Brilliant Mount Pleasant nursery demo.

Today saw members of Mount Pleasant International branch plus NEC members. local MP's, the general public and I demonstrating against the closure of Mount Pleasant nursery. This is a facility which enables many of my members to work. It's closure will devastate their lives. It must not happen.

Reward staff Vodafone

17^th May 2011
For immediate release
CWU urges Vodafone to reward staff
Following UK mobile giant Vodafone’s financial results today (Tuesday) which show revenue, profits and share holder payouts up, the Communication Workers Union urges the company to reward staff and protect UK jobs.
Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “Today’s results show that Vodafone is performing well and enjoying financial success. It’s now time Vodafone rewarded its hard-working staff who have helped bring the company success through recent hard years.
“Staff in the UK have faced successive outsourcing rounds and workplace closures, the most recent in Trowbridge. We’re now urging Vodafone to support their UK workforce and protect these experienced staff by guaranteeing UK jobs.
“With shareholders seeing an increased payout of 7.1 per cent, and company profits up by almost 10 per cent, we hope that Vodafone will look seriously at offering matching pay rises for staff.“
Inflation currently stands at 4.5 per cent for CPI, but the more widely used measure for pay rises is RPI which currently stands at 5.2 per cent.
CWU is the largest trade union in the communications sector with 211,000 members in telecommunication, mobile, postal and financial services industries.
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For more information please contact:
Sian Jones, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail: sbjones@cwu.org
Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications, mobile: 07714504413, e-mail: kslocombe@cwu.org
www.cwu.org              www.cwutv.org
From Sian Jones | Press Officer
Email sbjones@cwu.org | Direct line 020 8971 7267 | Mobile 0779 3314249
Communication Workers Union  The communications union
Headquarters 150 The Broadway | Wimbledon | SW19 1RX
T 020 8971 7200 | F 020 8971 7300 | www.cwu.org | www.cwutv.org

Save Mount Pleasant Nursery Demo

17^th May 2011
For immediate release
Demo to save Mount Pleasant nursery
Royal Mail staff, parents and children will protest outside Mount Pleasant between 12 and 2:30pm on Thursday 19^th May in opposition to plans to close the on-site nursery which provides subsidised childcare for postal workers across London.
  Royal Mail has condemned the nursery to closure by the autumn, has not consulted staff or parents and has not responded to concerns raised by the Communication Workers Union about the closure, including the impact on equality. Postal workers are among London's lowest paid workforce making subsidised childcare a vital asset for families. For many Royal Mail staff it's the difference between being able to work or having to give up in order to care for young children.
 Local MPs Emily Thornberry and Frank Dobson are supporting the campaign to keep the nursery open.
Mount Pleasant CWU branch secretary Roger Charles said: "The Mount Pleasant nursery is really important because it's a unique facility. It offers affordable childcare for shift workers as it's open from 6am to 10pm. It's the only facility like it in Royal Mail and makes a huge difference to the lives of working families.
“We know that some people will have to resign if this nursery closes. That’s why we’re demonstrating on Thursday – to make it clear that this nursery is valued by Royal Mail staff and to urge the company to re-think the closure and find a way of keeping it open. This cost saving will cost the livelihoods of our members if it goes ahead.”

Details: Demonstrators will be outside Royal Mail’s Mount Pleasant sorting office at the Rosebery Avenue entrance between 12noon and 2:30pm on Thursday 19^th May 2011. Parents, children and supporters will hold placards and be gathering signatures on a petition against the closure.

  Parents and the CWU are appealing to Royal Mail Chief Executive Moya Greene to reconsider the decision but no response has yet been received.
Facebook group: www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Mount-Pleasant-Nursery/118247551583530#!/pages/Save-Mount-Pleasant-Nursery/118247551583530

Notes to editors:

·         The Child's Play nursery is run by Kiddicare. It opened in 1994 to great fanfare as the first dedicated crèche facility for Royal Mail staff across London.
·         It caters for up to 30 children at any one time and at its peak provided care for around 70 children. 
·         Parents pay £112 a week for full-time childcare. This is up to eight hours a day, on any shift time between 6am and 10pm. Part-time childcare costs £68 a week for up to four hours a day.
·         The average full-time postman or woman's wage starts at £371 a week before tax in London, so affordable childcare is a real issue for families
·         Staff believe that Royal Mail has been deliberately running the nursery down and even discouraging new entrants.
For more information please contact:
Sian Jones, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail: sbjones@cwu.org
Roger Charles, Mount Pleasant Branch Secretary, tel: 020 7239 2214, mobile: 07738 579327, e-mail: mountpleasantinternational@btconnect.com
Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications, mobile: 07714504413, e-mail: kslocombe@cwu.org
www.cwu.org              www.cwutv.org
From Sian Jones | Press Officer
Email sbjones@cwu.org | Direct line 020 8971 7267 | Mobile 0779 3314249
Communication Workers Union  The communications union

Headquarters 150 The Broadway | Wimbledon | SW19 1RX

T 020 8971 7200 | F 020 8971 7300 | www.cwu.org | www.cwutv.org

CWU IDAHO memorial unveiled

CWU unveil IDAHO tribute in memorial garden

17th May 2011

The CWU is today (Tuesday) unveiling a memorial to commemorate International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) as a lasting tribute to all those lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members who have suffered homophobic or transphobic abuse. The symbolic monument will stand proudly in the recently opened memorial garden at the CWU Education Centre in Alvescot.
Held every year on the 17 May, IDAHO day remembers those who have been victimised, abused and killed in the workplace due to their sexual orientation. Despite rigorous campaigning against such discrimination by trade unions worldwide, homosexuality is still illegal in 77 countries. In seven of these countries women, men and children face the death penalty because of their sexuality.

Linda Roy, CWU's national equality officer commented: "Today is a very proud day for the CWU and for our Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) advisory committee. After months of hard work we have seen the fruition of our plans come together. It is appalling that in this day and age there are still some 77 countries around the world that penalise LGBT people simply because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The CWU will continue to highlight this injustice until LGBT people can live free from the fear of persecution".

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "International Day Against Homophobia is an opportunity for unions to highlight the suffering of LGBT people all around the world, and demand that the way they are treated is improved - both in the workplace and in the wider community."

In recognition of IDAHO the TUC has published new guidance - LGBT Equality at Work. The report covers changes in the law for LGBT people, workplace issues and training and includes guidance on challenging harassment, prejudice and discrimination, and promoting equality at work.

Visit CWU LGBT for more information

It's Yes to AV - and No to AV.

The result of my Yes or No to AV poll is a tie. 50% say Yes and 50% say No. Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote. 

EHRC cuts demo

Today I attended a demo with coleagues from the PCS and other organisations to protest at proposed cuts to the EHRC. If enacted these will seriously affect the work the Commission is able to do. Millions of workers will suffer. We mus not let this happen.

Virgin Media - Trowbridge closure press release.

4^th May 2011

For immediate release

CWU says Virgin Media closure a ‘disaster’ for Trowbridge
Following news from Virgin Media that the company will close its Trowbridge centre with the loss of over 500 jobs locally, the Communication Workers Union describes the decision as a “disaster” for the local area.
  Staff at the Virgin Media contact centre, which handles calls for Virgin Mobile and other Virgin products, were briefed by senior Virgin Media management at 2pm today (Wednesday) about the decision to close the site by the end of 2012. Mobile company Vodafone announced last month that it will close its centre on the same site in Trowbridge.
  Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “This is a disaster for Virgin Media staff at Trowbridge and for the whole area. Coming on the back of the Vodafone decision to pull out of Trowbridge, the local economy will be hit hard by this redundancy double whammy.
  “We’re asking Virgin Media to make redeployment and relocation packages a realistic option for staff who may be interested, not a token tick box exercise. The sad fact is that there will not be an option to stay in Trowbridge and work for Virgin Media as other sites are not within commuting distance and relocation remains an unrealistic option for the majority of staff.
“The closure will be phased over 18 months, but this is no consolation for staff, many of whom have long service for the company, who ultimately face losing their job.”
  CWU is advising members through this difficult period.

CWU represents people working in call centre, engineering and other roles in mobile and telecommunication companies. CWU also has members in postal and financial services industries with 211,000 members across the UK.

For more information please contact:

Sian Jones, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail: sbjones@cwu.org
Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications, mobile: 07714504413, e-mail: kslocombe@cwu.org