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Each year delegates from the branches of the Communication Workers Union (UK union) meet. There are several major issues facing the Union & the Postal business, such as Tailored Delivery Service; the Transport review; Flat Sorting Technology to name but three. These & other issues will be discussed. Bellow are reports sent from our branch delegation. Latest reports at the top of the page. |
Day 1: Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: |
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The delegation.
Our delegation this year consists of Pat Friskey (Branch Chairman), Simon Massen (Branch Secretary), Mick O'Connor (Equal Opportunities rep), Carrol McDougal (Counters sectional secretary), Martyn Cooper (Letter Sectional Chairman),Chris Hunt (Area Processing rep), Steve Clarke (Area Distribution rep), Adam Oakes (Area Delivery rep) Dick Morson (Logistics rep) The Reports. Day 4. Wednesday 4/06/03Postal Industrial Conference (Day 2) Conference
opened with the continuation of the Attendance Procedure, the first amendment
dealt with a number of points. These points were to do with a number of unagreed
measures that have been introduced by Royal Mail, these included managerially
unacceptable absences, reclassifying accidents on duty so to use the agreement
in a more punitive manner. The
amendment called for the NEC to achieve a new Attendance Procedure; failure to
do so by October 2003 will result in an industrial action ballot in line with
rule 13. Adam Oakes Area Delivery Rep entered debate in support of the
amendment, the amendment was carried despite the NEC objections. Amendments
were then carried that included employees being paid full pay when absent with
disability or accident on duty absences. Further amendments were then carried to
instate appeals at stages one and two and also the procedure for calculating
days off. The amendment by Eastern Number 5 was withdrawn due to the fact that
this point had carried the major points of it. The
conference then dealt with the Transport Review, after it became apparent that
conference would not support the branch amendment was withdrawn. A number of
amendments were carried that dealt with no further move of work under 13tons to
Logistics, this would be up to and including the Rule 13 ballot. An
amendment was also carried requesting that no agreement to the strands is given
until the people issues have been sorted, an amendment was also carried that
allowed for full training for those that follows their work. There will also be
a national briefing on appendix D to be attended by Area Distribution and
Processing Reps. Conference
then moved to the MTFS agreement, amendments were carried that dealt with
payment protection, the opportunity for staff aged 50 – 54 to leave the
business. An amendment that dealt requested the final agreement be placed in
full to the membership was also carried. The report was then carried as
amendment. Standing
orders were then suspend to allow conference to debate amendments on the
harassment procedure, after long and sometimes emotional debate an amendment was
carried that called for alterations to the harassment procedure. An amendment
was also carried on electing CWU help-line advisors. Conference
then came to what must be described as the most important part of the day, that
being John Keggies farewell speech? During his speech he mentioned his
disappointment at being de-elected, he also mentioned uniting the union (strange
something he never seemed to wish to do when in post). He also went on to thank
all his friends around the country twice, but on both occasions he managed to
miss out his friends in the East (whoever they are). When it came to the final
round of applause swathes of delegates remained seated, including ALL of the
East, most of London and parts of Wales. Conference
closed 1816 Day 3. Tuesday 3/06/03Postal Industrial Conference (Day 1) Conference opened at 0900 and quickly
moved to motion 5.1 this motion dealt with a vote of no confidence being placed
against Ray Ellis for his handling of Royal Mail outsourcing of the EHS.
After long debate this motion was defeated
overwhelmingly. There then followed a short debate on MTFS and its affect on job
placement bumping and EVR. Conference then carried a motion relating to RoMEC
new starters.
An amendment
(5.16) that called for the alteration to the CWU set up was defeated after long
debate. An important amendment for unit Reps was then carried to allow the NEC
to gain a minimum of two hours per week pre – scheduled release for CWU work
this to be paid leave. It was agreed to continue with the position of admin
Reps. it was also agreed that a report by John Farnan and Steve Bell would be
included in any final agreement on the IR Framework. Conference then carried
an amendment on working time directive that stated that in light of the possible
opt out being lost in November 2003. The NEC will achieve the £300 minimum
basic pay by that date failure to do so will result in the CWU using all means
possible to achieve its aim. A motion was also carried to examine the affect
of the working directive on the PTS grade. Also carried was an amendment that
allowed unlimited SA to be performed up to the limit of the working time
directive, the amendment also reaffirmed the CWU policy on double time for the
first 12 hours. There were then amendments that dealt with: paid meal relief’s
on SA, the calculation of SA payments on a rotate, and for part-time employees
to be paid an average of their pay when on annual (this includes OT and Basic
pay). Then followed emergency motion E1 dealing with London waiting and calling
for pay to remain a national issue and not separate rates for different parts of
the country, this was carried. Attempts were then made to ensure that any pay improvements
that gave any increase in pay would be split between all functions whether they
had made a change or not. This motion was overwhelmingly defeated. In a further
amendment it was agreed that Door to Door payments would count when calculating
Holiday Pay. Motion 5.19 was then carried in relation to Apollo pay. Motion 5.11
was also carried to increase Manual Data Entry Keyers basic pay whilst
decreasing the working week. The last debates of the day involved EHS informed consent and focused heavily on the outsourcing of the EHS after very long debates very important amendments were carried that allowed the CWU to challenge this outsourcing. As well as seeking legal advice over the alleged selling of members personnel details to advertisement companies the amendment further allowed the CWU to enter talks with the Post Office board to bring the EHS back in house. Delegate after delegate addressed the conference to complain about the new company running the EHS. Day 2. Monday 2/06/03Monday 2nd June. Conference opened at 0900. The first and potentially
the most important. TODAY WE COMMITTED TO UTILISE ALL MEANS WITHIN POWERS TO STOP ANY MORE JOBS TAKEN AWAY
FROM THE UK. The executive to liase with all other trade unions who face the
common threat with a view to mounting a national campaign to raise awareness
amongst the general public to this danger to jobs and the economy. The next motion (26) deplored the growth of low paid
insecure jobs. Next up was an important motion calling for a more
proactive use of the political fund. Motion 106 in the name of Greater
Manchester Amal called for the active training of CWU members who are active in
the Labour party at all levels and the “furthering of the fundamental
principles of this union in the wider political arena.” Copies available from
Fred Jones on 01733 382534 or visit the Branch Website. No other political motions were carried. Conference
adjourned. The next motion (114) in the name of 5 branches called
for a code of practice for representative’s accused of
harassment/discrimination. There then
followed a presentation from the Youth Advisory Committee outlining the good
works that had taken place during the year including the work with the Samaritans and
the National Event. Well done to all those concerned. Conference
enthusiastically appreciated the presentation and it has again raised the issue
of young activists and how they should be encouraged. Special thanks go to Dave
Westbrook for helping to organise the presentation and assisting on the stall. Next up was Health and Safety and 10 motions were all
heard and debated for an hour and three quarters. Important policy was made and
is available from the Branch office these include Deep vein thrombosis and
asbestos. In a contentious session the union agreed nothing. For
an hour and a quarter Rules were discussed. First of the three would have seen a disproportionate
reduction of the number of seats on the national committee in comparison with
the Telecoms constituencies. The postal branches did not agree (serious
underestimation). Next to be defeated was arcane and concerned the election of
regional Assistant Secretary’s. Conference opposed London. At the time of writing the result of an important
postal change is still clouded in mystery. This is most peculiar. In addition
the new electronic voting system had been brought under scrutiny after it did
not (In Florida style) count 6,000 votes. General Conference adjourned in conflict. For a complete record please refer to the cwu website
which is attempting to keep up to date. Viruses allowing. Simon Massen Branch Secretary Day 1. Sunday 1/06/03Sunday 1st
June 2003 Conference opened at 0900 with the address from the
President, welcoming the delegates this was followed by the conferment of
honorary membership to Mike Hogan, Bobby Devine and Dorethy Burnett. The General Secretary Billy Hayes addressed conference
(available at www.cwu.org). Billy emphasised
the good works that had taken place regarding recognition in new businesses and
the work being undertaken by the Equal Opportunities Commission. The EOC are
investigating Harassment within Royal Mail in particular harassment of
Women. The first motion to be discussed and carried concerned
pensions and included support and campaign for legislation of compulsory
employer contributions, and, defend support and campaign for the principles of
final salary occupational pension provisions of final and the solidarity between
generations. Motion 2 commits to support and campaign for a tax on
currency trading. Motion 3 was in the name of Newcastle Amal and in an
emotional debate called for those who cause death by dangerous driving can be
charged with Manslaughter. The next motion (13) carried called for a change in
British law to make it lawful to exclude or expel racist or fascist parties from
membership of trade unions. The next motion (14) was not carried and concerned
Palestine. At this point Chris Smith MP was guest speaker and
talked about his work on lobbying the regulator and against the war in Iraq. After conference restarted Tony Kearns (SDGS) gave a
report on the finances of the Union. These are serious although changes and
savings had been made, more work needed to be done at all levels. The next motions (36 & 37) were carried and
brought about the reinstatement of funding for courses and national briefings.
The next motion was not carried. The next motion called for a 2% spend on recruitment
and was NOT carried. Following that (49) called for a review of the Branch
rebate system was carried. The next motion (50) called for a review of
relationships with financial organisations. The final motion (51) in the section
was not carried. The Education Section was dominated by 2 Emergency
motions. The first called for the closure of the 2 Education centres and was
lost. The next called for no compulsory redundancies for CWU employees. Conference Closed. Simon Massen Branch Secretary
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