UWU Elections and more member news

Read Time 2 mins | Sunday 14 March, 18:27

Elections 2021 – your vote

Nominations for UWU executive positions have closed. We have a list of top-notch candidates to put to members for our union’s first full election cycle. Members will be able to cast their vote when they receive your electronic ballot paper. Please check spam folders over the next 24 hours. 

There are still a few vacancies. So if you missed the nomination deadline you can still submit your name for consideration.

Union Workers’ Union members can be co-opted to the executive at any point during the year. We also have lots of local rep roles available for members who prefer to work in more focused ways. As a first task, the incoming executive will be making plans for the re-election of the union’s statutory roles. Our incumbent President and General Secretary were elected when the union was much smaller. As such, they have decided to step down and re-run the elections with our larger membership. More on this soon. 

Casework

Casework continues to increase. This month alone the union has negotiated two settlement agreements for UWU members in different unions. We have also provided support to members by way of general advice and at hearings. If you have a work-related issue and need representation – we are here to help. Please complete the casework form and your UWU rep will be in touch.  

Renewal 

UWU members who joined on the £20 offer are being contacted on the anniversary of their joining date to convert to direct debit payment of subscriptions. We are already a quarter of the way through 2021 and nearly all members have renewed their membership. In fact, our retention rate is currently at 94%. If you joined in 2020, look out for your renewal email and convert online. 

Class Composition 

Following a member request, we are pleased to highlight an optional survey opportunity for UWU members and the members they work with. Led by Notes from Below, a journal that aims to promote worker’s enquiry, working-class peoples’ voices and perspectives on their work and how it affects their life. The aim of their current project, which is supported by a grant from the Alex Ferry Foundation, is to create as comprehensive a picture of working-class life and work as possible, by enabling people to talk about their work. The key questions the survey is seeking to answer are:

What are the key sectors for capital in the UK?

Who makes up the working class in Britain?

Where do they work and how?

What are the levels of (dis)organisation of the labour movement?

How does this map on different sectors and sections of the workforce?

What are the key tools used by bosses to control workers?

How do they resist this?

Take the survey.