National Youth Conference 2008 – North West Report

Maeve Kennedy, NW Youth Officer Reports:

Chairpersons Opening Remarks

Stephen Gribben, Chair of the CWU National Youth Advisory Committee mentioned the fact that the YAC had made a successful submission to the affordable housing green paper.

Simon Sapper, National Youth Officer

Simon stressed that there had never been a better time, or a more important time for young members to be active within the union as the CWU is leading the way on youth issues within the trade union movement.  Simon suggested that the Youth Conference had outgrown it's structure and should perhaps now move to a branch based, rather than regionally based conference.  There are now 80 branch youth officers but the current structure of the conference allows for only 40 delegates. 

General Secretary's Address

The General Secretary was unable to attend due to an urgent meeting. Senior Deputy General Secretary,Tony Kearns attended in his place.Tony made the point that he felt it to be vitally important that there was interaction between young members and the industrial executives to ensure that decisions made by the executives didn't amount to protectionism for older workers. 

The success of the CWU Union Modernisation Fund bid was mentioned during the address.The CWU bid made possible the appointment of the first ever CWU Youth Project Worker and has been praised by some who read it as being the best UMF bid they had ever seen.

Tony drew the attention of the conference to a motion encouraging young members to shadow MP's and mentioned the recent event that the CWU had organised at the House of Commons that allowed young activists to meet with MP's and a Government Minister.Billy Hayes was quoted as saying that if anyone had wanted to see how MP's and Minister's should be held to account for their actions, then that was the meeting to have attended.  

The ongoing campaigns on agency workers and affordable housing were cited as the commitment of the CWU to the issues facing young people.On the subject of affordable housing the point was made that many banks and building societies are now moving towards 25% deposits, making owning a home impossible for most young workers.  Campaigning on the issue of affordable housing has to be a trade union priority simply because young people cannot rely on the private sector to provide housing. 

Motions

The following policy was carried:

1. All regional youth committees to produce campaign plans.
2. To lobby MPs about the difficulties young people have in finding affordable housing
3. The strengthening of the link between the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) and the Industrial committees so policies can be “youth proofed”.
4. The Establishment of regional funds for Regional Youth Committees
5. Youth Reps to shadow CWU supported MPs
6. Youth Advisory Committee to become more involved in the Agency Campaign
7. Proposed changes in the way the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is elected
8. Youth Reps to visit schools (speakers in schools) to talk to school leavers about Trade Unions and the benefits of joining one

Ballot

Motions 8 (regional elections for the YAC) & 11 (speakers in schools) to go to General Conference

Northwest Delegation

Matt Deasy, Northwest Regional Vice Chair (Manchester Combined)
James Ellis (Manchester Clerical)
Drew Merchant (Bolton & Bury)
Danny McWilliam (Oldham & Rochdale)

Lisa Hadley – YAC & Lee Fishwick - YAC

All the delegates from the Northwest were first time attendees.  Matt Deasy spoke on the NW Motion regarding campaign plans for regional youth committees, which was carried by conference.  James Ellis spoke on the NW motion on agency workers, which was also carried and spoke on behalf of the region in opposition to motion 11.

Simon Sapper Assistant Secretary National Officer's Report:

First of all I would like to thank all the branches in the region, plus the Regional Secretary for ensuring that the region was well represented and gave a very good account of themselves at the Conference.

This was certainly the best of the three Youth Conferences we have had so far – more people attending,  a more diverse audience, 20 different speakers – half of which were making their first ever contribution, and some really good debate on a range of policies.

The Conference voted decisively in favour of some key campaigning themes – to continue engagement in the political process, to step up their campaign on the Agency Workers’ Bill as it moves into the Committee stage in Parliament, to take the campaign for affordable housing to MPs at Westminster, and to make sure there is better support for the “Speakers into Schools” programme.

There is no doubt that this year’s Conference took a decisive step in terms moving youth issues into the mainstream of the CWU.  But this can be a double-edged sword.  If it means taking the energy, enthusiasm, vitality and imagination of the Region’s 3, 000 members under the age of 30 to the heart of the union - to change the way in which we do business irreversibly, then that is one matter.  But it could mean that the same energy and vitality loses its sparkle, becomes tired and stale; trapped in a comfort zone that promotes position and bureaucracy over policy and campaigning.

So increasingly we are at a fork in the road.  Which way we go is up to you.

I look forward to seeing as many delegates from the Region at our next Branch Youth Officers’ Forum in April.

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