Conference 2009 Day 1 report from HQ website

[Big Daz]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/sunday- ... rence.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sunday 7th June, General Conference

7th June 2009

CWU president Dave Bowman welcomed delegates to Bournemouth for the first day of national conference today, Sunday, but warned that the union faces tough times ahead.

Referring to the growing effects of the ongoing economic recession on workers, Dave said: "This conference is taking place at a time of unprecedented political and economic uncertainty and we face companies that are more confident to be more hostile to unions."

But in spite of the difficulties CWU members are facing, our president highlighted the many areas where the union is fighting back, standing up for workers' rights and services to the public.

Further reports from the events of Sunday's Conference and Fringe events are below.

Getting down to business, conference then approved a series of motions aimed at improving services to all of our people, backing calls for new rights for carers, an end to the NHS "postcode lottery" and an equalisation of maternity leave rights.

Next up, Gary Williams from Solent branch proposed a resolution aimed at highlighting often overloooked victims of domestic violence, members of the LGBT community.

Pointing to a "serious lack of refuge spaces available for lesbian, gay, bisexual and particularly transgender people" Gary urged delegates to back his call for action.

"Domestic violence can affect anyone," he explained, adding: "We must ensure that refuges are available to everyone."

Backing Gary's call on behalf of the NEC, Maria Exall echoed his demands and described domestic violence as "intimate terrorism," while CWU LGBTAC chairman Dave Daniel insisted: "Same-sex domestic violence is serious anjd we need to do something agbout it."

Israel's occupation must end!
Delegates at CWU annual conference have demanded an end to Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories and urged the British Government to unequivocally condemn the Israeli military aggression against Gaza.
Calling for the UK Government to end British arms sales to Israel and to push for the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel agreement providing for preferential trade facilities to Israel, speakers told of their horror at deaths of over 1,440 Palestinians during the first 17 days of Israel's recent military offensive in Gaza, 400 of whom were children.
Supporting the London North Western C&C proposition, Rob Watherspoon of Bristol and District branch told how the recent bombings had exposed the falsehood of Israeli protestations that try to paint their response as appropriate to "an age-old conflict" and even about "combating terrorism".
Piers Doughty-Brown of Scotland No 1 branch told conference: "One of the nastiest aspects of this in my mind is that it is British weapons that are often used in these air strikes.
"If it is our weapons being used in this in a sense we are doing this ourselves."
Supporting the motion on behalf of the executive, Mark Taggart cautioned, however, against a black and white interpretation of Israel's actions - and for an understanding that Israel's perspective of 'self defence' is borne of the horrific crimes perpetuated against the Jewish people in the Holocaust.

Troops out now!
Demands for international attempts to halt human rights abuses against women and lesbian, gay and transgender people in Iraq before the total withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq have been decisively rejected by CWU Conference delegates.
Urging West London branch to remit the motion - or for delegates to otherwise defeat it - general secretary Billy Hayes pointed out that supporting such demands would overturn existing CWU policy "which is to get the troops out of Iraq as soon as possible."
Billy stressed that union support for Iraqi self determination in no way compromised the CWU's parallel support for the championing of democratic rights in Iraq - a position that was forcefully supported in contributions from the floor.
Paul Garraway of South Central No 1 branch dismissed the notion that "minority groups are being protected by occupying forces," questioning a view of Western armed forces as a "bastion of liberal values".
Paul Turnbull of Eastern No 4, meanwhile, highlighted the contradictions inherent a suggestion that a total withdrawal should be somehow delayed with existing CWU policy.
"You can't argue for 'troops in' - but in a sense that is exactly what you are doing," he said.

Admit 'rendition' happened!
CWU Conference delegates have committed the union to continue in its campaign to prove that the UK Government was "complicit in rendition and extraordinary rendition" by America.
Instructing the incoming National Executive Council not to let up in union demands for UK citizens transported to Guantanamo Bay to be allowed to return to the UK on their release, speakers told of their horror at the tacit assistance provided by the UK in the rendition process.
Proposing the motion, Scotland Regional Secretary John Brown told conference: "As a responsible trade union we have a duty to expose the Government's involvement in this inhumane practice.

Solidarity with Lindsey Oil Refinery strikers
Workers who took part in the unofficial stroke action at the Lindsey Oil Refinery have been hailed for their brave stand against 'social dumping' by employers.
Following a series of European Court of Justice decisions which have opened the way for foreign companies to impose pay levels from their country of origin onto contracts in the UK, delegates at CWU Annual Conference have agreed that a renewed drive to support the United Campaign to repeal anti-trade union laws is now essential.
Blasting the Court's decisions in respect of three landmark cases, Phil Chadwick of Western Counties branch explained that yet again the message had been sent out to unscrupulous employers that "it is okay to undercut pay and terms & conditions in the name of free trade".
Supporting the motion on behalf of the NEC, Peter Keenlyside pointed out that current Government plans for a part-privatisation of Royal Mail means that the possibility of CWU members being subjected to similar abuses "may be coming a bit closer to home".

[world_wide_wilf]

Think there'll be more updates????

Would be nice.

in the meantime visit the Eastern 5 Branch CWU Annual Conference 2009 http://www.cwue5.org/conf09 mini site.

[stokes11eg]

Well said, Peter.

[Big Daz]

Day 2 and day 3 are on HQ website but unlike Eastern 5 branch website does not list the outcome of each and every motion.

[taxi4leighton]

it would be wonderful if they would reserve some time to talk about us, you know posties. the problems we are facing. fed up of our delegates getting too involved in world politics. stick to what your paild for please.anyway Tony Blair,s going to save the world

[world_wide_wilf]

Only the first 2 day's we try to save the world, the NHS etc. Rest of the week they try to save us.

I'll be posting stuff from post group conference in the next couple hours.

So check out http://www.cwue5.org/conf09" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; anytime after midnight......good job I don't sleep.

[Big Daz]

Only the first 2 day's we try to save the world, the NHS etc. Rest of the week they try to save us.

I'll be posting stuff from post group conference in the next couple hours.

So check out http://www.cwue5.org/conf09" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; anytime after midnight......good job I don't sleep.

That's what I call dedication!!

[world_wide_wilf]

All of Conference is now on the site (barring the emergency motions because HQ don't send them out).
Thanks to our letter sectional secretary for writing out the 2 emergency motions & emailing them to me so I could post them on the site.

Now go to http://www.cwue5.org/conf09" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The only place (that I know of) that you can get a full list of what's happened to the motions submitted to conference, for the 4th year running.

Now, it's time for a

[POSTMAN]

Why aint we on ya links www

[world_wide_wilf]

Not updated that for years.
I'll sort it now.

[andy2007]

Thanks.

[Big Daz]

WWW your the man.

[world_wide_wilf]

you're too kind.

[dvbuk55]

you're too kind.

Isn't it time you got an award for that web site - let me see - it must be all of 3 years since some Williams fellow was touting it to Abigail Lawrence as deserving of recognition - and about time too, after all you are stealing their thunder.

[world_wide_wilf]

I've loooong given up on awards.
The recognition for the effort from my colleagues is enough for me.

Also I've grown attached to the nickname of 'never to be award winning' for the website.