Branch matters

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Chairman's Corner

To say that this past Branch year has been busy would be an understatement. We have seen two Sections of the Branch engaged in Official Industrial Action against their respective employers, Royal Mail and Post Office Limited. We have also had bouts of unofficial action within the Letter Section.

The Branch has had Representatives involved at National, Regional and Divisional level during the year, Noel McClean was re-elected to the National Executive Council with the highest number of votes, Nobby Clark has been a member of the National Retired members Advisory Committee, the Eastern Region Retired members Chairman and Editor of the Link Magazine, Freddy Jones has been a member of the Race Advisory Committee. Ian Emms has been elected onto the Youth Advisory Committee and Chairman of the Regional Youth Committee.

Simon Massen has been elected to the National Postal Standing Orders Committee and re-elected as the Eastern Regional Chairman and Adam Oakes elected as the Chairman of the Postal Divisional Committee and on occasions Acting Divisional Rep.

So as you can see the Branch has played a major part in the decision making process at National, Regional and Divisional level.

Following the carriage of a number of rule changes at last years Branch AGM myself and the Branch Secretary have rewritten the Branch Rule book and the Branch Standing Orders these have been submitted to CWU HQ’s for ratification.

Peterborough Trades Union Council

During the year I have re-established the Branch’s links with the Peterborough Trades Union Council and have attended the meetings as the Branch Delegate. The Trades Council is made up of all the major Trade Unions within Peterborough, through the PTUC I have been able to get the CWU’s side of the Postal dispute across to thousands of members of trade Unions within the Area. This was achieved by manning the PTUC stall at the Bretton Festival, leafleting major work places and a Public Meeting. During the Postal dispute we received a great deal of support from the PTUC from offers of financial support (which was turned down) to writing letters to the papers and visiting picket lines.

Postal Dispute

The Postal dispute has without doubt taken up most of the Branch year. The Branch supported the strikes with a 96% turn out on strike days with the vast majority of Delivery Offices and SPDO’s,  showing 100% support.

I would like to place on record my thanks to the Branch Officials, Unit and Shift Representatives and most importantly the members of this Branch who did a great job manning the Picket Lines some doing eighteen hour shifts. Without your commitment we could never have taken on and beaten the employer and the Prime Minister, who told us to take 2.5% and get back to work. My thanks to you all.

The way in which the Branch coordinated the dispute locally has won us a lot of praise from other Trade Unions within our Branch Area, so much so the Public & Commercial Service Union are going to adopt our approach when communicating with their members, when they are in dispute. Not only did the Branch coordinate the dispute at a local level we also played a big part in coordinating at Regional and Divisional Level.

Post Office Limited

Our members in POL have undertaken 12 bouts of Industrial Action this year to achieve their pay rise, the twice revised deal was overwhelmingly accepted by 87% the membership. This means a shorter working week from January 2008 for Full Time members and giving Part Time members 2.86% an hour increase in pay. Postal Officers will receive 3.08% on pensionable pay plus £95 lump sum.

CSA’s will receive additional increases to pensionable pay.

Retired Members Section

The Branch’s Retired Members Section has been very active this year, with Chairman Nobby Clark and Secretary Mick Shill working hard on behalf of our Class C members, attending meetings and Conferences throughout the year.

They have sent out a Branch News Letter to all members as a result of this a number of queries were raised around Legal and Medical issues these have been dealt with to the members satisfaction. They have also dealt with benefit queries and contacts have been established with the DWP adviser’s this has helped members obtain benefits that they are entitled to.      

Retired Members Meetings have been held in Peterborough and Kings Lynn with guest speakers who have spoken about pensioners issues.

Lobby of Parliament Nobby attended this on behalf of the Branch and did an excellent job in pushing issues on the Pensioners Charter, difficulties for retired people on bus services in Kings Lynn, inspections of Care homes and discrimination no Adult Education Courses.

Andy Beeby

Branch Chairman

Eastern Number Five Branch

December 2007