Reassert trade union values, CWU General Secretary tells Youth Conference

January 27 2016

Opening the 2016 Youth Conference, national youth chair Ben reminded delegates that the Mechanics
Institute had hosted themeeting at which the TUC wascreated in 1868. As such, he pointed out that those present represented the latest generation ina long history of struggle for a better dealfor working people.

General secretary Dave Ward continued on the same theme in his keynote address – calling for the reassertion of trade union values in society.

“How do you bring through the next generation of trade unionists?” Dave asked – pointing out that challenge has to be a top priority for the movement as a whole.

“A strong youth section means a strong CWU,” said Dave – predicting that “another five years of Tory government would drive inequality deeper and deeper.”

The general secretary branded the Trade Union Bill as an even more regressive measure than any of the legislation brought in by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. “There has not been a harsher time in the past 40 or 50 years than the world of work today. Yet the Government is trying to do down those who stand up for workers,” said Dave.

Recalling a time when it was predicted that with automation and change in the world of work there would be shorter working weeks and more leisure time, Dave pointed out that, instead, working people had seen an “explosion of insecurity.”

Dave urged members across the country to get involved in the day of action against the Trade Union Bill in February.

On February 9 TUC general secretary will host, via an online address and Q&A session, what is being billed as the biggest workplace meeting ever’ – and on 11 February every union is pledging to mount its own day of protest against the bill.

The new general secretary called for the CWU to bring together the industrial and political agendas in the same successful way as was recently evidenced at the Peoples’ Post event in Manchester. Then new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn shared a platform with Dave and other union leaders in defence of the postal industry. “We need to make this union more political and stronger industrially,” said Dave, who called for a new deal for workers from the Labour Party.

The new deal should see businesses being looked on favourably by government – provided they have a commitment to British workers, stressed Dave, condemning Labour politicians, who continually say they are pro-business but never mention workers.

Dave praised the CWU’s youth section for pushing housing right up the agenda to the point where it has now become a major priority. He called for the Government to intervene in the market to help resolve the housing crisis.

Dave described Jeremy Corbyn as “a catalyst for change” in the Labour Party and called for those trying to undermine him at the moment to be faced down.

He attacked New Labour for failing to address issues like the housing crisis and poor conditions in the workplace. “We cannot go back to New Labour. People talk about we must have power, but if you are only doing what the Tories would do anyway, then having power is not useful,” said Dave.

Dave also mentioned the reshaping of the CWU. He highlighted declining membership in some areas, arguing that things need to change if the CWU is to remain as a stand-alone independent union.

One major move will see greater resources being devoted so supporting workers in the workplace. “I want reps to be reps in the workplace. The union must be more responsive to workers in the workplace, not less,” said Dave, adding that the union is reviewing the ways in which it communicates its messages under a new head of communications.

He looked forward to the union having a stronger presence in different workplaces. “We are going to reassert union values in our society,” said Dave.

In debate, there was strong support for a motion calling on the NEC to develop an advice service “on housing and rent with legal help and advice.”

Alan Bebbington for the National Youth Committee (NYC) called for action on the housing crisis. “I am 30 and live at home with my Mum- 20 years ago I’d have had my own house by now,” said Alan.

A motion calling for a report looking at what causes stress in the workplace also received support.

Dan Badrick of South Wales branch referred to a doubling of the number of stress related cases over the past year, caused by the growing pressures being imposed by employers. “We need to know why people are suffering stress,” said Dan.

Ryan Case of West Yorkshire branch, and a former national Youth Chair, told how prior to his going off work with stress, he had been told to “just smile and get through it.”

Paddy Meehan of Northern Ireland Telecoms believes that people are being treated like robots in the workplace, with the work overload resulting in burgeoning levels of stress.

Pesh Patel of the national youth committee told of daily meetings he has with management over stress issues. “People don’t realise what individuals are faced with, with workplace stress,” said Pesh.

A related motion, calling for the UK to move in the same direction as Sweden with a six hour working day, with no reduction in salary, received strong backing.

Jamie George of Central Counties and Thames Valley quoted how in Sweden hour reductions had resulted in better productivity. “If an hour were taken off everyone, it could create new jobs,” said Jamie.

Dan Lewis of Bootle Financial Services testified how dropping from 35 to 25 hours a week had improved his health and reduced stress. “Reducing hours will reduce stress levels,” said Dan.

Others warned that reducing hours would just see employers expecting to see the same amount of work done in fewer hours, thereby increasing stress levels.

Billy Hunt for Gloucestershire Amal urged the CWU to use its purchasing power to ensure that it only deals with companies that pay their staff a living wage. Youth Committee member Becca Hufton pointed out that CWU members would not accept being paid poorly – so why should we expect it of others. Conference agreed and the motion was adopted unanimously.

A motion passed calling for the national youth committee to set up a debate with leading politicians for young members over the EU referendum. Not all delegates believed a debatewas necessary, as minds were already made up.

Billy Hunt warned that: “the potential of leaving the EU could be tragic for young workers.”

Other motions passed calling for action on alcohol addiction amongst the young, changing the rules on blood donation – currently viewed as systematicallydiscriminating against gay men – and a shadowing scheme for reps.

In the last debate of the day, Dan Lewis from Bootle Financial Services successfullymoved a motion championing theLiving Wage,which he calledto paiduniversally, and not just to over 25s.

CWUHA chair Carl Webb asked for two volunteers from amongst the youth to drive transit vans on the charity’s convoy to Moldova in September.

Carl described some of the poverty and suffering that the charity had come across in the variety of countries it has visited over the past two decades, Neither was Carl slow to acknowledge that there was much poverty at home that CWUHA is now moving to address.

“Going on these trips changes people’s outlooks- the unbelievable poverty and hardship that we encounter,” said Carl.

A convoy to Moldova in September will include a trailer full of medical supplies. Carl recalled the medical shortages that CWUHA came across as a result of a recent visit when a driver was injured. “We went to the hospital but then had to go out and bring the medical supplies back that were required for the treatment,” said Carl.

Carl described the present as “exciting times for CWUHA”, with hopes riding high that even more people from across the union will become involved in the work.

He pointed out that union members can now go out as volunteers, helping in the classroom in a school in Africa or at the newly formed Phoenix Centre in Moldova.

CWUHA is also looking to set up a football tournament in Moldova. This will involve renovating a rundown local football pitch, with clubs in the UK providing kit and boots for the players.

In summing up the day’s events, national officer Simon Sapper paid tribute to the work of the CWU’s young activistsand derided those who claimed young peoplewere too disinterested or disorganised to care about politics.

Pointing to therange of subjects debated,he urged delegates to take heart from the better vision of the future thathad underpinned the Conference. “Take this back to your workplaces,” said Simon. “We have the values and vision. We are the many – and we will prevail.”

Conference agreed that motions on work shadowing and managing stress should go forward to General Conference, and thatJay Bhundia (South West Middlesex) andDan Badrick (South Wales) should be the delegates to move them.

For more pictures of the conferencevisit the CWU Youth Facebook page here