Youth annual report 2014

Communications Workers’ Union Youth Committee

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2015

Thursday 26th February, 9.30am

William Norton House

AGENDA

1. Minutes

2. Chairperson’s Address

3. Annual Report

4. Standing Orders

5. Guest Speaker

6. Election of Officers

7. Year Ahead

8. AOB

9. Next Meeting

MISSION STATEMENT

The CWU Youth Committee was established to encourage and assist new, and specifically younger members, who join the Union to learn about the Union and the benefits of participation for themselves and their colleagues. To assist young members in obtaining the confidence and skillsets necessary to participate at any level they wish in the activities of the Union and to give them the opportunity to meet and link up with other young members outside of the more traditional Branch meetings.

YOUTH COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN

The aims of the Youth Committee are:

1. To influence Union policy from the grassroots upward to reflect the particular needs and viewpoints of young members of the CWU

2. To encourage the greater involvement of young members across all Branches and sectors of the Union

3. To support the effort to recruit young members into the Union and to encourage the building of activists within the Union through training and hands‐on experience

4. To drive campaigns that affect young people both within and without the trade union movement

5. To communicate effectively and provide regular updates to younger members of developments within the Union

6. To engage with youth groups in other trade unions and political movements to educate activists in broader political issues

7. To work towards a seat on the NEC for a member of the Youth Committee

8. To continue and increase their involvement in global youth committees

9. To contribute to a ‘youth section’ of the Union’s website

10. To produce a recurring article(s) in the Union’s journal to report on the achievements of the Youth Committee

11. To establish a political education programme for young members

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Name of Committee: The Committee will be known as the Youth Committee of the Communications Workers’ Union.

2. Aims a) The aim of the Committee shall be to promote and protect the interests and conditions of all young members of the CWU. b) To secure a seat on the National Executive Council of the CWU. c)

The Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice‐Chair and Committee members. The Committee shall normally meet once a month or more often, if required.

d) The term of the Officers (Chairperson and Vice‐Chair) will be for one year, elected annually at the AGM.

3. Elections a) The Committee shall elect officers by Ballot at the AGM. This will be done by way of an overall vote of all members present. Members who are scheduled for duty during the actual period of the AGM, on Annual Leave or out on long‐term sick absence or otherwise legitimately unable to attend may vote via text message to the Facilitator. b) Nominations for Officers’ positions must be submitted no later than the date decided by the Committee prior to the AGM. c)

All nominations must have the signature of the Proposer and Seconder, and must have the written consent of the nominee.

d) In the event of there being insufficient nominations, nominations may be accepted from the floor of the AGM. e) Any decision reached democratically by a vote of the Committee shall be binding on all Committee members.

4. Meetings: a) The AGM shall be held biennially in January or February. b) Special General Meetings shall be held whenever it is considered necessary by the Committee or whenever the NEC so orders. c)

Any other requests for a Special General Meeting must be submitted to the Chairperson stating the purpose of the meeting. No other business will discussed be at such meetings.

d) Seven days’ notice shall normally be given for all General Meetings. e) There is no Quorum for an Annual General Meeting.

f)

The Agenda for the AGM and General Meeting shall be prepared by the Chairperson and Vice‐Chair in consultation with the members and these members will be furnished with a copy prior to the AGM.

5. Duties: Chairperson:



To preside over all Committee and General Meetings of the Committee.



To ensure that business is carried out in an orderly and efficient manner.



To conduct correspondence, keep records and generally administer the affairs of the Committee in accordance with its decisions.



To call and arrange General Meetings and AGM in conjunction with the Head Office Facilitator.



With Vice‐Chair, to agree and produce Agenda for meetings.

Vice‐Chair:



To liaise between Chair and Committee members/Head Office.



To take and produce minutes of General Meetings and AGMs.



To facilitate on‐going Campaigns and activities as decided by Committee.



With Chair, to agree and produce Agenda for meetings.



To ensure that meetings are conducted in accordance with Standing Orders.

It is noted that the unique nature of the Youth Committee requires continued support and assistance from Head Office and both the Chair and Vice‐Chair will work in cooperation with the Facilitator to ensure the Committee works smoothly and efficiently.

6. Voting: Voting on all matters at Committee meetings shall be by a show of hands, except where a secret ballot is specified by these standing Orders or by the NEC or where the Chairperson deems a secret ballot is necessary.

7. General: a) These Terms of Reference, in conjunction with the rules of the CWU, shall be binding on all members of the Youth Committee of the Communications Workers’ Union. b) Membership of the Youth Committee shall be open to members up to 35 years of age. Members elected to Chair or Vice‐Chair positions who reach this age limit during their term may hold their elected position until the next election. c)

The NEC shall be the final authority on the interpretation of these Terms of Reference.

CHAIRPERSON’S ADDRESS

Comrades,

It has been a great privilege and honour to serve as chairperson of the CWU Youth Committee over the past 12 months. 2014 was another busy year for our Committee as we continued to play a central role in the ongoing rejuvenation of youth activism on the streets and within the trade union movement.

Our Committee has been to the fore in the campaign against the government’s national internship scheme, JobBridge. By bringing together disparate youth organisations our Committee has helped consolidate a credible resistance to the scheme. This was clearly demonstrated by our protest march in April of this year, which was supported by a host of youth organisations and advocacy groups.

The campaign against JobBridge has now entered a new dynamic phase, with renewed vibrancy and potential. The activities and success of the Work Must Pay campaign bears witness to this.

Over the past year, the Youth Committee of Congress, of which I am currently Chair, has also enjoyed resurgence in activity. Having launched the Rights Campaign in October, the Committee is currently agitating around the issue of discrimination in welfare payments for young people. The ICTU Youth Committee is seeking to make this a live political issue in the lead up to the next Budget and General Election.

Owing to these, and other personal commitments, I have been unable to devote the necessary time and focus into our own Committee in recent months and as a result I have decided not to seek re‐election as Chair. It has been a tremendous experience working with such committed activists over the past two years, and I wish to express my gratitude for all the support and encouragement given to me by Head Office, the General Secretary and the National Executive.

The year ahead looks set to be another busy and demanding one and I wish the incoming officers every success in their endeavours. I will remain an active member of the Committee and look forward to assisting in any way that I can into the future.

In solidarity,

Derek Keenan CWU Youth Committee Chairperson

COMMITTEE ACTIVISM 2014

JANUARY



In January, the Committee organised a press conference that brought together a number of groups calling for an end to the JobBridge scheme. Groups represented were the CWU YC, Mandate Youth, We’re Not Leaving, ScamBridge, and significantly, the Union of Students in Ireland.

FEBRUARY



The Committee, in conjunction with Mandate and Pearse Doherty TD, helped launch the “Know your Rights at Work: Down Under” initiative.

APRIL



Our Committee held a meeting in Head Office on the 12th of April. Following the meeting our Committee led an anti‐JobBridge protest march from the Central Bank to Pearse Street Social Welfare Office. The protest was well attended and a number of speeches were made on the day.



Derek Keenan spoke at an event organised by the Connolly Youth Movement.

The theme of the event was “Youth Resistance”. CWU Organiser, Laura McKenna also spoke at the event.

MAY



For a third consecutive year our Committee was afforded the opportunity to speak at the Annual DCTU May Day rally in Dublin.



Our Committee met again at Conference in Killarney. The Committee was also afforded time to address Conference on our campaigns.

SUMMER



Throughout the summer months, Committee members took part in a number of solidarity actions with the locked out Greyhound workers.

SEPTEMBER



The Committee met on the 13th of September where members were briefed on developments regarding the discussions held with other youth groups regarding JobBridge, dole cuts etc.

OCTOBER‐JANUARY



Work Must Pay group is formalised, the anti‐JobBridge action group includes, CWU YC, Unite Youth DAG, Connolly Youth Movement and members of Sinn Féin Republican Youth.



The campaign targets employers advertising dubious internships by issuing letters of warning which call for a removal of these internships upon threat of picket action.



To date, a number of successful actions have taken place, compelling employers to cease using the scheme.

REPORT ON THE YOUTH COMMITTEE AGM

William Norton House, Friday 28th February 2014

ATTENDANCE: Derek Keenan, Eric Partridge, James Moore, Barry Heffernan, Dave Morris, Diarmuid Connell, Anthony Larkin, Ray McDonnell, Dave Sheehy, Breda Bradley, Adam O’Rourke

Apologies: Barry Gorman

1. Annual Report The Annual Report was read to the meeting. As there were no revisions, the Annual Report was agreed.

Proposed: Eric Partridge Seconded: Adam O’Rourke

2. Elections for Chairperson and Vice‐Chairperson Nominations for Chairperson and Vice‐Chairperson were taken from the floor.

Chairperson:  Derek Keenan

Proposed: Diarmuid O’Connell Seconded: Brian Heffernan

In the absence of any other nominations, Derek Keenan was deemed elected.

Vice‐Chairperson:  Barry Gorman

Proposed: Eric Partridge Seconded: Adam O’Rourke

In the absence of any other nominations, Berry Gorman was deemed elected.

3. Standing Orders The Standing Orders were agreed by the AGM and no motions were proposed.

4. AOB Discussion was opened to the floor.

Chair Derek Keenan thanked Fionnuala Ní Bhrógáin, the NEC and the General Secretary for their on‐going support.

Eric Partridge complimented Derek, Barry and the Committee as whole on their work in the preceding year.

There followed a general discussion on activities and plans for the year ahead. It was suggested that members of the Youth Committee travel to various workplaces around the country to talk to members about the Committee and its activities. This suggestion was warmly welcomed and it was agreed that ways of proceeding with this would be discussed in detail at the next Committee meeting.

It was suggested that the Committee could consider putting together an insert in the Connect Journal or possibly producing a leaflet outlining the activities of the Committee. It was agreed to discuss this at the next Committee meeting.

It was proposed that the Committee work toward arranging release for the Chair/ Vice‐Chair of the Committee to perform those duties.

There followed a discussion on progress in the JobBridge campaign. Details of an upcoming protest, to be held on April 12th were outlined.

The AGM were updated on the Union’s plan regarding the recent agreement with DCTV and were advised that there may potentially be an opportunity for the Youth Committee to take advantage of the studio to produce a video.

The AGM was asked if there were any training requirement or the Committee in the ear ahead. It was suggested that the Committee would benefit from further Grievance & Disciplinary training.

There was a discussion around developing a video night, making use of CWU HQ facilities. It was agreed to advance this discussion at the next Committee meeting.

5. Next Meeting The next meeting was set for 12th April 2014 in CWU Head Office.