PUBLICATION OF NEC POLICY PAPERS FOR THE SPECIAL CWU RESTRUCTURING CONFERENCE – 21ST APRIL 2024

PUBLICATION OF NEC POLICY PAPERS FOR THE SPECIAL CWU RESTRUCTURING CONFERENCE – 21^ST APRIL 2024

All Branches will be aware that LTB 015/24 confirmed the NEC had agreed the following guiding principles for the CWU restructuring programme:

1. An overall headcount reduction and cost savings in the National Executive.
2. An overall headcount reduction and cost savings in the Postal Executive.
3. An overall headcount reduction and cost savings in the Telecoms and Financial Services Executive.
4. An overall reduction in the cost and number of CWU Regions.
5. A material reduction in the current rate of Branch rebate.
6. A restructuring of our approach to Health, Safety and the Environment.
7. A restructuring of our approach to Legal Services and involvement in Unionline.

Further to this, LTB 040/24 published a document that was presented to the National Briefing on 30^thJanuary 2024.  This document set out very clearly both the areas where policy papers would be drawn up in relation to the guiding principles, whilst also sharing the initial thinking that would shape the content of each policy paper.

During the National Briefing the GS and SDGS presented each proposed policy area and talked through the likely content and the rationale for the subsequent policy papers.

Since then further work has been undertaken and as a result a series of policy papers were presented yesterday to the NEC and endorsed for publication to CWU Branches.

We would point out there are 3 additional papers from the original guiding principles, these are as follows:

• A proposal to change our conference arrangements.
• A proposal to change the structure of the National Young Workers Committee.
• A proposal that confirms the approach we will take to phase 2 of the restructuring programme.

There should be no surprises in the content of any of these policy papers.  They not only reflect the guiding principles previously agreed by the NEC, but also reflect most of the thinking shared with Branches at the National Briefing.  The exception to this is a new proposal on Branch rebates, which has been formulated following feedback from our Regions and Branches.

The policy papers presented to the Special Restructuring Conference in April, are attached.  These present clear choices for Branches on phase 1 of our programme.

Next Steps

There will be a wider report published to Branches next week which will also include the following:

• A financial report that will again set out the challenges facing the union and also the savings we expect to make from the changes we are proposing in phase 1.
• A paper setting out a new recruitment and organising strategy (this will be presented to the NEC next Wednesday).
• The actual rule changes that flow from the policy papers.
• A full explanation on the significant contribution CWU Headquarters are making to the Restructuring Programme.
• An update to Branches on other aspects of the unions work in preparation for phase 2.

Branches will have the opportunity to place motions against the policy papers and the SOC will publish an LTB explaining the approach to this next week.

Finally, we will be holding a session with Branch Secretaries in advance of the conference to go through in more detail the new Branch Rebate proposal.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the General Secretary’s office jdunn@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General

LTB 093/24 – PUBLICATION OF NEC POLICY PAPERS FOR THE SPECIAL CWU RESTRUCTURING CONFERENCE 21ST APRIL 2024

CWU Restructuring Policy Documents

View Online