Equality, Education & Development Department – New Facebook Page

The Equality, Education & Development department are currently in the process of fully merging our social media platforms with the assistance of our Communications, Engagement & Media Department. 

We are delighted to announce that today we are launching our “new look” Departmental Facebook page. 

The page is accessible with or without a Facebook account and can be viewed via this link: www.facebook.com/CWUEqualityAndEducation 

The page will be used to share videos, articles and reports on the work, projects and events that the Department is undertaking and advancing on. 

We have a programme of activities planned to support the launch this week including: 

– A live session with the communications team at midday on Thursday 11th June. 

– A live Pride event at 6pm on Thursday 11th June. 

Other pages and platforms will gradually be closed down to ensure a consistent approach and to avoid duplication. 

Branches, representatives and members are encouraged to like the page and share it as widely as possible.

Yours sincerely, 

Kate Hudson 
Head of Equality, Education & Development 

LTB 307/20 – Equality, Education & Development Department – New Facebook Page

Facebook – Live Video AutoCaptioning

Dear colleagues,

As we have previously reported, we have been working hard and investing significant resources into making our communications as accessible as possible.

Today, we launched new streaming software, which we will use for major live video communications to members. We have received confirmation this software supports Facebook AutoCaptions which means viewers can turn on subtitles for live broadcasts.

We are delighted with this development and hope it gives branches further evidence of the efforts we are going to in order to reach every single member.

We have produced this short video to show you how to turn on the auto captioning service: https://vimeo.com/427350909

Kind regards,

Chris Webb
Head of Communications, Engagement and Media

LTB 304/20

Logistics Covid-19 Response – Occupational Driver Updates

Attached for information are the following Covid-19 Driver Updates that have been received from the business, further to revised guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT):

Annex A – DfT This Week in Logistics Briefing
Annex B – Logistics Comms Driver CPC
Annex C – Logistics Comms Tachograph Renewal 
Annex D – Logistics Comms Driver Photocards

Branches and representatives are requested to ensure that members are made aware of the attached information as soon as possible.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference 014.14

Yours sincerely,

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

LTB 303/20
Annex A – DFT This Week in Logistics Briefing
Annex B – Logistics Driver CPC validity extended
Annex C – Logistics Tachograph card renewal
Annex D – Logistics Drivers granted seven-month photocard licence extension

Covid-19 CWU Survey and impacts on people with protective characteristics

The Equality, Education and Development department have become increasing aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected some sections of the population more than others, and that there are growing concerns that minority groups are being disproportionately affected. 

To raise awareness of some of the issues affecting people with protected characteristics the department has produced the attached report setting out some of the key points emerging from recent research and analysis. The report reviews the evidence that black and minority ethnic communities are at greater risk of catching and dying from the virus than their white counterparts. It also considers the impacts coronavirus is having on other minorities such as women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ groups. Exploring the government’s reactions, the report highlights what the trade union movement has been calling for in response. 

Whilst it is important that members and representatives are made aware of these issues and responses, it is vitally important that we conduct our own CWU research to help inform our CWU lobbying and campaigning work. We are particularly interested to hear about the impact of Covid-19 on our members, therefore the department has produced a short questionnaire for members and representatives to participate in. The survey will take less than 3 minutes to complete. A link for the survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DMTMW6F 

The closing date for the survey is 30th June 2020. Please share your experiences of COVID-19 and fill in the survey. 

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development 

LTB 302/20 – Covid-19 CWU Survey and impacts on people with protective characteristics

LTB 302/20 Attachment – Covid 19 – impacts on people with protective charateristics

COVID-19 – RETIRED MEMBERS

As you will no doubt be aware elder people are amongst those considered to be particularly susceptible to coronavirus.

We recently held an online meeting with members of the Retired Members Committee and a discussion took place around checking in on our retired members.

A number of Branches have already written to their retired members, making contact with them and offering assistance.

Attached to this LTB is a draft letter that we would like Branches to send to their retired members where possible as part of efforts to keep an eye on those considered more vulnerable during this difficult time. We appreciate that a number of Branches will have instigated their own approach when it comes to keeping in touch and the Retired Members Committee are extremely grateful to those who have done this.

Any further assistance that can be given, by way of sending a local version of the attached letter would be greatly appreciated.

In the meantime, the Retired Members Committee passes on its best wishes to all Branches and would like to thank you in advance for any assistance you can give on this matters.

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

 

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 301/20

Suggested Draft Template Letter for Branch Retired Members

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Celebrating Windrush Day Windrush Webinar – Monday 22nd June 2020, 6-7pm

Further to LTB 261/20, we attach a flyer for the above event. We would be grateful if you could share this widely on social media and with your members. The full details for the webinar are now confirmed and these are as follows: 

The event will be chaired by Eastern Region’s BAME Lead, Janice Richardson. Guest speakers include: 

Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo – Chair of the Windrush Movement UK Amrit Wilson – Writer & Activist Ian Taylor – NEC & North West Divisional Rep Tony Kearns – Senior Deputy General Secretary Ali Moosa – NEC BAME Lead 

A special solo vocalist performance has also been confirmed to round off the evening. 

The event does not require registration and will be available to view live on the CWU’s Facebook page. 

The CWU is committed to highlighting Windrush issues as part of our wider strategy fighting structural racism and tackling the hostile environment that sees many people from the BAME communities suffer inequality and injustice. 

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org 

Yours sincerely, 

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 300/20 – CWU Windrush Day Webinar Monday 22 June 2020 6-7 pm

Attachment 1

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Coronavirus Covid-19 Issues – CWU Courses (2)

Further to LTB 148/20, we are pleased to report that students attending Certificate courses in Occupational Health & Safety and Employment Law are being given the opportunity to complete their studies (online) through Ruskin College before the end of the Academic Year. 

Meetings are continuing with our Partner College/s to further explore ways of progressing an accredited activist education and training programme given the continuing restrictions. 

It should be noted that accredited classroom based training and education provides numerous advantages for the trade union movement. It affords us legally binding release agreements and compliance within trade union legislation. 

As some school children return under strict controls and certain other restrictions are easing, it is crucial that the CWU remain consistently clear in our approach. 

Therefore, any and all classroom based training is not to take place until further notice. This is the case for both activist training (regional or residential); and lifelong learning for members e.g. within our many CWU Learning Centres. 

Branch Union Learning Centres exist both within employers’ premises and CWU owned property. Looking to the mid-term future we are working on a generic risk assessment for both. This will not replace the employers own risk assessment – but it may compliment it and assist Branches. 

We will continue to offer bespoke, unaccredited and informal zoom workshops on a regular and focused way as well as those on CWU Left-Click and outlined in LTB 148/20. 

We will of course continue to review the situation as developments progress. 

Yours sincerely, 

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 293/20 – Coronavirus-Covid-19-Issues – CWU-Courses update 2

New Deal for Workers – TUC online Organise festival – 9-11 July

The purpose of this LTB is to notify branches of an online festival being held by the TUC on 9^th-11^th July on union organising.

The festival is being held as part of a series of initiatives the TUC is undertaking as a result of the CWU’s motions to TUC Congress on working together to deliver a New Deal for Workers.

The festival will have online sessions on new trends in organising and training sessions on new digital technologies and key elements of organising work. We would ask branches to register for information at the following link and once the final programme is confirmed, we would urge reps to attend (online) sessions relevant to them:

https://www.tuc.org.uk/organise-2020

Any queries on the contents of this LTB should be addressed to gsoffice@cwu.org and further information on the festival will be sent to branches shortly.

Yours sincerely,                     

Dave Ward                                                    Ray Ellis                                           

General Secretary  Acting Head of Recruitment & Organising

LTB 295/20 – New Deal for Workers – TUC online Organise festival – 9-11 July

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Black Lives Matter” Campaign

The CWU is deeply saddened to hear of the loss of more black lives as a result of institutional racism and racial injustice. 

Since the execution of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, millions of people across the globe have taken part in protests against widespread inherent racism and the way black people have been treated by police officers in the US and beyond. 

The recent protests and media campaign for justice for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and countless others, have once again highlighted the issues of inequality, racism, violence and injustice that exist in our society against black people today. Issues of police brutality and its links to racism should not be dismissed as just an American issue but an issue that affects black people globally. 

The CWU reaffirms its position of opposing all forms of racism and stands in solidarity with protestors and the “Black Lives Matter” campaign. 

Every day we see examples of racism in Britain. Hate crime for example has increased over the past several years, increasing significantly, after Brexit. Incidents of racism in football is still rife and British music artists, like Stormzy, constantly face attacks for speaking out against the institutional and systematic racism in the UK. Even during the current Coronavirus crisis we see the disproportionate impacts on our BAME communities with little action being taken by our nation’s leaders. 

Racism is not just a BAME issue, it is dehumanising to everyone it touches and the fight for racial equality is one that includes us all. How you can help? 

•  Call racism out – One example of action we can all take is to challenge acts of racism and the dismissing of black people and their experiences of racism. 
• Report acts of racism – contact the Equality, Education & Development department’s bullying and harassment helpline number on FREEPHONE 0800 090 2303 or email your concerns to equality&education@cwu.org Alternatively speak to your local CWU representative. 
• Sign the petition – Add you name to the Justice for George Floyd petition here: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd 

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org 

Yours sincerely, 

Kate Hudson
Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 292/20 – Black Lives Matter Campaign

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BT Personnel – Conference Motion 42 – Domestic Violence

Colleagues may remember Motion 42 (attached) from Conference 2019. The Personnel Team has been pursuing the instruction contained within Motion 42 for the past twelve months. Despite some difficulties with persuading the company that domestic violence is a significant issue for society and therefore CWU members, the company has agreed a domestic abuse guidance document (attached). Although not fully achieving the intent of Motion 42 at present, the Personnel Team believe the guidance contained within the attached document is a start to fully achieving the policy and worthy to be published to Branches and members.

The guidance contains information on what domestic abuse is, how to identify the signs of domestic abuse, and what to do if members are suffering from abuse and where to seek help. The help of the Equality Education and Development Department at Headquarters has been invaluable to helping the Personnel Team in our discussions with BT.

Although the guidance references the COVID-19 crisis, the document will be updated once the crisis has passed. The Personnel Team has also made it clear to the company that we will be pursing the full intent of Motion 42, and that we will still believe that this extremely important issue should have the status of a company policy and not just guidance.

The Personnel Team would be grateful if you could circulate the content of this letter to members

Any queries on this matter should be addressed to my office at CWU HQ.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Jukes
Assistant Secretary

LTB 291/2020
Attachment 1 – LTB 291/2020
Attachment 2 – LTB 291/2020