Reports From CWU Annual Conference 2017
Conference Motions Debates - Monday 24th April
Morning Session
Sunday 23rd April debates
Afternoon Session
Currently updating so check back for more video of speeches later
67 Conference notes that the country voted to leave the European Union,
otherwise known as BREXIT. Conference is therefore rightly concerned
that the current government will use this as a way of “watering down”
or removing Health and Safety legislation that has been enacted from
European Directives and possibly even further regulation.
Conference therefore instructs the NEC, with the support of the Health
and Safety department, to campaign with the TUC, other trade unions
and likeminded bodies to protect and preserve any and all legislation
on the statute books from indiscriminate removal in the name of“better for business” or other so called initiatives.
Branches should be kept updated as appropriate.
proposers:
London Regional Health and Safety Forum
North East Health and Safety Forum
Newcastle Amal
Eastern Regional Health and Safety Forum
North West Health and Safety Forum
The motion was Carried
68 Conference acknowledges the hard work already
undertaken by the CWU to tackle the targeting of young workers by
performance management in BT, but conference remains concerned with the
impact on its young members by the barbaric use of this process and the poor
quality of training received.
Conference believes that performance management and micro managing has
had a long term and damaging impact on Young workers and therefore
instructs the NEC, working where possible with the National Youth Committee
to compile a professional and independent psychological report on the effect
performance management and the substandard training in BT has had on its
young members.
proposed: Youth Conference
The motion was Carried
69 Electromagnetic radiation is harmful to people at
certain levels and recently the Government imposed legal limits for
occupational exposure, namely The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work
(CEMFAW) 2016. It notes that people with underlying health conditions may
make them more susceptible to electromagnetic field exposure.
Compliance with these limits can either be achieved through measurement or calculation,
however they change with the frequency of the radiation and the evaluation,
hence the legislation, is often complex.
The legislation states that electromagnetic radiation assessments,
measurements and calculations should be planned and carried out by
competent persons at regular intervals to enable accurately assessment of the
risks from radiation exposure to electrical equipment and installations. They
add that where there is a possibility of working near electromagnetic fields and
have workers that fall in to vulnerable groups there must be specific Risk
Assessments. This includes employees who have active and passive implanted
medical devices and pregnant employees.
Therefore Conference instructs the NEC to work with the Health & Safety
Department to ensure that where we have members, who fall into the
vulnerable group categories in any company where we have members, that full
Risk Assessments are carried out by a competent person and that any risks are
suitably managed.
proposed: North West Health and Safety Forum
The motion was Carried
70 Conference instructs the NEC to do the following with
the assistance of H& S department -
Carry out a survey/review into the effects of workplace stress, anxiety and
depression on our membership as the last survey was 2001 & the work
environment has changed significantly since that survey was
commissioned.
The findings of the survey/review should be used by the NEC to formulate CWU
strategy going forward furthermore these findings will be released to branches
by no later than Conference 2018.
proposed: North East Health and Safety Forum
The motion was Carried
71 Conference acknowledges the rapid development of technology and in particular
the progress being made on “driverless vehicles”.
Conference also notes the Department for Transport report “The Pathway to
Driverless Cars” which outlines the government approach to the testing and
eventual introduction of them.
Conference therefore instructs the NEC, with the support of the Health and
Safety department, to set a strategy that deals with the possible safety
implications should this type of vehicle be considered for use by any of the
employers where we have recognition.
Branches should be kept updated with progress reports.
proposed London Regional Health and Safety Forum
The motion was Carried
72 This conference recognises the advances made by the
CWU in recent years in providing better information for its safety
representatives in the field of health, safety and welfare.
Conference also recognises that in line with the guidence given by the SRSC
regulations there are numerous online facilities that are useful and should be
continued to be made available to assist safety representatives.
Over the years Branches have produced some very useful media resources
locally, and these have been very succesful. Unfortunately there are barriers
that prevent online access and restrict representatives from having access to
this information.
Therefore the NEC are instructed to investigate the feasibility of producing an
electronic resource, either in removable media format, e.g. USB stick or
downloadable from a single source.
This being along the lines of a Health & Safety representatives resource
package.
This may contain such items as relevant national agreements, legislation,
documents relevant to improving our member’s conditions. These may be
tailored for relevant representatives in each of the business’s in which we have
members.
In addition, it may be possible to maximise benefits due to using economies of
scale to subscribe to a number of professional bodies / publications centrally
and make them accesible to Branches and Safety Representatives
This list is not exhaustive.
A report should be given to Branches no later than 31st December 2017.
proposed: Eastern Regional Health and Safety Forum
Guest Speaker Philip Jennings UNI Global
The motion was Carried
74 That this conference instructs the NEC to oppose any
proposal to break up BT, in particular when the proposal comes from a
regularity body like OFCOM. The CWU research department should produce
briefing material for the Labour party and the TUC as required.
Some of our
sponsored MP’s, we believe, require assistance in understanding our case and
clear information assisting them support this policy should be provided.
If deemed appropriate that the NEC require to contact a larger audience about
any break up of BT, then the NEC should also make use of all forms of
communication including social media and member’s home mailing and email to
get the policy message across.
proposed: Scotland No.1
The motion was Carried
75 This conference condemns the continuing attacks and
discrimination suffered by LGBT people in Turkey.
Turkey has a higher rate of trans murders than anywhere in Europe. For those
who manage to stay alive, every day is a new ordeal. These attacks and
ongoing discrimination against LGBT people is aided by the Turkish
government’s disgraceful silence and tacit support of homophobia and
transphobia.
This conference therefore calls upon the NEC to work with the Equality
Department and affiliated organisations to highlight the discrimination and
physical violence suffered by LGBT people in Turkey and to support those
organisations working for equality in that country.
proposed: Great Western
The motion was Carried
76 Conference believes that we stand on the brink of a
technological/digital revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live,
work, and relate to one another. In its scale, scope, and complexity, the
transformation will be unlike anything humankind has ever experienced. This
phenomenon has been referred to as the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’.
Whilst the first, second and third Industrial Revolutions introduced dramatic
changes to employment it brought in its wake greater opportunities and
advancements for many. However, rather than a drive to positively exploit new
technology to create higher levels of quality employment with significant
developments towards family friendly working practices, such as shorter hours,
many are working harder and faster for longer and for less.
This has driven a
society where the rich are getter richer and poor are getting poorer. This
concentration of ‘power’ is the backdrop to the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’
where, unchecked, mass unemployment and exploitation is a real if not
inevitable outcome!
Conference believes that the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is
developing at such a pace that it requires the urgent development of a labour
and trade union strategy both nationally and internationally.
The NEC is
therefore instructed to work with other likeminded organisations nationally and internationally in order to develop a strategy to ensure that the effects of the
Fourth Industrial Revolution are utilised to the benefit of all humankind.
proposed: London Postal Engineering
The motion was Carried
77 Conference acknowledges that recent historic events,
notably the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, the election of Donald
Trump as the President of the United States and conflicts resulting in an
international immigration crisis, are unprecedented. In the wake of these
tumultuous events there is potential for conflict and economic turmoil unlike
anything in recent history.
The combination of such events will undoubtedly
test the resolve and strength of the labour and trade union movement like no
other period in recent history.
Further, conference recognises that the election of Jeremy Corbyn as the
leader of the Labour Party has seen membership grow to over half a million.
This is an indication of an increasing interest in the impact politics has on
every aspect of modern life. However, conference is concerned that the
current and developing crisis has not yet been matched by a sufficiently
effective and organised labour and trade union movement.
In order to rectify
this the NEC is instructed to develop an appropriate strategy and consideration
will be given, but not exclusively, to the following:
* Discussions with other unions with a view to forging links, including joint
seminars, at regional and local level.
* Assessing the potential of engaging with and reinvigorating Trades
Councils.
* Encouraging the most effective involvement with the Labour Party at all
levels.
* Ensuring that positive encouragement and support is given to members to
participate in appropriate local campaigns e.g. anti-cuts, closures of
hospital, libraries, and Post Offices and the move to academy status
schools etc.
* To ensure that all appropriate committees, including Advisories, are
working towards and where appropriate provide guidance to the
development and execution of the aforementioned strategy.
The above is not intended to undermine or compromise any TUC protocol and
where appropriate any actions should be co-ordinated as such.
A report with any intended actions will be circulated to Branches for comment
by the end of October 2017. Consideration shall also be given to Regional
seminars in order to develop and/or launch any agreed strategy.
proposed: London Postal Engineering
The motion was Lost
78 Conference is concerned about Trade Union
Membership; a report by the Office for National Statistics in January 2017 put
the number of employed people in the United Kingdom at 31.80 Million.
There are around 6.5 Million Trade Union Members in the United Kingdom, a
further report published annually in May 2015 by the same office reported.
Trade union membership in 1995 was 32.4% of the UK workforce. In 2005 it
was down to 28.6% and in 2015 it had fallen even further to 24.7%
We have to stop the decline.
We need to up our game.
We need to reach out to all workers.
There are too many non-members in Unionised workplaces and far too many
non-members in the United Kingdom’s Workforce.
The NEC are instructed to take a proposal to the TUC that asks for a marketing
campaign to be launched that would include and involve every trade union in
the United Kingdom, using all reasonable mainstream media & broadcasting
avenues with the specific aim of educating, informing and persuading the whole
of the UK working population to join a trade union.
The campaign would have the sole purpose of increasing Trade union
membership across the whole of the United Kingdom which in turn will
empower, protect and secure every worker in our country. Costs should be
offset and shared by all trade unions.
proposed: West Yorkshire
The motion was carried unanimously
79 This conference believes that the TUC in its present
structure does not represent the UK Trade Union membership as a whole. The
NEC is instructed to put a motion to Congress seeking a review of the current
structures. Included in this review will be recommendations that change the
rules that allow smaller Trade Unions to substantially increase their
representation on the General Council.
proposed: Greater Manchester
The motion was carried unanimously
83
This conference applauds the excellent work and commitment of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign which is trying to force the
Government to agree to a Public Enquiry into the events at the
Orgreave coking plant during the 1984/85 miners strike.
This Conference notes that to date the TUC have not put anything like
the amount of resources and urgency into the Campaign to ensure it
receives the attention it deserves and that following the Tory
Government’s decision not to set up an enquiry, that unless the TUC
takes this issue up, it will inevitably slip off the radar and might never
prove to be successful.
Therefore the NEC is instructed to carry out the following:
1. That the CWU, if they have not already done so, will affiliate to
the OTJ Campaign and donate an amount to the Campaign to be
decided on by the NEC.
2. That the CWU will raise via the TUC the need for this campaign to
now have the full force of the labour and trade union movement
behind it to ensure sufficient pressure is brought to bear on the
Government.
3. That the TUC be asked to organise with the OTJ Campaign, the
NUM and local trades councils amongst others, a national rally
and demonstration along the lines of bringing out into the public
domain once more, former miners from across the UK together
with trade unionists of today.
proposers: Western Counties,
South West Regional Committee
The motion was carried
84 On April 15th 1989 a disaster at Hillsborough Stadium in
Sheffield led, ultimately, to the deaths of 96 innocent fans who had left home
that morning to watch a football match. Due to crowd control mis-management,
those fans, whose ages ranged from 10 to 67, had the life crushed out of them.
Contrary to the facts, the Sun published a front-page story with the banner
headline ‘The Truth’ which contained blatant lies, including:
“Drunken Liverpool fans viciously attacked rescue workers as they tried to
revive victims and police officers, firemen and ambulance crews were punched,
kicked and urinated upon!”
This was printed in a national British newspaper, the Sun!
For this reason, this Conference instructs the NEC to support the campaign for
all retailers and vendors of newspapers to stop selling the Sun.
Conference applauds the group called ‘The Total Eclipse of the Sun’ for their
endeavours to rid the UK of this newspaper.
Proposer: Mersey Branch
The motion was Carried unanimously
85
Conference recognises the horrifying effects of increasing privatisation and
deregulation in public services and the communications industry in which the
CWU organises. Working people and future generations are set to be the
hardest hit by the accelerating decaying of living standards and conditions for
working people.
Conference welcomes the call by Jeremy Corbyn for re-nationalisation of the
Rail industry and other key industries.
Conference instructs the NEC to increase campaigning and promotion for the
unions policy of re-nationalisation of Royal Mail and British Telecom both
amongst members and wider labour movement and also to campaign and
lobby the NEC, Labour Party and other relevant bodies to ensure an agenda of
re-nationalisation and democratic public ownership of the whole of the Postal
and Telecoms industry is part of the Labour Party program and manifesto.
proposed: Coventry
The motion was Carried
Morning Session
Sunday 23rd April debates
