Postal workers excel!

Postal workers deliver target-busting results

25th May 2012

Dave Ward praised CWU members for "meeting and beating the toughest delivery targets around" as Royal Mail's service quality results were released today.

The CWU deputy general secretary said that the figures, which show an improvement on last year, "show that the public is receiving a better service thanks to the hard work and dedication of postwomen and postmen up and down the country."

During January to March 2012, postal workers delivered 93.4 per cent of stamped and meter franked first-class mail the next working day after posting, beating the 93 per cent target, while second-class stamped and meter franked mail beat its 98.5 per cent target of delivery within three working days with a 98.9 per cent performance during the period.

Leading market research and business analysts TNS carried out the study, which was based on over 230,000 sample letters, parcels and packets sent to over 5,300 addresses over the January to March period.

Royal Mail's operations and modernisation managing directorMark Higson also praised the workforce, saying: "Our postmen and women are delivering to one of the highest and most challenging next-day performance targets in Europe while undertaking one of the UK's biggest transformation projects.

"I pay tribute to our people's commitment to our customers as they work hard to transform Royal Mail," he added.

Full results can be viewed under How we're performing on Royal Mail's website.

Yell - Mixed results

22^nd May 2012

For immediate release
Digital future crucial for Yell, says CWU
Reacting to Yell Group’s end of year results today (Tuesday) the Communication Workers Union says that the growth of digital business will be crucial to the success of the company and welcomes reported growth in that area. The union, which represents Yell customer service, technical and support staff, says that employee support and commitment to digital development will be important for its continuing success.
Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “These are a predictably mixed set of results showing expected continued decline in print and directory revenues.
“It’s encouraging to see Yell increasing their customer base and revenue in their digital operations. The success of this business area will clearly be crucial to the future ability of the company and employee support will be a major factor in the success of this transition.
“We hope to see Yell continuing to invest in the future of the company through digital diversification and through support and motivation for its loyal staff.”
   Yell Group’s results for the year to the end of March 2012 showed that revenue of £1,610m decreased by 14%. Digital services revenues grew by 112% to £134m while digital directories revenue fell by 11% to £327m and print and other directory revenues fell by 21% to £1,149m.
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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

Vodafone members deserve rewarding!

Quite simply  - Vodafone pay my members for their contribution to creating these profits.

22^nd May 2012

For immediate release
Vodafone should reward staff for strong results, says CWU
The Communication Workers Union welcomes Vodafone’s strong set of financial results today (Tuesday) and urges the company to reward its staff as well as shareholders. The company’s revenue and profits are both up and the dividend per share for the year is up by 52% at 13.52 pence.
  CWU has members in call centre, customer services and support roles in the UK and is urging Vodafone to recognise their contribution to the strong results through a pay reward and job security.
Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “Given the difficult economic situation that much of Europe finds itself in, these are a strong set of financial results from one of the biggest players in the mobile market.
“We’re urging the company to recognise the significant role that their employees have played to deliver these results. This has come during a difficult year for some staff who have been affected by relocations and changes to UK centres.
“Today’s results are very welcome and coupled with Vodafone’s acquisition of Cable and Wireless Worldwide show a strong UK company. We’d like to see this success being shared with staff at all levels of the company.”
  CWU is the biggest union for the communications sector with over 200,000 members in post, telecoms, mobile 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

Thanks for a great weekend.

Thanks to all who made our IDAHO weekend at the Alvescot a success. They know who they are!

Today we remember!

Today the 17th of May we remember the oppression and suffering of LGBT communities throughout the world. Today is International Day against Homophobia.  It is appalling that in this day and age there are still 77 countries around the world that penalise LGBT people simply because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

" Oh. who is this young sinner with handcuffs on his wrist?
And what h...as he been after, that they groan and shake their fists?
And wherefore is he wearing such a conscious -stricken air?
Oh they are taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.

The CWU will remember all those Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender people who have been or are still being persecuted, imprisoned and murdered all around the world.

CWU will continue to highlight the injustices until LGBT people live free from persecution and fear.

Celebrate IDAHO day

This Thursday May 17th marks the  annual International day Against Homophobia celebration. Members of the CWU including our LGBT committee will be remembering the oppression and suffering of LGBT communities throughout the world in the memorial garden at the Alvescot where a wreath will be laid. The pics are from last year.
For details of other IDAHO events and more information log on to http://www.dayagainsthomophobia.org/-IDAHO-english,41-.

Conference Pictures

These are a few pics from the CWU Annual Conference 2012. Most of them are from the extremely successful joint equality fringe. You may use any of them for non commercial non profit making publications as long as you acknowledge the source. Publishing them in profit making publications will require my permission.

Remploy Protest pictures

Following a busy couple of weeks I've finally managed to upload photos from various events. These are from the Remploy protest which took place at the Ministry of Justice on April 20. Feel free to use them in non commercial not for porfit publications as long as you acknowledge the source. You will need my permission to use them in for profit publications.