North West Regional Retired Members Council

Introduction by Secretary, Graham Wilson

Hello, I wish to introduce myself as the newly elected Secretary to the NW Regional Retired Members Council. I have also been elected to represent the North West, along with Alan Trotter, at the Retired Members Advisory Committee. It is a tremendous privilege as well as a little daunting to follow in the footsteps of the late Stan Skinkis. A greater inspiration in trade unionism and public service could not be found.

My background is I have been a lifelong trade unionist and became active when I joined the CPSA (P&T) as a CommO in BT in 1984. I was an Assistant Secretary on full time facilities in the Manchester Clerical Branch from 1987 to 1992. Since then I have continued to serve on the Branch Committee and have been the Retired Members’ Secretary for the Branch since 2005. I joined the Post Office as a Postman in Rochdale in 1963, became a P&TO in Manchester, went to telecoms as a Sales Rep and became a CommO in 1984.

My hope for the future is that we can improve and increase the activities that the NW Retired Council does on your behalf. Stan believed there were gains to be made for everyone if contact could be increased between retired members and working members. This was one of the reasons he forged links with the Youth committees at Regional and National levels. I intend to continue along this path.

We intend to publish an edition of Grey Matters, which is your newsletter specially for the North West, very soon and to organise the 2009 Regional Retired Members Forum before the end of the year. I will be greatfull for any contributions or suggestions for either of these events
The Union is a great source of information, advice and help. If you have concerns on certain issues or require advice on something affecting your life you may contact me and I shall endeavour to point you in the right direction. There is a Help and Advice page on this website.
We need to do all we can to increase membership of the retired sections and to improve attendance at the quarterly regional meetings. One possibility would be to move the meetings around the region instead of holding them all in Manchester. Representation at the Council can be by any member, retired or not.

Without wishing to minimising other issues, pensions must be the most important subject for retired people and is becoming increasingly important for working people too. Final salary schemes are under constant threat and money purchase schemes do not provide the certainty people look for in retirement. That is why I believe we should work together to substantially improve the basic state pension and minimise the reliance on means tested benefits. The level of the basic state pension is far below the official poverty line and will continue to deteriorate unless there is political will to redress its lowly status.

If you are retiring soon you can retain your CWU membership at a greatly reduced subscription rate. Contact your local Branch Secretary for details, the phone number is on your CWU membership card or it can be found on this website.

I would welcome your opinions and ideas.

Please email me at g.twilson@btinternet.com with any suggestions or comments.

Best regards
Graham Wilson
Retired Members Regional Secretary

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