2,000 members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) have arrived at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) to talk about issues concerning the areas represented by the union, including engineering, computing, clerical, mechanical, driving, retail, financial and manual skills.
The five day Annual Congress started on Sunday 7th June, where the first two days focused on issues that impact the whole union, in the BIC’s main Windsor Hall. The conference then divides into sectional and industrial groupings for the remaining four days, taking place in the BIC’s Windsor, Solent and Tregonwell halls.
Approval of motions aimed at improving services, new rights for carers, an end to the NHS "postcode lottery" and an equalisation of maternity leave rights summarises Sunday’s conference business. Monday’s conference session saw GMB general secretary Paul Kenney receive a rousing reception when he vowed that his union would support the fight to halt the privatisation of Royal Mail.
Peter Gunn, Managing Director of the BIC and Pavilion said: “This event is bringing nearly £3m to the local area from delegate expenditure. The CWU are regular and valuable clients for us, returning with their event most years, meaning valuable business for the BIC and Bournemouth. Our venue is ideal for the event; we can easily accommodate the main conference session as well as individual conferences simultaneously across three of our halls.”
An exhibition is running alongside the conference programme in the BIC’s Bourne Lounge featuring names such as the Labour Party and the Communication Workers Friendly Society. Over 20 exhibitors will exhibit over the five day event.
Overall the association has 250,000 members working for the likes of the Post Office, BT and other telecoms companies, and cable TV. The BICB acted as the accommodation agency for the event, assisting in booking hotels for the 2,000 delegates and the Norfolk Royal is the Head Quarters for the event.
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