| About Us | Who's Who | CWU Officers | Linda Roy - Equal Opportunities

Linda Roy - Equal Opportunities

Linda joined the UCW/CWU in 1985 and has 23 years unbroken and totally committed service to the Union.

She was the Leeds No.1 Branch's President, deputy Branch Secretary, Editor, and occasional substitute area delivery rep. In previous branches, she's been Assistant Branch Secretary, Treasurer, Political Officer and Editor.

Linda was a National Executive Council & Postal Executive member for 7 years. She was the first post woman to be elected to the Executive and the first woman ever to vice chair and chair postal industry conferences.

During her period on the NEC, Linda was a member of a number of national committees including the Equal Opportunities and Legal and Medical Services committees. As acting national equality officer, Linda spent two years promoting the Union's family friendly policies with the Chancellor of the Exchequer's economic and social security advisers.

Many of our union policies on maternity and paternity pay and leave, and family friendly working are now enshrined in law. Linda also promoted the Union's dignity and respect agenda at regional TUC's, the House of Commons and through the Dignity at Work Network.

Linda trained as a CWU employment tribunal panellist and has represented many members successfully at Tribunals, winning them tens of thousands of pounds of compensation and/or reinstatement/re-engagement. Linda has attended many employment law seminars and CWU training courses on employment tribunal procedures. She's also obtained an Advanced Employment Law qualification from Ruskin College.

She was jointly responsible for setting up the pioneering CWU Harassment Helpline in 2000. This processed thousands of cases of bullying, harassment and discrimination throughout the UK postal and telecommunications industries.

She deals with enquiries from branches and members about equality-related issues including maternity pay and leave, disciplinary, grievance and sick absence procedures. She also deals with allegations of bullying and harassment, homophobia, date rape, physical and mental abuse, and the aftermath of members committing suicide.

In addition to her harassment work and branch commitments, her time is occupied with being a member of the CWU national Women's Advisory Committee, the Disability and Special Needs Advisory Committee and the TUC Yorkshire & Humberside Disability Committee.

Linda is a TUC Disability Champion and also Chair of the CWU North East Regional Women's Committee. As a TUC accredited tutor, she's delivered equality and diversity and union skills training to members at the Elstead and in the regions over many years. She's also a Restorative Justice counsellor! Linda is now the National Equal Opportunities Officer.