the CWU's Annual Report for 2006-2007

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8. AGE DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION The department completed the introduction to the new age regulations presentation and it was delivered to the T&FSE on the 6th September 2006 and there are plans for the presentation to be fanned out to all branches via the Regional Secretaries. The presentation was generally very well received. As part of the department’s responsibility to disseminate the key points on the new age discrimination legislation we received our production of the LRD booklets, which has been customised for the CWU. This was sent out to every single branch under the guidance of LTB No.804/06, (23rd November 2006). A DVD has also been commissioned and it is hoped that this will be completed by the end of March 2007. At the time of preparing this report it is with the producers in the editing suite. There are various other booklets that have been produced on age discrimination including a pamphlet that Simon Sapper’s office did entitled ‘Age Discrimination’ – rough guide for young workers, which the department contributed to. 9. REGIONAL EQUALITY COMMITTEES In August and September the department visited various regions to help to re-establish the regional equality committees. These visits are ongoing and if any region would like a representative from the equality department to attend a future meeting please contact us accordingly. 10. EQUALITY AUDIT The department sent a 6-week BOB out to the branches in early November outlining the equality audit that it was carrying out to contact those branches who had not sent a delegate to any of the equality conferences for 3 years. A letter had already been sent to Branch Secretaries by Michèle Emerson and early indications were that this was having a really positive impact as the turnout at the LGBT and Disability Conferences was up by around 30% compared to last years attendance figures. At the time of writing this the other equality conferences had not yet taken place. 11. DISABILITY & SPECIAL NEEDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE A Report on the work and activities of the Disability & Special Needs Advisory Committee was issued widely to both branches and delegates as part of the agenda for the Disability & Special Needs Conference 2006. The Conference itself was held on 11th November 2006 in Swansea. The motions carried will be considered by the Committee and the two motions selected by Conference will be submitted to General Conference 2007. 12. LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER COMMITTEE A Report on the work and activities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee was issued widely to both branches and delegates as part of the agenda for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference 2006. The Conference itself was held on 28th October 2006 in Manchester. The motions carried will be considered by the Committee and the two motions selected by Conference will be submitted to General Conference 2007. 13. WOMEN’S ADVISOR COMMITTEE A report on the work and activities of the Women’s Advisory Committee was issued widely to both branches and delegates as part of the agenda for the Women’s Conference 2007. The Conference itself was held on 20th January 2007 in Bristol. The motions carried will be considered by the Committee and motions 6 and 9 were chosen by the women’s conference to be forwarded to the General Conference 2007. 14. RACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE A report on the work and activities of the Race Advisory Committee was issued widely to both branches and delegates as part of the agenda for the Black Workers’ Conference 2007. At time of writing, the Conference itself is due to be held on 3rd February 2007 in Bristol. The motions carried will be considered by the Committee and the two motions selected by Conference will be submitted to General Conference 2007. 15. THE YEAR AHEAD In terms of the outlook for next year the EOC will be working closely to support all four advisory committees. We will be monitoring the implementation of the new Age discrimination legislation and working with the DTI to continue our capacity building project on this subject. We will also be keeping a close eye on the evolving CEHR (Commission for Equality and Human Rights) to ensure that all of the discrimination strands are effectively protected by the newly organised unit. Generally speaking the world of equality legislation is changing all the time and we will be spearheading ensuring that branches are aware of the latest changes and how these changes will be working for CWU members. The EOC framework agreement will run into its 4th year and the EOC are generally very happy with the progress being made. HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT 1. INTRODUCTION To show the wide range of work undertaken on Health, Safety & Environment issues, the department published LTB No.51/07 (19th January 2007) entitled ‘Health, Safety & Environment 18 l National Executive Council Annual Report 2006-2007
Department LTBs & BOB Paragraphs Digest For 2006’ which includes a list of all LTB’s and BOB paragraphs issued by the Health, Safety & Environment Department during 2006 and the department will henceforth endeavour to issue this annually as a reference document. LTB 01/06 (3th January 2006) circulated to Branches, for the particular attention of Safety Representatives was a digest list of LTB’s and BOB Paragraphs issued by the Department since the current National HS&E Officer took over from June 2003 to December 2005. Copies of all back-number LTBs and BOBs are available for downloading via the CWU Web Site or from the Health, Safety & Environment Department. 2. ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2006 The Health, Safety & Environment Department held two successful lunch time Fringe Meetings at Conference during the week. Both of which were well attended. Earlier in the week the guest speaker was Mark Dawson Principle HSE Inspector with responsibility for the Postal and Telecom Sectors. Later in the week Director of the Men’s Health Forum Peter Baker spoke on the work of the Forum and men’s health issues. Following annual conference a report on both fringe meetings was issued to Branches in BOB No 023/06 paragraph No.354 (30th June 2006). In addition the Health Safety & Environment Department ran two stands at Conference in 2006 providing a wide range of information and resources to conference delegates. The Health and Safety Commission ran a stall at the conference exhibition centre all week providing guidance, literature and advice: and the Men’s Health Forum ran a stall promoting their work and men’s health issues as well as promoting men’s health week in June 2006. In addition all motions carried in Section 9 Health, Safety & Environment section have been actioned in line with Conference Policy. 3. INDUSTRIAL EXECUTIVE/ HSE SUB-COMMITTEES The Health, Safety & Environment Committee is concerned to ensure that the CWU continues to raise the profile of health, safety and environment issues, strengthening the Union’s health and safety organisation and in pursuing consistent policies on health and safety matters. The T&FS Health, Safety & Environment Sub Committee has continued to work effectively on progressing Industrial health, safety & environment issues since the formation of the union. A Postal Health, Safety & Environment Sub-committee has now been established following 2005 Annual Conference. 4. HEALTH AND SAFETY CAMPAIGNS In line with Conference Policy a number of campaigns are being pursued by the NEC and the Health, Safety & Environment Department these include: Safety Law Reforms and Enforcement Working Environment Acoustic Shock Violence at Work Stress at Work Corporate Killing Directors Legal H&S Duties Smoking HSE Funding Maximum Working Temperature Improved Safety Reps Rights Nanotechnology Occupational Health/Health Awareness Rehabilitation Asbestos Men’s Health issues Women’s Health issues Environmental Issues and Polices 5. STRESS AT WORK The CWU continues to highlight the importance of stress at work following on from the 2001 CWU Survey & Stress At Work Report publication. The survey involved 20,000 CWU members and provided one of the most comprehensive reports produced on this issue of work related stress. HSE commissioned research has confirmed the scale of the problem in the UK. HSE commissioned research has indicated that: About half a million people in the UK experience work-related stress at a level they believe is making them ill, Up to 5 million people in the UK feel “very” or “extremely” stressed by their work and a total of 12.8 million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety in 2005/6. The Union has put considerable efforts into pursing this issue of Stress and has supported the view that the HSE should now take a stronger line on enforcing the HSE Stress Management Standards which were launched by the Health & Safety Minister in November 2004. Negotiations with Royal Mail Group and BT produced new stress management policies. There is still work to be done by the Union in the area of ensuring effective implementation of the provisions and standards within the policies and our endeavours in that respect will continue. LTB 723/06 (1st November 2006) refers. 6. CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY LAW ENFORCEMENT The Department has continued its high profile involvement and campaign with other Trade Unions, the TUC, and the CCA in seeking the introduction of a new Corporate Manslaughter law, the introduction of positive health and safety responsibilities on Directors and senior managers and greater safety law enforcement, prosecutions of offenders and punishment that fits the crime. The Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Bill is currently making its way through parliament and the campaign continues through lobbying Ministers, MPs and Lords to get the bill amended in order that it will extend the range of penalties on conviction and to include Directors duties and individual liability for those individuals who’s negligence contributed to the death, CWU supported MP’s have been briefed. The TUC and CCA have also written to all MPs and Lords. LTB 001/07 (2nd January 2006) refers. 7. SAFETY REPS RIGHTS Our efforts as a Union continue to go beyond the boundaries of the workplace and we have been at the forefront of campaigning for changes to Safety Representatives Laws and for the introduction of a revised Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations which would give greater powers and protection to Safety Representatives including ultimately the power to issue Provisional Improvement Notices ‘PINS’. This change along with better protection from victimisation of Safety Representatives at work, top the list of a range of amendments to the regulations which the Union feels strongly are required and we continue to campaign for via every possible avenue. In 2006 the HSE issued a consultative document CD207. In campaigning for improved powers and protections for Safety Representatives the Officer has made one verbal and three written submissions during the consultation exercise. LTB 816/06 (27th November 2006) refers. l National Executive Council Annual Report 2006-2007 19
Page 1: 2006-2007 lThe communications union
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the CWU's Annual Report for 2006-2007

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