ALL THE UPDATES FROM THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS
Hear from Deputy General Secretary (Telecoms and Financial Services) Karen Rose on why sectoral bargaining is key, TikTok trust & safety workers on the fight against AI-driven redundancies, and General Secretary Dave Ward on pushing for reform at the top of the TUC.
At a time of insecure work and attacks on rights, Congress was about one thing: building the power to fight back.
LATEST PODCAST ON PROJECT SWIFT
Your CWU Openreach National Team - Josh Barclay, Graham Colk and National Officer Fiona Curtis discuss Project Swift. Openreach have a new project which affects those in complex engineering field and desk.
We discuss the good and the bad and what you the members can do to help provide us with feedback that will help direct your CWU Openreach National Team in discussions with the business.
Project Swift is having a big impact. This is your opportunity to listen to what the CWU have to say and how you can help.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND WHERE TO FIND IT
Wednesday 10th September is World Suicide Prevention Day. We want to help you get help and support when you need it. Below are contact details for organisations who specialise in mental health and are there to listen and give support. For our members working for BT and Openreach, you can also access the EAP service for additional support. To find out more, please get in touch.
FTTP ATTENDANCE PATTERNS
Openreach FTTP have served notice on engineers remaining on 4 day week and 9 day fortnight attendance, replacing them with seasonal attendances where in the Winter engineers work a 5 day week.
We oppose notice being served and the imposition of attendances without the agreement of the CWU.
This represents a threat across Openreach to the full range of attendances we currently enjoy.
TACKLING WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The CWU Openreach National Team member Lili Savage and Regional Co-Ordinator and Great Western Officer Paul Clark, talk tackling workplace sexual harassment. We break down the new legal duty on employers to prevent harassment before it happens and to not just respond after. We discuss what’s changed, what’s still missing, how do they truly change the culture and what workplaces need to do now to keep staff safe.
IT'S TIME FOR A SHORTER WORKING WEEK
Over the past couple of years, general interest in the idea of a shorter working week has grown. In this country, hundreds of employers have been experimenting with reducing hours for no loss of pay with positive results, including:
· Better work/life balance
· Lower levels of stress
· Lower staff turnover
· Greater workplace productivity
On this episode of CWU Live, Michael is joined by Deputy General Secretary (Telecoms & Financial Services) Karen Rose and CWU Field Organiser Kevin Leetion.
OPENREACH VEHICLE CHECKS - CAN IT BE DONE?
The CWU Openreach National Team discuss the importance of engineers doing pre use vehicle checks. Openreach are running a campaign to ensure that Pre-use inspection checks are completed by Openreach engineers.
Discussions continue with Openreach on improving the Holman app, explaining the checks, and identifying barriers to completing the checks.
REGISTER NOW!
Points of Contact, are the Eyes, Ears and Voice of the Union in the workplace. Informing and updating their team of important and relevant information affecting their job and area of business. Available to answer questions, get answers and recruit. POCs are able to raise issues and give feedback to the branch to be dealt with locally or passed up the chain to be addressed at a higher level of the Union. Get involved today and help to build the Unions strength and effectiveness.
Sexual harassment survey
The Worker Protection Act introduced significant revisions
to the sexual harassment policy. This legislation now places a legal duty on employers,
to take reasonable steps to proactively prevent sexual harassment and create a
safe working environment. This expanded duty covers interactions with
colleagues, customers, and members of the public. Employers are now required to
anticipate when sexual harassment may occur and take reasonable steps to
prevent it, and to take action to stop it from happening again if it has
occurred.
Your perspective is important. This survey covers your
awareness, experiences, and thoughts on sexual harassment and the updated
policy, all to create a safer and more respectful environment for everyone.
Your responses will be strictly anonymous, and your
identity will remain confidential.
VOTE IN THE BRANCH ELECTION
Postal ballot papers will be arriving in the post over the next couple of days. The election is for 2 contested branch positions. Make sure you have your say and vote. Complete your ballot paper and return in the prepaid envelope a.s.a.p. to be sure your vote is counted. (12/05/25)
Is This Openreach App Spying On You? Telecoms Workers Need To Watch This.
Lili Savage (Openreach National Team) and Fiona Curtis (National Officer, Telecoms) dive into the detail in this wide-ranging conversation, exploring the balance between worker safety and digital oversight. Is the app a vital protection for engineers in the field - or does it open the door to invasive monitoring?
Improving the visibility of our USRs
Our branch Health & Safety Officer, Peter Simpson and Lead USR, Chris Duckett out and about completing building checks and showing off our new Hi-Vis jackets.
The ballot for BT pay will be issued to all members via their BT email address tomorrow. Please look out for the email, it will include a ballot insert, and explain the agreement. Please vote as soon as possible.
Please look for an email from Popularis.
Further communications and frequently asked questions will be issued as soon as possible.
CHECK OUT THE NEW CWU OPENREACH PODCAST COVERING PROJECT GREEN AND PROJECT MANTA
Today we pay tribute to the women members across our union who inspire us every single day.
BT GROUP PAY OFFER 2025
Your union has been in discussions with BT Group about your pay, this has been a complex process; however, you will be pleased to hear an agreement has been reached. You will get the final say on this agreement. We will be recommending that you vote YES in this ballot. Please check your emails for more a more information. You will be informed of the consultative ballot timetable in the coming days. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact to branch at branchcwu@gwestern.co.uk
USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
All members of the Great Western Branch CWU,
It is with deep sorrow that the branch has received news that Andy Kerr our former Deputy General Secretary Telecom and Financial Services has passed on. The Great Western Branch offers its condolences to Andy’s family and is thankful for all that he did for our membership. Please see LTB 284/24 for more information. He will be missed. In sorrow The officers and membership of the Great Western Branch CWU
Check out theCWU Live T&FS Special from 6th June, 2024.
Check out the latest CWU Live.
A special focusing on topics relating to T&FS. With Special Guests Karen Rose (DGS TFS) and Fiona Curtis (Openreach), alongside Andy Mercer, the host of the new monthly industrial podcast for TFS members.
T&FS special (Podcast) • 8mins 20sec - 37mins 38sec (end).
We have been working hard to overhaul and update our website and our wider communications. This is part of our continued effort to improve transparency and encourage a better understanding of the work our Union branch and wider Union does. This is critical not only for our current members but also our future Members. Our new - About us - page has been designed to be visually attractive and easy to navigate. While we continue to update and improve the website, please bear with us as you may find some areas lacking some information. Rest assured, communications will be sent out to our branch members once we consider the website to have been fully updated. As always, thank you for your patience and support. If you have any suggestions for the website, please feel free to share them with us via our contact us page.
The CWU - Great Western Branch covers over 7000 square miles and represents thousands of members across industries including...
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Telecoms
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Financial Services
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Technology
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Call centres
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Postal engineers
