Emergency Motion 1 – Carried

Motion 1 – Carried

This Conference fully recognises the shortfalls of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations Act 2003. The failure to incorporate liability on the primary employer for engaging casual labour during strike periods makes the legislation ineffective. 

With this in mind Conference agrees to initiate a campaign to impose liability on the employers through a change in the said regulations. 

This should be pursued through the Labour Party and through the TUC.

Bristol & District

Motion 12 – Carried

This conference calls upon Government to:

 ·         End pensioner poverty by raising the state pension above the official poverty rate.

 ·         To provide urgent support for today’s older population, of which 20% live below the poverty line.  

·         To seek to end a national disgrace and a reputation of having one of the meanest and most basic state pension systems amongst Organisation for Economic and Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

The conference instructs the NEC to campaign within the Labour movement and with the voluntary sector and National Pensioners Convention to achieve these aims.

Capital

Motion 13 – Carried

Conference notes the continuation of privatisation within the National Health Service and the recent announcement of the implementation of Poly Clinics with the right to tender to be opened up to private companies. Conference notes that the government is following the American model where millions have no access to free medical care. Conference recognises the serious consequences for our members if these policies are not reversed, and reaffirms its support for a nationally, publicly owned Health Service. 

Conference therefore agrees to increase its support for Trade Union and Community campaigns against these measures and to give support to local and national campaigns that are fighting to defend health service provision within our communities. The NEC is therefore instructed to call on the TUC to organise a national demonstration to oppose these measures.

Coventry

Motion 15 – Accepted

This conference recognises the plight of our members on the minimum wage and poverty pay.

 There should be an ongoing evaluation and identification of employers with CWU represented grades who receive low pay and the minimum wage.

 This will be with an associated aim of achieving a living wage for these members and that the CWU with other organisations and bodies the NEC deems suitable such as the current GLA, TUC, London Citizens and Fair Pay Network will seek to campaign and achieve a living wage rather than a minimum wage.

Capital

Motion 16 – Accepted

Conference notes recent reports have shown the high rate of suicide in LGBT young people compared with young heterosexuals.  In order to combat this the NEC in conjunction with LGBT, working with our sponsord MP’s, teachers unions and the wider trade union and labour movement will campaign to:

 Encourage awareness-raising and education aimed at reducing levels of homophobia, bi-phobia and transphobia at work and in society. 

Ensure schools and authorities provide support to the parents of young LGBT people, including information and counselling and the establishment of support groups organised by and for the parents of LGBT people.

 Ensure schools review and revise school curricula, with a view to limiting stereotyping, reflecting diversity of lifestyles and identities, and providing a fair representation of sexual minorities.

 Provide trade union reps with the information to enable them to talk about homosexuality, bisexuality and gender identity in an inclusive and positive manner.  This will help prepare reps to be understanding and supportive of LGBT members and issues.

 To encourage the formation of LGBT youth and student groups, and provide support for them and promote the development of a positive approach to diversity, including sexual minorities in youth groups and clubs.

CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Conference

Motion 18 – Accepted

This conference instructs the incoming NEC to pursue a change in the process of recognition of an ‘Accident at Work’ so that, where it is clearly established that an employee suffers an injury or detrimental health effect as a direct result of their work, then that injury or detrimental health effect is formally recognised as an ‘Accident at Work’ and, consequentially, an Industrial Injury.

 Conference recognises that the current process operated by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is unfair and that, in order to achieve a change in the process, the CWU will need to work with other trade unions, lobby MP’s, and promote with all interested parties the need to secure the necessary changes.

Meridian

Motion 19 – Accepted

Conference agrees that the ‘Winter Fuel Allowance’ has been a help to pensioners but has not kept in touch with increased gas and electricity costs. Consequently we call upon the NEC to campaign and to use it’s considerable influence with government and other organisations on behalf of all pensioners for an urgent uprating of the fuel allowance.

CWU Retired Members Conference

Motion 20 – Carried

This conference acknowledges that globalisation of the world economy means that there is an urgent need to ensure that workers in countries with developing economies are organised into trade unions.

 Therefore this conference calls on the incoming NEC to set up a International Development Fund to be used for  assisting with organisation and forming  links with trade unions in countries with developing economies.

National Executive Council

The Welsh Valleys)

Motion 21 – Carried

This conference recognises that many people take for granted the provision of clean drinking water and the fact that many millions of people in the world, particularly in third world countries, do not have access to this simple necessity that allows life to flourish. The CWU congratulates the CWUHA for the brilliant humanitarian aid work that it has consistently done over the last few years and also the generous support that has been provided by the main employers in allowing use of their equipment to make the humanitarian aid projects become a reality.

 This Conferences requests that the NEC along with the RAC liaises with the CWUHA with a view to delivering water provision to an African village and that this becomes one of the CWUHA’s main projects when it next comes to agreeing its forthcoming challenges. The NEC and the RAC is to provide every possible practical support that is required.

CWU Black Worker’s Conference

Motion 22 – Carried

Conference notes:

 There has been brutal repression of pro democracy demonstrations in Burma.

 There is still no legal right to organised Trade Union or students Unions In Burma. 

This Conference Resolves:

 1.       To send a letter of protest to the Burmese Embassy.

2.     To send a letter of protest, that British companies still do business with the regime to the foreign office.

3.     To send messages of support to pro-democracy activists in Burma.

4.     To Show support by making members aware of the situation in Burma, and advertise support meetings and protests called in London.

Mount Pleasant International

Motion 24 – Carried

That this Conference notes the worsening situation in the Philippines with

regard to Human Rights abuses, exploitation and systematic legally enforced union busting. This has resulted in a massive increase in extra judicial killings, abductions and detention of trade unionists and community activists.

Conference therefore instructs the National Executive Council to undertake a Programme of activities to highlight these developments within the CWU and the wider Trade Union movement through encouraging and developing:-

·         a UK-based Solidarity Movement

·         CWU Branches and Regions twinning as appropriate with their counterparts within the Manggagawa sa Komunikasyon ng Philipinas (MKP) in the Philippines.

 This list of actions should not be seen as exhaustive.

National Executive Council

Emergency Motion 6 – Carried

Motion 29 – Accepted

This conference applauds all the good work done by the CWU and the whole trade unions movement for campaigning actively against the Far -Right. 

However, accepting that extremist right wing parties increase their votes at the General Election, European Elections and Local Elections, we must look at other aspects of campaigning against extremist political parties. 

We call upon the CWU, CWU Race Advisory Committee and other Organisations with similar objectives as the CWU to oppose all forms of racism, fascism and homophobia and further more to actively look into changing legislation on broadcasting and delivery of leaflets that currently result in a cost to the taxpayer. 

We also call upon the CWU and the CWU Race Advisory Committee to closely look at the opt-out of delivering election material for fascist organisations and see if the agreement can be improved.

 Finally, political broadcast or printed literature should be carefully vetted to ensure that it is not considered offensive to the general public before it can be accepted for release.

CWU Black Worker’s Conference

South East Wales Amal

Motion 30 – Accepted

Conference welcomes CWU policy to campaign for public ownership of the postal and telecommunications industries in the UK.

 However, this conference is concerned at the increasingly negative impact that economics and legislation inspired by neo-liberalism is having on the job security, conditions of employment and the general well being of CWU members.

 In particular privatisation, liberalisation, competition laws, anti trade union laws, company law, company restructuring, lack of protection for agency workers, arbitrary work targets and declining trade union membership density are all having a negative impact on CWU members and the public services that they rely upon.

 While we need to continue to mount industrial opposition in the workplace to attacks on the jobs and conditions of CWU members that are driven by neo-liberal policies, we also need to campaign politically to highlight and challenge the injustices experienced by CWU members that have their origins in the neo-liberal policies pursued by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organisation, European Union and UK government. 

The NEC is therefore instructed to lead this political campaign which must involve members at all levels of the CWU in seeking alternative economic policies and laws that are to their benefit.”

Central London

Motion 31 – Carried

Conference notes there have been a number of reports highlighting the problems and exploitation faced by migrant workers in different sectors of British Industry. A number of these reports have looked at the treatment of migrant workers in the agricultural, construction, catering, housekeeping and food processing sectors amongst others.

Conference also notes there has recently been a greater use of migrant workers in the communication industry and we feel it is important the union is aware of the scale of any problem's these workers may be facing in our industry.

 This Conference is also aware of the 1 hour contracts being offered by Royal Mail and which, on many occasions are being taken up by migrant workers. We are also learning of the use of migrant labour by companies who do contracting work for BT. We also believe other large operators in the industry are increasingly using this type of resource. 

The CWU, being a responsible union must have up to date information and data to enable it to identify any exploitaion that may be taking place and to be able to also identify if there are issues which may be hindering our attempts to organise all workers within the sector. The CWU has always championed the rights of all workers in the companies where we organise and have members.  

Conference calls upon the NEC  to instigate a comprehensive report to look specifically into this issue within the communication sector. The report to be made available to branches for consideration in time for submissions to be made at the 2009 CWU General Conference

South Wales

Emergency Motion 2 – Accepted

Motion 35 – Accepted

This conference recognises the valuable role the trade union movement has played historically in helping safeguard the direction of the working classes through difficult times across GB and Ireland.

 Therefore the incoming national Executive is instructed to pursue using normal channels via the TUC, the addition of “Trade Union History and its place in Society” as part of Citizenship classes in the National Curriculum.

Northern Ireland Engineering

Motion 40 – Carried

This Conference notes that there has been little meaningful progress in the achievement of National Agreements with employers on facilities and support for CWU Union Learning Representatives. Whilst we are pleased that there has been high level support for the first case taken to tribunal by the CWU in relation to ULR legal rights, we believe that there has now to be a concerted effort by the NEC to improve this situation.  This Conference therefore calls on the NEC to implement a comprehensive policy and strategy for securing decent agreements for ULRs through:

 ·         A re-doubling of efforts by the NEC to secure agreements with all major employers with whom we have recognition

·         Advising Branches that ULR facilities should always be separate and above and beyond other Branch facilities

·         Advising Branches that any unreasonable refusal by an employer to provide facilities to a ULR should be raised formally through the appropriate procedures

·         Supporting suitable and viable test cases to Employment Tribunal in defence of ULR legal rights, in accordance with CWU policy on legal cases.

 Furthermore, this Conference instructs the NEC to implement this policy and strategy by Conference 2009.

North East London

North West London

Motion 45 – Carried

Conference agrees that in previous years various debates have taken place concerning funding arrangements for Branches in relation to the geographical spread, number of members and workplaces etc., such debates have been useful and important, but have sometimes lacked a wider perspective focussing as they have on the particular merits of any individual motion submitted.

 Conference now agrees that the time is right to set up a working party to include participants from the NEC, Regions and Branches to examine in a non partisan and open manner, whether changes are needed or would be beneficial with a view to ensuring we continue to operate strong local Branches. Such a working party would be constituted under the auspices of the SDGS Department. The number of those on this working party to be decided by the SDGS department consistent with the need to have a useful and focussed discussion as it is recognised that too many participants will simply make for a cumbersome and unwieldy group.

 The working party would take into account the following : 

1.       The geographical spread of Branches

2.     The number of workplaces having to be serviced by Branches

3.     Any impact either positive or negative on Branches who own their own property

4.     Any conference policy carried at General or Rules Conference 2008

5.     Input from Branches who would be invited to give of their concerns and views

 Conference recognises that this issue is contentious for some and therefore for the avoidance of any doubt the intention would be for a report to be published to branches by September/October 2008 with a view to generating debate and hopefully progress at conference 2009 when Branches or the NEC could submit motions accordingly should they so wish.

Western Counties

Motion 50 – Accepted

Conference agrees that the current CWU banking arrangements with Unity Bank have become outdated.

 With the increased use of the internet for branch purchases, travel and accomodation, cheque payments are becoming increasingly difficult to process.

 Conference instructs the executive to explore ways with Unity Bank of supplying branches with an appropiate debit payment card.

Solent Amal

Motion 53 – Carried

Conference agrees to confer National Honorary membership upon Steve Baguley, Keith Griffiths,Vince Turner, Pat Lee, Phil Duffy and Tam McGee (posthumously).

National Executive Council

Motion 57 – Carried

This Conference recognises the frustration that some branches may feel over the lack of progress on constituency rationalisation. While there have been many reasons for progress not having been possible in the past at a pace that some would wish, the Conference now believes that there is a will across all constituencies at all levels of the union, to make progress on this issue.

The NEC will therefore establish an appropriate committee or sub-committee with the objective of discussing and effecting appropriate changes to the current constituency structure.  It will do so with the clear understanding that change can only be achieved through the agreement of all constituencies and annual conference. The committee/sub-committee will have the following objectives; 

1.       To understand the impacts of the current structure and seek to improve them.

2.     Consult with branches and regions on the detail of appropriate changes to the current constituency structures

3.     To where appropriate, seek to effect changes progressively through Rules Revision sessions at annual conference

National Executive Council

Motion 58 – Accepted

This conference agrees that the Postal Sector is more than just Royal Mail Group and that the CWU will expand Recruitment, Retention and Organising across the whole postal industry and wider sector including

 ·         Local suppliers i.e. Mailing Houses, Warehousing

·         Home shopping companies

·         New and existing licence holders

·         Equipment and consumables suppliers

·         Mail, Print and fulfilment organisations

·         Software and technology providers

·         Appropriate members of the Direct Marketing Association

·         Local DSA users

·         Data processors

·         Facilities workers

 This list is not exhaustive.

 We call on the NEC to build on best practice in the wider CWU and implement a joined up strategy to include:

 1.       A training package to be rolled out to all Representatives

2.       A best practice guide including a Model Branch Recruitment plan

3.       Supply appropriate materials i.e. Leaflets, DVDs

4.       Background support and guidance for Branches

 This list is not exhaustive.

Eastern No.5

Eastern Regional Committee

Motion 59 – Carried

This conference calls for a full review of ‘Portability Membership’ within the union to include the following. 

1.       Is there a need to re-classify the ‘Portability’ membership?

2.     Who portable membership should be made available to?

3.     What problems or issues has the classification raised to the union at National, Regional or Branch levels?

4.     What are the long term consequences to the CWU with the growth in ‘Portability’ membership?

5.     Does the classification encourage members to stay in the CWU when they change jobs?

6.     Does the classification hinder members from joining other work based unions?

7.     Do we need any rule changes to be made to reflect the current IR frameworks within the different workplaces?

8.     What benefits the classification has brought to the union Nationally, Regionally and at branch Level?

9.     This list is not exhaustive.

10.  Any subsequent rule changes to be brought to next years Annual Conference.

 Furthermore the review will take in the views and comments from the widest possible range to include Branches, Regional and Industrial Committees within the CWU. The report will be made available to branches by February 2009.

Merseyside Amal

North Lancs & Cumbria

North West Regional Committee

Motion 61 – Accepted

This Conference acknowledges the work done by the Disability & Special Needs Advisory Committee and the impact on CWU policy that the conference has made.  The continuing success of this Conference is a tribute to the hard work done by all involved.

This conference believes that this success has come about because of the ability of those concerned to meet together in a supportive and understanding arena and one which encourages greater participation.

 Therefore Conference commits to maintaining a separate conference for its members with disabilities and/or special needs.

CWU Disability & Special Needs Conference

Motion 63 – Accepted

This Conference calls upon the National Executive Council to design a suitable recruitment document for members wishing to become Retired Members. The members details will already be known by the union therefore all that needs to be asked is how the member wishes to pay the fee, i.e. Direct Debit or from Pension.

Merseyside Amal

Emergency Motion 7 – Accepted

Motion 72 – Carried

This conference instructs the incoming NEC to investigate the performance and success of the panel of law firms currently used by the CWU Legal Services Department. The review should also include a wide consultation with CWU branches.

 The outcome of the review should produce a Best Practice document for the Law Firms involved and equally Branches with the outcome to give a better service to members.

 If any Law firm is not meeting acceptable standards they should be removed from use by the CWU.

Scotland No.1

Motion 73 – Carried

Conference agrees that there will always be potential disagreement over whether an employment tribunal claim will be supported or not. In that regard Branches understand that current policy is that if a case has a reasonable prospect of success, that CWUHQ will provide representation.

 For the avoidance of any doubt, Conference agrees that a reasonable prospect of success will be taken to mean that a case has a 50% or better chance of success.

Western Counties

Motion 74 – Carried

This Conference instructs the NEC to liaise with the Retired Members Advisory Committee, to ensure that each issue of the Voice magazine includes a paragraph advertising “Retired Membership”, with a section to be completed by a member indicating that he/she wishes to apply for retired membership.

CWU Retired Members Conference

South & East Thames Amal

Motion 75 – Accepted

This conference instructs the incoming NEC that where a member has contacted the help line direct and a LS3 form has been filled out, the Legal & Medical Department send a copy of the completed form to advise the Branch of the new case.

Eastern No.6

Motion 81 – Accepted

This conference instructs the incoming NEC to review the services and access that our members get from CWU HQ compared to what other Trade Unions offer their members using the Internet etc.

Northern Home Counties Postal

Motion 83 – Carried

Conference instructs the NEC along with the DSNAC is instructed to form a liaison with OCD (obsessive, compulsive disorder) Action and produce a leaflet describing the symptoms of OCD. 

This will provide advice and guidance to members who although they have not been diagnosed as having OCD, may have the symptoms but are not sure what the problem is. 

Being in direct contact with OCD Action will also ensure that the DSNAC has the ability to assist/help members who have already been diagnosed with OCD.

CWU Disability & Special Needs Conference

London Regional Motor Transport

Motion 84 – Carried

This Conference recognises the importance of raising awareness of pensions issues with our female members. It has been identified that women are more likely to have interrupted employment histories and breaks in National Insurance contributions due to spending periods of time at home raising childres or caring for dependants. However, many women do not realise that this may mean both their occupational and state pensions could be much lower than those of men of a similar age.

 Conference therefore calls on the NEC and the WAC to run a publicity campaign aimed at women to highlight these issues and give them information on how to check the status of their occupational and state pensions.

CWU Women’s Conference

Eastern Regional Committee

Motion 85 – Carried

Conference is concerned to learn that a recent report reveals shocking facts on the follow up care for Breast Cancer patients, especially in Scotland. The report was written by Mr Michael Dixon, a consultant surgeon at the Edinburgh Breast Unit at the Western General Hospital and Dr David Montgomery, a clinical research fellow at Glasgow infirmary, and was published in the British Medical Journal.    

Guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England recommend that women receive follow up checks for two to three years after they first fall ill. However in Scotland, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and The Scottish Medicines Consortium and in Wales, the All Wales Medicine & Strategy Group all produce different guidance, which causes much confusion and sometimes anger. There appears to be a lack of consistency as to what guidance is prioritised, on what basis the guidance is produced and the length of the process to produce guidance..

Women who have had breast cancer once are at a much greater risk of suffering it a second time, and the majority of cases (70%) occur more than three years after the original illness.

 Breast cancer is one of the more successfully treated cancers and therefore, its early diagnosis is paramount.

Conference therefore instructs the NEC to work with the WAC and our supported MP’s to campaign for life long follow up treatment for all Breast Cancer patients.

CWU Women’s Conference

Motion 86 – Accepted

Conference is concerned that the current rules imposed by the National Blood Service surrounding blood donation are discriminatory to homosexual and bi-sexual men.

 Conference notes that these practices do not meet with the National Blood Service’s core purpose or values, and that these practices are directly contributing to the current blood shortage in the UK.

 Conference therefore instructs the NEC to launch a campaign on this issue, to raise awareness amongst the Membership and wider society. Conference also instructs the NEC to lobby government, to bring about a reform in the National Blood Service to abolish these discriminatory rules.

South Wales

Motion 87 – Accepted

Conference agrees modern family life is very diverse and today family structures take many forms and LGBT people can and do have children.  Despite this, because of prejudice and discrimination, same-sex family and caring relationships do not receive the same recognition as “straight” relationships.  All too often management decisions about granting special or family leave, for example, are based on the assumption that everyone is in a heterosexual relationship comprising Mum, Dad and 2.4 children.

 Conference recognises the work already carried out by the CWU in promoting work/life balance issues in the workplace, but believes that we need to do more to ensure that policies make specific reference to the LGBT and same sex relationships.  At the same time we recognise that LGBT parents and carers share similar experiences and encounter similar problems at work to their “straight” colleagues. 

This conference therefore agrees that it is important to ensure that:

 ·         Best practise is spread between companies where our members work.

·         The myths and prejudices surrounding LGBT people and their ability to have a care for children are tackled.

·         The diversity of modern family life are tackled.

·         All companies’ procedures regarding family friendly and special leave arrangements specifically include reference to LGBT people and their families.

CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Conference

Motion 90 – Accepted

Conference notes Women’s contribution to fighting for worker’s rights is often overlooked as many of these fights take place in small companies.

 This conference acknowledges the brave and selfless work carried out by our sisters, many in the CWU, and many others in industries across the whole of the UK. 

Conference  believes that the CWU should honour the work these women have done, and therefore instructs the incoming NEC and the research department to produce a so report that we can highlight those achievements, region by region in order that the CWU can celebrate these often un-sung heroines of the Labour movement. The report should also give consideration to holding events or sponsoring events in significant locations around the UK where the history of that area can be celebrated.

Wales & The Marches Regional Committee

Motion 91 – Accepted

This Conference deplores the decision taken by the TUC General Council at the 2007 TUC Congress not to support expansion of the current childcare provision to include out of hours provision as motion 80 submitted from the TUC Women’s Conference 2005. 

Women still shoulder the bulk of caring responsibility in society and single parents face particular pressures.  In order that women trade unionists with childcare responsibilities, can fully contribute to trade union events, extended childcare facilities are key, and are vital in aiding female activists to contribute and fully partake in union events and not being denied the opportunity to participate.   

This Conference therefore calls on the NEC:

 1.       To facilitate for the provision of childcare “out of session” hours as an integral part of the CWU’s Commitment to promote equality, which is part of this union’s policy.

2.       To ensure appropriate financial support is provided to meet the cost from delegate’s branches were possible, but with a commitment from the Treasurer that any hardship cases, or where branches are unable financially assist, the cost will be picked up by Head Office.  

3.       That an extensive enquiry is made about the range of quality facilities that could be provided to meet delegate’s needs outside of Conference for all the conferences we have commitments  to as a union.

4.       For this information to be sent to branches who request extended childcare for  delegates and for the delegates themselves to then arrange what best suits their own needs and that of their children.

Croydon & South London

Motion 92 – Accepted

This conference agrees that the Equality agenda is constantly being developed and supported at all levels within the CWU. As such, we should look to find new ways to bring Equality issues into this Conference every year.

 Conference therefore asks that a slot be made available in the ‘Guest Speaker’ section, indicated within the General Conference Agenda, and be given over fully to an Equality speaker who has specialist knowledge, experience and application of Equality issues.  

To enable current or topical issues to be addressed, the Guest Speaker shall be chosen by the CWU Equality Department in consultation with the Advisory Committees as appropriate to the subject matter, which the CWU Equality Department deems necessary to be covered.

North West Regional Committee

Motion 93 – Accepted

This conference notes that the under representation of women at all levels in the CWU is still a matter of concern.

 Prop 92/07 which was carried called for the NEC to encourage Branches to support members in attending our Equality Conferences. This Region sees no evidence of this.

 Prop 93/07 which was accepted by the NEC instructed it to conduct an investigation into the fact that the YAC, the RAC, the RMAC and the LGBT committees are massively under representative of the gender break down of the Union. This Region sees no evidence of this.

 Prop 94/07 also carried, instructed the NEC to carry out an investigation with the WAC to ascertain what barriers there are to Branches sending delegates to Regional Women's Committee meetings. This investigation was supposed to result in a report to Branches by Autumn 2007. This Region has seen no evidence of that.

 At the 2008 Black Workers Conference, Billy Hayes expressed his concern that women and ethnic minorities were still under represented in the decision making bodies of the CWU. He recalled that at the 2007 conference 16.9% of delegates were women, when women constitute 20% of the CWU membership. He went on to say, "it is a shame that in some areas our union has gone back in terms of diversity". 

This Region agrees with the General Secretary and instructs him, along with the NEC to carry out all of the agreed initiatives to deal with the issue of under representation of women and others in the CWU.

Midlands Regional Committee

Motion 94 – Carried

Conference notes with concern that the Fire Risk Assessments (FRA) as required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which came into effect in October 2006 are not being complied with across many businesses where the CWU has recognition.

Frequently the buildings our members are working from are complex and multi-occupied premises. These premises need to be assessed by a person who has received comprehensive training and experience in fire risk assessment, special care needs to be taken on means of escape and suitability for Disabled People. The FRA must consider anybody who may be affected by the building and its operations (including members of the public, neighboring buildings etc), not just workers in the immediate area. The findings must be recorded, an appropriate emergency plan must be developed, visible and employees trained with any specific duties to comply with the above mentioned Regulations. The FRA must be reviewed periodically, whenever there is a significant incident and when there are changes to personnel or processes.

We therefore call on the NEC to survey the current FRA’s in all businesses where the CWU has gained recognition – where reasonably practicable, to analyse the results, and then report back to members with a plan for effective action up to and including the enforcing authorities prior to CWU conference 2009.

North West Regional Safety Forum

Motion 96 – Carried

Conference agrees that the occupational health service providers used by our employers do not adequately support our members in their time of need.  

Conference therefore instructs the National Executive to negotiate with our employers to

 1.       Ensure the services provided meet the aspirations of our membership.

2.       Or agree suitable alternative arrangements. 

A report to be made to branches no later than 31 December 2008.

Eastern Regional Safety Forum

Motion 100 – Accepted

This Conference instructs the incoming National Executive Council to ensure that all Businesses fully comply with their responsibilities and requirements under the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977.

North West Regional Safety Forum

Motion 107 – Accepted

This Conference notes that David Cameron, current Leader of the Conservative Party, has confirmed that if his Party is elected at the next General Election, his Government would introduce a law breaking the link between the Labour Party and Trade Unions.

 Conference notes that this link has existed for over 100 years, and instructs the NEC to campaign strongly, at every opportunity, against any moves to "Break The Link". 

Conference reaffirms that the best interests of all members is served by the CWU continuing to be affiliated to the Labour Party

Liverpool Clerical

Motion 108 – Accepted

This conference instructs the National Executive Council to review the list of CWU supported Members of Parliament.

 A new list will be drawn up from Labour MP's who will support the policies and principles of the CWU.

Birmingham

Midlands Regional Committee

Motion 113 – Carried

Conference agrees that the recent events that saw the freezing of branch political funds, by means of withdrawal of branch rebates, to be hasty. Conference therefore instructs the General Secretary and the PFMC to re-establish those branch political fund payments where any branch fulfils the necessary affiliation criteria as defined by the CWU Rule Book. This will then ensure that politically active branches will have the necessary funds to support vital work at Local, European and General Elections, both regionally and locally. 

In the event of a branch not fulfilling the affiliation criteria, the PFMC shall record that fact and then have the option to suspend the branch rebate for a defined period. This shall be communicated to the branch in question as early as possible, with all PFMC decisions being placed on record via the PFMC minutes. The PFMC shall invite any branch that falls within this criteria to submit a letter of claim for the PFMC to deliberate upon, if the branch in question has other issues that are relevant.

North Lancs & Cumbria

North West Regional Committee