SUPPORT63 NapoStands
CWU – SUPPORT64 NapoStands
CWU – SUPPORT65 Equity
66 NUJComposite 14
Defending public service broadcasting and saving Channel 4 from privatisation
CWU – SUPPORT5. Winning more for workers67 Unite
amend RCP
68 RMT
amend UniteComposite 15
Defending and supporting union reps and winning rights for union equality reps
CWU – SUPPORT69 CWU
amend NEU
amend UCU
71 AegisComposite 16
Increasing membership in the private sector and mobilising for a New Deal for all workers
CWU – SUPPORT72 NEU
amend TSSAStands
accepted
CWU – SUPPORT73 POA
74 BFAWUComposite 17
Colombian government violence; justice for Colombia
CWU – SUPPORT
The above policy was agreed.
5 CWU MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS – SPEAKERS
TUC Congress was held online this year and normal speaker arrangements were suspended. Owing to the fact that there were no debates on motions no speakers could be selected from the delegation. However, representatives from the union’s leadership were approved to move and/or second motions. These were Dave Ward, Tony Kearns and Karen Rose.
6 ELECTIONS
Section D
We are entitled to cast up to 192 votes for each of up to four candidates in Section D (Women Members). We propose casting 192 votes for Jane Loftus (CWU), 192 votes for Annette Mansell-Green (BDA), 192 votes for Fran Heathcote (PCS) and 192 votes for Sue Ferns (Prospect).
Section H
We are entitled to cast up to 192 votes for one candidate in Section H (Disabled Members). We propose casting 192 votes for Dave Allan (Unite).
General Purpose Committee
We are entitled to cast up to 192 votes for each of up to five candidates for the General Purpose Committee. We are proposing casting 192 votes for Sharon Wilde (GMB), Michelle Rodgers (RMT), Tony Wilson (UNISON), Linda McCulloch (Unite) and Dave McCrossen (USDAW).
General Council Statements
General Council Statement 1 – After the pandemic, a trade union action plan for a just, resilient future – Policy – Support
General Council Statement 2 -Taking forward the work of the TUC’s Anti-Racism Taskforce – Policy – Support.
The recommended candidates were agreed.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed tojdunn@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Dave Ward
General Secretary
LTB 543/21 – Trades Unions Congress 2021 – CWU Delegation Report
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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