The Communications Union
South East Central

– disingenuous, underhand and yet another imposition!

You will have had a communication from Openreach this afternoon announcing a reduction in Saturday working for Field Engineers in FTTP. This has been portrayed positively, it is quite the opposite. The reduction in the number of Saturdays from 12 to 9 has not been agreed by the CWU, despite there being a National Agreement on the process. This is a unilateral imposition by Openreach and, despite strong representations by your union today, they have continued with the communication.

An emotional farewell

On the final day of T&FS Conference, delegates heard an emotional farewell speech from retiring deputy general secretary Andy Kerr.

Following a surprise video created by the union’s communications department which featured reminisces from general secretary Dave Ward which honoured his “incredible lifelong contribution” to the union, T&FS chair Karen Rose also discussed her affection for Andy to delegates.

100% solidarity with Enniskillen members

Northern Ireland Telecoms Branch delegate Paddy Meehan brought Conference to its feet with a rousing call for solidarity and support for Enniskillen workers and their community.

In a powerful proposition-moving speech, Paddy said that some 300 EE (former BT) jobs in the Fermanagh town are under threat if the site closes and its operations are transferred to Belfast – over 80 miles away – and that the situation has sparked a local ‘Save Our Site’ campaign.

Telecoms & Financial Services (T&FS) Conference got off to a heady start yesterday, in addressing core concerns from workplace surveillance to crumbling buildings.

Opening the proceedings was deputy general secretary (T&FS) Andy Kerr, who described the concentration and seriousness with which this sector of the union deals with industrial relations in the 28 different companies we are recognised.

Union demands a halt to the ‘haemorrhaging’ of UK jobs to cheap-labour countries…

“We need a change and we need real protections for workers against offshoring of jobs,” said DGS-elect Karen Rose today, adding: “Far, far too often, good high-quality jobs here in the UK are lost because there’s nothing to stop greedy companies getting rid of workers here and exporting their jobs to far lower-paid workforces in poorer countries.

Company rules out driver-facing monitor in response to nationwide concerns from engineers…