NUJ March Branch Meeting
Tuesday 12th March
Carrs Lane Church Centre
Carrs Lane
Birmingham
B4 7SX
6:00 pm for 6:30 pm start
Any apologies to branch chair: alan.weaver1@ntlworld.com
Agenda
1) Introduction by chair/those attending
2) Minutes of February meeting
3) Secretary/Treasurers reports
4) Branch reports
5) Up date on disputes
6) Any other business
**********************************************
- 19 MPs Criticise Trinity Mirror Attack on Jobs
- BBC Executive Accused Of Bullying
- BBC Strike Hailed Huge Success
- NUJ Member Rzhwan Amin Back in Manchester Where he Belongs
- Former NUJ President Kyran Connolly Dies After Long Illness
**********************************************
19 MPs Criticise Trinity Mirror Attack on Jobs
NUJ organised a series of national meetings of reps inside the Trinity Mirror group over plans to centralise many aspects of editorial operations at their titles. Management want 92 redundancies on English & Welsh titles, although they claimed a small number of new jobs would be created. Most of the redundancies are occurring in the Midlands the North-west. There was much anger over poor consultation and the threat of compulsory redundancies. The NUJ had met TM Editorial Director Neil Benson and the Head of HR. Ballots have taken place at five sites covering Birmingham, Chester, Coventry, Manchester and Merseyside. Chris Morley said that the TM Group Chapel had a lot of good reps and would be meeting again on 1st March, 2013 in London to discuss its response. Meantime whether or not you work for Trinity Mirror, check if your MP has signed EDM 1003, if they haven't, please insist they do.
Early Day Motion 1003: Trinity Mirror Job Losses
That this House expresses deep concern at the announcement by Trinity Mirror that it intends cutting 92 editorial jobs; notes that Media Wales faces the loss of 16 job cuts, including a proposal to disband the features unit which is responsible for generating valuable Welsh-specific news content; further expresses concern at the impact of such a development on Welsh democracy; further notes that Media Wales titles have faced over a decade of cuts; and urges Trinity Mirror urgently to hold talks with the National Union of Journalists.
Sponsors: Caton, Martin/ Clwyd, Ann/ Corbyn, Jeremy/ Dobbin, Jim / Doran, Frank/ Edwards, Jonathan /Flynn, Paul / Lavery, Ian / Leech, John / Llwyd, Elfyn / McGovern, Jim / Meale, Alan / Morris, Grahame M / Osborne, Sandra / Owen, Albert / Ruane, Chris /Ruddock, Joan / Williams, Hywel / Woodward, Shaun
<> House of Commons: 31/01/2013
Put your MP to work demand they sign EDM 1003
You can contact your MP for free, through: WriteToThem.Com
http://www.writetothem.com/
**********************************************
BBC Executive Accused Of Bullying
The National Union of Journalists is understood to have submitted a 100-page report to the BBC regarding allegations of bullying, harassment and intimidation at the corporation. Some 40 pages of it are believed to relate to a single, long-serving BBC employee.
Other members of BBC staff are also understood to be the subject of multiple accusations of bullying, although not on the scale of the employee in question, who is accused of bullying behaviour over a sustained period. The executive is understood to deny the allegations.
Rose's inquiry was set up by the BBC's then director general, George Entwistle, in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal in October last year.
Read more: John Plunkett, <> The Guardian, 20/02/13
**********************************************
BBC Strike Hailed Huge Success
Monday 18th February: Skeleton staffs of managers struggled to provide a threadbare service which provoked adverse comments from listeners and viewers. The action meant that Radio 4's Today programme, World at One, PM and Newsnight were forced off the air. Breakfast TV was severely disrupted.
NUJ official pickets and supporters - up to 50 or 60 people in some centres -ensured wide public awareness of the union's message that making compulsory redundancies while at the same time advertising posts elsewhere in the corporation is not acceptable.
Read more <> here . . . .
**********************************************
NUJ Member Rzhwan Amin Back in Manchester Where he Belongs
Rzhwan was detained by UKBA in early January, an attempt to deport Rzhwan on Wednesday 30th January was halted by legal action. Though the removal was stayed, Rzhwan remained in Immigration Detention until Monday 18th February, when a successful bail application obtained his release. Conditions of bail are very restrictive he has to wear an electronic tag and is subject to a curfew. Nonetheless Rzhwan is delighted to be back in Manchester and thanks all NUJ members who Emailed/faxed letters of protest to UKBA and Jordanian Airlines.
Rzhwan Amin Writes on Freedom
I was raised in a country where the idea of freedom of speech that had circled in my mind was, in practice, randomly forbidden without any reason. In public debates and the media real opinions were not expressed clearly but were heavily coded. Articles were often revised and key phrases changed before their publication. Over time the weight of the realisation of this predicament grew as my many attempts to express my honest opinions publicly failed. For us, as journalists in Iraq, the option of free speech was not regarded highly by ruling forces.
After the liberation of Iraq, labelled "Operation Iraqi Freedom", I was based in Kirkuk. The post-war healing period was longer than Iraqi people expected and led to many civil disorders in both Kirkuk and Baghdad including riots, political corruption, and anarchy in every sense of the word.
The conflicts between ethnic groups spread throughout the population. I still remember when the Kurds fought against the Turks in 2004 in Kirkuk and my mother told that this happened before in 1957. Arabs, Kurds, and Turks increased their efforts to gain power and thus declare control in the area. The same scenario took place in Baghdad among the Shias and the Sunnis, which led to the arbitrary sackings of academic and professional Sunnis. This included Professor Dr Naji al Tekriti and Dr Saad Alhadethi from the University of Baghdad's Philosophy Department in 2003, where I studied.
Read more: RAPAR website <> here . . . .
**********************************************
Former NUJ President Kyran Connolly Dies After Long Illness
The death has taken place after a long illness of former NUJ president and organiser Kyran Connolly. A hugely popular figure in NUJ activities of all sorts. Last year, despite being ill with cancer, Kyran attended the union's delegate meeting in Newcastle as a delegate from his beloved Book branch. The warmth of his reception from fellow-delegates reflected the deep affection the NUJ felt for Kyran, a multi-faceted individual whose sense of fun often disguised his considerable intellectual achievements.
Read more <> here . . . .
**********************************************
This is the official blog for the NUJ Birmingham and Coventry branch.
Tuesday, February 26
Thursday, February 21
BBC Executive Accused Of Bullying
The National Union of Journalists is understood to have submitted a 100-page report to the BBC regarding allegations of bullying, harassment and intimidation at the corporation. Some 40 pages of it are believed to relate to a single, long-serving BBC employee.
Other members of BBC staff are also understood to be the subject of multiple accusations of bullying, although not on the scale of the employee in question, who is accused of bullying behaviour over a sustained period. The executive is understood to deny the allegations.
Rose's inquiry was set up by the BBC's then director general, George Entwistle, in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal in October last year.
Read more: John Plunkett, <> The Guardian, 20/02/13
The National Union of Journalists is understood to have submitted a 100-page report to the BBC regarding allegations of bullying, harassment and intimidation at the corporation. Some 40 pages of it are believed to relate to a single, long-serving BBC employee.
Other members of BBC staff are also understood to be the subject of multiple accusations of bullying, although not on the scale of the employee in question, who is accused of bullying behaviour over a sustained period. The executive is understood to deny the allegations.
Rose's inquiry was set up by the BBC's then director general, George Entwistle, in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal in October last year.
Read more: John Plunkett, <> The Guardian, 20/02/13
Tuesday, February 19
Solidarity with NUJ colleagues at BBC Nottingham
As BBC journalists took industrial action across the country NUJ members turned up at picket lines to show their support. BBC Nottingham had a picket line on London Road and posed for a photo call before returning to picket line duty.
Monday, February 18
Photograph: NUJ Member - Charles Davis <
www.professionalphotography.me.uk
Wednesday, February 13
Support Rally - BBC Strikers Monday 18 February
9:00 am to 10:00 am
The Mailbox
Birmingham City Centre
B1 1AY
[Non BBC workers, ask your workplace Chapel to delegate two/three members to attend rally, if they can, any Freelance members not working, please make the effort. If you cannot be there, send messages of Solidarity for the strikers to: <michele.paduano@bbc.co.uk>]
5 MPs Say BBC Strike Inevitable and Justified, if Bosses Won't Talk
Austin Mitchell, Jonathan Edwards, John McDonnell, Alan Meale, Virendra Sharma, Dennis Skinner, have declared their support for strike action.
The NUJ is now battling to save jobs at BBC Scotland, Newsbeat, Five Live, at the Big Screens, Asian Network and the World Service which are due to go within months. In all, the BBC plans to cut 2,000 jobs.The BBC has already lost more than 7,000 jobs since 2004.
"NUJ members across the BBC cannot believe why their management is failing to redeploy colleagues at risk – at the very same time as advertising job vacancies. It is a monumental waste of talent and experience. Paying needless redundancies is a waste of public money. This action could easily be avoided. This not just about self-interest. BBC journalists care deeply about the quality of programming and the corporation's duty as a public service broadcaster. That is why so many are already working way beyond their contracted hours and are 'acting up' without financial reward, and why stress levels across the BBC are at an all-time high."
Early Day Motion 1071: BBC Redundancies
That this House is concerned that the BBC is refusing to enter into meaningful negotiations with the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) on behalf of its members and is instead insisting on compulsory redundancies of BBC journalists rather than the redeployment of posts under an agreed scheme as requested by the NUJ;
notes that despite extensive efforts by NUJ representatives and officials, a number of workers across BBC Scotland, the Asian Network, Newsbeat, News, Five Live, the Big Screens, the World Service and English Regions still risk compulsory redundancy as part of the Delivering Quality First programme which plans more than 2,000 job losses across the corporation;
believes that in externally advertising six-month contracts to journalists who do not work for the corporation, at the same time as failing to secure redeployment opportunities for workers at risk of compulsory redundancy,
some managers, such as those at BBC Scotland are failing to uphold key aspects of the redeployment agreement, let alone the spirit of the deal;
and therefore calls on the BBC to enter into genuine and meaningful negotiations with the NUJ as a matter of urgency in order to resolve this dispute and considers that failing that strike action on 18 February 2013 by NUJ members in the BBC would be both inevitable and justified.
Sponsors: Austin Mitchell, Jonathan Edwards, John McDonnell, Alan Meale, Virendra Sharma, Dennis Skinner, have declared their support for strike action. House of Commons: 12/02/2013
9:00 am to 10:00 am
The Mailbox
Birmingham City Centre
B1 1AY
[Non BBC workers, ask your workplace Chapel to delegate two/three members to attend rally, if they can, any Freelance members not working, please make the effort. If you cannot be there, send messages of Solidarity for the strikers to: <michele.paduano@bbc.co.uk>]
5 MPs Say BBC Strike Inevitable and Justified, if Bosses Won't Talk
Austin Mitchell, Jonathan Edwards, John McDonnell, Alan Meale, Virendra Sharma, Dennis Skinner, have declared their support for strike action.
The NUJ is now battling to save jobs at BBC Scotland, Newsbeat, Five Live, at the Big Screens, Asian Network and the World Service which are due to go within months. In all, the BBC plans to cut 2,000 jobs.The BBC has already lost more than 7,000 jobs since 2004.
"NUJ members across the BBC cannot believe why their management is failing to redeploy colleagues at risk – at the very same time as advertising job vacancies. It is a monumental waste of talent and experience. Paying needless redundancies is a waste of public money. This action could easily be avoided. This not just about self-interest. BBC journalists care deeply about the quality of programming and the corporation's duty as a public service broadcaster. That is why so many are already working way beyond their contracted hours and are 'acting up' without financial reward, and why stress levels across the BBC are at an all-time high."
Early Day Motion 1071: BBC Redundancies
That this House is concerned that the BBC is refusing to enter into meaningful negotiations with the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) on behalf of its members and is instead insisting on compulsory redundancies of BBC journalists rather than the redeployment of posts under an agreed scheme as requested by the NUJ;
notes that despite extensive efforts by NUJ representatives and officials, a number of workers across BBC Scotland, the Asian Network, Newsbeat, News, Five Live, the Big Screens, the World Service and English Regions still risk compulsory redundancy as part of the Delivering Quality First programme which plans more than 2,000 job losses across the corporation;
believes that in externally advertising six-month contracts to journalists who do not work for the corporation, at the same time as failing to secure redeployment opportunities for workers at risk of compulsory redundancy,
some managers, such as those at BBC Scotland are failing to uphold key aspects of the redeployment agreement, let alone the spirit of the deal;
and therefore calls on the BBC to enter into genuine and meaningful negotiations with the NUJ as a matter of urgency in order to resolve this dispute and considers that failing that strike action on 18 February 2013 by NUJ members in the BBC would be both inevitable and justified.
Sponsors: Austin Mitchell, Jonathan Edwards, John McDonnell, Alan Meale, Virendra Sharma, Dennis Skinner, have declared their support for strike action. House of Commons: 12/02/2013
Friday, February 8
Early Day Motion 1054: Local Newspaper Industry
That this House recognises the contribution of local newspapers and local journalism to public debate; further recognises the often excellent standard of work by local journalists, particularly in the field of investigative journalism;
notes the vital contribution of local journalism to local democracy, through holding local government and elected representatives to account; appreciates that many local newspapers are facing financial difficulties and budget constraints;
further notes with regret the announcement that newspaper and magazine publisher Trinity Mirror plc has proposed a new round of editorial cost-cutting proposals to axe 92 jobs across regional titles including Coventry, Birmingham, Liverpool, Cardiff, Manchester and Newcastle
and that the cuts proposed in Coventry are twice as severe as the national proposals; further notes that this is the third major jobs cull in five years to affect Trinity Mirror plc staff in Coventry and Birmingham;
further notes the proposal by the Coventry Telegraph to remove a long-standing tradition of political journalism in Coventry by making the post of political correspondent redundant whilst Trinity Mirror titles in other major cities would retain their political specialists;
further notes that Coventry's local feature writing will be replaced by features written in Liverpool and shared across Trinity Mirror's regional titles nationwide;
fears that these proposals will overly stretch staff and that the quality of local journalism will suffer as a result;
believes that local journalism should be protected and encouraged; and calls on the Government to demonstrate its support for local journalism.
Sponsors: Cunningham, Jim/ Robinson, Geoffrey / Russell, Bob
House of Commons: 07/02/2013
That this House recognises the contribution of local newspapers and local journalism to public debate; further recognises the often excellent standard of work by local journalists, particularly in the field of investigative journalism;
notes the vital contribution of local journalism to local democracy, through holding local government and elected representatives to account; appreciates that many local newspapers are facing financial difficulties and budget constraints;
further notes with regret the announcement that newspaper and magazine publisher Trinity Mirror plc has proposed a new round of editorial cost-cutting proposals to axe 92 jobs across regional titles including Coventry, Birmingham, Liverpool, Cardiff, Manchester and Newcastle
and that the cuts proposed in Coventry are twice as severe as the national proposals; further notes that this is the third major jobs cull in five years to affect Trinity Mirror plc staff in Coventry and Birmingham;
further notes the proposal by the Coventry Telegraph to remove a long-standing tradition of political journalism in Coventry by making the post of political correspondent redundant whilst Trinity Mirror titles in other major cities would retain their political specialists;
further notes that Coventry's local feature writing will be replaced by features written in Liverpool and shared across Trinity Mirror's regional titles nationwide;
fears that these proposals will overly stretch staff and that the quality of local journalism will suffer as a result;
believes that local journalism should be protected and encouraged; and calls on the Government to demonstrate its support for local journalism.
Sponsors: Cunningham, Jim/ Robinson, Geoffrey / Russell, Bob
House of Commons: 07/02/2013
Wednesday, February 6
Overwhelming Vote For Strike Action At Guardian And Observer
Journalists on the Guardian and Observer have voted overwhelmingly for strike action over compulsory redundancies.
More than 80 per cent (81.6%) voted for strike action over the redundancies and to defend existing terms and conditions at the two titles.
Barry Fitzpatrick, NUJ deputy general secretary, said: "We are still in talks at Acas, the conciliation service, and hope for a negotiated settlement. The editor Alan Rusbridger and the Guardian management must now reflect on the strength of the vote and what is says in terms of their staff's confidence in them. The union has suggested a whole range of cost-cutting measures - including cuts to executive pay, job sharing and more part-time working. The management has taken a serious risk of jeopardising the culture within the Guardian by trying to force through compulsory redundancies."
Brian Williams, Guardian FoC, said: "The result speaks for itself. We will use this strong message from the chapel as the basis for establishing the future stability of the company, taking into account the concerns of the papers' journalists."
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2794
Journalists on the Guardian and Observer have voted overwhelmingly for strike action over compulsory redundancies.
More than 80 per cent (81.6%) voted for strike action over the redundancies and to defend existing terms and conditions at the two titles.
Barry Fitzpatrick, NUJ deputy general secretary, said: "We are still in talks at Acas, the conciliation service, and hope for a negotiated settlement. The editor Alan Rusbridger and the Guardian management must now reflect on the strength of the vote and what is says in terms of their staff's confidence in them. The union has suggested a whole range of cost-cutting measures - including cuts to executive pay, job sharing and more part-time working. The management has taken a serious risk of jeopardising the culture within the Guardian by trying to force through compulsory redundancies."
Brian Williams, Guardian FoC, said: "The result speaks for itself. We will use this strong message from the chapel as the basis for establishing the future stability of the company, taking into account the concerns of the papers' journalists."
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2794
Branch Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 19th February
Belgrade Theatre
Belgrade Square
Corporation Street
Coventry
CV1 1GS
Assemble 6:30 onwards
Hard Times May Be Coming
NUJ West Midlands members are facing serious job losses over the next eight weeks. Trinity Mirror has announced another series of cutbacks and 92 jobs are under threat, 20 of them in Birmingham and Coventry.
The major round of cuts at the BBC is due to start, Birmingham and Coventry BBC sites are facing job losses, NUJ colleagues in Scotland are already taking industrial action by working to rule.
The main discussion of the evening will be on this outrageous attack on jobs and what collectively the NUJ are going to do to force the bosses to retreat.
Please make every effort to attend
Any apologies to branch chair: alan.weaver1@ntlworld.com
Agenda
1) Introduction by chair/those attending
2) Minutes of January meeting
3) Secretary/Treasurers reports
4) Branch reports
5) Up date on disputes: Trinity Mirror and BBC
6) Election of Branch Officers
7) Any other business
**********************************************
Election of Branch Officers for 2013/2014
All branch posts become vacant at the AGM and all members can stand to serve the branch for 2013/2014. Current posts are Chair, Vice chair, Secretary/Treasurer (combined post) , Equalities, Communications, Minutes Secretary, Recruitment, Welfare.
Posts of Secretary/Treasurer and Communications, each carry a bursary of £600.
Nominees will need a seconder and nominations can be made at anytime before the February meeting, send nominations to Branch Secretary Stalingrad O'Neill <stalingrad1@yahoo.com>.
If you have any news/stories for branch newsletter,
Email <birminghamcoventry@nuj.org.uk>
Tuesday 19th February
Belgrade Theatre
Belgrade Square
Corporation Street
Coventry
CV1 1GS
Assemble 6:30 onwards
Hard Times May Be Coming
NUJ West Midlands members are facing serious job losses over the next eight weeks. Trinity Mirror has announced another series of cutbacks and 92 jobs are under threat, 20 of them in Birmingham and Coventry.
The major round of cuts at the BBC is due to start, Birmingham and Coventry BBC sites are facing job losses, NUJ colleagues in Scotland are already taking industrial action by working to rule.
The main discussion of the evening will be on this outrageous attack on jobs and what collectively the NUJ are going to do to force the bosses to retreat.
Please make every effort to attend
Any apologies to branch chair: alan.weaver1@ntlworld.com
Agenda
1) Introduction by chair/those attending
2) Minutes of January meeting
3) Secretary/Treasurers reports
4) Branch reports
5) Up date on disputes: Trinity Mirror and BBC
6) Election of Branch Officers
7) Any other business
**********************************************
Election of Branch Officers for 2013/2014
All branch posts become vacant at the AGM and all members can stand to serve the branch for 2013/2014. Current posts are Chair, Vice chair, Secretary/Treasurer (combined post) , Equalities, Communications, Minutes Secretary, Recruitment, Welfare.
Posts of Secretary/Treasurer and Communications, each carry a bursary of £600.
Nominees will need a seconder and nominations can be made at anytime before the February meeting, send nominations to Branch Secretary Stalingrad O'Neill <stalingrad1@yahoo.com>.
If you have any news/stories for branch newsletter,
Email <birminghamcoventry@nuj.org.uk>
Friday, February 1
Trinity Mirror 92 jobs Under Threat
Early Day Motion 1003: Trinity Mirror Job Losses
That this House expresses deep concern at the announcement by Trinity Mirror that it intends cutting 92 editorial jobs; notes that Media Wales faces the loss of 16 job cuts, including a proposal to disband the features unit which is responsible for generating valuable Welsh-specific news content; further expresses concern at the impact of such a development on Welsh democracy; further notes that Media Wales titles have faced over a decade of cuts; and urges Trinity Mirror urgently to hold talks with the National Union of Journalists.
Sponsors: Edwards, Jonathan/ Llwyd, Elfyn / Williams, Hywel
<> House of Commons: 31/01/2013
Put your MP to work demand they sign EDM 1003
You can contact your MP for free, through: WriteToThem.Com
http://www.writetothem.com/http://www.writetothem.com/
Early Day Motion 1003: Trinity Mirror Job Losses
That this House expresses deep concern at the announcement by Trinity Mirror that it intends cutting 92 editorial jobs; notes that Media Wales faces the loss of 16 job cuts, including a proposal to disband the features unit which is responsible for generating valuable Welsh-specific news content; further expresses concern at the impact of such a development on Welsh democracy; further notes that Media Wales titles have faced over a decade of cuts; and urges Trinity Mirror urgently to hold talks with the National Union of Journalists.
Sponsors: Edwards, Jonathan/ Llwyd, Elfyn / Williams, Hywel
<> House of Commons: 31/01/2013
Put your MP to work demand they sign EDM 1003
You can contact your MP for free, through: WriteToThem.Com
http://www.writetothem.com/http://www.writetothem.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)