LTB 747/16 – LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE 2016: CWU DELEGATION REPORTS

No. 747/16

Ref: GS14.12

12th January 2017

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE 2016: CWU DELEGATION REPORTS

The 2016 Labour Party Conference was held in Liverpool from Sunday 25th to Wednesday 28th September 2016.

The following is a report on the decisions taken by the CWU delegation at their meeting on Sunday 25th September 2016 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Liverpool.

COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

2016 LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE – LIVERPOOL

MINUTES OF THE CWU LABOUR PARTY DELEGATION MEETING

SUNDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2016 AT 8.30AM

PRINCES SUITE 2, CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL, LIVERPOOL

___________________________________________________________________

PRESENT: Beryl Shepherd (President), Dave Ward (General Secretary), Tony Kearns (SDGS), Andy Kerr (Deputy General Secretary, T&FSE), Ray Ellis (Acting Deputy General Secretary, Postal), Graham Colk, Kate Dunning, Hugh Gaffney, Scott Hartles, Kate Hudson, Jacky Morrey, Karen Rose, Amarjite Singh, Alan Tate, Philip Thomas, Mark Walsh, Richard Wilkins

IN ATTENDANCE: Jane Loftus, Chris Webb, Bill Taylor, Maria Exall, Andrea Snowden, Lionel Sampson, Andrew Towers

  1. INTRODUCTIONS

Beryl Shepherd, President welcomed all CWU Delegates particularly those attending the Labour Party Conference for the first time. She especially welcomed our youth delegate, Scott Hartles from Scotland No.2 branch.

Maria Exall was attending the meeting in an ex-officio capacity as Vice Chair of TULO.

The General Secretary also welcomed delegates and observers to the meeting. Following the successful re-election of Jeremy Corbyn this was now time for the party to come

together and unite behind the Leader. He hoped that delegates would find the conference interesting and enjoyable.

  1. APOLOGIES

Apologies had been received from:-

  • Terry Pullinger DGS (P) – Annual Leave
  • Phil Browne – Annual Leave
  • Linda Wooding – NPF Meeting
  • Mick Kavanagh – arriving Sunday evening
  • Craig Anderson – arriving Sunday evening
  1. LABOUR PARTY DOCUMENTS

The General Secretary ensured that all delegates had the appropriate documentation:-

  • NEC Annual Report 2016
  • National Policy Forum Report 2016
  • CAC Report No. 1 and Appendix of NEC Rule Changes
  • Labour Party Annual Conference Guide
  • CWU Policy Document: 2016 Summary
  1. CONFERENCE ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE (CAC) REPORT NO.1

The Chair advised delegates that each day they would receive a Conference Arrangements Committee Report.

CAC Report No.1 issued that morning, contained the day’s agenda and the full list of all contemporary motions submitted. The Appendix contained the NEC’s Constitution amendments.

CWU Contemporary Motion

The General Secretary explained that Labour Party Policy was made via the National Policy Forum (NPF) process. The Policy Commissions considered submissions from individual members, trade union affiliates and other affiliated organisations. Following consultations within the wider party, policy documents agreed by the NPF needed to be endorsed by Annual Conference.

Contemporary motions to annual conference allowed CLPs and unions to address issues which could not otherwise have been raised through the NPF process. Each affiliate was therefore entitled to submit one Contemporary Motion to Labour Party Conference.

The CWU submitted a motion on Industrial Policy’. This referenced the Office of National Statistics (ONS) announcement on 9th September that zero-hours contracts are at record levels and that we believe there is an urgent need for a new industrial strategy. This motion was therefore deemed as being contemporary. We had subsequently worked with other affiliates (UNITE and Community) to bring together a composite motion on the subject.

Those contemporary motions meeting the strict criteria would progress to the Contemporary Motions Priority Ballot. The General Secretary explained that CLPs were also entitled to vote on four subjects, which may or may not be the same as those selected by the trade unions.

Priorities Ballot

The Chair advised that all Contemporary Motions were contained on page 15 of CAC Report No.1.

As stated, trade union affiliates would choose four contemporary issues and in accordance with colleagues in TULO the General Secretary recommended the following contemporary issues in the Priorities Ballot:

  • Industrial Strategy
  • Employment Rights
  • Defend and promote public services
  • Energy

The contemporary issues were agreed.

The Chair agreed that she would collect and complete the priorities ballot paper.

  1. NATIONAL POLICY FORUM (NPF) REPORT 2016

The NPF Report 2016 contained the Policy Commission Annual Reports.

  • Economy
  • Education and Children
  • Communities
  • Health and Care
  • Home Affairs
  • International
  • Transport

In addition there were the following Appendices:

  • Submitting organisations
  • National Policy Forum membership

The NPF Report 2016 was agreed.

  1. ELECTION OF NATIONAL AUDITORS

The General Secretary recommended we support the present incumbents:-

  • Chris Kitchen (NUM)
  • John Park (Community)

The recommendation was agreed.

The election would take place on Monday 26th September 2016 and ballot papers would be collected and completed by the Chair.

  1. EMERGENCY MOTIONS

An Emergency Motion had been submitted by the Fire Brigades Union on the ongoing trade dispute in Manchester. The General Secretary recommended support of the emergency motion.

The recommendation was agreed.

The Chair explained that if further emergency motions were submitted and a decision of the delegation was required – a formal consultation form’ would be circulated. If a further meeting of the delegation was needed this would be arranged.

  1. NEC CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

The NEC Constitutional Amendments were contained in the Appendix to CAC Report No. 1. Andy Kerr, DGS (T&FS) and LP NEC member explained the NEC’s proposed rule changes.

All Constitutional Amendments were agreed except for the increase in the NEC to accommodate seats for Scotland and Wales. This would be dealt with at a further delegation meeting to be held at 7.30am on Tuesday 27th September 2016.

  1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS 2015

The Chair advised the delegation that the Constitutional Amendments 2015 had only been forwarded to delegates by email on Friday 23rd September 2016. Therefore, these would be considered at the delegation meeting to be held on Tuesday 27th September 2016.

  1. CONSTITUTIONAL AM
    ENDMENTS 2016

The constitutional amendments submitted for consideration in 2017 would also be discussed at the further delegation meeting to be held on 27th September 2016.

  1. POLICY SEMINARS

The Chair advised the delegation that there were nine Policy Seminars taking place in the Liverpool Area Conference Centre. The CAC Report No. 1 (page 7) contained the details and locations of all the Policy Seminars.

Monday 26th September 2016 (16.00 – 17.30)

  • Economy Auditorium 1A
  • Better Politics Auditorium 1B
  • Communities Auditorium 1C

Tuesday 27th September 2016 (16.00 – 17.30)

  • Health and Care Auditorium 1A
  • Children & Education Auditorium 1B
  • EU Referendum Auditorium 1C

Wednesday 28th September 2016 (16.00 – 17.30)

  • Equalities, Civil Society & Political Reform Auditorium 1A
  • Transport Auditorium 1B
  • Home Affairs Auditorium 1C

The Chair stated that if anyone wished to make an intervention on any subject covered in the seminars, this would need to be in line with CWU Policy and delegates should have a copy of the 2016 CWU Summary Policy Document.

  1. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The General Secretary advised the delegation that this year, the union had an exhibition stand at the Labour Party Conference (also at the TUC Conference). He invited all delegates to visit the stand during conference.

The Meeting concluded at 10.30am.

The following is a report on the decisions taken by the CWU delegation at their meeting on Monday 26th September 2016 at the Arena Conference Centre (ACC) in Liverpool.

COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

2016 LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE – LIVERPOOL

MINUTES OF THE CWU LABOUR PARTY DELEGATION MEETING

MONDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2016

ARENA CONFERENCE CENTRE (ACC), LIVERPOOL

___________________________________________________________________

PRESENT: Beryl Shepherd (President), Dave Ward (General Secretary), Tony Kearns (SDGS), Andy Kerr (Deputy General Secretary, T&FSE), Ray Ellis (ActingDeputy General Secretary, Postal), Graham Colk, Kate Dunning, Hugh Gaffney, Scott Hartles, Kate Hudson, Jacky Morrey, Karen Rose, Amarjite Singh, Alan Tate, Philip Thomas, Mark Walsh, Richard Wilkins

IN ATTENDANCE: Andrew Towers

  1. COMPOSITE MOTION 1 – EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

The General Secretary reported that there had been a number of reservations expressed by other TULO affiliates about the wording of Composite Motion 1 on Employment Rights. It was felt that the Composite could be open to a number of interpretations.

The delegation agreed that, as there was insufficient time for a full debate and to allow all views to be expressed, that our position on this motion should be one of abstention.

This was unanimously agreed.

The following is a report on the decisions taken by the CWU delegation at their meeting on Tuesday 27th September 2016 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Liverpool.

COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

2016 LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE – LIVERPOOL

MINUTES OF THE CWU LABOUR PARTY DELEGATION MEETING

TUESDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2016 AT 7.30AM

PRINCES SUITE 2, CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL, LIVERPOOL

___________________________________________________________________

PRESENT: Beryl Shepherd (President), Dave Ward (General Secretary), Tony Kearns (SDGS), Andy Kerr (Deputy General Secretary, T&FSE), Ray Ellis (Acting Deputy General Secretary, Postal), Kate Dunning, Hugh Gaffney, Scott Hartles, Kate Hudson, Jacky Morrey, Karen Rose, Amarjite Singh, Alan Tate, Philip Thomas, Mark Walsh, Richard Wilkins

IN ATTENDANCE: Bill Taylor, Andrea Snowden, Lionel Sampson, Andrew Towers, Meta Thomas

APOLOGIES: Graham Colk – OUB

  1. NEC CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Andy Kerr DGS (T&FS) and LP NEC member explained that NEC’s proposed rule changes would be taken on block. These were contained on pages 17 – 25 of CAC Report No.3.

The General Secretary recommended that the delegation support the NEC constitutional amendments.

This was agreed.

  1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS 2015

The 2015 Constitutional Amendments were contained in CAC Report No.3, page 26 – 27. The General Secretary recommended that the delegation support the NEC recommendations as contained on page 12, with the exception of the amendment moved by Sheffield Heeley, which the delegation agreed to support (Chapter 3, clause III, 2G).

This was agreed.

  1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS 2016

The Chair reminded the delegation that these constitutional amendments were for noting and would be considered in 2017.

This was noted

  1. CONFERENCE ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE (CAC) REPORT 3

NEC Statements

The Chair highlighted to the delegation that there were two NEC statements on page 9 of CAC Report No.3 which will be presented to Conference for endorsement.

  • What Labour Stands For
  • International Trade

The NEC statements were agreed.

Composite Motions

The Chair referred the delegation to pages 13 – 16 of CAC Report No.3 which detailed the Composite Motions to be debated today. The recommendation was to support all Composite Motions.

  • Composite Motion 7 – NHS
  • Composite Motion 8 – Energy
  • Composite Motion 9 – Housing
  • Composite Motion 10 – Grammar Schools

The delegation agreed to supportthe composite motions.

The meeting closed at 8.05am.

If you have any enquiries on this LTB, these should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office at gsoffice@cwu.org quoting the reference GS14.12/LTB 747/16.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary