LTB 558/19 – TRADES UNION CONGRESS 2019: CWU DELEGATION REPORT 1

No:   558/19

25th September 2019

 

Dear Colleagues

 

TRADES UNION CONGRESS 2019: CWU DELEGATION REPORT 

The 2019 Trades Union Congress took place from Sunday 8th September to Wednesday 11th September 2019.

All unions were entitled to submit two motions to the agenda.  The CWU National Executive Council agreed the following motions:-

Motion 1: New Deal for Workers Campaign

Congress agrees it has never been more important in our recent history for the trade union movement to come together and deliver a bold new deal for workers.

The world of work today is a harsher and more pressurised environment than at any time in living memory – in or out of the EU new technology and the intensification of work only threatens to make this worse.

We cannot wait for political change and must mobilise to challenge unacceptable insecurity, in-work poverty and the growing pressure workers are under.

While we recognise the work that has been done on a TUC New Deal Charter, we need a major public campaign, starting now, and we call upon the TUC to re-evaluate its priorities accordingly.

Congress agrees the General Council must now implement the following in support of a New Deal:

  • a national day of action in the first half of 2020, with a range of options on action for unions to choose from;
  • a major effort to engage union members and all workers through social media and workplace meetings in the run-up to a day of action;
  • a New Deal campaign group to be established, meeting monthly from October, with representation from each affiliate;
  • co-ordinating co-operation between unions at a sectoral level on common bargaining agendas; and
  • organising a summit in the first half of 2020 to agree a charter to promote co-operation on recruiting the millions of unorganised workers in the UK and ending inter-union competition.

Communication Workers Union

Motion 2: Demands for the future world of work

In recognising the scale of the problems in today’s world of work and the challenges workers and society face from automation, the use of data and the introduction of new technology and AI, Congress agrees that now is the time for the union movement to be advancing a serious set of demands on behalf of workers to redress the balance of forces in the economy and entrenched inequality in society.

The scale of the challenges workers face must be matched by the scale of our ambitions and Congress agrees that our demands for the future should include the following:

  1. a standard four day working week for all workers, with no loss of pay by 2025;
  2. worker ownership funds to transfer a stake of private companies into the hands of workers;
  3. through collective bargaining workers’ control over the introduction of technology in the workplace that impacts on job numbers or surveillance/monitoring of staff;
  4. a slowdown in the intensification of work and a reversal of the trend for ever longer working lives in terms of both occupational and the state pension age;
  5. legal minimum standards on pension income to provide a decent standard of living, promoted in a similar to the Living Wage; and
  6. maximum pay ratios of 20:1 for all employers.

Communication Workers Union

 

The CWU was also entitled to submit two amendments.  These were as follows:-

  1. Amendment to Motion P39 – Mental health in low-paid employment (USDAW)

To be inserted at the end of the original motion (2 additional bullet points)

iv. organise a one day conference, and set up a cross-union working group, on mental health as instructed by Congress in proposition 63 in 2018; and

v. campaign for workplace and work-related suicide to be categories recognised in legislation and recorded in government statistics.

  1. Amendment to Motion P58: Trade unionism and collectivism in the curriculum (ASLEF)  

 

 

To follow paragraph 5, insert a new paragraph as follows:

 

Congress also recognises that some unions are currently providing speakers on trade unionism to schools and colleges and calls on the TUC to support this by co-ordinating activity at a regional level, producing a briefing for speakers and helping secure speaking slots.

 

The CWU also submitted the following emergency motion:-

 

EMERGENCY MOTION

CWU – Royal Mail Dispute

Congress notes the CWU announced a ballot timetable for strike action in Royal Mail on 22/8/2019 and is holding meetings around the country in the second major national dispute in two years.

In 2017, CWU members delivered an 89% yes vote on a 74% turnout, smashing the legal threshold – we believe this will happen again.

Royal Mail has replaced its senior management team and it is clear that it plans to de-recognise the union’s influence; break current agreements; reduce the vital 6-day USO and good jobs, terms and conditions; and break up this excellent public service the People’s Post.

It has unilaterally announced moves heralding the break-up of the company, starting with Parcelforce, and a new strategy for parcels that will render the core 6-day service unsustainable and leave 20,000 jobs at risk, as well as introducing operational change without agreement, which will leave thousands of jobs under threat.

It has done nothing to tackle a bullying culture that is endemic in Royal Mail, is introducing technology in a way that leaves staff being tagged like criminals and wants to move away from the legal protections agreed with the CWU in 2012 that have prevented it joining the race to the bottom with destructive asset-stripping and insecure employment models.

This dispute is the direct result of liberalisation and privatisation and Congress expresses its full solidarity with CWU members in defence of their jobs, agreements and the very future of a vital public service.

#WeRiseAgain

Communication Workers Union

COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

2019 TRADES UNION CONGRESS – BRIGHTON

MINUTES OF THE TUC DELEGATION MEETING

HELD IN THE NOBLESSE ROOM, JURY’S INN HOTEL, KINGS ROAD, BRIGHTON

ON SUNDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER AT 11.30AM

PRESENT:  Jane Loftus (Chair), Dave Ward (General Secretary), Tony Kearns (SDGS), Andy Kerr (DGS T&FS), Terry Pullinger (DGS Postal), Maria Exall (ex officio), Tony Bouch, Stuart Davidson, Tracey Fussey, Tony Gilkes, Becca Hufton, Kirsty Lenham, Ali Moosa, Jacky Moorey, Michelle Reid-Hay, Amarjite Singh, Angela Teeling, Mark Walsh, Richard Wilkins and Rob Wotherspoon

 

IN ATTENDANCE:  Lionel Sampson, Bill Taylor, Andrew Towers, Chris Webb, Kate Hudson, Janina Dunn, Meta Bovell and Dave Chapple

1       WELCOME – INTRODUCTIONS & APOLOGIESThe Chair welcomed all CWU delegates to the meeting in particular those who were attending the TUC Congress for the first time and asked the delegation to introduce themselves to the meeting.

2          GENERAL SECRETARY OVERVIEW

The General Secretary welcomed all delegates and said that this year’s Congress was probably the most important TUC for many years, especially the debate around Brexit and that the CWU will be pushing for the 1st May 2020 as the first day of action and new policies on a new deal for workers.

The General Secretary reminded the delegation that we are in dispute with Royal Mail and he asked that they assist in any way they could this week to help achieve a yes vote.

3          EXPLANATION OF TUC DOCUMENTS

The Head of Research provided an explanation of the TUC pack provided at the meeting which included: 

    • General Council Report 2019
    • Final Agenda 2019
    • General Purposes Committee Report and Composite

Motions and General Council Statements 2019

    • Consolidated Motions and Composite Motions 2019

The SDGS gave a brief explanation of the TUC Programme of Business.

  1. CWU POLICY POSITION ON MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS

    The SDGS went through the CWU policy position on motions and amendments.

 Policy Recommendations for the Delegation Meeting

Motion

 

Subject Submitted By CWU Conference           Policy Decision
SECTION 1:  THE ECONOMY
1 Industrial strategy: delivering real change Unite

 

S
2 Save Our Steel Community

 

S
Composite 01 Real jobs & apprenticeships 03 UCU

Amend SoR

Amend CoP

S
4 Skills and re-training Community S
Composite 02 Climate crisis and a just transition 05 Unite

Amend Prospect

07 UCU

Amend NEU

Amend ASLEF

Amend AUE

S
6 Securing UK green jobs GMB O
8 Public ownership of energy Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union S
Composite 03 Buses a green transport system 09 ASLEF

Amend TSSA

10 TSSA

S
11 UK Ship Register Nautilus International S
12 Artists’ studios and the community Artists’ Union England S
SECTION 2:  BREXIT
Composite 04 Brexit 13 Musicians’ Union

Amend RCM

14 TSSA

S

 

15 NHS and future trade deals British Dietetic Association S
SECTION 3:  RESPECT AND A VOICE AT WORK
Composite 05 Sectoral collective bargaining 16 National Education Union

Amend UNISON

Amend Usdaw

Amend PCS

S
17 A new framework for collective bargaining Aegis S
18 Christmas and New Year working USDAW S
19 Demands for the future world of work CWU Move
Composite 06 Collective voice l intelligence and new technology 20 Prospect

Amend Community

Amend FDA

21 Accord

S
Composite 07 New deal for workers 22 CWU

Amend UNITE

Amend GMB

Move
23 Industrial action ballots PCS S
Composite 08 Free our unions 24 Fire Brigades Union

Amend UNITE

Amend NASUWT

Amend POA

Amend TSSA

25 BFAWU

S
26

 

Safety of rail workers RMT S
27 EU copyright directive Equity S
28 The inclusion of freelance workers in TUC policy Musicians’ union S
29 Ending exploitation of seafarers RMT S
30 Threat to British seafarers Nautilus International O
Composite 09 Flexible working 31 FDA

Amend CSP

Amend Community

S

 

32 Outsourcing the finance sector Aegis S
33 Are our staff wearing the appropriate footwear The college of podiatry S
34 Equality 2020 Unite S
35 Class inequality Equity S
36 Widening access to the airline pilot profession BALPA S
37 Smashing the gender pay gap: a vague sense of shame is not enough Unison S
Composite 10 ILO convention on workplace sexual harassment 38 CSP

Amend NASUWT

Amend UCU

S
Composite 11 Mental health and wellbeing 39 Usdaw

Amend CWU

Amend Equity

Amen CSP

40 PFA

S
41 Tackling racist ideologies Educational Institute of Scotland S
42 Period poverty TUC women’s conference S
43 End discrimination in state reciprocal pension arrangements TUC black workers conference S
44 Homophobic and transphobic hate crime TUC lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender+ conference

 

S
SECTION 4:  GOOD SERVICES
Composite 12 Privatised public services: bring them in 45 Unison

Amend UNITE

Amend PCS

S
46 NHS and workforce funding Chartered society of physiotherapy S
47 Suspend charging for NHS maternity care RCM S
48 Wholly owned subsidiaries Society of Radiographers S
49 Financial incentive to undergo NHS treatment   S
50 Healthy start scheme British Dietetic Association S
51 Bullying and harassment College of Podiatry S
52 Better and active safeguards for whistle-blowers in the NHS and public services Hospital consultants and specialists association S
53 Perinatal mental health services RCM S
54 Transforming social care GMB S
55 National independent living support service TUC disabled workers conference S
56 Poverty and privatisation damage children’s education NEU S
57 Curriculum narrowing NASUWT S
Composite 13 Trade unionism and collectivism in the curriculum ASLEF

Amend CWU

Amend UCU

S
59 Pupil violence and indiscipline 59 NASUWT

Amend NEU

60 AEP

S
61 Resourcing pupils with additional support needs (ASN/SEN) Educational institute of Scotland S
62 Relationships education National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) S
63 Small and rural schools NAHT

 

S
Composite 14 Public service pensions 64 PCS

Amend FBU

Amend SoR

S
65 Rebuilding local government UNISON S
66 Grenfell Tower – never again FBU

 

 

S
67 Manifesto for justice FDA S
Composite 15 Public inquiry into TR; stop government recidivism on rehabilitation 68 Napo

69 Napo

S
Composite 16 Over-75s’ TV licences and BBC funding 70 Prospect

71 NUJ

S
SECTION 5:  WINNING MORE FOR WORKERS
72 ILO Campaigning NUJ S
73 Justice for Columbia POA S
74 Cuba and the US blockade POA S
75 Palestine – supporting rights to self-determination Artists’ Union England S
76 Role and remit of TUC young workers forum TUC Young Workers Conference S
77 Trades councils’ participation in Congress TUC Trades Councils Conference S
General  Council Statement

 

Brexit

 

 

S

 

General Council Report – Page 75 – Paragraph 6.12 – Amarjite Singh to speak

The above policy was agreed.
 

5          CWU MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS – SPEAKERS

The following CWU commitments and interventions were agreed:

PROPOSITION TITLE SPEAKER
1 Industrial Strategy Delivering Real Change Rob Wotherspoon
6 Securing UK Green Jobs Tony Kearns
8 Public Ownership of Energy Mark Walsh
Comp 05 Sectoral Collective Bargaining Maria Exall
19 Demands for the Future World of Work Dave Ward
Comp 06 Collective Voice Intelligence and New Technology Andy Kerr
Comp 07 New Deal for Workers Dave Ward
Motion 23 Industrial Action Ballots Tony Bouch
34 Equality 2020 Jacky Morrey
37 Smashing the Gender Pay Gap Michelle Reid-Hay
Comp 10 ILO Convention on Workplace Sexual Harassment Becca Hufton
Comp 11 Mental Health and Wellbeing Tony Kearns
42 Period Poverty Tracey Fussey

 

PROPOSITION TITLE SPEAKER
Comp 12 Privatised Public Services: Bring Them In Mark Walsh
57 Curriculum Narrowing Angela Teeling
Comp 13 Trade Unionism and Collectivism in Curriculum Jane Loftus
62 Relationships education Maria Exall
77 Trades Council Participation in Congress Amarjite Singh
General Council Statement  

Brexit

 

Tony Kearns

General Council Report Page 75

Paragraph 6.12

Amarjite Singh

 

  • The General Secretary gave an update on the TUC General Council statement on Brexit.

6          FRINGE MEETINGS AND RECEPTIONS

The delegation was advised of a number of fringe meetings involving, or of special interest to the CWU.

7          DELEGATION SEATING ARRANGEMENTS

 The Chair confirmed that the Congress seating plan was contained on page 29 of the Congress Guide. CWU would be situated in Block A, rows – F 1 -12 and G 1 -10.

8          CWU COMMUNICATIONS

The Head of Communications advised delegates that they should email Karl Stewart with any speeches.  He also asked delegates to promote the Royal Mail dispute via social media in an effort to assist the union in obtaining a large yes vote and that Tuesday 10th September was National Gate meeting day and the senior officers and President would all be attending gate meetings in and around Brighton before the start of Congress and encouraged delegates to visit the CWU stall to record messages of support for our members in dispute.

9          ABSENCES DURING CONGRESS

The Chair asked the delegation to confirm to the SDGS or the Chair if they would be absent during Congress, or if they were required to leave Congress early.

11       ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 13.27.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to gsoffice@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

 

Dave Ward

General Secretary
19LTB558 – Trades Unions Congress 2019 – CWU Delegation report