Majority favour suspending funding from Labour

My latest online poll has closed. Particpants voted 71% to 28% in favour of supending CWU contributions to the Labour party. As one member recently put it "Why feed the hand that bites you."

Commenting on this blog

Due to a technical problem viewers have not been able to comment on my postings. The situation has now been rectified. Just click on comment, then under "profile" select "anonymous". You can also register as a follower. Look forward to hearing from you.

DSNAC CONFERENCE

The CWU DSNAC conference takes place at the Apex Hotel, Dundee in 10 days time on October 24th. Almost 100 delegates have registered and there is a full agenda of speakers and motions. The Lord Provost of Dundee has organised a "Welcome"for delegates on the Friday evening. This will be followed by a social at a local hostelry. For those staying on Saturday evening DSNAC Chair Tony Sneddon has arranged a gathering at his local pub. I look forward to seeing you all there.

London strikes today

Friends and colleagues in London are on strike today. Please send messages of support to these offices:
South London Mail Centre

Victoria SW1 DO
East London MC Distribution
East London MC Processing
Rathbone Place Distribution W1/ WC
Mount Pleasant Deliveries/Processing/ Distribution
EC Deliveries
LAMU
Cricklewood NW2 HUB Distribution
E1 Collection HUB Distribution
E10 Collection HUB
E14 Collection HUB
E15 Collection HUB
SE1 Collection HUB
SE No5 Collection HUB
North Finchley HUB
The Hyde HUB Collections/DO
SW11 Hub (Collections PM)
SW19 Hub (Collections PM)
Willesden NW10 HUB Distribution
Wimbledon HUB Collections
Battersea HUB Collections
Cricklewood NW2 HUB Distribution
Greenwich Collection HUB
Kensington Inner HUB
N1 Distribution & HUB
Tottenham N17 HUB Distribution
NW1 Collection HUB & Distribution
Acton Outer Hub
Woolwich SE18
Southwark DO SE1
East London DO (E1)
Hampstead DO
Hornsey DO
Islington DO
Kilburn DO
Muswell Hill DO
NW1 DO
Poplar Docklands DO
Southwark DO
Stratford DO
Willesden DO
Woolwich DO
Abbey Wood & Thamesmead DO
Acton DO
Anerley DO
Balham DO
Barnes DO
Battersea DO
Bethnal Green DO
Blackheath DO
Bow DO
Brixton DO
Brockley DO
Camberwell DO
Catford DO
Charlton DO
Chelsea DO
Chingford DO
Chiswick DO
Church End DO
Clapham DO
Clapton DO
Cricklewood DO
Deptford DO
Dulwich DO
Ealing DO
Earls Court DO
East Dulwich DO
East Finchley DO
East Ham DO
Putney DO
Rotherhithe DO
Shepherds Bush DO
South Kensington DO
South Lambeth DO
South Norwood DO
South Tottenham DO
South Woodford DO
Southgate DO
St John's Wood DO
Stockwell DO
Stoke Newington DO
Streatham DO
Sydenham DO
West End D.O (Rathbone Place) W1-WC DO
ELMC Victoria Docks DO
Eltham DO
FinsburyPark DO
Forest Gate DO
Forest Hill DO
Fulham DO
Golders Green DO
Greenwich DO
Hackney DO
Hammersmith DO
Hanwell DO
Hendon DO
Herne Hill DO
Highbury DO
Highgate N6 DO
Holloway DO
Homerton DO
Kennington & Walworth DO
Kensington DO
Kentish Town DO
Lee DO
Lewisham DO
Leyton DO
Leytonstone DO
Lower Edmonton DO
Maida Vale DO
Manor Park DO
Mill Hill DO
Mortlake DO
New Cross DO
New Southgate DO
North Finchley DO
North Kensington DO
Norwood DO
Tottenham DO
Tooting DO
Notting Hill DO
Paddington DO
Palmers Green DO
Peckham DO
Plaistow DO
Putney DO
Upper Edmonton DO
Upper Holloway DO
Walthamstow DO
Wandsworth DO
West Brompton Earls Court DO
West Ealing DO
West Kensington DO
West Norwood DO
Whetstone DO
Wood Green DO
Chelsea SW3 DO
Balham DO
Brixton DO
Clapham DO
Putney DO
South Lambeth DO
Tooting DO

Don't write them off!

Today the National Autistic Society has launched it's !Don't Write Me Off" report. This calls on the Government to make the the employment services and benefitss ystem fair for adults with autism, so that it takes into account their needs. The report found that among autistic people:

- one third are currently without work or benefits 
- over half have spent some time without work or benefits, some for as long as 10 years
- just 15% have a full-time job
- 79% of those on Incapacity Benefit want to work

Mark Lever, Chief Executive of The NAS, says, “We believe that people with autism deserve to live fulfilled lives. We believe that people with autism deserve the support to reach their full potential. We also believe that there are simple solutions that the Government can put in place to make this happen. Without these changes, we would be writing off people with autism, and that’s just not acceptable. We’re calling on the Government to take action, and we’re asking you to support our campaign.”

For more details and to join in the campaign log on to http://www.dontwritemeoff.org.uk/en-GB/News/2009/DWMOReportLaunch.aspx

On strike today

Today, Monday 12th October, friends and colleagues in these offices are on strike.


Avonmouth PDO
Axbridge SPDO
Brentwood delivery office, Essex
Bristol North, South, East, and South East delivery offices
City PDO
Clevedon PDO
Clifton PDO
Fishponds PDO
Keynsham
Kingswood PDO
Portishead
Nailsea PDO
Westbury on Trym PDO
Woolavington SPDO
Yatton PDO
Yate
SW London Offices:
Earls Court DO
Fulham DO
South Kensington DO
Stockwell DO
West Brompton Earls Court DO
Battersea DO
Barnes DO
Mortlake DO
Streatham DO
Wandsworth DO
West Wimbledon DO
Wimbledon DO

Please send messages of support.

The GUDE CAUSE march in Edinburgh

On Saturday 10th October 2009 it marked the 100th anniversary of the Women's Suffrage Procession in Edinburgh. Hundreds of women dressed in Green, White, and Violet the colours of the suffragette movement, took part in the procession with colourful displays, music, floats and banners, marching for women's right to vote. Thousands more turned out to cheer them on.

The CWU was well represented by the WAC and the Chairs and Secrtaries of the Regional Women's committees. It was a very special day and well done to Willie Marshal and Garry Clarke who carried the Scotland No 2 Banner for the 2 miles.

Congratulations to Piers and Martin

On Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October I led the CWU delegation to the STUC Black Workers Conference where we succeeded in getting Piers Doughty Brown elected the STUC Black Workers Committee. Congratulations to Piers and also to Martin Keenan who is currently President of the STUC.

Myself, AJ, Piers and Elspeth

(Sorry about the quality)

Martin Keenan

Elspeth Betthany retires

Myself, Elspeth and Tony Sneddon, Chair of the DSNAC.

Last weekend I was invited to Glasgow for Elspeth Betthany's reirement do. Elspeth has been a dedicated and committed CWU and STUC activist for many years and is currently vice chair of the DSNAC. The evening was enjoyable, emotional and well attended. I wish Elspeth and her husband a long, happy and prosperous retirement.

Read Billy's article

If you've read coverage of the Royal Mail dispute in today's papers you would be forgiven for thinking that the CWU is solely to blame. There is little criticism of the Government or of the bullying, harassing and intransigent managers at all levels of Royal Mail. GS Billy Hayes has responded in an excellent article in article in the Guardian which should be read at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/08/cwu-postal-workers-strike-royal-mail

UAF protest against Nick Griffin

The BBC has invited Nick Griffin, leader of the fascist BNP and a man with a criminal conviction for denying Hitler’s Holocaust, onto its flagship Question Time programme on Thursday 22 October in London. Unite Against Fascism will be protesting at the BBC Headquarters, Wood Lane, London W12 7RJ. ( White City or Wood Lane tube )

Picket from 9am. Main demonstration from 5pm, Thursday 22 October

You can also protest by contacting BBC Complaints via 03700 100 222 , or click here www.tinyurl.com/bbccomplaints
Help UAF to raise the funds needed to stop the fascist BNP today. Click here to download a join form www.uaf.org.uk/resources/0903membership_form.pdf

On strike today

Today, Friday 9th October, friends and colleagues throughout the regions are on strike. Please send messages of support to the following offices:

Bristol mail centre processing
Burslem delivery office
Kilmarnock
London mail centres:
East London
London Airport Mail Unit
Mount Pleasant
South London mail centre

Network (logistics and van) drivers in:
Carlisle
Coventry
Chelmsford - Essex DC
Hatfield, Northern Home Counties DC
Leeds, YDC
Nottingham - East Midlands VOC
Swindon VOC
Warrington - North West Regional Distribution Centre
London:
East London
Greenford
Nine Elms, Vauxhall
Princess Royal Distribution Centre, North London

Massive vote for industrial action

CWU memebrs in Royal Mail have overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action. The CWU website reports:

The Communication Workers Union today (Thursday) can report a yes vote in the national ballot for strike action in Royal Mail. Postal workers voted by 76 per cent in favour in favour of strike action.
  Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "This is a huge vote of no confidence in Royal Mail management. The company has tried to make out that problems only exist in some local offices, but postal workers across the UK have now spoken and they say no to Royal Mail's arrogance.
  "Royal Mail has never really been engaged in modernisation. They've been running down the business, running down services and cutting costs and it's that business plan that postal workers have overwhelmingly rejected today. "There's still an opportunity to reach an agreement before any national strike action takes place. "We need a national agreement which secures a fair deal on modernisation and reward for the efforts of postal workers in transforming the business. We want reassurances on job security, covering both redundancies and full-time part-time ratios.
  "Crucial to an agreement is fair workloads with agreed standards of measurement. Constantly disciplining postal workers will not improve efficiencies but will drive an ever bigger wedge between workers and what they are told is modernisation.
  "We've seen cuts and increased workloads and now we need an agreed roll-out of real modernisation. Aligning the interests of customers, employees and the company as a whole is a pre-requisite for the successful modernisation of Royal Mail. "The Government must act now to resolve the pensions deficit which is crippling the Royal Mail's finances and chances to modernise effectively."

Bristol strike today

Bristol mail centre collection and distribution drivers are withdrawing their labour today. Please send messages of support.

Peterborough delivery offfice on strike today

On the day before the result of the national ballot is announced friends and colleagues in Peterborough delivery office are on stirke from 22:00. Please send messages of support.

Use your vote NOW!

The national ballot for industrial action in Royal Mail closes this Thurday. Please use your vote and return your ballot pape as a matter of urgency. If you have not received a ballot paper and think you are entitled to one contact CWU headquarters immediately.

Demonstrations against English Defence League

Manchester UAF http://manchesteruaf.org/?p=55  has called a demonstration against the English Defence League at 12 noon in Piccadilly Gardens. It is supported by the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester. Email mancuaf@gmail.com for more details.
  Forthcoming EDL demonstrations include:

17 October: Swansea
24 October: Newport
31 October: Leeds
7 November: Nottingham
14 November: Glasgow

Use your vote!

The deadline for the return of ballot papers for members in Royal Mail is next Thursday October 8.

PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE!

If you have not received a ballot paper and you think you are entitled to one contact headquareters immediately.

Sikh police officer wins discrimination case

An employment tribunal has ruled that Gurmeal Singh, 31, will receive compensation from Greater Manchester Police after being subjected to indirect discrimination and harassment.
  Two of Mr Singh's grievances were upheld. One centred on him being told to remove his turban during training. The Tribunal ruled that this was a violation of his dignity particularly as he had already informed his superiors that he would not remove the turban on religious grounds.
  Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8285952.stm

Strikes in Bristol

Today friends and colleagues in these offices in the Bristol area are on strike:

Avonmouth
Axbridge
BristolNorth, South, South East, City and East
Bridgewater
Clevedon
Clifton
Fishponds
Keynsham
Kingswood
Nailsea
Portishead
Westbury on Trym
Woolavington
Yate
Yatton

Please send messages of support.

Assault on union rights in New Zealand

The New Zealand Dairy Workers Union is engaged in a tough battle with a ruthless employer assaulting fundamental workplace rights, and needs your support.
  The dispute is at the Waharoa plant of Open Country Cheese, one of the company's three cheese and milk ingredients plants. Open Country is New Zealand's second largest dairy producer. It was set up in the wake of the government's 2001 industry restructuring which abolished the single-seller status of the Dairy Board, allowing independent dairy companies to produce and export. Open Country has used deregulation to pursue a "low road" model for the industry. At Waharoa, workers recently joined the union in response to management proposals for degrading already precarious working conditions characterized by long and unsocial hours and the abusive use of "temporary" workers - often for years on end.
  Find out more and send messages of support at http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&ID=6209&view_records=1&ww=1&en=1