Andy Kerr National Elections 2018

Information on Andy’s election campaign can be found below…

www.kerr4dgs.com
Email: kerr4dgs@gmail.com
Twitter: @iamvotingkerr

The CWU is not responsible in any way for the content and text of any candidates personal webpage or social media.

Download a pdf of Andy Kerr’s election address.

BRANCH: CWU Officers Branch

JOB TITLE/GRADE: Deputy General Secretary – Telecoms & Financial Services

DATE STARTING EMPLOYMENT RELATIVE TO CWU: 2nd June 1975

DATE JOINED CWU OR RELEVANT PREDECESSOR UNION: 2nd June 1975

UNION RECORD/OTHER RELEVANT SERVICE TO THE UNION AND LABOUR MOVEMENT:
Deputy General Secretary (T&FS) 2008 to date; CWU National President / Vice-President June 1999 – 2008; Chair T&FS Executive 1999 – 2008; NEC 1997 – 2008, Branch Secretary 1993 – 1998; Branch Assistant Secretary, 1985-1993; Standing Orders Committee 1991-1997; USR 1989-1999.

UNI World ICTS President 2015 to date, UNI Europa ICTS Vice-President 2011 -2017.

Labour Party NEC 2007 to date; NEC Chair 2017/18; Co-convenor, Economy, Business and Trade Policy Commission 2018; Chair, Audit & Risk Committee 2011 – 2016; CLP Secretary 1985-1987 and 1990-1996; CLP Chair 1988-89; . Union delegate to Labour Party Conference 1994-2018 and Scottish Labour Party Conference 1990-2018.

Nominating Branches: Scotland No. 1; Capital; Algus National; South Wales; West Yorkshire

Election Address

I am a passionate trade unionist and long serving activist of the labour movement and I bring four decades of experience. I am a firm believer in improving the lives of ordinary working people and I am certain I have remained grounded and haven’t lost the understanding of the day-to-day concerns of our members.

Over the past ten years as DGS – Telecoms & Financial Services (T&FS) we have faced tough industrial decisions. Yet where we have recognition with employers, we have fought to prevent the worst from happening.

Our T&FS employers are constantly looking at ways to cut costs and drive up productivity. It’s a tough environment – but I know we can overcome these challenges.

I’ve got experience, proven negotiating skills, determination and perseverance. I have a track record of delivering good agreements; I listen to members and involve them and build resistance where I can. I have built up years of relationships with employers in the T&FS sector, which creates the foundation to influence good outcomes for our members.

I lead a team of Officers and we are all determined to improve the terms and conditions of our members. Sometimes we have to take what are believed to be unpopular decisions but in time they have shown to be correct.

For example, reaching agreement on the BT Workforce 2020 contracts – avoiding an industrial dispute – yet ensuring our members are fully protected wasn’t easy. It was only with the tough negotiating stance taken by the CWU that we gained enhanced terms and conditions. It has also allowed for direct recruitment for many thousands of mainly young people both within field engineering and call centres including mass conversions for agency workers. In addition we’ve consistently reduced the gap between these contracts and our traditional grades in almost every pay rise since their inception.

But it’s not all about BT, we have many members in the telecoms and financial services sectors and I want to ensure that we are the trade union of choice for everyone in these sectors. Now is the time to look forward, formulating policies and campaigning on them to ensure we not only maintain but achieve improvements together for all of our members.

The CWU is changing and the T&FS sector requires someone with experience and knowledge to lead that transition, ensuring our structures are in shape to represent the diversity of our membership and growing our sphere of influence by extending the reach of CWU recognition agreements. This will ensure this union is future proof for years to come.

Crucially I believe young people are the future, that’s why redesigning our structures to encourage and develop new young leaders is essential, ensuring our union continues to modernise and grow.

I believe my leadership is testament to my commitment to ordinary working people and improving their working lives. I believe I can continue to provide that leadership and it is for this reason that I am asking for your support as DGS T&FS.