The youth of today are often given a hard time in the media, and even more so when they are Trade Union members. Yet, the CWU has always encouraged it’s young members to be as active as possible within the Union and indeed why CWU Youth was born.

It is therefore with pride that the CWU North West Region can boast the election of one of the youngest CWU activists to have been elected to the position of a regional officer.

At the age of just 26, call centre worker Dan Lewis, a member of the Bootle Financial Services branch, has been elected chair of the CWU’s North West Region just five years after joining the union as a new recruit at Santander in Bootle.

Then aged 21, Dan quickly decided he wanted to get actively involved in the union and within months he’d become a rep on the call centre floor.

Involvement in CWU Youth quickly followed – in tandem with a burgeoning interest in politics that saw Dan campaigning with his local Labour Party during the last European Elections, attending local meetings and actively promoting trade union values.

In the years that have followed Dan has become a regular face at CWU events and Annual Conference – always championing improvements in the way branches interact with members using new technology to keep the trade union movement message present online.

Last May Dan was elected to Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council (Labour, Blundellsands Ward) and at last autumn’s TUC Congress he was awarded the movement’s prestigious Youth Award.

The 26-year-old Bootle Financial Services branch political officer was a key speaker at the TUC Big Youth Debate, featured in The Guardian, and he is also a regular speaker for Unite Against Fascism Merseyside.

Dan also helped manage several campaign events for the 2015 General election and the Labour leadership race last summer, registering several hundred members in Bootle to be eligible to vote.

Congratulating Dan on his election as the CWU’s North West Region chair, North West regional secretary Carl Webb paid tribute to Dan’s impressive track record as a tireless campaigner.

“Working within the region Dan has supported numerous events from the People’s Post rally in Manchester to local meetings to engage membership.

Just this year Dan’s motion to the CWU’s Youth Conference – calling for a Living Wage for all ages, not just the over 25’s – was passed unanimously."

Carl added:

"Dan is a hard-working campaigner for all of the trade union and Labour movement, displaying his passion for equality in everything he does.  

He’s achieved so much in his 26 years – mainly down to his boundless energy, passion for social justice and the support of his branch Bootle Financial Services."

He concluded:

“One thing’s for sure – it’s going to be one hell of a ride with Dan at the helm!”

Source: CWU HQ Website