CWU Women’s Conference Saturday 15th September 2012

[Lounge Lizard]

So if there's justification for a Women's Conference surely someone can quote on here necessary or important motions carried at such conferences in recent years.

[Lounge Lizard]

So if there's justification for a Women's Conference surely someone can quote on here necessary or important motions carried at such conferences in recent years.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

CWU WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 2011
Motions x3: 1st motion to be worded to get workshops set up to help women to become active in political life and to understand how to campaign actively. 2nd motion to be in relation to proposed changes in ET rules with timescales and cost and how this will be likely to impact more on women, 3rd motion: motion on flexible working to include possible changes to the law and also to expand on how we could increase crèches in the workplace.
Another possible theme for a motion are the new agency workers directive. KQ also raised an issue where some employers are effectively setting up their own agencies to get round the agency laws – this could be a motion in itself.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... JNFyZm_6Qw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A motion questioning why an amendment to a rule passed in 2004 calling for "positive action to ensure that the union structure reflects and supports the gender and racial balance of the members it represents" had so little effect.

The women's conference motion called for "the WAC to work with the NEC to introduce a framework for positive action that enables the hierarchy in this union.. to reflect the membership it is supposed to represent."

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

[dvbuk55]

So if there's justification for a Women's Conference surely someone can quote on here necessary or important motions carried at such conferences in recent years.

Well you or I can't we'll never get in to see what earth shattering motions are put forward. Is there a transgender conference I wonder.

[dvbuk55]

CWU WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 2011
Motions x3: 1st motion to be worded to get workshops set up to help women to become active in political life and to understand how to campaign actively. 2nd motion to be in relation to proposed changes in ET rules with timescales and cost and how this will be likely to impact more on women, 3rd motion: motion on flexible working to include possible changes to the law and also to expand on how we could increase crèches in the workplace.
Another possible theme for a motion are the new agency workers directive. KQ also raised an issue where some employers are effectively setting up their own agencies to get round the agency laws – this could be a motion in itself.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... JNFyZm_6Qw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A motion questioning why an amendment to a rule passed in 2004 calling for "positive action to ensure that the union structure reflects and supports the gender and racial balance of the members it represents" had so little effect.

The women's conference motion called for "the WAC to work with the NEC to introduce a framework for positive action that enables the hierarchy in this union.. to reflect the membership it is supposed to represent."

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

Well I read them but what happened after 9.30am?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

CWU WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 2011
Motions x3: 1st motion to be worded to get workshops set up to help women to become active in political life and to understand how to campaign actively. 2nd motion to be in relation to proposed changes in ET rules with timescales and cost and how this will be likely to impact more on women, 3rd motion: motion on flexible working to include possible changes to the law and also to expand on how we could increase crèches in the workplace.
Another possible theme for a motion are the new agency workers directive. KQ also raised an issue where some employers are effectively setting up their own agencies to get round the agency laws – this could be a motion in itself.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... JNFyZm_6Qw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A motion questioning why an amendment to a rule passed in 2004 calling for "positive action to ensure that the union structure reflects and supports the gender and racial balance of the members it represents" had so little effect.

The women's conference motion called for "the WAC to work with the NEC to introduce a framework for positive action that enables the hierarchy in this union.. to reflect the membership it is supposed to represent."

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

Well I read them but what happened after 9.30am?

Trying to belittle a discussion because your on the other side - I thought more of you DVB.

Or if you were being serious - why the extra request Lounge Lizard asked for motions not timings or a detailed breakdown of the conferences. In any case finding timings and the details you appear to ask for would be difficult if not impossible to find, but more importantly irrelevant.

[dvbuk55]

CWU WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 2011
Motions x3: 1st motion to be worded to get workshops set up to help women to become active in political life and to understand how to campaign actively. 2nd motion to be in relation to proposed changes in ET rules with timescales and cost and how this will be likely to impact more on women, 3rd motion: motion on flexible working to include possible changes to the law and also to expand on how we could increase crèches in the workplace.
Another possible theme for a motion are the new agency workers directive. KQ also raised an issue where some employers are effectively setting up their own agencies to get round the agency laws – this could be a motion in itself.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... JNFyZm_6Qw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A motion questioning why an amendment to a rule passed in 2004 calling for "positive action to ensure that the union structure reflects and supports the gender and racial balance of the members it represents" had so little effect.

The women's conference motion called for "the WAC to work with the NEC to introduce a framework for positive action that enables the hierarchy in this union.. to reflect the membership it is supposed to represent."

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

Well I read them but what happened after 9.30am?

Trying to belittle a discussion because your on the other side - I thought more of you DVB.

Or if you were being serious - why the extra request Lounge Lizard asked for motions not timings or a detailed breakdown of the conferences. In any case finding timings and the details you appear to ask for would be difficult if not impossible to find, but more importantly irrelevant.

More or less what I was thinking from the very first post.

[motherhubbard]

Some of theposts in this thread are frankly embarrassing:

1.
Equal rights, ok give women two weeks off paid maternity leave that men get instead of the six months they get now that should balance it up!
I'm struggling to imagine if anyone over the age of 10 could make such a stupid comment.
So Judgee I think your mummy is calling. It is time for your bath and don't forget to wash behind your ears.

2. better you post here agenda items or worthwhile motions from the womens conference to try to persuade us that such a minority conferences merits funding from the CWU
Incredibly patronising. Why exactly do I need to persuade you of anything? We have our conference. We have our officers.
Better you post here..... Is that what this little lady should do is it? Is that how we won the vote?

3. The subject of equal pay.
It might surprise some of you to learn that many women juggle 2 or more part-time jobs.What might be taken for granted within RML isn't the norm everywhere.
The link I quoted shows we are still discriminated against. We were discriminated against even when there was a female Prime Minister!
The link elsewhere shows the ongoing case against Canada Post.
Glasgow City Council recently (last couple of years?) had to pay compensation to a lot of female workers because they had paid them less than their male counterparts.

4.That's not the preserve of the union, it SHOULD reflect the paying members of the union in terms of pay and conditions, ALL members without pandering to a few minorities which obviously take out more than they contribute.
Having read the above statement several times I still don't understand it. It doesn't appear to make sense.
Pandering to a few minorities......Why don't you name the few minorities?
I used the terms pakis, nig nogs and poofs because that appears to be the subtext to his argument. They take out more than they contribute? Where is your evidence for that? Or is your argument simply - they come over here and scrounge off the state? If you are simply going to trot out the evil arguments of the far right at least be honest about it. You appear to be more National Socialist than Trade Unionist.

As I said - frankly embarrassing.
Thanks TBT - at least someone has their head screwed on.

[dvbuk55]

4.That's not the preserve of the union, it SHOULD reflect the paying members of the union in terms of pay and conditions, ALL members without pandering to a few minorities which obviously take out more than they contribute.
Having read the above statement several times I still don't understand it. It doesn't appear to make sense.
Pandering to a few minorities......Why don't you name the few minorities?
I used the terms pakis, nig nogs and poofs because that appears to be the subtext to his argument. They take out more than they contribute? Where is your evidence for that? Or is your argument simply - they come over here and scrounge off the state? If you are simply going to trot out the evil arguments of the far right at least be honest about it. You appear to be more National Socialist than Trade Unionist..

You are a biased person and use your bias to interpret what I said - a few minorities, nothing at all to do with ethnicity as you chose to portray it nor the claiming of any benefits, the subtext is YOUR subtext not mine and taking out of the CWU coffers in relation to the subs paid. These women in Glasgow I presume are members of the CWU - if not.

My point has nothing to do with women per se but about all those who use an organisation for their own ends.

[fishtank]

As TBT pointed out there are far more worthy targets within the CWU accounts than minority conferences.
The fact that more than £9million of an income of only £28million is paid out in staff costs,that nearly £8million goes on branch rebates,over half a million in Labour affiliation fees,over £400,000 to the employers just to collect the subs in the first place and i won't even mention the expense of running 150 the Broadway.

If this is an argument purely over cost it doesn't hold water...if it's something else...i'm disappointed in the whole thread.

[dvbuk55]

As TBT pointed out there are far more worthy targets within the CWU accounts than minority conferences.
The fact that more than £9million of an income of only £28million is paid out in staff costs,that nearly £8million goes on branch rebates,over half a million in Labour affiliation fees,over £400,000 to the employers just to collect the subs in the first place and i won't even mention the expense of running 150 the Broadway.

If this is an argument purely over cost it doesn't hold water...if it's something else...i'm disappointed in the whole thread.

Well you have to start the savings somewhere. In this world of equal rights, in law, could a motion not be put forward through the branch and be treated in exactly the same way as any other motion for any group large or small at national conference. By elevating one group above another within the union would appear to be a form of elitism for whichever particular group is represented at their own conference. It begs the question if a motion put forward in 2004 was being questioned in 2011 at the last womens conference a mere 7 years and having awareness for women in politics via the union..........now to me the proper place for that is being involved with whatever party happens to be the choice.

Still I am sure I will be reading with bated breath the outcome of the 2012 conference.

[fishtank]

In this world of equal rights, in law, could a motion not be put forward through the branch and be treated in exactly the same way as any other motion for any group large or small at national conference.

I'm not sure what form of equality versus representation model you are looking for DV.
There is a finite number of motions you can put before conference before you have to start looking at extending the whole thing into a two week extravaganza.
If main conference was full of "minority issues" this thread would still exist but it would probably be under a different name....Why are so many minority issues being debated at conference? or This two week conference is costing a fortune? or Why can't they just have there own conference and leave us men to debate the real issues affecting the majority of members?

Take your pick...

[dvbuk55]

In this world of equal rights, in law, could a motion not be put forward through the branch and be treated in exactly the same way as any other motion for any group large or small at national conference.

I'm not sure what form of equality versus representation model you are looking for DV.
There is a finite number of motions you can put before conference before you have to start looking at extending the whole thing into a two week extravaganza.
If main conference was full of "minority issues" this thread would still exist but it would probably be under a different name....Why are so many minority issues being debated at conference? or This two week conference is costing a fortune? or Why can't they just have there own conference and leave us men to debate the real issues affecting the majority of members?

Take your pick...

Are these minority issues relevant or merely a vehicle for wannabes of one description or another at their very own conference - as for why are these minority issues taking up so much time at conference - those of true worth would be heard and those not, discarded as so many are.

[fishtank]

Are these minority issues relevant or merely a vehicle for wannabes of one description or another at their very own conference

Relevant to those they affect...of course.
Relevant to the union as a whole...yes.
Relevant to everyone in the union....no.

as for why are these minority issues taking up so much time at conference - those of true worth would be heard and those not, discarded as so many are.

Who judges which minority issue has true worth?....if it's the incumbent majority it makes the whole thing farcical and pointless.
If it's the affected minority...it makes the whole thing farcical and pointless.
If it's some kind of middle ground committee we will still be debating which motions to hear in 20 years time.
The present system is not perfect and there should be savings made in all conferences but the alternatives are unworkable or exclusionary or both.

[dvbuk55]

Are these minority issues relevant or merely a vehicle for wannabes of one description or another at their very own conference

Relevant to those they affect...of course.
Relevant to the union as a whole...yes.
Relevant to everyone in the union....no.

as for why are these minority issues taking up so much time at conference - those of true worth would be heard and those not, discarded as so many are.

Who judges which minority issue has true worth?....if it's the incumbent majority it makes the whole thing farcical and pointless.
If it's the affected minority...it makes the whole thing farcical and pointless.
If it's some kind of middle ground committee we will still be debating which motions to hear in 20 years time.
The present system is not perfect and there should be savings made in all conferences but the alternatives are unworkable or exclusionary or both.

How often do we hear that WE, as a collective, ARE the union - young, old, or any other descriptive text. We all fall under some description - should we have a conference for tall people, short people, fat people, bald people.................the whole point being are these conferences necessary and if they are then what is the compelling reason for having them.