The NUJ in the newsThe immediate defence by journalists at the Financial Times of Chinese colleagues threatened by management with redundancy has brought complete victory. The FT chapel demanded unanimously that the redundancy threat be lifted from their four colleagues on the FTChinese website, and warned that otherwise FT journalists would ballot on industrial action. So management changed its mind.
Health and Safety at work is key issue for trade unionists especially in the media. Issues including RSI, back and neck pains, long hours, stress, screen breaks and eyesight can all affect media workers.
About 30 NUJ activists met in central London on 17 October. The meeting was timely, coming as it was in the run-up to protests against the BNP’s Nick Griffin appearing on Question Time and when media workers are fighting for jobs and quali
During the day. activists discussed strategies for defending jobs and quality in the media, solidarity work, the war in Afghanistan, fascism in the media and the coming ADM.
Ballot papers have now been issued for the election of editor of the Journalist and NUJ Left is urging members to vote for Richard Simcox.
Richard is a first-class journalist and, crucially, a committed trade unionist – the essential mix to be the next editor of our union’s magazine at what is certain to be a challenging time for journalists and journalism.
The strategy of denying a platform to fascists will be one of the key issues discussed at the NUJ Left conference later this month.
Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, will lead the debate on the subject brought again into focus following the BBC’s decision to invite BNP leader Nick Griffin onto Question Time.
The NUJ Left conference will debate our response to the far right and our industrial tactics
Photo: Jonathan Warren
NUJ vice president Pete Murray says the Labour party has “lost its will to fight” and only united action from the unions and others can defend jobs and defeat the far right.
Speaking on behalf of the NUJ at the Jobs, Education, Peace rally in Brighton on Sunday, Pete contrasted the protesters out on the streets in the sunshine with those shut up inside the Labour party conference centre opposite.
By Dave Crouch
More than 100 trade unionists packed into the London Welsh Centre on Thursday night to hear the NUJ’s general secretary Jeremy Dear and a host of leading union activists call for a powerful protest in Brighton next weekend at Labour party conference.
Fresh from the TUC in Liverpool, Jeremy spoke about the government’s lack of political will – unemployment can be beaten, but it means a change of priorities from the banks to working people, he said.
NUJ treasurer and veteran activist Anita Halpin received the TUC gold badge in honour of her services to the union movement as she stepped down from the TUC’s general council.
Accepting the prestigious award on the last day of congress, the annual gathering of trade unionists, she paid tribute to her husband, Kevin, who she described as “a thorn in the side of the bosses”.
The BBC’s outrageous decision to announce its intention to invite the BNP onto Question Time has understandably caused outrage on the left.
Unite Against Fascism was quick to condemn the move and has launched a campaign, which it is hoping will gain traction among the unions, calling on BBC management to reverse their decision.
[On 30 August] as my colleague Marc Vallée and I were leaving Climate Camp we found a group of people arguing around the SWP stall that was selling newspapers and leaflets outside the entrance to the camp.
As we went in to take photographs the group arguing with the SWP quickly turned their attention to us, shouting loudly that we had not asked their permission before photographing them. They were immediately aggressive and threatening, I managed to calm the ones around me and walk away, however, one young man was persistently threatening towards Marc.