Equal Opportunities Independent Review

Introduction

COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

DELIVERING ON EQUALITY

A report of an independent review of equality within the CWU

Message from the Senior Deputy General Secretary

Dear Colleagues,

This report arises from two motions that were carried at the Union's 1999 Annual Conference. Motions E1 and E3 which called for action on the question of homophobia and also the importance of ensuring that the Union's policies on equal opportunities were being effectively implemented. This arose from the recommendation of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report which called upon all an organisations to ensure that they were free from institutional racism.

As you will know our independent auditors Colin Hann and Elaine Bowes, who have considerable experience in these matters, made extensive investigations at all levels of the Union. This included meeting with activists and members in a series of regional meetings and a branch questionnaire. They have also looked at the Union's education and training systems, and met with the NEC, Ethnic Minority Advisory Committee, Lesbian and Gay Advisory Committee and representatives from the Equal Opportunities Committee. This report is an interim report because we will wish to take into account the views expressed at Annual Conference and also the section of the report which deals with the Union as an employer is still to be completed.

However, in line with previous assurances given to Branches full copies of the report will be circulated to all Branches and summaries of the report will appear as a supplement to the Voice.

I would like to offer my thanks to the auditors, for the way they have carried out their investigations and the preparation of the report in a short period of time. We are also indebted to all those who willingly gave their time to assist in this review. As you can see the report contains a list of recommendations and a programme of action and it is our clear intention to ensure that the Union effectively monitors and implements the programme of action.

Finally, I would like to thank the Standing Orders Committee for recognising the importance of this issue, giving it the highest priority on the agenda and also ensuring that there is sufficient time to debate what is surely is one of the Unions biggest and most important challenges. If we can deliver on equality and diversity we will build a stronger and better Union.

TONY YOUNG
SENIOR DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY

CONTENTS

Section 1: Introduction and Background
Section 2: Institutional Discrimination and Approaches to Equality and Diversity
Section 3: Background to the CWU
Section 4: Postal Survey of CWU Branches
Section 5: Employment, Representation and Inclusion
Section 6: Equality Information and Knowledge on Equality and Training Provision
Section 7: Communications, Standards of Service, Work with Employers, and Equality Proofing
Section 8: Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix