GSG 02-22 Branch Structure Rationalisation
07/February/2022
Description
The National Executive Council has agreed to conduct a complete review of all aspects of the Union’s business as part of the ‘Shaping the Future Union’ strategy.
Central to this strategy is a focus on membership growth and to achieve this ambitious goal, we need to make sure that we make the best use of our resources to maintain and improve services to members. This is critical to the continued success of CWU. We need to respond to our declining membership and income, in the face of changes in the main businesses we represent and the overall challenge of organising in other companies in our sectors.
Having implemented a new Head Office structure, the next step is an examination of the Branch structures.
In any changes we adopt, the opportunity must remain for our members input and contact across the country. The technological advances and experiences in conducting our business throughout Covid, while not a replacement for onsite meetings, will play an important role in maintaining and improving member engagement, while overcoming some of the geographical barriers that hold up discussions.
In the main, our structures have served the Union well but in the current context, a review of what works best for the organisation is timely.
Professional & Managerial
In the Telecom sector, there is for some time a national Branch in place, which works well, representing approximately 150 members. However, the structure in place for the Postal Courier has nine Branches, representing approximately 600 members, ranging in size from 18 to 170. In addition, there is a Postal Managers Group, which is a consultative forum, in place since the Communications Managers Union joined en-bloc with the CWU in 1997. Two members from each Branch may attend, together with a Chairperson and Secretary. It convenes quarterly and is greater in number to the Postal Courier Executive.
It is therefore appropriate to review the Postal Managers structure, as it considered there is scope to putting in place a revised structure that reflects the changes since 1997 and to provide a better service for Managers in An Post.
Postal Branch Structure
The number of members in An Post has remained steady for some time, with increased numbers in some areas associated with the growth in parcels and Covid related work, which will reduce following the lifting of restrictions.
There are 59 Branches in An Post, and as outlined above, nine of these represent management grades. Omitting the DPDB and DPAB (31% of membership) the remaining 48 branches service approximately 5,400 members. A number of these do not operate at the level required by the Union and by members.
In recent times, the Union has successfully concluded rationalisation in the following areas:
- Dublin Postal Amalgamated Branch
- Dublin Postal Delivery Branch
- Cork Postal Branch
- West Cork
- Enfield
- Shannon
- Wicklow
The remaining structure is in place since the early nineties, which at the time replicated the company Head Postmaster Structure. This company structure has since been abolished, replaced and reorganised on a number of occasions with Area and subsequently, Regional structures, together with business separation. It should be noted CWU Regional Officers are in place to support Branches in recognition of the company’s changes. The NEC believes consideration should now be given to having a Regional Branch Structure.
A further consideration is the Clerical stream, with the vast majority of members based in Dublin, with relatively small numbers in the provincial Retail outlets, Athlone/Portlaoise Mail Centres and Delivery Service Units. We need to ensure their input is maintained.
Telecom Sector
The most significant reduction in membership has been experienced in the Telecom sector where new technologies have driven many changes and facilitated several voluntary exit schemes over the years. Added to this, is the prospect of large numbers of staff reaching retirement age over the next four years.
While there has been membership growth in Customer Care Centres and Retail Outlets, overall, the profile of our membership has changed substantially in the last five years and will change dramatically in the next five years.
In 2015, a review was conducted by the NEC, the outcome of which, resulted in a reduction of NEC seats but leaving the Branch Structure intact.
In KN where we have identified potential for growth of membership, the focus at this point is to have a self-sustaining Branch in place to service members.
Branches are requested to give careful consideration to this important matter and invited to submit their views to the Rationalisation Sub Committee of the NEC. These should be forwarded to Head Office no later than Wednesday, 16th March 2022.
The Rationalisation Sub Committee will review the matter further and following consideration by the NEC, a report will be made to Conference in May.
The full Branch list and membership numbers is enclosed (click below) for your information.