Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains. Karl Marx.
Peterborough Trades Union Council will be showing the documentary film, The Nature of the Beast, about the life of Dennis Skinner, on Friday, 1st February, 2019, at The John Clare Theatre, Peterborough Library. Doors open at 7pm. This really is not to be missed, so get the date in your diary now. MORE INFO COMING SOON!
Please have a listen to the Christmas Special of our podcast U Word.
We review the year, look forward to 2019 and have a little fun.
This episode features once again our GS Dave Ward and an impromptu call with CWU President, Beryl Shepherd
The Voice – Petitions for Save Our Post Office and #EndGame Campaigns
The next issue of The Voice will be landing with our members during the festive period. As part of our strategy to use our publications to promote key campaigns we have included copies of the Save Our Post Office and #EndGame campaign petitions on page 3 of the magazine.
The aim of this feature is to get as many members as possible to support our campaigns. To ensure we receive the highest possible level of returns we ask you to bring this to the attention of all CWU representatives so they are able to encourage members to return petitions either directly to CWU HQ or via their local Branch.
A copy of the relevant page of The Voice is attached for information.
It would also be appreciated if this information could be shared via social media, WhatsApp or Email.
Any enquiries on the content of this LTB should be directed to Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.org
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward – General Secretary
Terry Pullinger – DGS(P)
Andy Kerr – DGS(T)
Andy Furey – Assistant Secretary
Sally Bridge – Assistant Secretary
18LTB722 The Voice – Petitions for Save Our Post Office and #EndGame Campaigns
UNIONLINE
The purpose of this LTB is to advise Branches that the NEC has recently received a report and presentation on the outcome of the independent review that was commissioned on Unionline. The report and its findings are very thorough and address the following:
Branches will be aware that Unionline is jointly owned by CWU and GMB and as such it is important that in considering the report we take fully into account the need to protect the commercial interests of CWU and our sister union the GMB. Therefore, at this point it is not appropriate for the report to be available in the public domain.
Furthermore, given the comprehensive nature of the report and its findings, we will now need to engage in a series of detailed discussions prior to me placing a document to the NEC with recommendations on how we move Unionline forward. This is a major piece of work and it will not be finalised until end of January/February 2019. Once this work has been completed, we will be making appropriate arrangements for Branches to be fully updated on the report. Further information will be sent to Branches in due course.
Any enquiries on the content of this the General Secretary ongsoffice@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward
General Secretary
Dear Colleagues.
As I’m sure you have heard, Peterborough’s Labour MP, Fiona Onasanya was yesterday 19th December, found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
The Labour Party yesterday issued the following statement:
“The Labour Party is deeply disappointed in Fiona Onasanya’s behaviour. It falls well below what is expected of politicians. She should now resign.
Fiona Onasanya is being administratively suspended from the Labour Party and therefore the whip with immediate effect.”
Once I have any further detail on what the next steps are I will circulate them
Regards
Andy
Mental Health First Aid Debate in The House Of Commons Today Wednesday 19 December: “Where’s Your Head At?” Campaign
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
See attached copy of a recent letter from MHFA England and a copy of my earlier letter to the Prime Minister on this subject.
This is to update Branches on the “Where’s Your Head At?” Campaign proudly supported by the CWU and reported in LTB No. 482/2018 dated 23 August 2018, which calls on Government to change the law so that employers make First Aid provision for both the mental and physical health of employees, putting physical first aid and mental health first aid on an equal footing.
Following the target having been reached of 200,000 members of the public signing a UK Government and Houses of Parliament petition to ask the Government to make mental health first aid mandatory in the workplace and additionally supported by an open letter sent to the Prime Minister, signed by senior leaders representing business, education, unions and mental health sectors – all calling on the Government to uphold its 2017 manifesto pledge to change the law and put mental and physical first aid on an equal footing in the workplace, it was very recently announced, on 14 December that a parliamentary debate on mental health first aid in the workplace has been scheduled to take place in the House of Commons on Wednesday 19 December (Today).
The debate is sponsored by a cross-party trio of MPs, Luciana Berger MP (Lab), Norman Lamb MP (Lib Dem) and Johnny Mercer MP (Con) and will take place this afternoon. It can be viewed on Parliament TV either live or later on the Parliament TV i-player facility.
A communication has been sent to the CWU group of MPs in Parliament by the General Secretary’s department on this matter. This group meets regularly to discuss developments in the industries our members work in and how to further our key campaigns in parliament.
Attached for your information is a letter to the Prime Minister dated 21 November calling on the Government to deliver on its manifesto commitment to put ‘Mental Health First Aid’ on an equal footing as physical first aid along with the commitment to accept and support the recommendations of the Government commissioned ‘Stevenson/Farmer’ report on Mental Health in the Workplace.
Attached is a letter from ‘Mental Health First Aid England’ thanking the CWU for its support for the “Where’s Your Head At?” Campaign which has helped bring about the progress to date, via the numbers signing the petition and today’s House of Commons debate.
Further reports will be made in due course.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
18LTB717 Mental Health First Aid Debate in The House Of Commons Today Wednesday 19 December 2018
MHFA England Letter on ‘Where’s Your Head At’ Campaign 14.12.18
REDESIGN – DEFERMENT OF NATIONAL/ REGIONAL ELECTIONS – 2019
Branches will be aware that LTB 055/18 advised that the NEC had taken the decision to defer the elections of the following CWU Assistant Secretaries which were scheduled to take place in 2018:
This decision was taken by the NEC due to the ongoing work which is taking place in the CWU in relation to the Redesign Project.
Work on the Redesign Project has continued throughout the year culminating in the CWU Special Conference on Redesign held on 3rdand 4th November 2018 at which a number of significant policy decisions were taken which will now need to be enacted upon.
Additionally a number of these decisions, such as the agreed changes to our National and Regional structures will require the NEC to place revised rules before a conference of the Union for endorsement. This will take place at the CWU Special Rules Revision Conference that has been convened on 29th April 2019.
Accordingly with the above in mind, in addition to the continued deferment of the above elections, the NEC has taken the decision to defer the election of the NEC and Industrial Executive Committees (scheduled to be concluded by April 2019), CWU Assistant Secretary Legal Services, TFS Assistant Secretary (3) (both of which were scheduled to be concluded by May 2019) until June 2019 so that the relevant rule changes can be made.
Further the NEC has also taken the decision to defer the election of the CWU Regional Secretaries until this date for the same reasons.
Once the outcome of the decisions that are agreed at the 2019 Special Rules Revision have been considered by the NEC then arrangements will be put in place to agree and publish a timetable, regulations, etc. for the deferred elections. This will be as soon as is reasonably practical so that the elections can commence in June 2019.
Any enquiries should be addressed to the General Secretary’s office at gsoffice@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ward – General Secretary
Tony Kearns – Senior Deputy General Secretary
CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference 2019 – Agenda Pad
Branches would wish to know that the agenda for the forthcoming CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference being held in Liverpool on Thursday 7th February 2019 has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the link below:
http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/LGBT-CONFERENCE-AGENDA-2019.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 morning of the conference at registration.
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
CWU Women’s Conference 2019 – Agenda Pad
Branches would wish to know that the agenda for the forthcoming CWU Women’s Conference being held in Liverpool on Wednesday 6thFebruary 2019 has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the link below:
http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Womens-AGENDA-2019.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 morning of the conference at registration.
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
CWU Disability Conference Agenda Pad – Thursday 24th January 2019
Branches would wish to know that the agenda for the forthcoming CWU Disability Conference being held in Birmingham on Thursday 24th January 2019 has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the link below:
http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Disability-Agenda-2019.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 morning of the conference at registration.
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
18LTB710 – CWU Disability Conference 2019 – Agenda Pad
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 