About Me
- Linda Roy
- Lifetime commitment to the trade union and labour movement. Been local workplace and national CWU representative and held many other positions in the CWU. TUC accredited tutor and disability champion. Former Labour town councillor and town Mayor.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
DSNAC conference
This years DSNAC conference takes place in Dundee on Saturday October 24th. Please do your best to attend this lively forum where many decisions about our policies on Disability and Special Needs issues are made. It's also a social occasion where you can meet and make friends and useful contacts. If you want to be a delegate contact your branch secretary. Also get your branch to submit a motion. If you need any advice or assistance please let me know at lroy@cwu.org.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
What's happening where you work?
If you've got any good or bad news about what's happening in your workplace and you would like us all to know about it please email it to me at lroy@cwu.org. I'll do my best o publish it on this blog the same day. You can also send photographs which should be in jpeg format.
Please feel free to comment on anything that is on the blog. Thank you all.
Please feel free to comment on anything that is on the blog. Thank you all.
Monday, 24 August 2009
EHRC challenges BNP membership criteria
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has today initiated court proceedings against Nick Griffin and two other BNP officials over theit's membership rules which limit membership to people who are "Caucasian' and defined 'ethnic groups' emanating from that race".
The EHRC is concerned that the BNP is continuing to discriminate against potential or actual members on the grounds of their race despite being advised by the Commission in June that the party was in breach of the Race Relations Act.
Let us hope that justice prevails.
The EHRC is concerned that the BNP is continuing to discriminate against potential or actual members on the grounds of their race despite being advised by the Commission in June that the party was in breach of the Race Relations Act.
Let us hope that justice prevails.
From the Front Line
From a postman in Merseyside
Today we returned to our office after the weekend to find all fittings had been changed and we had lost 6 walks plus a driving duty. Executive action was served last month by R/M expiring on the 28 august ( yes we haven’t reached the 28 august yet) but they saw it fit to ignore this law binding agreement and implement their changes anyway. All staff saw this as unacceptable and sat in the canteen. We were given 10 minutes to return to work or R/M were classing it as unofficial action. Once the 10 minutes were up we were told we would have to leave the premises .By this time our area rep had arrived and was informed by management that he could not address the lads in the canteen. This went down like a lead balloon and he told them he would address us and he did. He asked us what we wanted and we informed him we wanted fittings to go back to how they were on Saturday and that we wanted to pick our own duties going down the seniority list and we would return to the shop floor. R/M chose not to allow us this so on the gate we went. Today still R/M are refusing to talk to the union and tomorrow we are on the gate again .What they have done as we refused to pick duties is they picked them for us and the ones that did refuse regardless of there seniority, gave them either a reserve duty or a floating duty and gave less senior postmen half decent duties. What is now happening in our area is that come tomorrow an office close to ours is coming out in support of us and hopefully this spread locally. We did make the local news papers, local radio stations and the local news on tv. We also had present on our picket line today two community police officers, why I do not know. Before they arrived we had the police attend our picket line to find out what was going on when i told them they did inform me that their inspector was on his way to see me. He understood the position we were in and had no objections to our picket if the numbers were kept to the correct number (6) we did try this but it didn’t last and nothing was said by the police which was great because they could have easily have kept to the letter of the law and broke up our picket line so its back on the gate tomorrow and may be the day after or even longer until R/M decide to talk to us. How stupid of a big employer like R/M refusing to talk to the union. What I believe they are trying is starve us back to work but so be it.........
This is an update … just to let you know how our unofficial strike action is going. Well its day two and we are still on the gate, held talks with very senior managers today and divisional and area reps present. We explained to them allow the staff to pick there own duties starting today as the seniority list dictates and we shall return to work immediately. Sadly R/M decided that they would only allow us to return to work once we were back on the shop floor and working as normal but would only allow us to pick duties in 2 or 3 weeks time .This was not acceptable to the office workers and the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of staying out until we are allowed to pick our own duties and not have these dictated to us by R/M. So on to day three tomorrow and back on the gate. Will keep you updated tomorrow............
Today we returned to our office after the weekend to find all fittings had been changed and we had lost 6 walks plus a driving duty. Executive action was served last month by R/M expiring on the 28 august ( yes we haven’t reached the 28 august yet) but they saw it fit to ignore this law binding agreement and implement their changes anyway. All staff saw this as unacceptable and sat in the canteen. We were given 10 minutes to return to work or R/M were classing it as unofficial action. Once the 10 minutes were up we were told we would have to leave the premises .By this time our area rep had arrived and was informed by management that he could not address the lads in the canteen. This went down like a lead balloon and he told them he would address us and he did. He asked us what we wanted and we informed him we wanted fittings to go back to how they were on Saturday and that we wanted to pick our own duties going down the seniority list and we would return to the shop floor. R/M chose not to allow us this so on the gate we went. Today still R/M are refusing to talk to the union and tomorrow we are on the gate again .What they have done as we refused to pick duties is they picked them for us and the ones that did refuse regardless of there seniority, gave them either a reserve duty or a floating duty and gave less senior postmen half decent duties. What is now happening in our area is that come tomorrow an office close to ours is coming out in support of us and hopefully this spread locally. We did make the local news papers, local radio stations and the local news on tv. We also had present on our picket line today two community police officers, why I do not know. Before they arrived we had the police attend our picket line to find out what was going on when i told them they did inform me that their inspector was on his way to see me. He understood the position we were in and had no objections to our picket if the numbers were kept to the correct number (6) we did try this but it didn’t last and nothing was said by the police which was great because they could have easily have kept to the letter of the law and broke up our picket line so its back on the gate tomorrow and may be the day after or even longer until R/M decide to talk to us. How stupid of a big employer like R/M refusing to talk to the union. What I believe they are trying is starve us back to work but so be it.........
This is an update … just to let you know how our unofficial strike action is going. Well its day two and we are still on the gate, held talks with very senior managers today and divisional and area reps present. We explained to them allow the staff to pick there own duties starting today as the seniority list dictates and we shall return to work immediately. Sadly R/M decided that they would only allow us to return to work once we were back on the shop floor and working as normal but would only allow us to pick duties in 2 or 3 weeks time .This was not acceptable to the office workers and the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of staying out until we are allowed to pick our own duties and not have these dictated to us by R/M. So on to day three tomorrow and back on the gate. Will keep you updated tomorrow............
Breast Cancer Awareness
I am grateful to Brian W Kenny for sending this.
This should make you smile ... and make you think!
This is the cutest breast cancer email I have ever received.
This should make you smile ... and make you think!
This is the cutest breast cancer email I have ever received.
A small request. All you are asked to do is keep this circulating.
All you are asked to do is keep this circulating
Even if it is to one person
In memory of anyone you know that has
been struck down by cancer or is still living with it ...
A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle
Please Keep This Candle Going
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Barack Obama to address CWU Black Workers Conference?
Delegates to the 2009 CWU Black Workers conference in Dundee could find themselves in the same room as the President of the United States if he accepts the invitation I sent to him last month..
In 2005 the Union published the Black Workers Representation booklet which contained a number of recommendations. One was to raise the profile of the Black Workers conference and another was to engage with politicians to promote our equality and diversity objectives especially those pertaining to black and ethnic minority workers. There can be no more inspirational politician than Barack Obama. We have contacted the White House to invite the President. They have responded by saying that for security reasons they only publish details of Mr Obama’s commitments three months in advance. As they have not declined our invite this is encouraging.
I advise branches to submit applications for delegates credentials for the Black Workers Conference as soon as possible as there will be a big demand for places regradless of who the guest speaker is.
In 2005 the Union published the Black Workers Representation booklet which contained a number of recommendations. One was to raise the profile of the Black Workers conference and another was to engage with politicians to promote our equality and diversity objectives especially those pertaining to black and ethnic minority workers. There can be no more inspirational politician than Barack Obama. We have contacted the White House to invite the President. They have responded by saying that for security reasons they only publish details of Mr Obama’s commitments three months in advance. As they have not declined our invite this is encouraging.
I advise branches to submit applications for delegates credentials for the Black Workers Conference as soon as possible as there will be a big demand for places regradless of who the guest speaker is.
Stop bullying my members
The CWU has an unrivalled record in supporting members who are bullied and harassed at work. We thought we were making progress in eliminating the epidemic of bullying endemic in Royal Mail over the last decade. It is with sadness and anger that I report that my department is being deluged with complaints from members about their unacceptable treatment by managers mainly since the government had to shelve plans to privatise Royal Mail. The following letter from Kenny Jordan sums up what is happening. Kenny was due to receive a long service award.
Dear Sir/Madam,
With regard to my long service award, it is regretful but I feel it inappropriate at this troublesome time for me to accept any reward, to do so would be both hypocritical and disloyal to my work colleagues, whom I stand next to on the picket line.
Royal Mail tell me I am a valued employee and they wish to reward me, the truth is however somewhat different, I am to be allocated a new duty, not only are my working hours to be changed I am also expected to work 2 Saturdays out of three and except a pay freeze! Add to this Bank holiday working, when required, introduced some time ago. This is my reward for 20 years service, while management are apparently receiving bonus payments for their efforts!
To add insult to injury, I am currently off work suffering a viral infection with severe back pain, yet it only took a day for Royal Mail to issue me a letter informing me of the disciplinary procedure for being ill too often! Valued employee? I don't think so.
Mr. Alan Leighton during his reign expressed Royal Mail's intolerance regarding bullying and harassment in the work place, he failed to inform us that it was a totally acceptable practise for management!!
Yours with regret,
Mr. K. R. Jordan.
E.L.V.O.C.
Good on you Kenny. I advise Kenny and all members who are the victims of bullying to contact their local rep and lodge a grievance against the individual responsible. You should also contact me directly. Rest assured that neither I or this Union will tolerate the bullying and harassing of our members. Shame on those responsible.
Dear Sir/Madam,
With regard to my long service award, it is regretful but I feel it inappropriate at this troublesome time for me to accept any reward, to do so would be both hypocritical and disloyal to my work colleagues, whom I stand next to on the picket line.
Royal Mail tell me I am a valued employee and they wish to reward me, the truth is however somewhat different, I am to be allocated a new duty, not only are my working hours to be changed I am also expected to work 2 Saturdays out of three and except a pay freeze! Add to this Bank holiday working, when required, introduced some time ago. This is my reward for 20 years service, while management are apparently receiving bonus payments for their efforts!
To add insult to injury, I am currently off work suffering a viral infection with severe back pain, yet it only took a day for Royal Mail to issue me a letter informing me of the disciplinary procedure for being ill too often! Valued employee? I don't think so.
Mr. Alan Leighton during his reign expressed Royal Mail's intolerance regarding bullying and harassment in the work place, he failed to inform us that it was a totally acceptable practise for management!!
Yours with regret,
Mr. K. R. Jordan.
E.L.V.O.C.
Good on you Kenny. I advise Kenny and all members who are the victims of bullying to contact their local rep and lodge a grievance against the individual responsible. You should also contact me directly. Rest assured that neither I or this Union will tolerate the bullying and harassing of our members. Shame on those responsible.
New Equality e-bulletin
The new issue of our pioneering CWU Equality e-bulletin is now available. To subscribe just send your details to lroy@cwu.org. You can also view and download our informative equality fact sheets at http://www.cwu.org/30550/equal-opportunities.html
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