1.​DESPATCH OF BALLOT PAPERS 

This LTB is to advise Branches that we have received confirmation from ERS that the ballot papers for the CWU Assistant Secretary (Postal) were handed over to Royal Mail today (10 September 2015).

I would also take this opportunity to advise that the method of posting is Royal Mail Economy.

This information is being provided to assist those Branches that are intending to send out a corresponding mailing to their members.

2.​CWU ELECTION MEMBERS OBSERVERS

Branches will be aware that the regulations for the above election contain the following statement:

“Returned ballot papers will remain unopened in their envelopes until the close of ballot. Two lay CWU members (who do not hold any elected or appointed position) will be selected as observers. The Observers together with the Senior Deputy General Secretary will attend the start of the count of the ballot papers. Their sole responsibility will be to ensure that the envelopes are unopened prior to the commencement of the count, after which the Scrutineer shall arrange to count the number of valid votes cast for each candidate. The Scrutineer will declare the results of the election as soon as possible after the completion of the count.” 

The purpose of this LTB is to seek your branch assistance in publicising the information detailed below to all members of your branch.  

CWU ELECTION MEMBERS OBSERVER – 2015

The CWU is looking for two lay members of the union (who do not hold an elected or appointed position) to be Members Observers at the election count for CWU Assistant Secretary (Postal) election. The count will take place at offices of ERS, London on 6th October 2015.

Interested? The two observers will receive 2 paid days off work, subsistence and travel expenses and a fee of £100 after tax. If you would like to put your name forward then please contact Tony Kearns, Senior Deputy General Secretary, CWU, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX by no later than 22 September 2015 or by email to sdgs@cwu.org.

Any enquiries regarding the above should be directed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department for the attention of Peter Metcalfe.

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns 

Senior Deputy General Secretary

CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference – Saturday 3rd October 2015 

Branches would wish to know that the agenda for the forthcoming CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference being held in Glasgow on Saturday 3rd October 2015 has now been published on the website and can be accessed using the link below:

Click to access cwu__1441885047_LGBT_conference_agenda_2015.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 Saturday morning at registration prior to the conference opening.    

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

The view from the floor – CWU Activist History Online 

As part of our Union Learning Fund Project, the Education & Training Department are developing a CWU history of activism resource which will be located on CWU Left Click.

The aim is to gather and store eye witness accounts, images, films and key documents relating to some of the major disputes and campaigns which have shaped the CWU and its founding unions. Rather than a formal archive this is very much an activist’s view of events. These resources will then be available to CWU students and activists who have an interest in finding out more about our own unique history.

Learning Project Worker Ray Atkinson will be gathering information and interviews with activists and retired members to populate this resource over the next few months. The first major event that we will be researching is the Grunwick dispute and we will be following up with the Critchley Labels dispute.

In 2016, we hope to expand this project to research the DRAS dispute, the 1971 Strike, the Mercury Boycott as well as other notable events. We are also developing a CWU timeline which will give an historical overview of the CWU. We will be issuing an LTB inviting Branches to get involved and to put us in contact with people who could provide eye witness accounts or historical material.

NEC members and CWU Officers will be well placed to assist with this project and we hope that you will actively get involved as the resource develops. The aim will be to launch the first chapter on Grunwick in November 2015 and the Critchley Labels Chapter by January 2016.

If any NEC members wish to contribute please contact Ray Atkinson via email at ray.atkinson7@virginmedia.com in the first instance.

Yours sincerely,

Trish Lavelle

Head of Education & Training

The Refugee Crisis: CWUHA Appeal for Assistance 

There has been widespread concern and horror among working people over the developing humanitarian crisis in Calais, the Mediterranean and across Europe as refugees flee the war zones in the Middle East and North Africa.  

In keeping with our longstanding tradition in the trade union movement of providing humanitarian aid via our own CWUHA and other international solidarity action, the CWU is liaising with the Trustees of CWUHA and with the CALAID Organisation – in planning help, collection and dispatch of urgent aid to Calais. Further details of this will follow in due course.

Branches may also wish to note that a number of organisations to which we affiliate have arranged a “Refugees Welcome Here – National Day of Action” on the 12th September 2015 assembling at Marble Arch (London) at 2pm followed by a Rally at Downing Street – further details here: http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/

In the meantime, Branches are urged to get involved in this urgent appeal and it would be appreciated if consideration is given to seeking and offering the following:-

• Donations to CWUHA marked “European Refugee Crisis”

• Provide supplies as listed at the CALAID website http://www.calaid.co.uk/

Branches can view further information by visiting the CWU HA website http://www.cwuha.org or by contacting Carl Webb, North West Regional Secretary northwestregion@cwu.org

Thank you for anything you can do to assist with this appeal.

Yours sincerely

DAVE WARD

GENERAL SECRETARY
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

Dear Colleagues,

RETIRED MEMBERS RECRUITMENT

Please find attached a copy of a poster relating to members who are about to retire.   I would be grateful if this could be displayed in workplaces within in your branch area.   Additional copies can be obtained by contacting aniven@cwu.org

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Chris Tapper in the Senior Deputy General Secretary Department on telephone number 020 8971 7331 or email ctapper@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

Click on link below to view or download 

retired members poster

IMPORTANT NOTICE: ACCESS TO BRANCH SAGE ACCOUNTS 

The way you access your Sage Accounts will be changing over the coming weekend. The company hosting this service has been testing new systems that host the service for a number of months and this necessary change can now take place.

The reality is that branches will see no difference to the service they use as this is simply a software system change. However the need to run the new software requires the system to be closed down for a short period and we have been informed that this will be over the coming weekend.

As a result Branches will not be able to access the system from 6 p.m. on Friday 4th September until midnight on Sunday 6th September when we are assured normal service will be resumed.

The only change will be that from Monday 7th September you will need you use the following link in your internet browser to access Sage Accounts, https://cwu.cvdfk.com

This new link will take you to a screen that is identical to the one you have been using and your username, password, domain and passcode will all remain the same as before.

Citrix Support can still be contacted on the same telephone number 0207 509 9135 there is a distinct possibility that this is may change in the coming months and if so we will notify branches of that change.

If you have any trouble accessing Sage accounts next week, please make sure you are using the new link enclosed within this email before calling the helpline, please note the old link will still let you log into the Citrix system but the Sage icon will not work.

Branches are asked to let those who access this service to be aware of the contents of this notice.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB 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