Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains. Karl Marx.
Equality Rights In Northern Ireland
Please find attached the latest Factsheet on Equality Rights In Northern Ireland.
This Factsheet is also available online on the CWU website under Equal Opportunities.
Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be referred to the Equal Opportunities Department.
Yours Sincerely,
Linda Roy
National Equality Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
221/2016 – Equality Rights In Northern Ireland
CWU Conference 2016
Please find attached the following:
Rules Revision Conference SOC Report Supplementary No.1
(SOR No.1 – NEC Decision Document)
General Conference SOC Report Supplementary No.1
(SOR No.1 – NEC Decision Document)
Branches are reminded that credentials and voting cards and any further Standing Orders Reports will be available to pick up from the registration desk in the Windsor Hall Foyer in the Bournemouth International Centre from 3.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. on Saturday 23rd April 2016.
Branches are also reminded that any Visitors/Observers attending any of the conferences must bring their membership card.
Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Chris Tapper or sent to ctapper@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 222/16 – CWU Conference 2016
CWU Harassment Helpline
The CWU Harassment Helpline service has recently been taken over by another company. Since then we have been experiencing some difficulties with our dedicated Helpline number. The main problem we have is centred on branding, meaning when you actually ring the Helpline you were being told that it was an harassment and whistle-blowing Helpline and not the CWU Helpline.
If your members report any problems with the Helpline, please let the Equality Department know as soon as possible.
Yours Sincerely,
Linda Roy
National Equality Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 208/16 – CWU Harassment Helpline
CWU Conference 2016 – T&FS Conference Agenda Pad
Branches would wish to know that the 2016 Telecom and Financial Services Conference Agenda Pad has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the following link:
http://www.cwu.org/media/6653/tfs-agenda-2016.pdf
A PDF copy has also been attached. Hard copies of the agenda are in the process of being printed and will be distributed to branches when completed.
Any enquiries to this Letter to Branches should be addressed to conferences@cwu.org or call 020 8971 7256.
Yours sincerely,
TONY KEARNS
SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 196/16 – CWU Conference 2016 – T&FS Conference Agenda Pad
CWU Conference 2016 – Postal Conference Agenda Pad
Branches would wish to know that the 2016 Postal Conference Agenda Pad has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the following link:
http://www.cwu.org/media/6705/postal-agenda-2016.pdf
A PDF copy has also been attached. Hard copies of the agenda are in the process of being printed and will be distributed to branches when completed.
Any enquiries to this Letter to Branches should be addressed to conferences@cwu.org or call 020 8971 7256.
Yours sincerely,
TONY KEARNS
SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 203/16 – CWU Conference 2016 – Postal Conference Agenda Pad
An Introduction to Austerity and the British Economy
Dear Colleagues,
CWU Education and Training and the Marx Memorial Library & Workers’ School
Are pleased to offer the following short course aimed at CWU activists:
An Introduction to: Austerity and the British Economy
Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd July 2016
CWU Education and Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Oxfordshire
This course delivered over a residential weekend is aimed at trade union activists who want to understand more about ‘austerity’ policies and about why mainstream political parties are so wedded to them. It will help put austerity into context through exploring three modules:
• Understanding Austerity: What is it and why is it happening?
• What’s so different about Britain? Finance capital and the British economy
• Trade Unions, working class strategy and the British economy
The weekend will involve lectures, activities and presentations and will require participants to undertake pre course reading.
The course will be facilitated by Professor Mary Davis.
To secure your place please complete the booking form overleaf and send your booking fee of £30 made payable to ‘Communication Workers Union’ as soon as possible, as places will be strictly limited.
Applications should be sent to CWU Education and Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon, OX18 2PY
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31 May 2016.
For further information please email Trish Lavelle at tlavelle@cwu.org
Yours sincerely,
Trish Lavelle
HEAD OF EDUCATION & TRAINING
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 197/2016 – An Introduction to Austerity and the British Economy
POSTAL POLICY FORUM DECISIONS
Please find attached the decisions taken at the CWU Postal Policy Forum held on 22nd/23rd March 2016.
The whole of the Union is now united around policy relating to all aspects of concern: commitment and the application of our current agreements, the future vision for Royal Mail, employment and standard of living security, and our members’ dignity in retirement.
We believe that our members will welcome the clarity of our position and the fact that we are insistent on negotiations with the employer to ensure that we genuinely have a mutual interest consensus vision on how we move forward.
It is vital that our members are fully briefed on the position we have taken, and, whilst we will be working on a robust communication strategy nationally, it is also the responsibility of Branches and our Representatives at all levels to ensure that our members are aware that the Union is addressing both their immediate and long term concerns.
It is important that everyone understands that our policies do not represent a list of promises but a list of challenges that we have total determination to address. However, our degree of success will increase if we have the full support of the membership and we must not take that for granted, we must work for it.
Against that backdrop the Policy Forum document “The Future of Royal Mail, Pay and Pensions” and the attached policies will provide useful reference for any future Branch communications or members’ meetings. To reiterate, going forward we will be developing a national communication strategy to galvanise and unite the whole of the Union around our policies.
Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGSP Department.
Yours sincerely,
Terry Pullinger
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
Click on the link below to view the document
CWU Exchange Mentoring – Activists Supporting Activists
Dear Colleagues,
CWU Exchange is the CWU’s own mentoring scheme designed to develop new activists through utilising the skills and experience of our more experienced representatives.
Who will CWU Exchange be targeted at?
The initial pilot scheme will be targeted at relatively new Women, BAME and Youth activists who are active in either their Branch, workplace or Region. Most will have been active for up to three years.
How will we select the CWU Exchange Mentors?
Potential mentors are invited to apply through a formal application process. Each applicant will complete an application form which will detail their skills, experiences and understanding of mentoring. A National Steering Group will shortlist the successful candidates and they will be invited to attend a two day training course. The following criteria will apply:
At least 5 years experience within the CWU at a senior level at Branch, National, Regional or IR level
Excellent communications skills including public speaking
A demonstrable commitment to developing new activists
An understanding of the role of mentoring within a trade union
Ability to commit specified time to the mentoring role
It will be desirable but not essential to have experience of delivering training, workshops, briefings etc. to other representatives or in the wider labour movement.
What training will be provided?
Building on the success of the Mentoring for BAME and Women courses delivered last year the Education and Training Department will provide a two day course at Alvescot Lodge with the following aims:
To develop mentoring skills
To understand the roles and responsibilities of CWU mentors
To understand and apply mentoring skills in line with the requisite ethical standards
To understand and apply the processes and policies of delivering mentoring according to the CWU Exchange Scheme
The training will be delivered by suitably qualified tutors and members of the Education and Training Department on the following dates at Alvescot Lodge:
3 and 4 May 2016
5 and 6 May 2016
How do I apply?
Potential mentors will need to apply by completing the attached application form. Please give us as much information as possible and return your application by Monday 11 April 2016. We will ask potential mentees to apply via a similar application process in due course detailing their experience to date, any barriers that they are facing and letting us know what they are looking for in a mentor.
Selection and matching of Mentees and Mentors
The Steering group will then be responsible for short listing 40 mentors and 40 potential mentees and for matching them with one of our trained mentors. This will be based on geography, particular areas of interest, constituency, and what they are seeking from the mentoring process.
If you are interested please return your completed application form to:
Maxine Todd, CWU Education and Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, Bampton, Oxon, OX18 2PY. Alternatively email your application to mtodd@cwu.org
Any queries relating to this LTB should be directed to me at tlavelle@cwu.org in the CWU Education and Training Department.
Yours sincerely,
Trish Lavelle
Head of Education and Training
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 195/16 – CWU Exchange Mentoring – Activists Supporting Activists
Attachment 1: Application Form CWU Exchange Mentoring Scheme
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 