IN THIS ISSUE: P3 XMAS EVE STRIKE VOTE P4 RECRUIT 100 PER CENT P10/11 VOICEMAIL: YOUR PAGE Thousands of Post Office counter staff Deputy general secretary (postal) Terry Readers’ letters on refugees, performance are set to ballot on industrial action... Pullinger sets the organising agenda... management, long-service and more... POSTALVOICE EDITION|NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2015|WWW.CWU.ORG INSIDE: DEFEND UNION RIGHTS P6&7 DELIVERY FOCUS Tackling resourcing problems at PAGE 8-9 Dave Ward calls for a day of action local and national level, ensuring that Royal Mail adheres to national and protest against the Trade Union Bill agreements, a round-up of local disagreements, and reps’ ideas for a better future for our industry P5 DONATE - SAVE LIVES A moving appeal to our younger readers from a member whose son’s life was saved by a bone marrow transplant, and a report from our ‘plodding posties’ raising cash for a suicide prevention charity P12 CWUHA’S 20TH YEAR Opening the Phoenix Centre in Moldova was among the highlights of the CWUHA activities over this past 12 months – the charity's 20th year. The centre is now providing facilities for 300 disabled children P15 GENERATION NOW Voice meets and speaks to the union’s current generation of young workplace reps as they represent their members, and Voice attended the CWU’s national youth education event in Birmingham P16 LIBERTY AT RISK? With the new Conservative Government bringing in new laws restricting workers’ right to strike and unions’ ability to organise, Voice asks whether this is the start of an emerging authoritarianism Tweet us using WELCOME GENERAL SECRETARY’S COLUMN @CWUVoice INDUSTRY NEWS AND CAMPAIGNS NEWS ContactUs TIME FOR A CHANGE... CWU HQ - all enquiries 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London t's time for us to bigger unions - but there’s tell us (unfiltered) the most SW19 1RX redesign the CWU. T: 020 8971 7200 a lot of evidence to important workplace issues There are a number of suggest that, when this is you want us to deal with in Harrassment Helpline I 0800 107 1909 reasons for this. done for purely financial each company, and the Changes to your membership Firstly, when the union reasons, unions end up CWU prioritises these details merged in 1995, it was built It is important that you notify us of any moving further away from issues change in your circumstances, including as a structure aspiring to the workplace. n Training courses for reps address, telephone and email address. (Your employer does not provide updates to us.) serve 300,000 members – I would rather we saw specifically focusing on how You can view and amend your details by logging on to the CWU website www.cwu.org but now, as a result of these pressures as a to win for members in the using the username and password you have major change in the postal been sent. If you prefer you can email us at DAVE WARD genuine opportunity to workplace [email protected] or telephone on 020 GENERAL SECRETARY and telecommunications look again at what type of n Replacing hierarchical 8971 7447 informing us of any changes. industries, it serves under union we want to be and structures with new vibrant 200,000. build an organisation that forums that reach out to This is a trend that has is more responsive and frontline reps and members been seen across the whole closer to its membership. and encourage the active The GS column can always be viewed prior to publication of the VOICE, along trade union movement, as The CWU has a lot participation of all with daily updates on recent events, industries adapt to going for it. We already minorities in the workplace. CWU Legal Services: UNIONLINE on Facebook: Dave Ward CWU 0300 333 0303 Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveWardGS technological change. have a local structure that When I was elected UNIONLINE is the CWU’s very own law firm offering members and their families a fast Secondly, the world of is the envy of most unions. general secretary I said we route to free, comprehensive legal advice. work today is a much Benefits of CWU membership include: For me, however, needed to focus on creating POL Xmas Eve strike vote n Personal injury claims for members and harsher place for all redesigning the union our future, not reliving the family n Employment law advice (members only) workers and we need to means looking at how we past. The work to review POST OFFICE COUNTERS have told employees they have to especially at this time of year.” have offered our members next to – working all day Christmas Eve n Free legal advice helpline work on until 4pm, citing customer Andy and his team have put nothing.” will then become the norm. n Free will writing service build an organisation that can improve on what we our own HQ has now begun n New free motor claims service Ballot papers were set to start service needs and they have ignored forward several compromise At the most recent meeting “We’re not daft – and neither are n No legal costs can shift the balance of already have. in earnest, but we will also arriving on the doormats of some every attempt by the CWU to reach solutions to Post Office bosses in between the CWU and the Post our members.” forces away from big Here are a few ideas as need to look across the 2,500 Post Office counter staff as we an acceptable compromise. repeated attempts to take the heat Office, the company tabled an offer The strike ballot was set to open To register a claim or for any legal advice went to press, with CWU “It is widely known by customers out of the situation, which have which included a cash payment of on November 30th and will run call UNIONLINE on 0300 333 0303 unaccountable to what shape that could whole organisation and representatives urging “a big ‘Yes’ that Crown Offices have closed at focussed on treating this additional £100 with 3.5 hours TOIL – but it until Monday 14th December. More information at www.unionline.co.uk corporations and back take: refocus our efforts in the vote” for action in defence of the 12:30 on Christmas Eve for decades,” afternoon duty as voluntary was on a strictly ‘one-off’ basis, so “We’re urging members to vote towards workers and n A new package for our workplace. traditional 12.30pm finish on said assistant secretary Andy Furey, overtime, for which staff who opt-in this was rejected by the negotiating ‘Yes’ – save Christmas Eve.” Christmas Eve. “and our members have quite rightly receive either enhanced hourly rates team as there is no ongoing benefit ordinary people. local reps. We need to be Of course, another way we For many decades, Crown post viewed this concession as a small or an agreed lump-sum payment. to members. offices have closed their doors to reward for the hard work they put in “But unfortunately, the business “Once again, this is Post Office In most cases your branch should be A route that a lot of trade clearer on what support can all help to improve the your first point of contact. Details customers at 12.30pm on Christmas during the traditionally busy period just won’t see sense here,” Andy management playing games,” said are on your membership card. unions have taken when we give them and what CWU’s strength in the Eve, allowing hard-working staff a leading up to Christmas. continued, “we’ve been reasonable, Andy, who explained: “They just It’s hard to believe faced with these financial we expect in return workplace is to recruit non- few valuable hours to complete their “It’s hard to believe that the and have put forward a series of fair want us to concede the principle of the senior Post Edition Editor and organisational n New forms of members. last-minute preparations for the big people at the top of this company and workable solutions, while Christmas Eve afternoons and then Office management Karl Stewart day ahead. really think this is a fair way to treat they’ve acted in their usual high- in future years they’ll offer our think this is fair pressures is to merge with engagement where you Happy Christmas. But this year, Post Office bosses loyal and long-serving employees, handed and arrogant manner and members nothing at all for doing it Andy Furey Edition Journalist Paul Donovan Voice stories and Communications department 020 8971 7497 Published on behalf of CWU by PEOPLE’S POST CWU slams RM ‘fire sale’ Jobs action looms Century One Publishing Ltd. T: 01727 893 894 W: www.centuryonepublishing.uk GOVERNMENT SHARE SELL-OFF paid have yet been released, at the previous coalition Government, we SUPPLY CHAIN & SUPPORT impact on members at Dartford, Advertising enquiries fter a lively launch during the summer in the 'Artist Taxi Driver', Mark McGowan and pay, terms and conditions are attacked “we time of going to press. were told that this was because Dearne, St Helens, Bolton, Leeds and Oliver Kirkman Acentral London, our People’s Post Abby Tomlinson the creator of the ‘milifandom will fight." CWU general secretary Dave Ward In June, the Government had sold Royal Mail needed private capital to As we went to press, members at a Chesterfield, while the majority of T: 01727 739 184 campaign won unanimous support from the hashtag’ during the general election has condemned the Government’s off 50 per cent of its existing stake at invest in its future - but if you ask Post Office CViT and coin centre unit depots are directly affected by the E: [email protected] TUC and the Labour Party, and then we were campaign, while the evening’s proceedings l If you still haven’t watched the CWUTV video of this event, “fire sale” of its remaining 13 per £5 per share, raising £750m.