IN THIS ISSUE: P3 STRENGTH & NUMBERS IN EE P5 NEW BEGINNING AT AIRWAVE P7 BANKING DEALS IN SANTANDER Membership on the rise as the process Hopes rise that pay deal under Motorola Pay up across the board as groundbreaking of integration takes its first tentative steps ownership signals end of unsettling period new parental leave arrangements kick in VOICETELECOMS & FINANCIAL SERVICES EDITION|MARCH & APRIL 2016|WWW.CWU.ORG FIGHTING THE TU BILL PAGE 11 CWU delivers unmissable message to Parliament as protest spotlights hypocrisy INSIDE: P3 FUJITSU BLOW P8 NO BREAK-UP! P12 PROPORTIONALITY P14 HOUSING CRISIS P16 NATIONALISATION Closure annoucement Stark warning that the CWU sets ambitious goal for Spiralling prices, ever more The steel crisis has sparked at Antrim triggers CWU structural separation of inclusivity as former Chelsea unaffordable rents and calls for public demands for more Openreach from BT footballer Paul Canoville tells a chronic shortage ownership of the redeployment would risk UK competitivity union activists of his own bitter of social housing lays industry. How about opportunities and better and increase performance experience of prejudice and bare a massive policy nationalising other redundancy terms management woes concerns about exclusion failure for all to see sectors as well? Tweet us using WELCOME GENERAL SECRETARY’S COLUMN @CWUnews INDUSTRY NEWS AND CAMPAIGNS NEWS ContactUs REDESIGNING THE UNION CWU HQ - all enquiries Fast gaining strength and numbers in EE 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX This edition of Voice is what needs to change. their ability to influence T: 020 8971 7200 going out on the eve of I will make it clear at the local working RECRUITING AND NEGOTIATING Harrassment Helpline 0800 107 1909 Conference, where we Conference that environment. Another big recruitment push was Have you changed your address? will have important everything is in scope. As the redesign in full flow at EE as Voice went to Please inform CWU about any changes to your debates about your key We have already started project unfolds, we want press, with the union determined to membership details. There are three different ensure that the company’s new ways to update your membership details: workplace issues, our the process of taking a an inclusive debate status as a wholly owned BT n Option 1 – Log into the members’ only section of the CWU website (www.cwu.org), industrial priorities and hard look at CWU across the whole union subsidiary proves a decisive using the username and password you have turning point for trade union previously been sent, and change your own wider political debates headquarters and are and we will introduce representation in the mobile giant. details. from the EU referendum Hot on the heels of the last series n Option 2 – Contact your branch secretary taking significant steps ways of directly of CWU profile-raising leafleting with your new details. DAVE WARD to campaigning against to deal with costs, engaging frontline n Option 3 – Contact CWU HQ on 020 8971 days which netted hundreds of 7447 or email your new details to GENERAL SECRETARY Ofcom. create better alignment members in shaping our new members in January and [email protected] and we will make the February, CWU organisers have necessary changes. Conference will also of resources and future. Please help us help you – keep your details receive a presentation on once again been out in force in the up to date develop strategies for Our aim is to improve foyers of all of EE’s big call centres the future of our the future. the overall effectiveness this month (April). organisation and why Starting in Doxford and For regular updates on breaking CWU of our union in the Greenock on April 4-5 the CWU news, follow Dave on social media. this is the right time to Inclusive debate workplace and in the ‘roadshow’ moved on to Merthyr Facebook: facebook.com/davewardcwu redesign our union. Soon after Conference, boardroom of companies Tydfil and North Tyneside on April Twitter: @DaveWardGS 11-12 and, at the time of printing, As I have said here we will also start the where we organise, CWU Legal Services: UNIONLINE visits to Plymouth and Darlington 0300 333 0303 before, some of this is a process of looking at our extend our presence in on April 18-19 were imminent. UNIONLINE is the CWU’s very own law firm necessary response to As well as handing out hundreds offering members and their families a fast branch and field new businesses, of recruitment packs and route to free, comprehensive legal advice. the financial and structures and the roles connect with answering questions about the Images from the latest recruitment events at EE sites across the country Benefits of CWU membership include: union, the CWU has been actively n Personal injury claims for members and organisational pressures and responsibilities of all communities and deliver family making the point that EE’s take- n Employment law advice (members only) we face from of our representatives. socially progressive over by a company with a long fourth time we’ve been welcomed individuals who want to become EE/BT marriage takes first people from BT and the same number n Free legal advice helpline membership decline and The CWU already has political change. track record of positive onto the Darlington and Plymouth actively involved in the life of the honeymoon steps from EE, but more are likely to follow. n Free will writing service The CWU has been in discussions CWU assistant secretary Allan n engagement with trade unions has sites. union,” he said. New free motor claims service the pace of change in the structures that mean we The redesign project about bringing EE staff across to work Eldred told Voice: “This is undoubtedly n No legal costs the potential to cement a sea- “On each occasion the number “We obviously believe there world of work – problems organise closer to our is underway and, as part change in the union’s relationship joining has increased, and, what’s would be massive advantages for alongside colleagues in BT Business, just the beginning of a lengthy process To register a claim or for any legal advice we share with pretty membership than of this, we will revamp with EE. particularly encouraging is the way EE employees in having the CWU as the two companies take the first between EE and BT that will accelerate call UNIONLINE on 0300 333 0303 Prior to last June, when the CWU in which an increasing number of able to negotiate on their behalf - steps in moving ever closer together. over the coming months and years. The integration of the BT Group and “At this time of major and continuing More information at www.unionline.co.uk much the whole trade virtually any other all of our was first granted unimpeded access our EE members are wanting to get and clearly to do that we’d need union movement. union. But, in communications, to the Plymouth and Darlington actively involved in the life of the people working in that line of the mobile phone network EE was change, it is important for EE staff to site foyers, union leafleters had union.” business to be at the heart of the given final clearance by the join the CWU, so that the union can do In most cases your branch should be But it also represents your first point of contact. Details redesigning the CWU, including this magazine. only been able to approach John stressed that ultimately it team doing the negotiations - but Competition and Markets Authority in all it can to ensure employees receive are on your membership card. an opportunity to have we must strengthen the You can read more employees at the site entrances, will be down to EE employees we won’t be going down the route January this year. The £12.5bn deal the best possible protection during this brought together the UK's largest time of transition.” Publication Editor an honest debate about support for our local about this in the article sometimes having to play a game themselves to determine the extent towards seeking formal negotiating Simon Alford of ‘cat and mouse’ with security of the role that the CWU can play on rights until we are certain that is fixed-line business and the biggest what we do well, where representatives and from our new head of guards! their behalf. what EE employees want. mobile telecoms business. Voice Journalist Assistant secretary John East told “As a trade union the CWU has “As such, our message to anyone BT Business is now setting up a Karl Stewart we can improve and members to increase communications below. the Voice: “This month’s always believed you need a strong who works for EE is simple: If you new customer service centre in “This is undoubtedly Contributors recruitment activities mark the membership base in order to think trade union representation Newcastle where a number of people just the beginning of a Helen Oswald and Paul Donovan third time we’ve been allowed negotiate successfully, so the aim at would improve your working lives, from EE have begun working directly lengthy process that direct access to employees at EE’s the moment is to build up our join the CWU and convince your alongside BT employees, selling each will accelerate” Voice stories and Communications other’s products. There are initially 10 Allan Eldred department main call centres nationally, and the membership and to encourage colleagues to do likewise.” 020 8971 7497 ENGAGING WITH YOU! Published on behalf of CWU by Century One Publishing Ltd.