CWU Members Handbook

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CONTENTS

page

1. CWU at a Glance 2

2. Advantages 5

3. Benefits & Funds 7

4. Added Benefits 10

5. CWU – Helping you to help others 18

6. Structure of the Union 20

7. How you can participate 22

8. Your Union, Your Voice 25

9. How to keep up-to-date 26

10. Youth Committee 27

Appendix 28

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1. CWU AT A GLANCE

Now you have joined the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) we would like towelcome you and let you know about some of the advantages, benefits, and choices yourmembership entitles you to. These are summarised below along with some usefulinformation on how you can get involved with your Union.

Advantages: As a member you have the expertise of the Union and its Officials to adviseyou on matters ranging from wages and conditions of employment, Health & Safety issues,and to provide up-to-date information on all employment legislation which can impact onyour working life.

The Union can also provide you with a personal service which can range from confidential,work-related information to legal advice.

In addition, should you find yourself subject to a disciplinary procedure, you are entitledto Union representation. The Union can provide you with guidance, professional advice,and personal representation at meetings, if required.

If the problem that you are experiencing at work can not be resolved by talking with yourmanager/employer, the Union will, on your behalf, take the issue to the appropriate thirdparty, such as a Rights Commissioner or the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

If it is a collective issue and affects a number of people in the same workplace it can beraised with the Labour Relations Commission and if an acceptable solution is not found,the matter can then be referred to the Labour Court if the internal procedures do not leadto a satisfactory solution.

Benef i ts and Funds: These are automatic entitlements which come with membership.To be an “In Benefit” member means that you are entitled to the services and additionalbenefits offered to members.

You must be a paid up member for a minimum period of 8 weeks to receivethese benef i ts.

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Some funds are specific to the sector you are employed in, e.g. An Post or eircom.

Added Benef i ts: There are a range of special discounts which are available to you as aunion member. All you need is to quote your membership number to avail of them. TheUnion has arranged discounts on things as essential as insurance cover for your car, homeand holidays.

Then there are funds which are optional and additional to the general membership fee.These cover medical benefits such as optical/ dental/ surgical & medical appliances. Thereare also a range of discounts available to members with various retailers and services, suchas Aura Sport & Leisure Management and Vision Express.

CWU – Helping you to help others: The Union has other optional funds, such asthe Intellectual Disability Housing Fund and the CWU Charitable Fund, which members cancontribute towards if they wish.

Structure of the Union: If you are not familiar with the democratic process within theUnion, there is a chart contained in the more detailed section on the subject, whichillustrates how the process operates.

How you can part ic ipate: Once you become a member you can use your voice toinfluence the environment in your workplace by raising concerns and issues that impact onthe day-to-day working life of you and your colleagues. Members may choose to take amore active role in the Union by becoming a Representative. The CWU provides trainingto any member interested in becoming more actively involved in the Union.

Your Union, Your Voice: Not everyone who joins a union attends meetings andparticipates fully in the business and decision-making process of the union. The option isavailable to you, but the majority of people who join are quite happy to leave the day-to-day running of union business to the workplace elected Representatives who keep membersup-to-date on what is happening in their Branch.

However getting involved with the CWU can be a rewarding experience that will greatlyenhance your personal skills and which can benefit your career development.

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If you want to become involved and be a Union Representative, the Union provides training,advice and information to assist you in the role. Paid release from work is also available forRepresentatives in some workplaces.

Many Union Representatives also take part in the Unions’ various committees and goforward for the National Executive Council. The level of your involvement and participationis up to you.

How to keep up-to-date: Your local Representative can keep you informed of what ishappening in your Branch or Section. General Secretary Circulars are sent to Branchesdetailing issues which may affect our members. These are often displayed on a notice boardand/or circulated via email. These circulars can also be accessed on the CWU websitewww.cwu.ie

The Union magazine “Connect”, which is published 4 times a year, can keep you updatedon what is taking place in your industry, on industrial relations events, not to mentionspecial discounts and services available to you as a member.

Youth Committee: If you are under 35 years of age you can take part in the Union’sYouth Committee which arranges meetings, training and social events relevant to youngerand new members.

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2. ADVANTAGES

The Communications Workers’ Union is the premier union for the postal,telecommunications, call centre and IT sectors. With members in eircom, An Post,Vodafone, Meteor, O2, American Airlines, IBM and many others, the CWU has a proventrack record in representing members’ interests. Today there are almost 18,000 membersin the Union.

The CWU successfully negotiates wages and salaries for the majority of workers employedin the Irish communications industry and would be able to do so for you. One of thestrengths which your CWU negotiators can bring to bear on your behalf is their detailedknowledge of pay rates in the industry. As a result we know what the appropriateremuneration is for the work you and your colleagues are carrying out. This is particularlyimportant in workplaces where employers negotiate individual contracts with employees.It is not uncommon to f ind major dif ferences in pay between workers doingexact ly the same work in such companies. The fact that the CWU knows the ratesof pay in the industry and knows how your company is faring financially will help ensure thatyou get a fair deal in your salary cheque.

Providing Better Packages: Wages or salaries should only be one part of a worker’soverall remuneration package, which should also include pension and sick payarrangements. Unfortunately, as recent reports have pointed out, too many companies donot honour their responsibilities to their staff in this regard. What is nearly worse is thatsome companies offer such packages to their executive staff but refuse to do so for the restof their workforce. The CWU has successfully negotiated such arrangements with employersfor thousands of its members. The Union’s experience in this regard could be of greatbenefit to you.

Equal i ty & Diversity: Equal rights are of vital importance to the CWU. Our mission isto work towards greater equality for all our members in their places of employment, throughproviding information and assistance on equality related matters and through creatingawareness for our members on their rights and responsibilities under current legislation.

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The CWU respects and values the diversity of our employees, our members and all thosethat we do business with.

We are fully committed to valuing diversity and strive to promote equality of opportunitythroughout the Union.

The CWU has an Equal i ty Committee that is elected once ever y two years.The Committee is trained on equal i ty related matters and meets regular lyto discuss our equal i ty agenda for our members.

Despite progress made in the area of equality, much remains to be done, particularly inrelation to introducing family-friendly and work/life balance policies. This means keepingthese issues at the top of the agenda and at every opportunity encouraging employers tosee the benefits for all concerned.

Flexible working hours are non-statutory and employees unfortunately do not have anautomatic entitlement to them. This is one area where the Union can negotiate on behalfof members, either individually or collectively, to encourage employers to introduce suchpolicies and improve members’ work/life balance.

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3. BENEFITS AND FUNDS

What happens if I fall seriously ill? Can I have my income maintained? How do I cope witha serious accident? Have I any support in times of legal difficulty? Most of us have to beconcerned not just about ourselves, but about how our families are to be provided for inthe event of an illness or financial crisis. Everybody knows the benefit of being a CWUmember for protection against injustice at work, maintaining pay and conditions, protectingemployment and lobbying government on behalf of our industry. However, you may notrealise that the CWU provides many other social, legal and welfare services for its members.We have negotiated some excellent preferential insurance rates through Halligan Insurancesand FM Downes & Co. Brokers, and we continually look at how to improve our servicesfor members.

Sickness Benef i tSubject to Union Rules and on production of the requisite documentation, a member onreduced basic pay, following a continuous or accumulative absence of 26 weeks from duty(in accordance with the sick pay regulations of the relevant company) resulting from illnessor accident may be paid an amount up to 70% of his/her basic pay while a member of theUnion.

Requests for sickness benefit from members who have not had such an absence may beconsidered on their merits by the Management Committee subject to the sanction of theNational Executive Council. Any such payments will be inclusive of payments/grants fromAn Post and eircom’s Medisan Fund and the State Pay Related Social Insurance.

To apply, obtain a form from Union Head Office through the Branch/Section Secretary,complete same and return with payslip and medical certificate, consultants report or adoctor-to-doctor report.

Mortal i ty Benef i tA member may be paid €635 on the death of his/her spouse. The next-of-kin may be paid€5,080 on the death of a member. An associate member may be paid €635 on the deathof his/her spouse. The next-of-kin may be paid €635 on the death of an associate member.

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The mortality benefit payable to the estate of a member of the Retired Members Sectionshall be €1,270.

To apply, obtain a form from Union Head Office through the Branch/Section Secretary,complete same and return with copy of Death Certificate. In certain cases the Union mayalso require sight of the grant of probate or letters of administration, whichever is applicable.

HardshipApplications for financial assistance from the fund in such cases are considered on theirmerits by the Management Committee and grants are made in certain limited circumstancessubject to the sanction of the National Executive Council.

To apply, submit details of the case through the Branch/Section Secretary to the FinancialOfficer at Union Head Office, for consideration by the Finance Committee.

Personal AccidentPersonal Accident Cover is provided FREE for all “In Benefit” members of the Union. Thefinancing of this cover is provided for from the central funds of the Union and the memberstherefore do not have to pay any additional contribution. The scheme provides for thepayment of certain sums in the case of death, loss of limbs, and certain hospital charges,detailed on the schedule of benefits page.

All current “In Benefit” members of the CWU are covered 24 hours a day, 365 days year,anywhere in the world. The only exclusions are injuries consequent upon war, whetherdeclared or undeclared, intentional self-inflicted injury including suicide or attemptedsuicide, aerial flight other than as a passenger, sickness or disease.

A claim form can be obtained from your local Branch Secretary or Union Head Office.Return the form with a certificate regarding hospitalisation. In the case of death, a Coroner’sReport and grant of probate or letters of administration (whichever is applicable) will alsobe required.

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Legal AidThis scheme, which is funded from the central funds of the Union, provides assistance to“In Benefit” members of the Union in certain circumstances and subject to certainconditions in relation to:

• Offences under the Road Traffic Acts• Compensation claims• Inquests• Wills• Certain legal advice

Requests for assistance relating to matters covered by the scheme must be submitted withdetails of the case through the Branch/Section Secretary, to Union Head Office. The casewill then be forwarded to the Union’s solicitors for advice.

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4. ADDED BENEFITS

In addition to the advantages and benefits already outlined, there are choices which yourmembership brings in the form of special discounts. Some people when they change orleave an employment retain their CWU membership in order to still qualify for the discountswhich their membership entitles them to avail of.

See examples below of the various insurance schemes we have arranged for our members.

Personal Accident Insurance (FREE to al l “In Benef i t” members)

Accident Cover Detai ls Amount Payable

Death by accidental means €30,000Loss of two or more limbs, or both eyes, or one of each €30,000Permanent total disablement from any occupation €30,000Burns benefit, up to a maximum of €6,000Fracture to leg (including ankle) €1,500Fracture to arm (including wrist) €750Hospitalisation per week* €300

*payable after 24 hours, limited to 52 weeks

The only exclusions are injuries consequent upon: war, whether declared or not; intentionalself-inflicted injury, including suicide; flying in aircraft, other than as a passenger; sicknessor disease. When more than one form of disablement results from one accident no morethan €30,000 shall be paid. Cover for professional or semi-professional sports-people isexcluded.

As an “In Benef i t” member of the CWU, Personal Accident Insurance isprovided FREE OF CHARGE, as the Union pays the cost.

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Extra Cover for Committee Members**

Accident Cover Detai ls Amount Payable

Accidents / Death € 30,000Loss of eye/ limb/ speech/ total disablement €20,000Temporary total disablement* €200

*payable weekly after 14 days

**Cover operates whilst working on Union business or commuting to same

How to apply for benef i t after an accidentA benefit claim form can be obtained from your local Branch Secretary or Union HeadOffice.

Members often ask if they can continue with their cover if they leave the Union.Unfortunately, no. It is one of the many perks of being a CWU member and cover ceasesonce you are no longer an “In Benefit” member of the Union. However, Halligan Insurancescan arrange a separate policy at low cost (see below).

Family Personal Accident CoverCover for member + spouse/partner + childrenGives a wide range of cover against those unforeseen risks€70,000 payable for accidental death, loss of an eye or limb€200 weekly income for “out of work” benefit if due to an insured accident

(payable after 26 weeks, for up to two years)€300 weekly hospital benefit (payable after 24 hours of hospitalisation, for up to

26 weeks)€1,500 breakage of leg benefit€750 breakage of arm benefitTotal cost ( for members, spouse/partner & chi ldren) €2.42 per

week

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Benefits for children are at 50% of member’s rate, except for weekly income (nil) andaccidental death where €5,000 maximum applies. Children covered from ages 1 to 18years, or to age 21 if in fulltime education.

CWU Motor Insurance (paid by salar y deduction)Discounts availableOffering competitive quotes for CWU members + spousesPayment accepted by salary deduction over 52 weeksAlternative quotes matched, subject to terms and conditionsLow premiums – can be paid weekly/ fortnightly/ monthly

CWU Home Insurance (paid by salar y deduction)Extra 20% “No Claims Discount” availableComprehensive cover for both Buildings and ContentsIncludes Accidental Damage cover and Miscellaneous cover for valuables/money

lost or stolen outside the homePremiums from €5.00 per week

CWU Specif ied I l lness Cover ( for al l the family)€50,000 tax free payable to member and spouse€20,000 tax free payable for children (automatically included)Cover for 26 illnesses: Cancer, Stroke, Heart Attack, MS, Angioplasty,

Parkinsons, Brain Tumour, Paralysis, Kidney Failure, Emphysema, Coma, andmore

Low cost payable weekly/ fortnightly

CWU Life Insurance ( for al l the family)Low cost cover for member + spouse/partner + childrenGroup Life Scheme giving cover of €100,000 per memberPlus €100,000 per spouse/partner, plus €10,000 per child (ages 1 to 21 years)Cost for member €3.89 before tax (€2.29 after tax @ 41%)Cost for spouse/partner €3.03 (no tax rel ief given)Chi ldren are covered free of charge

Any enquiries to Halligan Insurances – Tel: (01) 879 7100 or info@halligan.ie

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CWU AVC Savings Scheme (for An Post & eircom Employees)Get tax relief on your savings now, while saving to improve your pension benefits atretirement. Full details from your Branch Secretary or the scheme advisers

To find out more on any of the above schemes contact:

Hal l igan InsurancesUnity Bui lding, 16/17 Lower O’Connel l Street, Dubl in 1

Tel: (01) 879 7100 Email : info@halligan.ie Web: www.halligan.ie

Halligan Insurances is a member of I.B.A. and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

Holiday Insurance10% discount available to CWU membersAnnual policies and premiumsAnnual policies including winter sports

These are available to CWU members via the website www.getcover.com where you canavail of cover as late as the day you are travelling. You can also contact them by telephoneon 1850 927 247.

CWU Travel InsuranceComprehensive Annual Multi-Trip Travel InsuranceCover for Worldwide Travel, including winter sportsMember, spouse and all children to age 18 for just €64.85 per annum

For further information log onto www.fmdownes.com/travelinsurance.html or call FMDownes & Co. on (01) 855 6666.

CWU Health InsurancePrivate Health Insurance is necessary if you want the peace of mind that you will not haveto face a waiting list if you or your family need a medical or surgical procedure carried out.

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On behalf of the CWU members, FM Downes & Co. Brokers negotiated special ratesthrough Payroll Deduction for Aviva Health’s best value Corporate Health Insurance Plans.This gives you access to more hospitals and treatment centres nationwide than any otherhealth insurer, best cover for scans & health screens in the market, and money back on day-to-day medical expenses incurred throughout the year, such as GP, physiotherapist, dentistand much more.

For further information log onto www.fmdownes.com/healthins.html or call FM Downes &Co. on (01) 855 6666.

CWU Mortgage Ser viceSecuring a mortgage is more complex than ever before and preparation is key. FM Downes& Co. Brokers can coach CWU members in this area, starting at least 6 months in advanceof when you will require your mortgage. If you find yourself in financial difficulty, FMDownes & Co. Brokers can renegotiate terms of CWU Members’ mortgages with yourlender on your behalf. If you have an existing mortgage and you are paying for a mortgageprotection policy talk to FM Downes & Co. Brokers to ensure that you are getting the bestvalue in this area.

For further information log onto www.fmdownes.com/mortgages.html or call FM Downes& Co. Brokers on (01) 855 6666.

CWU Medical FundMembers of the fund contribute €2.50 per week (from the 1st June 2010) to same.Members may make one claim for benefit under each of the following headings in any 12month period from the last treatment date:

Dental Grant Up to €305.00Optical Grant Up to €152.00Surgical and Medical Appliances Up to €152.00

All claims must be processed through the member’s Branch to Union Head Office. Claimsfor chi ldren aged between 1 and 18 years only.

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Aura Sport & Leisure Management LtdAura and the Communications Workers’ Union have teamed up to provide members ofthe CWU with a 10% discount on the cost of an annual membership. This offer isavailable to all members of the CWU and is valid at all 8 Aura leisure centres throughoutIreland (Carrick-on-Shannon, Letterkenny, Tullamore, Youghal, Dundalk, Drogheda, Trimand Navan).

As the fastest growing operator in Ireland, Aura continues to deliver on its promise of valueand great service for all of its users – a simple formula with a proven track record of success.

To avail of this offer simply present your Union membership card at any of the 8 Auraleisure centres and you will receive a 10 % discount on the cost of annual membership.

The cost of annual membership and facilities vary from centre to centre, for example singleannual membership ranges from €316 in Dundalk to €535 in Letterkenny. Familymembership is available at all Aura leisure centres and CWU members can avail of discountsaveraging €100 per family. Aura also provides the option of paying by direct debit. Formore information on rates and facilities contact your nearest Aura leisure centre.

McInerney SportsGood News for sports fans. The Communications Workers’ Union has negotiated “a 10%discount on al l purchases of footbal l packages” for CWU members. This offeris available on all packages to England, Scotland and Spain. To avail of this offer pleasequote your CWU membership number at time of booking. For bookings call 1850 206 080or visit www.mcinerneysports.com

Vision ExpressThe CWU has teamed up with Vision express to enable our members to avail of specialoffers on spectacles and contact lenses. To avail of the offer just print off the voucher fromthe CWU website. Vision Express has stores in Athlone, Cork, Galway and Dublin. Contactyour nearest store to arrange an appointment and remember to bring your voucher!

Find a store nearest to you on the website www.visionexpress.ie

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Dr. Eugene G. O’Brien, DentistAs you have probably heard, the PRSI scheme for dental treatment has been almostremoved. All that remains is one free examination a year. The price for a privateexamination, scale and polish here is €90. (The national average according to a recentarticle in the Irish Times is €105.00). Dr. O’Brien will undertake a six monthly examination,scale and polish for €50 for PRSI patients. As some CWU members are already patients,Dr. O’Brien has decided to reduce this fee by a further 20% to €40 per person for CWUmembers and their families. Dr. O’Brien will reduce the rate by more than 20% from €90to €70 for private patients. Emergencies will be seen the same day if possible.

The surgery is conveniently located opposite Arnotts main door above the Vodafone shop(51 Henry Street, Dublin 1). For an appointment call (01) 873 0809 – opening hours are8am-5pm Monday to Thursday.

Pinnacle Driving SchoolThe Communications Workers’ Union has teamed up with Pinnacle Driving School, anational driving school with instructors in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Bray toprovide discounted driving lessons to all CWU members. All instructors are ADI qualifiedand pass rates are at least 15% above the average in all test centres. This offer is alsoextended to CWU members buying gift vouchers for a third-party. Unlike other vouchersPinnacles’ do not have an expiry. So they can be redeemed at any time in the future.

CWU Members can ava i l o f the specia l o f fer of only €30 per lesson(normally €35), this includes pre-test lessons and is extended to the family of CWUmembers. To book a lesson please call (01) 455 9231 and quote CWU offer or visit theirwebsites:

Dublin: www.drivinglessonsdublin.ieCork: www.drivinglessonscork.comLimerick: www.drivinglessonslimerick.ieGalway: www.drivinglessonsgalwaycity.ieBray: www.drivinglessonsbray.ie

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National Sea Li fe CentreGreat family-day-out special discounts for CWU members and their families.

• Individuals: Save €3 off ful l admission price• Special family offer: Supersaver deal of €20 for family of 4 (normal

price €35). Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer orpromotion to avail of this offer simply

National Sea Life Centre, Bray Seafront, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Tel: (01) 286 6939 or visitwww.sealife.ie

Viking Splash ToursPlanning a trip to Dublin, organising a superb start to a corporate night out just trying toarrange something special for a child’s birthday treat then why not book a trip on VikingSplash Tours for a unique Dublin experience by Land and Water. Our Viking tour guidesare the most engaging and amusing that you are likely to find in Dublin City. With ourfantastic Amphibious World War II Vehicles (DUKWs) the tour will show you around thesights of Dublin City by land and by water! (Tour lasts approx 1 hr 15mins). Frequentdepartures throughout the year. Please Call in advance to make your booking (01) 7076000. Pricing is as follows:

• Adult (full-price) €20• Children (12 and under) €10• Students/Seniors €18

Members of the Communications Workers’ Union will receive a 10% discount on thesepr ices. To avail of this offer mention that you are a Communications Workers’ Unionmember at time of booking.

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5. CWU - HELPING YOU TO HELPOTHERS

Optional funds are also operated by the Union for which additional contributions arepayable by members.

Distress Fund is used mainly for the purpose of relieving distress amongst members onofficial dispute.

Intel lectual Disabi l i ty Housing Fund enables the Union to give grants towards thepurchase of homes/houses on an annual basis to enable people with an intellectual disabilityto take their place within the community. The fund is administered by an AdvisoryCommittee, the CWU Finance Committee appointed by the National Executive Council ofthe Union, and three members appointed by Inclusion Ireland.

Orphan’s Pension Fund allows in the event of the member’s death a sum of €20 perweek (paid monthly) to be paid in respect of each child registered with the fund until thatchild reaches the age of 18 years. Members must register the names of each of theirchildren with the fund in order to have cover provided by the scheme. This scheme is aFREE benefit to all members and application forms may be obtained from your BranchSecretary or Union Head Office. Payments are commenced to eligible children when themember’s death is brought to the attention of Union Head Office.

CWU Ireland Humanitar ian FundSince the establishment of the fund in 2008 the members have raised over €70,116.83through sponsorship from Medisan, Halligan Insurances, Irish Life, Baby Elegance, KNN,An Post, eircom and many other outside companies.

The need for humanitarian aid is so widespread in Europe, both in Bulgaria and Romania,it is hoped that through the UK Humanitarian Charity further commitments may be madeto try to alleviate poverty within their communities. Words cannot express their gratitude,by visiting these projects one can see the good work achieved for people less fortunate thanourselves.

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CWU Charitable FundFollowing a discussion with the General Secretary and the Finance Committee it wasproposed that the National Executive Council would consider setting up a CWU CharitableFund. This fund shall be open to all members of the Union. Each member will have thefacility to donate a regular sum of money directly into the CWU Charitable Fund. For thosemembers currently paying into their various charities, their contributions will be allocatedto their sponsored charities. Going forward all new members can pay a variable contributionof their choice from €0.50 up to €10.00 and allocation of the contributions collected willbe apportioned on a percentage basis annually to the various charities covering the following(at present the ratio is 75% to the African and Irish Projects and 25% to other projects):

• Intellectual Disability Housing Fund• The Hospice Foundation• CWU Development Fund covering the African Projects and all other foreign

projects

The allocation of funds shall be subject to debate by the NEC Finance Sub-Committee andthe final approval by the National Executive Council. Since its inception in 2002 theFundraising Appeal has raised over €1.4 million and it is heartening to know that the CWUmembers have supported over 41 projects in this time (details of which can be found onour website www.cwu.ie).

Most of the building projects supported include schools, hospitals, orphanages, hospices,educational and nutrition programmes, and projects related to the HIV/AIDS pandemic inAfrica and irrigation projects in West Africa. The proceeds of the fund will be used tosupport a range of worthy projects in Africa and overseas aimed at helping people living inextreme poverty.

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6. STRUCTURE OF THE UNION

Like any large organisation, the CWU is structured into various units. As a member it isimportant that you know and understand how the Union operates.

House Group or Sect ionEvery employment where the CWU has members, the Union organises the members intoSections or House Groups so that they can discuss issues of common concern and decidewhat action they would like to take on these issues. Each group elects its own representativeor ‘Shop Steward’ who sees that the views of the group’s members are acted upon.Sometimes, if the workplace is large enough, there will be a ‘House Committee’ or even a‘Shop Stewards Committee’.

BranchesSections/House Groups come together to form Branches. The Branches are based ongrouping together workers in similar types of jobs and can also be based on geographicregions. Every Branch elects a Committee each year, which meets on a regular basis.

Biennial ConferenceThe Union holds a conference once every two years where representatives of each Branch,known as delegates, meet to discuss issues of concern to members like you and decide onpolicy. This conference elects the Union’s National Executive Council, including thePresident, who are charged with overseeing the implementation of conference decisions anddeciding on policy in between each conference.

Off ic ia lsThe Union has a number of full-time officials whose primary role is to be available torepresent the members in negotiations and to provide advice. Some of these officials, theNational Officers, also have responsibility for the overall day-to-day running of the Union.The General Secretary, Steve Fitzpatrick, is the top official in the Union.

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Head Off iceThe Union’s head office is based in Dublin and this is where the Union’s full-time officialsand administration are located.

The following chart illustrates how issues are raised and processed on your behalf by theCWU:

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7. HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE

The real strength of any trade union is its members. A workplace rep, or Shop Steward, isa union member elected by his/her colleagues who works with the members to representtheir interests with management. As a Union Rep, you are often the face of the union andit is your task to keep members up-to-date on developments and to liaise between yourmembers and your Branch.

In your role as a Union Rep your duties could include the following:

Recruit ing and Organis ing Members• Knowing who is and is not a member• Recruiting non-members• Encouraging existing members to become more involved in the union• Keeping members informed of what is going on in the union and their workplace

Representing members• Listening to members’ problems• Investigating problems fully• Discussing solutions with management• Representing members in grievances, disciplinaries and other issues• Attending meetings with management and reporting back to members

Representing the union• Shaping and implementing union policy• Talking to members about these• Giving out union leaflets and newsletters

If you would like to find out more about becoming a Union Rep contact your BranchSecretary or contact Head Office directly.

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Training for Activ istsThe CWU provides comprehensive and quality training courses to our Union Activists.This training enables activists to represent members to the best of their abilities andenhances their effectiveness as Union Representatives.

Our internal training consists of the following training courses:

Equal i ty Representat ive: The intention of the course is to train an Equality Rep ineach Branch who would then become the resident expert on equality issues and who wouldbe updated on a regular basis by Union Head Office. It is a two day course delivered byour Education Committee and it covers Equality Legislation in some detail.

Organis ing Training: This is a one day course for Organisers and it covers issues suchas “why join a union”, “what unions do”, and objection handling.

Branch Officer: This is a two day training course which takes place in CWU Head Office.This is for anyone who is a Branch Officer and the training is undertaken by our EducationCommittee. The main focus of the course is on the role of the various officers, organisingmeetings, as well as areas such as grievance handling, overview of legislation, organising,negotiating skills etc.

Committee Member: We run a number of these sessions throughout the year. It isgenerally a one day session run over a Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, or a full daySaturday and is run on a regional basis. The training is undertaken by our EducationCommittee and we tailor the courses to suit the individual needs of the Branch.

Branch Secretar y Stage 1: This is a four/five day course which takes place in CWUHead Office. It is for Branch Secretaries who have just been elected. The training isundertaken by our Education Committee. The modules we cover include role of the BranchSecretary, Officers and Committee, why join a union, negotiation and communicationsskills, practical exercises, Employment and Equality Legislation, the role of the Union Repin bullying & harassment cases, grievance & disciplinary procedures, State IR machinery,and the Branch Secretary as an Organiser.

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Branch Secretar y Stage 2: This is a four/five day course which takes place in CWUHead Office. It is for Branch Secretaries who have been in the job for more than one year.The training is undertaken by our Education Committee. The modules on the course aresimilar to Stage 1 but some of the content is more detailed and we use the experience asa Branch Secretary to develop their skills.

Branch Secretar y Stage 3: This is a three day course which takes place in CWU HeadOffice. It is for Branch Secretaries who have been in the position for a number of years andwho have not completed any training for two or three years. The training is undertaken byour Education Committee. The aim of the course is to update them in relation toEmployment and Equality Legislation and develop their skills further.

Branch Chairperson: This is a three day training course which takes place in CWUHead Office. This is for anyone who is a Branch or Section Chairperson. The training isundertaken by our Education Committee. The main focus of the course is on the role ofthe Chairperson, preparing for meetings etc, but we also cover areas such as grievancehandling, organising, overview of legislation, negotiating skills etc.

Branch Treasurer: This is a two day training course which takes place in CWU HeadOffice. This is for anyone who is a Treasurer of a Branch. Training is undertaken by ourEducation Committee. The main focus of the course is on the role of the Treasurer andtreasurer reports, but we also cover areas such as grievance handling, organising, overviewof legislation, negotiating skills etc.

Union Adviser: This is a new course which we are piloting this year and it involves someof our more experienced activists taking on a role in grievance & disciplinary cases involvingnew members. The course concentrates on grievance and disciplinary handling.

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8. YOUR UNION, YOUR VOICE

The Union holds a Biennial Conference which agrees and decides Union policy for the nexttwo years. The process begins when an individual member raises an issue at Branch levelor proposes a Motion to be discussed at Conference. All Motions are reviewed and thosethat go forward for Conference are discussed. Delegates attending the Conference have theopportunity to vote on acceptance or rejection of the Motion. (See Appendix 1: Guidelinesto assist members when submitting Motions to their Branch)

Once a Motion is agreed at Conference it then becomes Union policy and is included inthe programme of work for the coming two years. Also at the Biennial Conference electionstake place for those who wish to go forward to the National Executive Council (NEC). Alldelegates have the opportunity to vote for those who put their names forward. Thesuccessful candidates, besides forming the NEC, also take part in the various UnionCommittees:

• Education Committee• Equality Committee• Finance Committee• General Purpose Committee (GPC)• Health & Safety Committee • Organising Committee• Rationalisation Committee

You as a member within your workplace or Branch make a decision and it is the Union thathas to comply with it.

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9. HOW TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE

Your local Representative can keep you informed of what is happening in your Branch orSection. General Secretary Circulars are sent to Branches detailing issues which may affectour members. These are often displayed on a notice board and/or circulated via email.These circulars can also be accessed on the CWU website www.cwu.ie

The Union website (www.cwu.ie) is updated regularly with information relevant to ourmembers and their industries. The Union also has a dedicated website for workers in CallCentres / Contact Centres (www.callcentres.ie) where members who work in this area canfind specific information on this sector. Furthermore, the Union also has a presence onFacebook, with a page for all members to engage with each other and the Union (CWUIreland). We also have a page for our younger members who may wish to get involved withthe Youth Committee (CWU Youth Committee Ireland).

The Union magazine “Connect”, which is published 4 times a year, can keep you updatedon what is taking place in your industry, on industrial relations events, not to mentionspecial discounts and services available to you as a member.

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10. YOUTH COMMITTEE

The Youth Committee is an important forum for our younger members to express theiropinions and views on issues as they relate to young workers. The CWU has longrecognised the unique challenges facing our younger members across all sectors.

The aims of the Youth Committee, as set out in their recently agreed Action Plan, are:

• To influence Union policy from the grassroots upward to reflect the particularneeds and viewpoints of young members of the CWU

• To encourage greater involvement of young members across all Branches andsectors of the Union

• To support the effort to recruit young members into the Union and to encouragethe building of activists within the Union

• To drive campaigns that affect young people both within and without the tradeunion movement

• To engage with youth groups in other trade unions and political movements

• To work towards a seat on the Union’s National Executive Council for a memberof the Youth Committee

• To continue and increase their involvement in global youth committees

Any young members interested in becoming involved or who are curious about the role ofthe Youth Committee should feel free to contact the Union for more informationenquiries@cwu.ie

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APPENDIX 1

The following guidelines may be of assistance to Members who wish to submit a Motionto their Branch for consideration at Biennial Conference.

Motions1. A Motion must contain an instruction from Conference to the National Executive

Council (i.e. “Conference instructs the incoming National Executive Council to…”)

2. A Motion must not be negative in character

3. A Motion must deal with only one subject

4. It is advisable when formulating Motions to ensure that, where it refers to a specificcompany, that the company is named within the Motion

5. It should be remembered that the CWU does not represent all staff in mostcompanies

Amendments to Motions1. An Amendment to a Motion must be directly relevant to that Motion

2. An Amendment to a Motion must not alter the substance of the Motion

3. An Amendment to a Motion may not bring a Motion which is out of order back intoorder

4. Addendum: An Addendum is an addition to a Motion and may not introduce newsubject matter to the original Motion

A Branch must be present at a Conference in order to move a Motion or an Amendment.Branches, in submitting Amendments to Motions (i.e. an eircom Branch submitting anAmendment to an An Post Motion or vice versa) should note, if the Motion is proper to aConference that the Branch is not eligible to attend, then the Amendment will fall.

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