CONSULTATION LAUNCH: FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN THE NON-RECOGNISED SECTOR TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF THE CWU AS A STANDALONE TRADE UNION
Consultation link: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90445009/Securing-the-future-of-the-CWU
The entire union acknowledges that the future of the CWU as a strong, independent trade union ultimately depends not only on our ability to recruit and retain members in our core recognised areas like Royal Mail and BT, but that we must also prioritise efforts to identify areas for new membership growth and broader union expansion amongst non-recognised employers too.
Motion 11 at last year’s CWU Conference reaffirmed this position. The GROW campaign, which ran throughout March, has succeeded in refocusing the majority of branches attention onto the importance of weaving recruitment and organising into everything we do, as we emerge from the unique circumstances of the last couple of years. As a result, we have seen a welcome increase in membership density, with new joiners primarily coming from Royal Mail and BT.
Work will continue to ensure that an ongoing culture of recruitment and organising is embedded across all union structures and remains a high priority. Follow-ups to ensure the 13 Measures of Success workbooks are being completed as required by all branches will also provide the union centrally with a wealth of invaluable data and information to help us further shape what ‘future-proofing’ the CWU really needs to look like.
The formation of the United Tech and Allied Workers Branch in late 2020 saw us take solid steps in the right direction in regards to growing and future-proofing the CWU in an ever-changing world of work, and despite barriers presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and an increased culture of remote working, the branch currently sits with an active membership of 604 members (correct as of 04/04/2022 and consisting of 674 joiners – 70 leavers over the branches lifetime).
As the department with direct responsibility for growth amongst the CWU’s non-recognised membership we are now launching a major listening and engagement exercise with every single region, branch, officer and rep, to kick-start this important conversation and get every level of the union thinking about the barriers we currently face when it comes to organising in newer areas and how we could best make changes to overcome these.
Please help us in this process by taking the time to complete the consultation using the link at the top of this LTB, and by sharing it with your branch members, encouraging them to complete it too. Our department will also have a presence at conference and be encouraging all attendees who haven’t already taken part in the consultation to do so. Please come and see us on our Recruitment and Organising stall if you’re planning to attend.
For any questions in relation to the contents of this LTB please email: rodept@cwu.org
Yours sincerely
RAY ELLIS
Head of Recruitment, Organising & Membership Growth Department
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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