the CWU's Annual Report for 2006-2007

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POLICY, EDUCATION AND TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE The Committee is responsible for: Development and promotion of policy outside of Annual Conference on all matters which are beyond the authority of the Industrial Executives (with the exception of Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities policies); monitoring and responding to organisational and other changes in those industries in which the union is organised; determining the communications policy of the union, relations with external organisations including the TUC and Union Network International (UNI). The development and implementation of the Education and Training Department Strategic Plan. POLICY 1. AFFILIATIONS In 2006 the NEC agreed affiliation to; Venezuela Information Centre Socialist Education Association Motions will be submitted to Conference seeking endorsement of these decisions. 2. REGULATION OF THE POSTAL SECTOR The introduction of the full competition in January 2006 resulted by year end in a cumulative total of 10% of upstream letter traffic being contracted to competitors of Royal Mail. The European Commission published proposals for a full market opening across the European Union from January 2009. The CWU continues to work with UNI Europa Postal to ensure universal service at uniform prices. 3. REGULATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS CWU submissions have been made to all relevant Ofcom consultations throughout the year. 4. LABOUR PARTY ANNUAL CONFERENCE The CWU was represented at the 2006 Annual Conference of the Labour Party. Dave Ward, Deputy General Secretary (Postal) continues as a member of the NEC of the Labour Party. 5. LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE DELEGATION The delegation report was circulated as LTB 058/07 which recorded the delegation decisions on behalf of the CWU. Endorsement for the decisions taken will be sought via a motion submitted to Annual Conference. 6. TRADES UNION CONGRESS The CWU was represented at the 2006 Trades Union Congress. Billy Hayes, General Secretary and Jeannie Drake, Deputy General Secretary (T&FS) were elected as members of the General Council and the Executive Committee of the TUC. Maria Exall was elected as a member of the TUC General Council, Section I. 7. TRADES UNION CONGRESS DELEGATION The delegation report was circulated as LTB 793/06 which recorded the delegation decisions on behalf of the CWU. Endorsement will be sought for these decisions via a motion submitted to Annual Conference. 8. UNION NETWORK INTERNATIONAL (UNI) The CWU fully participated in all relevant activities of UNI. At the time of writing planning is well advanced for the CWU delegations attending the: UNI Europa Conference UNI World Postal Conference UNI World Telecoms Conference All the above will take place in Athens in April 2007. 9. DECISIONS OF ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2005 Progress on the motions carried in the Policy Section of Annual Conference 2006 continues. 10. YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE 10.1 TERMS OF REFERENCE Rule 8.16 defines the terms of reference for the YAC. 10.2 ACTIVITIES (a) Meetings The Youth Advisory Committee meets quarterly and its Minutes are circulated via the NEC to Regional Committees. They are also placed on the Youth Section of the CWU website. (b) Training YAC members attended a weekend induction school at Alvescot Lodge. Individual YAC members were also encouraged to participate in the Union’s Education and Training programme for Branch Officers, and many did so. (c) Newsletter The YAC seeks to publish four editions of CWU Youth per year. The newsletter is distributed by both electronic and conventional means. (d) External Bodies UNI – The YAC plays an active role in the UNI structures, primarily at European level. We are privileged in having Stephen Ratcliffe as the Vice Chair of the UNI Europa Youth Steering Group, and sent a delegation to the annual UNI Europe Youth Seminar at UNI HQ in Switzerland. The Committee believes that by building links across nations we are able to have a greater understanding of and ability to deal with common challenges. TUC – The Youth Committee plays an active role in TUC Youth structures. Stephen Gribben and Lisa Hadley are our delegates to the Youth Forum and the TUC’s Youth Conference. CWU has also participated in a number of seminars and events organised by 6 l National Executive Council Annual Report 2006-2007
the TUC and regularly provide policy input to TUC submissions and conferences. Stephen was the CWU’s candidate in the election for the seat on the TUC General Council reserved for young workers. Whilst unsuccessful, his vote was a creditable performance. ICTU – The recently reformulated ICTU Youth Steering Group is supported by CWU and Northern Ireland members of the Committee attend as regularly as they can. STUC – CWU young activists in Scotland work as closely as possible with the STUC and John Hardey was co-opted onto the STUC Youth Committee. National Union of Students – A TUC/NUS concordat was launched in September 2006 taking on board many issues proposed and developed by the CWU. The YAC is working under the auspices of this arrangement on projects designed to boost recruitment and organisation amongst members and potential members who are also students. Meetings have also taken place with the president of the National Union of Scottish Students in pursuit of similar aims (e) National Youth Education Event The 5th National Youth Education Event was held in Bristol, 13th-15th October 2006. Numbers were up this year with a total of 75 people in attendance over the course of the weekend: 54 young participants from 33 branches – of those participants 35 were ‘first timers’. In a new departure, Dave Ward and Jeannie Drake hosted separate round table discussions giving participants access to the most senior industrial officials in the CWU, in order to put their concerns directly to them. These sessions were very well received. In keeping with past years, we ran workshop sessions over one afternoon. This year the subjects were: Unite Against Fascism; Sexual Health; Agency Workers and Know Your Rights At Work. The output from each workshop was in the form of Motions which were debated, and agreed, in a Mock Conference Session. The text of these Motions can be found as part of LTB 851/06 together with a full report of the event. The YAC wishes to thank Jo Thair at HQ for co-ordinating the event, Dave Ward and Jeannie Drake for hosting the roundtable discussions, Kevin Slocombe, John Colbert, Kevin Beazer and Claire Wright for their assistance in delivering the programme and the General Secretary and Senior Deputy General Secretary for, once again, making time to address the event. 10.3 YOUTH CONFERENCE The Second Youth Conference is due to take place at CWU HQ on 28th February. The full conference documentation, including an update on actions taken in respect of motions adopted at the Inaugural Youth Conference can be accessed on the CWU website. 10.4 BRANCH YOUTH OFFICERS General Conference adopted Rule amendment Motion 119 which obliged branches to create and fill the role of Branch Youth Officer on Branch Committees. At the end of 2005 only 8 branches indicated that they had a branch youth officer, although HQ knows that this figure significantly under-reports the position. By September 2006, the official figure was 24. At time of writing further census work is taking place to identify the latest position. It is the YAC’s intention to work with branches and regions to encourage the development of Branch Youth Officers in keeping with the Committee’s campaigning priorities for the year, described in paragraph 6 below. The Committee has also agreed a statement of roles and responsibilities for Branch Youth Officers. 10.5. REGIONAL YOUTH COMMITTEES General Conference adopted Rule amendment Motion 121 which obliged Regions to establish or reconstitute Regional Youth Committees. Detailed discussion took place with Regional Secretaries to develop an acceptable model constitution for RYCs. This was agreed by the NEC and published to branches, both in December 2006. The YAC would like express it’s appreciation for the strong support from all Regional Secretaries. It is the YAC’s intention to work closely with RYCs and to convene a meeting of all RYC Chairs and Secretaries to compare experiences and share best practice. 10.6 CAMPAIGNING ACTIVITIES At its inaugural meeting in July, the Committee agreed an ambitious 15 point programme of campaigning initiatives. These initiatives and the progress taken towards achieving them are detailed on the CWU website. 10.7 FUTURE ACTIVITIES The YAC will be pursuing the issues brought forward by the Education Event, and the Youth Conference through the appropriate channels within the union. Additionally, work is taking place with both Industrial Executives to boost youth recruitment and encourage the development of young workplace representatives. Work is also taking place with other Advisory Committees, particularly the Race Advisory Committee, to recruit and organise young members and potential members through joint events with organisation such as Love Music Hate Racism. l National Executive Council Annual Report 2006-2007 7
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the CWU's Annual Report for 2006-2007

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