CWU

The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) Annual Conference discussed the relationship of the Union to the Labour Party in the context of the expulsion of the the RMT, and the expected disaffiliation of the FBU, which was announced the same week. On the political section of the agenda there were several propositions calling for the Union to take a more proactive stance in its relationship with the Labour Party, including one calling for a review of the supported MPs and a calling to account of CWU delegates to Labour Party bodies as well as support for the Labour Representation Committee. However...

By a CWU member At the General Conference of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) (14 June) the European Working Time Directive will be discussed. At present, different sections of the union have different policies on whether individual opt-outs should continue. The Telecoms Executive negotiates with telecoms companies to get rid of opt-outs, and its policy is for an end to them. The Postal Executive, however, believes that because of the low pay in Royal Mail and other companies, long working hours are necessary for now. The union's answer should be to fight for a shorter working week, and...

Postal workers in Somerset are refusing to deliver the racist election leaflets for the British National Party (BNP) The Communication Workers' Union said their members were following their consciences over the leaflets. Kevin Beazer of the union said: "We've got a national agreement between the union and the employer as regards the conscience clause. "This means our postmen and women don't have to deliver offensive material, and we find the BNP to be a fascist and racist party and therefore we don't have to deliver this material." The CWU has also produced its own brochure, Answering the...

The Fire Brigades Union conference has voted approximately five to one in favour of disaffiliating from the Labour Party. A formal card vote is still being counted as I write. The defeat of the union Executive's alternative proposal, to remain affiliated but open up the possibility of supporting some non-Labour candidates, was ensured by the members' utter frustration with being repeatedly let down by this once popular and reputedly left-wing union leadership. The decision, unfortunately, reflects frustration and disillusion more than any clear positive alternative direction. Meanwhile, the...

Dispatches - Third Class Post, Channel 4 "Third Class Post" promised to be an exposé of everything that is wrong with today's Post Office. We were going to be told just why up to a million letters a month go missing. Much of the real scandal remained unreported. The programme portrayed postal workers as work shy, light-fingered malcontents, too spliff-addled to put the letters in the right holes. The film will come as a gift to all those who wish to accelerate the "liberalisation" of postal services, leading ultimately to the wholesale privatisation of the Post Office. The reporter continually...

Radio and TV news on 20 April claimed that the Labour Party had begun an "investigation" into the Communication Workers' Union (CWU), because its Scotland no.2 branch has decided to support the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP). CWU head office sources, however, say they have received no communication from the Labour Party about it, and the Labour Party press office told Solidarity on 21 April that it is "an internal matter for the CWU". Derek Durkin, secretary of the branch at the heart of the story, told Solidarity that he too had heard nothing from the Labour Party. "It is all fairly old news...

By Mark Sandell Extreme bullying and intimidation have led to postal workers at Oxford's mail centre walking out. A group of part-time staff has been using threats and intimidation while clocking up massive overtime with the active support of one manager. Senior management did nothing about the situation, despite the union raising it several times in the last six months. Communication Workers' Union representative Bob Cullen said: "One woman, a single mother, was threatened and when she reported it to her manager, he asked her what she expected as she was a good-looking girl. She has now...

The Postalworker bulletin of 26 March 2004 surveys the results so far of the "Major Change" plan agreed by the CWU nationally with Royal Mail. Where implemented, it has meant job cuts, increased workloads, and worse service. The bulletin argues for resistance to implementation, and a positive fight for a 35 hour week. Download pdf here .

By Colin Foster The Labour Party has expelled the railworkers' union RMT. The Communication Workers' Union has condemned the expulsion and called on the Labour Party to discuss with the RMT. But many socialists have rejoiced, saying that the RMT's expulsion should and will be followed by many other unions deciding of their own accord to break links with Labour. In fact that is unlikely. The Fire Brigades Union conference in March will have motions before it for disaffiliation. It is the exception. Past CWU conferences have seen lively arguments about the political fund. However, last year's...

By a postalworker Despite being hailed as a "watershed" agreement, the "Pay, Major Change and London Weighting" deal recommended by the CWU leadership was accepted in a ballot with a turnout of just 31%. Despite widespread disgust at the proposed 7,500 job cuts and miserly increase in London weighting, most members decided that simply voting in a ballot was an exercise in futility. What we have seen, however, is a modest revival of the localised disputes that were a familiar feature in offices across the country up to a couple of years ago. In East London, for instance, a 24-hour strike forced...