BBC Dispute - Defend jobs - Stop compulsory redundancies
Support the strike on Monday 1st August 2011
The BBC is threatening to make NUJ members at the BBC compulsorily redundant despite there being clear alternatives. NUJ continue to put forward practical solutions for the small number of people concerned but the BBC is refusing to act.
Read more here . . . .
Colleagues working for BBC Coventry & BBC Birmingham & Black Country will be on Strike on Monday 1st August 2011
Coventry
Colleagues are planning a picket of the BBC building in Coventry . . . .
BBC Coventry
1 Priory Place
Coventry
CV1 5SQ
07:00 am - 12:00 noon
If you can't be there in person send a message of solidarity/support to:
Vanessa Pearce <vanessa_pearce@sky.com>
And thanks again to other members who turned out on the last day of action.
Birmingham
Colleagues are planning a picket of the "Mailbox, which houses BBC Birmingham & Black Country
From 11:00 am to 12:00 noon there will be a rally outside the Mailbox, to which everyone is invited, the public, Birmingham trade unionists et al.
The Mailbox,
Wharfside Street
The Mailbox
Birmingham
B1 1XL
If you can't be there in person send a message of solidarity/support to:
"Michele Paduano" <michele.paduano@bbc.co.uk>
This is the official blog for the NUJ Birmingham and Coventry branch.
Tuesday, July 26
Thursday, July 21
Twitter link fo Birmingham and Coventry NUJ
Working to get the Twitter feed up and running...... hopefully this will be done in the next few days.
Tuesday, July 19
Early day motion 2103: Announcement of Job Losses at Media Wales Newspapers
That this House is shocked at the announcement by Media Wales that it is to cut 22 jobs across its publications in Wales; notes that the proposals by Media Wales management would see 10 district office staff, eight production journalists and four members of the sports staff made redundant; further notes that these cuts are proposed whilst the Chief Executive of Trinity Mirror, the parent company of Media Wales, received 1.7 million remuneration in 2010; supports the National Union of Journalists campaign to protect jobs, wages and conditions as well as the quality of Media Wales journalism; and calls on Media Wales management to meet the National Union of Journalists as a matter of urgency in order to protect jobs and the quality of journalism in Wales.
Primary sponsor: Hywel Francis, Date tabled: 18/07/2011
NUJ demands immediate talks over Media Wales job cuts plan
Journalists at Media Wales are demanding immediate talks with management after plans to cut 22 jobs were announced. The NUJ chapel declared its determination to protect jobs, wages and conditions as well as the quality of Media Wales journalism.
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2170
That this House is shocked at the announcement by Media Wales that it is to cut 22 jobs across its publications in Wales; notes that the proposals by Media Wales management would see 10 district office staff, eight production journalists and four members of the sports staff made redundant; further notes that these cuts are proposed whilst the Chief Executive of Trinity Mirror, the parent company of Media Wales, received 1.7 million remuneration in 2010; supports the National Union of Journalists campaign to protect jobs, wages and conditions as well as the quality of Media Wales journalism; and calls on Media Wales management to meet the National Union of Journalists as a matter of urgency in order to protect jobs and the quality of journalism in Wales.
Primary sponsor: Hywel Francis, Date tabled: 18/07/2011
NUJ demands immediate talks over Media Wales job cuts plan
Journalists at Media Wales are demanding immediate talks with management after plans to cut 22 jobs were announced. The NUJ chapel declared its determination to protect jobs, wages and conditions as well as the quality of Media Wales journalism.
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2170
Thursday, July 14
Put your MP to work demand they sign EDM 2087 & EDM 2082
Early Day Motions are very good ways of raising issues in parliament, which may not get debated in normal sittings of parliament.
You can contact your MP for free, through: WriteToThem.Com
Early day motion 2087: South Yorkshire Newspapers
That this House notes that journalists at South Yorkshire Newspapers, part of Johnston Press, have voted for strike action over threatened editorial redundancies; further notes that the journalists voted in favour in a ballot that saw a 100 per cent. support on a 90 per cent. turnout; believes that the threatened cuts would cause particular damage to the weekly South Yorkshire Times and halve the editorial team who produce the best performing weekly paper in South Yorkshire Newspapers; condemns the Johnston Press' proposals to remove the posts of editor of the South Yorkshire Times, the sports editor of the Doncaster Free Press and the editor of the Goole Courier and to merge the Goole and Selby Times under one editor; further believes that journalists in Yorkshire are leading the fight for quality journalism and local news; supports the National Union of Journalists and their members in their campaign to defend the quality of news service they bring to their local communities; and calls on Johnston Press to withdraw its proposals, which will cost jobs, undermine the future viability of the affected titles and damage the provision of local news in South Yorkshire.
Primary sponsor: Austin Mitchell, Date tabled: 13/07/2011
Early day motion 2082: Yunus Bakhsh
That this House congratulates Mr Yunus Bakhsh on securing reinstatement after his unfair dismissal by the Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust; notes that Mr Bakhsh was a long-serving nurse and trade union representative whose unfair dismissal was found to be a result of trade union victimisation and disability discrimination; deplores the refusal of the Trust to agree to Mr Bakhsh's reinstatement in line with the order of the Employment Tribunal; further notes that Mr Bakhsh incurred considerable expense arranging legal representation and calls on the Trust to pay his legal costs; and further calls on the Secretary of State for Health to investigate the conduct of the case by the Trust and the expenditure of hundreds and thousands of pounds of public money in a failed attempt to justify the victimisation of a trade union official.
Primary sponsor: John McDonnell, Date tabled: 13/07/2011
Yunus Bakhsh turned away on first day back at work
Health bosses in Newcastle are flouting an Employment Tribunal and refusing to re-employ Yunus Bakhsh, a nurse they unlawfully sacked. Yunus won his case for unfair dismissal against Northumbria Tyne and Wear NHS Trust last year.
In a scathing judgement, the panel concluded that he had been sacked for his trade union activity and discriminated against because he suffers from depression.
The panel derided much of the Trust's evidence as "not credible". And, in a rare move, the judge ordered the Trust to "re-engage" Yunus by 30 June 2011.
by Yuri Prasad, SocialistWorkerOnline, 09/07/11
Early Day Motions are very good ways of raising issues in parliament, which may not get debated in normal sittings of parliament.
You can contact your MP for free, through: WriteToThem.Com
Early day motion 2087: South Yorkshire Newspapers
That this House notes that journalists at South Yorkshire Newspapers, part of Johnston Press, have voted for strike action over threatened editorial redundancies; further notes that the journalists voted in favour in a ballot that saw a 100 per cent. support on a 90 per cent. turnout; believes that the threatened cuts would cause particular damage to the weekly South Yorkshire Times and halve the editorial team who produce the best performing weekly paper in South Yorkshire Newspapers; condemns the Johnston Press' proposals to remove the posts of editor of the South Yorkshire Times, the sports editor of the Doncaster Free Press and the editor of the Goole Courier and to merge the Goole and Selby Times under one editor; further believes that journalists in Yorkshire are leading the fight for quality journalism and local news; supports the National Union of Journalists and their members in their campaign to defend the quality of news service they bring to their local communities; and calls on Johnston Press to withdraw its proposals, which will cost jobs, undermine the future viability of the affected titles and damage the provision of local news in South Yorkshire.
Primary sponsor: Austin Mitchell, Date tabled: 13/07/2011
Early day motion 2082: Yunus Bakhsh
That this House congratulates Mr Yunus Bakhsh on securing reinstatement after his unfair dismissal by the Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust; notes that Mr Bakhsh was a long-serving nurse and trade union representative whose unfair dismissal was found to be a result of trade union victimisation and disability discrimination; deplores the refusal of the Trust to agree to Mr Bakhsh's reinstatement in line with the order of the Employment Tribunal; further notes that Mr Bakhsh incurred considerable expense arranging legal representation and calls on the Trust to pay his legal costs; and further calls on the Secretary of State for Health to investigate the conduct of the case by the Trust and the expenditure of hundreds and thousands of pounds of public money in a failed attempt to justify the victimisation of a trade union official.
Primary sponsor: John McDonnell, Date tabled: 13/07/2011
Yunus Bakhsh turned away on first day back at work
Health bosses in Newcastle are flouting an Employment Tribunal and refusing to re-employ Yunus Bakhsh, a nurse they unlawfully sacked. Yunus won his case for unfair dismissal against Northumbria Tyne and Wear NHS Trust last year.
In a scathing judgement, the panel concluded that he had been sacked for his trade union activity and discriminated against because he suffers from depression.
The panel derided much of the Trust's evidence as "not credible". And, in a rare move, the judge ordered the Trust to "re-engage" Yunus by 30 June 2011.
by Yuri Prasad, SocialistWorkerOnline, 09/07/11
Wednesday, July 13
Early day motion 2054: News Of The World
That this House condemns the sacking of over 200 journalists and staff at the News of the World (NotW); supports the National Union of Journalists inits campaign to help journalists facing compulsory redundancy at the NotW; believes that shutting the NotW is an act of political opportunism by News International (NI); notes that the Chief Executive of NI, Rebekah Brooks, was Editor of the NotW at a time when alleged hacking of mobile telephones was underway; calls for a full public investigation into the apparent systematic abuses at the top of the operation run by both Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson; and welcomes the referral to the Competition Commission of the takeover of BSkyB by News Corporation.
Primary sponsor: Austin Mitchell, Date tabled: 11/07/2011
That this House condemns the sacking of over 200 journalists and staff at the News of the World (NotW); supports the National Union of Journalists inits campaign to help journalists facing compulsory redundancy at the NotW; believes that shutting the NotW is an act of political opportunism by News International (NI); notes that the Chief Executive of NI, Rebekah Brooks, was Editor of the NotW at a time when alleged hacking of mobile telephones was underway; calls for a full public investigation into the apparent systematic abuses at the top of the operation run by both Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson; and welcomes the referral to the Competition Commission of the takeover of BSkyB by News Corporation.
Primary sponsor: Austin Mitchell, Date tabled: 11/07/2011
Thursday, July 7
News of the World - last edition this Sunday
Breaking News ........Folowing the scandal around phone hacking News International is closing the News of the World. No news yet on what happens to the jobs of journalists and staff........
'News Of The World' phone-hacking scandal: strong unions needed to safeguard quality
The fresh revelations about News of the World (NOTW) phone hacking will have horrified anyone with even the remotest shred of human decency.
That private investigators employed by the News International-owned tabloid could hack the phone of a murdered teenager (giving her parents false hope that she might still be alive and potentially obstructing a criminal investigation), and do likewise to victims of the July 7 bombings, to the parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, and to the families of soldiers killed in action almost beggars belief.
But this is more than a story about bad journalistic practice, it is an example of corporate power unchecked, of where rampant profiteering, vicious union-bashing and political manipulation leads.
Read more: NUJ Left, 7 July 2011
The fresh revelations about News of the World (NOTW) phone hacking will have horrified anyone with even the remotest shred of human decency.
That private investigators employed by the News International-owned tabloid could hack the phone of a murdered teenager (giving her parents false hope that she might still be alive and potentially obstructing a criminal investigation), and do likewise to victims of the July 7 bombings, to the parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, and to the families of soldiers killed in action almost beggars belief.
But this is more than a story about bad journalistic practice, it is an example of corporate power unchecked, of where rampant profiteering, vicious union-bashing and political manipulation leads.
Read more: NUJ Left, 7 July 2011
'Inviolable right to annual leave even in cases of long-term illness'
Court of Justice of the European Union Luxembourg, 7 July 2011
Advocate General's Opinion in Case C-214/10 KHS AG v Winfried Schulte
In today's (07/07/11) Opinion Advocate General Verica Trstenjak first makes clear that the case-law of the Court of Justice has established an inviolable right to annual leave even in cases of long-term illness. In her view, this applies also to the entitlement to payment in lieu of annual leave not taken, which may not be refused on the ground that it cannot be claimed because of a long-term illness.
Full press release available here . . . .
Court of Justice of the European Union Luxembourg, 7 July 2011
Advocate General's Opinion in Case C-214/10 KHS AG v Winfried Schulte
In today's (07/07/11) Opinion Advocate General Verica Trstenjak first makes clear that the case-law of the Court of Justice has established an inviolable right to annual leave even in cases of long-term illness. In her view, this applies also to the entitlement to payment in lieu of annual leave not taken, which may not be refused on the ground that it cannot be claimed because of a long-term illness.
Full press release available here . . . .
Early day motion 2040: News International and BSKYB
That this House condemns the proposal to allow the News International takeover of BSkyB; believes that News Corporation has breached previous assurances when taking over The Times, TheSunday Times, The Sun and the News of the World; further condemns the short consultation period of eight days on this takeover; further believes that there are serious questions outstanding over phone hacking at theNews International-owned News of the World; further believes that the takeover should not be approved whilst such questions are outstanding; and calls on the Government to stop the News International takeover of BSkyB.
Primary sponsor: Austin Mitchell, Date tabled: 06/07/2011
Put your MP to work demand they sign EDM 2040
Early Day Motions are very good ways of raising issues in parliament, which may not get debated in normal sittings of parliament.
You can contact your MP for free, through: WriteToThem.Com
http://www.writetothem.com/
That this House condemns the proposal to allow the News International takeover of BSkyB; believes that News Corporation has breached previous assurances when taking over The Times, TheSunday Times, The Sun and the News of the World; further condemns the short consultation period of eight days on this takeover; further believes that there are serious questions outstanding over phone hacking at theNews International-owned News of the World; further believes that the takeover should not be approved whilst such questions are outstanding; and calls on the Government to stop the News International takeover of BSkyB.
Primary sponsor: Austin Mitchell, Date tabled: 06/07/2011
Put your MP to work demand they sign EDM 2040
Early Day Motions are very good ways of raising issues in parliament, which may not get debated in normal sittings of parliament.
You can contact your MP for free, through: WriteToThem.Com
http://www.writetothem.com/
Birmingham and Coventry NUJ
Calling notice - Branch Meeting
Tuesday 19th July
Queen's Road Baptist Church
Queen's Road
Coventry
CV1 3EG
6:00 for 6:30
Agenda:
1) Introduction by chair/those attending / apologies
2) Minutes of June meeting
3) Secretary/Treasurers reports
4) Branch reports/national reports
5) Accepted nominees for post of NUJ Deputy General Secretary
6) BBC - Strike Action
7) Any other business
Minutes/Correspondence of June meeting attached
Branch News/Views
- NUJ members vote for strike action at the BBC
- NUJ Deputy General Secretary
- Public Sector Workers Pensions Strike - Birmingham Demo
- Current composition of Branch members
NUJ members vote for strike action at the BBC
NUJ members at the BBC have voted 72 per cent in favour of strike action and 87 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. Thousands of journalists at the BBC are threatening to hold two national one-day strikes in July unless compulsory redundancies are stopped at the BBC.
NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: "Once again NUJ members at the BBC have shown they will not accept compulsory redundancies. Today's result demonstrates that members at the BBC are fully prepared to stand up for their colleagues under threat. If the BBC wants to provoke a strike over such small numbers it would be shameful. We call on the BBC to get round the table with us and sort it out."
Read the full release here . . . .
NUJ Deputy General Secretary
At the NUJ Executive meeting on Friday 1 July the NEC agreed to include all three applicants - Barry Fitzpatrick - Helen Gavaghan - Chris Youett to be elected by ballot for the post of NUJ Deputy General Secretary. Barry, Helen and Chris have agreed to attend a 'Hustings', which will take place after the branch August meeting to be held in Birmingham. Profiles of all three candidates will be available in next branch newsletter.
Public Sector Workers Pensions Strike - Birmingham Demo
West Midlands, teachers, lecturers, jobcentre workers and other civil servants took strike action on the 30th June over the government's proposed changes to their pensions. Also on the same day members of UNISON who were on strike against proposed forced changes to working conditions by Birmingham City Council, they too were out in force and joined the demonstration. Stalingrad O'Neill photographed the demo; to view the photo gallery go here . . . .
Current composition of Branch members
147 members working for the BBC, in Birmingham, Cardiff, Hereford-Worcester, Coventry & Warwickshire. Areas of work: Asian Network, BBC Cardiff, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, BBC Mailbox, BBC News Interactive (England), BBC Radio & Technology, BBC Radio Hereford-Worcester, and BBC Radio WM.
7 Birmingham City Council - 82 Birmingham Post & Mail - 13 Central News - 33 Coventry Newspapers - 125 Freelance - 67 Student Members - 35 Unemployed - 4 Wolverhampton Express & Star - 10 Retired - 78 Not attached - 24 Life members
Calling notice - Branch Meeting
Tuesday 19th July
Queen's Road Baptist Church
Queen's Road
Coventry
CV1 3EG
6:00 for 6:30
Agenda:
1) Introduction by chair/those attending / apologies
2) Minutes of June meeting
3) Secretary/Treasurers reports
4) Branch reports/national reports
5) Accepted nominees for post of NUJ Deputy General Secretary
6) BBC - Strike Action
7) Any other business
Minutes/Correspondence of June meeting attached
Branch News/Views
- NUJ members vote for strike action at the BBC
- NUJ Deputy General Secretary
- Public Sector Workers Pensions Strike - Birmingham Demo
- Current composition of Branch members
NUJ members vote for strike action at the BBC
NUJ members at the BBC have voted 72 per cent in favour of strike action and 87 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. Thousands of journalists at the BBC are threatening to hold two national one-day strikes in July unless compulsory redundancies are stopped at the BBC.
NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: "Once again NUJ members at the BBC have shown they will not accept compulsory redundancies. Today's result demonstrates that members at the BBC are fully prepared to stand up for their colleagues under threat. If the BBC wants to provoke a strike over such small numbers it would be shameful. We call on the BBC to get round the table with us and sort it out."
Read the full release here . . . .
NUJ Deputy General Secretary
At the NUJ Executive meeting on Friday 1 July the NEC agreed to include all three applicants - Barry Fitzpatrick - Helen Gavaghan - Chris Youett to be elected by ballot for the post of NUJ Deputy General Secretary. Barry, Helen and Chris have agreed to attend a 'Hustings', which will take place after the branch August meeting to be held in Birmingham. Profiles of all three candidates will be available in next branch newsletter.
Public Sector Workers Pensions Strike - Birmingham Demo
West Midlands, teachers, lecturers, jobcentre workers and other civil servants took strike action on the 30th June over the government's proposed changes to their pensions. Also on the same day members of UNISON who were on strike against proposed forced changes to working conditions by Birmingham City Council, they too were out in force and joined the demonstration. Stalingrad O'Neill photographed the demo; to view the photo gallery go here . . . .
Current composition of Branch members
147 members working for the BBC, in Birmingham, Cardiff, Hereford-Worcester, Coventry & Warwickshire. Areas of work: Asian Network, BBC Cardiff, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, BBC Mailbox, BBC News Interactive (England), BBC Radio & Technology, BBC Radio Hereford-Worcester, and BBC Radio WM.
7 Birmingham City Council - 82 Birmingham Post & Mail - 13 Central News - 33 Coventry Newspapers - 125 Freelance - 67 Student Members - 35 Unemployed - 4 Wolverhampton Express & Star - 10 Retired - 78 Not attached - 24 Life members
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