The YAC

[Big Daz]

The CWU's Youth Advisory Committee exists to co-ordinate and advance the interests of our 27,500 members under the age of 30. Its 12 members are annually elected by Conference each year. They are augmented by 4 members of the National Executive Council and supported by an officerial team at head office.

Simon Sapper is the National Officer with responsibility for the YAC - he can be contacted at youth@cwu.org. A new Committee was elected at this year's Conference. If you wish to contact any member of the Youth Advisory Committee please click below to see the full list:

Contact CWU Youth

The Committee meets approximately four times a year and the last meeting was held on 16 May 2008 in Manchester at CWU Head Office. The first meeting of the newly elected Committee will be held on 4 July 2008 at the Northern College.

CONTACT YOUR YAC MEMBER - NEWLY ELECTED AT CONFERENCE 2008

Northern Ireland West Branch
Stephen Gribben - stephen_gribben@yahoo.co.uk

Northern Ireland No 1 Branch
Mark Patterson - paddy1223@hotmail.com

Scotland No 1 Branch
Steve Munro - Steve.Munro@Cwuscot1.org

South & West Wales
Jamie Jenkins - Youth@cwu-south-wales.org.uk

Glasgow & Motherwell (E)
Ann Whitton - ann.whitton@cwmsg.cwplc.com

Central & West Lancs
Lee Fishwick - davidleefishwick@hotmail.co.uk

Plymouth & East Cornwall
Ralph Ferrett (Vice Chair) - ralph.ferrett@royalmail.com

Central & West Lancs
Maeve Kennedy (Chair) - Maevekennedy5@hotmail.com

South Devon & Cornwall
Jennifer Forbes - sdc.jenn@tiscali.co.uk

Bristol & District Amal
Kye Dudd - kyedudd@hotmail.com

South East Wales Amal
Geraint Cooper - venger_1999@hotmail.com

West Yorkshire
Simon Scott - simon.scott1@o2.com

HEAD OFFICE CONTACTS

Officer Simon Sapper youth@cwu.org
NEC Beryl Shepherd bshepherd@cwu.org
NEC Gary Jones gjones@cwu.org
NEC Carl Maden cmaden@cwu.org
NEC Noel McClean nmcclean@cwu.org
P.A. Jo Thair jthair@cwu.org

[Big Daz]

http://www.cwu.org/youth-yac-work.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.cwu.org/youth-yac-programme-of-work.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.cwu.org/changing-the-face-of ... onism.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dvbuk55]

Do we really need it?

How about an OAPAC to advance the interest of those over 30, 40, 50, 60 et seq - is this some loony idea - and what proportion of the membership does 27000 represent - whatever it is it's obviously a minority. I grow weary of the never ending jollies for one group or another. At the end of the day we work for the same organisation are subject to the same pay and modernisation agreement whatever age, sex or other preferences - and we pay the same subs. So lets stop making a case for whoever and whatever for no reason whatsoever.

[Big Daz]

My understanding of the YAC is it is to promote involvement of mbrs under 30 in the CWU and to make the CWU more relevant to them, the theroy being that the CWU will fizzle out if the younger members do not take a interest in the CWU and become active. Im getting the impression it may have moved on a bit/expanded in its purpose since the original idea was accepted by annual conference.

The big question is what should be done to achive those aims. Does the trip to moscow that wrangled refered to and was featured in a previous issue of the voice constitute a usefull use of resources to achive those aims?

[norbert]

Do we really need it?

How about an OAPAC to advance the interest of those over 30, 40, 50, 60 et seq - is this some loony idea - and what proportion of the membership does 27000 represent - whatever it is it's obviously a minority. I grow weary of the never ending jollies for one group or another. At the end of the day we work for the same organisation are subject to the same pay and modernisation agreement whatever age, sex or other preferences - and we pay the same subs. So lets stop making a case for whoever and whatever for no reason whatsoever.

the best one was CMA/Amicus and the delegates trip to Cuba - I'm sure they were all for the revolution , Castro and Che ? - some spoilsport shopped them to Private Eye magazine

Isn't it a bit old fashioned going to Russia ? - it has changed a bit from the Uncle Joe days to countries run by gangsters

[dvbuk55]

Do we really need it?

How about an OAPAC to advance the interest of those over 30, 40, 50, 60 et seq - is this some loony idea - and what proportion of the membership does 27000 represent - whatever it is it's obviously a minority. I grow weary of the never ending jollies for one group or another. At the end of the day we work for the same organisation are subject to the same pay and modernisation agreement whatever age, sex or other preferences - and we pay the same subs. So lets stop making a case for whoever and whatever for no reason whatsoever.

the best one was CMA/Amicus and the delegates trip to Cuba - I'm sure they were all for the revolution , Castro and Che ? - some spoilsport shopped them to Private Eye magazine

Isn't it a bit old fashioned going to Russia ? - it has changed a bit from the Uncle Joe days to countries run by gangsters

Uncle Joe's gone I'm not too sure about the gangsters - don't you find it odd that in a former communist country there has been an inordinate number of millionaires/billionaires in such a short time and no one seems to know where the cash has come from? Are there any trade unions in Russia? - or was it just somewhere somebody fancied going? Anyway enough idle chit chat, for the record when the OAPAC gets going and there are some jollies to be had put me down for a fortnight in Florida - I've never been there and I'll just bet it's worthwhile visiting Disneyland to see if there are sufficient "rides" for OAPs.

[Big Daz]

Just for you old timer

http://www.cwu.org/rmac.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RMAC - Retired Members
The CWU now has over 20,000 retired members. The advisory committee objectives are to promote the interests of all retired members and to campaign on matters that are relevant such as Pensions, Healthcare and Mobility. The policy of the committee is to encourage every CWU Branch to establish a Retired Members Section. If you are retiring soon you can retain your CWU membership at a greatly reduced subscription rate. Contact your local Branch Secretary for details, the phone number is on your CWU membership card.

The Committee continues to build links with the National Pensioners Convention, http://www.npcuk.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - this is a campaigning body with Regions throughout the United Kingdom.

Tony Kearns, Senior Deputy General Secretary is the officer responsible for the committee. Tony can be contacted at SDGS@cwu.org

[andy2007]

My understanding of the YAC is it is to promote involvement of mbrs under 30 in the CWU and to make the CWU more relevant to them, the theroy being that the CWU will fizzle out if the younger members do not take a interest in the CWU and become active. Im getting the impression it may have moved on a bit/expanded in its purpose since the original idea was accepted by annual conference.

The big question is what should be done to achive those aims. Does the trip to moscow that wrangled refered to and was featured in a previous issue of the voice constitute a usefull use of resources to achive those aims?

It seems like an excellent idea to me. I'm in my mid 30's, and was brought up to believe in the importance of Unions, and solidarity. Many of the younger Members, don't have that kind of background. It makes sense to take them to places where Unions haven't had much impact yet. So they can see how important they are. Russia is one good example, China would be another. We don't have sweat shops in Britain, do we?

[dvbuk55]

My understanding of the YAC is it is to promote involvement of mbrs under 30 in the CWU and to make the CWU more relevant to them, the theroy being that the CWU will fizzle out if the younger members do not take a interest in the CWU and become active. Im getting the impression it may have moved on a bit/expanded in its purpose since the original idea was accepted by annual conference.

The big question is what should be done to achive those aims. Does the trip to moscow that wrangled refered to and was featured in a previous issue of the voice constitute a usefull use of resources to achive those aims?

It seems like an excellent idea to me. I'm in my mid 30's, and was brought up to believe in the importance of Unions, and solidarity. Many of the younger Members, don't have that kind of background. It makes sense to take them to places where Unions haven't had much impact yet. So they can see how important they are. Russia is one good example, China would be another. We don't have sweat shops in Britain, do we?

Are you smoking some of the waccy baccy there Andy - it seems like a good idea to take them to Russia and China? Aren't they capable of assimilating information - there are no Unions in Russia or China, the work force of both countries are exploited and poorly paid, also India and Pakistan, Korea and Taiwan, most South American and African countries too - also there are countries in which membership of a union is persecuted. There we are that will have saved a bob or two on foreign junkets. Of course I'm still available for a couple of weeks in the sun - it doesn't have to be Florida but I'm not a lover of the desert.

[andy2007]

My understanding of the YAC is it is to promote involvement of mbrs under 30 in the CWU and to make the CWU more relevant to them, the theroy being that the CWU will fizzle out if the younger members do not take a interest in the CWU and become active. Im getting the impression it may have moved on a bit/expanded in its purpose since the original idea was accepted by annual conference.

The big question is what should be done to achive those aims. Does the trip to moscow that wrangled refered to and was featured in a previous issue of the voice constitute a usefull use of resources to achive those aims?

It seems like an excellent idea to me. I'm in my mid 30's, and was brought up to believe in the importance of Unions, and solidarity. Many of the younger Members, don't have that kind of background. It makes sense to take them to places where Unions haven't had much impact yet. So they can see how important they are. Russia is one good example, China would be another. We don't have sweat shops in Britain, do we?

Are you smoking some of the waccy baccy there Andy - it seems like a good idea to take them to Russia and China? Aren't they capable of assimilating information - there are no Unions in Russia or China, the work force of both countries are exploited and poorly paid, also India and Pakistan, Korea and Taiwan, most South American and African countries too - also there are countries in which membership of a union is persecuted. There we are that will have saved a bob or two on foreign junkets. Of course I'm still available for a couple of weeks in the sun - it doesn't have to be Florida but I'm not a lover of the desert.

That's precisely WHY I think it would be a good idea for them to see first hand, what it's like there. It's one thing watching the News, or reading about something. It's quite another, to actually talk to people who have to work in those conditions. Unions have done a great deal for us. But it's far too easy for it to be taken for granted. So why not, have a "reality check"?

I'm not saying that it's essential. Just that I think it's a good idea, which could produce good results. Particularly if they were to meet people brave enough to be in a Union in Countries where they're persecuted. I think it'd be inspirational.

Still, that's only my opinion. If there's so much concern about it, then we should be allowed to vote on it Nationally.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No Unions in Russia any more - I think this book disagrees

Russian Trade Unions and Industrial Relations in Transition

Sarah Ashwin, Simon Clarke
Palgrave Macmillan (December 2002)

Many commentators expected the Russian trade unions to collapse along with the system of which they were an integral part, but the trade unions survived the storms of the Yeltsin era by adopting a strategy of 'social partnership'. This book, based on casestudies and survey research in eight Russian regions, provides a detailed account of the development of trade unionism in Russia since the collapse of the soviet system.

Against the background of the role of the trade unions in the soviet system, the book reviews the political role, structure and functions of the trade unions, the development of social partnership at federal and regional levels, and provides a detailed account of the activity of the trade unions at the level of the enterprise. The book concludes with a critical assessment of the Russian unions' strategy of 'social partnership' and locates it in comparative perspective.

and here is a recent story re Russian Trade Unions and their struggles to become democratic. http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/12/18/russi ... er-attack/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and here "Immigrants Working in the Urals to Unite in a Muslim Trade Union " http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=72" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

with regards to China - there are Unions but they are strictly controlled by the state - an interesting short read on this subject
http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/CP204.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

China apparently has more trade union
members than the rest of the world put
together. But as David Metcalf and Jianwei Li
have found, Chinese unions function very
differently from unions in the West

[IRL@PP2]

I would like to add a few but very important points to this debate, I completely understand some of the cynicism expressed to the YAC and to such concepts as spending large amounts of money going to other countries however,

open your minds please for a moment, since the Tory ravages on trade unionism in the UK something has clearly not been working because the average age of a trade unionist has been on a steady rise for 25yrs and across all unions currently sits @ 45 yrs old, so my friend who asked for an advisory group for over thirties, you already have one, not in name but it does exist.

So why does the CWU have a Youth Advisory Committee? Because 3 young prominent activists decided to fight all the trends and do something about it by taking part in our, far from perfect but wonderful democracy and submit a motion to conference. They were successful there and the YAC continues to be so today because when the YAC started it had 27000 young members and despite all the trends and the reductions we've had in membership they have at least helped maintained these numbers against all the odds.

Now as for the trip to Moscow as one our learned colleagues has very eloquently explained whilst TU's are not none-existent Russia, European Trade Unions are the envy of the Trade Unions across the World and we a have duty to help all trade unions across the World because, we can, because we are free to do so if we choose to.

Also I am more than glad that your read about this in tyhe Voice because it demonstrates transparency and has obviously provoked debate.

Let us not take our position for granted my friends, in this Globalised economy I am certain the favours will one day be returned.

[dvbuk55]

Well all I can say is YAC, YAC, YAC I suppose given enough time any position can be justified under the pretext of helping, learning, understanding. Perhaps there would be more mileage in understanding how THIS union works and comes to its decisions, you know how they say charity begins at home.

[IRL@PP2]

Of course, the old clichés are the best as they say lol

You couldn't be more right! How, when, not only Young members access our structures, is what the YAC is all about and concentrate most of their energies.

Of course THIS union will feel the benefits for years to come when those Youth are no longer Youth. And further can only help keep THIS union wholly CWU and not just part of any old, other union.

Time will tell or Youth will wear you down just on enthusiasim alone.

[dvbuk55]

Of course, the old clichés are the best as they say lol

You couldn't be more right! How, when, not only Young members access our structures, is what the YAC is all about and concentrate most of their energies.

Of course THIS union will feel the benefits for years to come when those Youth are no longer Youth. And further can only help keep THIS union wholly CWU and not just part of any old, other union.

Time will tell or Youth will wear you down just on enthusiasim alone.

I'm just p*ssed that I'm old and grey and have no enthusiasm left, if I was under 30 I would want to be a part too, as it is I've a job to get my a*se out of bed every day