Winston Richards National Elections 2018

Information on Winston’s election campaign can be found below…

Contact Phone Number:  07714744183
Email: winstonrichards6410@gmail.com.
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Download a PDF of Winston’s election address.

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BRANCH: Greater London Combined Branch

JOB TITLE: Customer Service Engineer

DATE STARTED EMPLOYMENT: August 1985

JOINED CWU: 1995

UNION RECORD/OTHER RELEVANT SERVICE TO THE UNION AND LABOUR MOVEMENT:

Branch Representative from 1996-1999, Branch officer 1999- 2008, Branch Chair 2008- to date, member of the Race Advisory Committee 1999- to date, (RAC Vice Chair from 2012- to date) Payphone Co-ord committee member 2006- 2011. CWU TUC Black Workers Delegate. BAME Tutor 2016-to date, London Regional Chair 2016-to date

EDUCATION 1999-2015:
Union Skills 1, 2 &3, ULR, Equality and Diversity, Employment Law, BA (Hons) Trade Union and Labour Studies (London Metropolitan University.)

Nominating Branches: Central Counties & Thames Valley; Coventry; Greater London Combined; Greater Mersey & South West Lancs; South London, Surrey & North Hampshire

Election Address

I am seeking your support for election to the post of Deputy General Secretary Telecoms and Financial Services. Over the last twenty years I have gained a huge amount of experience from actually being engaged with you the members.

Today the telecoms industry underpins much of our economic and social activity, a broadband connection is now considered essential by most people. There is hardly a sector in the UK that will not rely in some shape or form on the connectivity provided by telecoms, with constantly-evolving technology and increasing user expectations telecoms is considered to be part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure.

To meet these challenges a review our current structures from top to bottom is necessary to ensure we safeguard current and new members from a regulatory structure designed to incentivise private investment by way of deregulation and increased competition. Our industrial strategy must ensure workers are fully protected from cost cutting exercises which invariably arise with competition.

We need to organise across all companies such as Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, Equinix, Lycatel, COLT, alongside other telecoms organisations in order to secure comparative industry wide terms and conditions. Acquire equivalent working hours, parity on pay and safe working environments. The importance of this industry to the economy gives us a strong bargaining position to counter the threats of casualization in the workplace.

I believe this union must adapt to be truly representative, I know from personal experience there are issues that have a greater impact on sections of our workforce and wider society which are damaging social cohesion, treatment of the Windrush generation being one example. Young workers face the prospect of worse living standards than the previous generation for the first time. Therefore it is my intention to fully engage with all the advisory committees on industrial and political concerns to make sure no one is unintentionally disadvantaged by decisions. The union are currently embarking on the Re-Design project this is the time to put forward innovative ideas to shape our future.

I will continue to campaign for a workforce that reflects our modern society, ensuring employers recognise the benefits this will bring to their organisation. For the future of this union I will work with all departments and with all the regions to maintain and further develop our mentoring programme. We can utilise this structure to identify as well as encourage activists from previously underrepresented groups the chance to have their say and appreciate the union is the place to remain if we are to achieve a fair and equal society.

Representation that meets the needs of our members is my priority, it is my intention to make the Union relevant for all, therefore I am prepared to challenge the establishment and ensure the voice of the members is heard. I will consult with the members, listen to their issues and involve them collectively in protecting their rights and promoting positive change.

Please vote

Winston Richards