CWU assesses its record on equality
Two years ago, the CWU embarked on an ambitious project to ensure that its structures and rules were inclusive and to remove any barriers to participation for under-represented groups. General Secretary Billy Hayes said: “The CWU’s decision to prioritise proportionality recognises the changing composition of the workforce in the communications sector. Promoting women and ethnic minority members at every leadership level isn’t just morally right, it is also a matter of practical survival for the union.” The union sees this exercise as a test of whether its paper policies and rules are actually working and making a difference on the ground.
It has carried out detailed research into its membership and activist data, producing a very clear analysis of how proportionate it is. The union now knows, for example, that nearly 15 per cent of CWU members are from ethnic minorities (around one in seven members). It also now knows that the proportion of women workers in the communications sector is increasing and will continue to increase in the future. The same is true of part-time work. Its part-time members are twice as likely to be women and under 30 years old than its full-time members. The CWU says this information will help it to maintain its relevance to current and potential members. The union has consulted widely with 20 of its branches, its equality advisory committees and its industrial and national executive committees.
It has also produced two booklets called Building Tomorrow Together – one aimed at women and one aimed at young workers – to help identify ways to promote their participation and progression within the union.
Case Study from Equality Audit 2014: Improving representation and participation in trade unions
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