Birmingham & Coventry NUJ Branch Meeting March 2014

Tuesday 11th March 2014
Carrs Lane Church Centre
Carrs Lane
Birmingham
B4 7SX
6:00 pm for 6:30 start

Any apologies to branch chair:  tony@tonyadamsproductions.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

Item in this message:
-  State of the Union
-  Migrant Workers in Qatar & the 2022 World Cup
-  Rally and Demo Marking UN Anti-Racism Day


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State of the Union               
           
All figures are as at the last day of September each year
   
In the last five  financial years membership has declined by 5,680                               
               
    Membership        Year on year decline    Paying membership
2013    29,506        1513        25,189
2012    31,019        2053        25,987
2011    33,072        763          26,458
2010    33,835        1351        27,130
2009    35,186                        28,337

    Monies
2013    Surplus  for year       £1,752,260
2012    Deficit for year      - £3,959,872
2011    Surplus  for year      £682,897
2010    Deficit for year      - £313,082
2009    Deficit for year     - £2,855,922

2013    Amount of general fund at end of year   - £2,071,601
2012    Amount of general fund at end of year   - £3,823,960
2011    Amount of general fund at end of year     £135,912
2010    Amount of general fund at end of year     £546,985
2009    Amount of general fund at end of year   - £223,903

NUJ: Annual return for the years ended 30th September 2009/2013 as filed with the 'Certification Officer', available <>  here . . . .

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EDM 1095: Migrant Workers in Qatar & the 2022 World Cup
That this House notes that since Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup the country has experienced a construction boom; further notes that in the last two years hundreds of Indian and Nepalese migrant workers have died working on construction projects in Qatar; moreover is extremely concerned that in the build-up to 2022 hundreds more migrant workers will die due to unsafe working conditions; and calls on the Government, the international community and FIFA to act to urge Qatar in the strongest possible terms to drastically improve working conditions, review the migrant worker sponsorship scheme and properly compensate the families of migrant workers who have been injured or killed.

Sponsors: Mann, John / Betts, Clive / Durkan, Mark / Ritchie, Margaret / Russell, Bob
<http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2013-14/1095>   House of Commons: 24.02.2014

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Rally and Demo Marking UN Anti-Racism Day

Assemble 11:00am, Saturday 22nd March 2014

London: Parade from the Mandela Statue in Parliament Square to rally at Trafalgar Square

Organized by TUC & Unite

Transport from Birmingham:

8:15 am, Iron Man, Birmingham Town Hall, Victoria Square

Tickets £5 unwaged, £10 waged, £20 solidarity

To buy/book tickets call 07974 131966

UN Anti-Racism day
A day of action has been called for across Europe on 22 March to coincide with UN Anti-racism Day. With eyes on the European elections in May parties in most countries of the right, centre and even the traditional left are allowing politics and the media to be dominated by racism and xenophobia. Islamophobia and anti-Semitism and the scapegoating of minorities - immigrants, Roma, Black and Asian communities - have become the norm. In Britain the fascist and far right are seeking gains, but there is an even greater immediate threat.

No to Scapegoating Immigrants
That is the increasing tendency of mainstream political parties to tail-end the right-wing, populist UKIP. They are out-vying each other in calls for draconian 'anti-immigration' policies and generally promoting a 'Little Englander' anti-foreign, anti-European mentality, most recently seen with the hostility and racism whipped up towards the projected arrival of Bulgarian and Romanian migrant workers.

No to Islamophobia
In particular, it has become acceptable to promote fear and hatred of Muslim people and Islam as a religion. This racism creates a climate of Islamophobia, leading directly to more attacks on the Muslim population, including murder and violent attacks on mosques.

Remember Mandela - YES to diversity
In remembering Nelson Mandela we too should cherish "the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and equal opportunities." UN Anti-racism Day commemorates the victims of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, when 69 peaceful demonstrators against apartheid were killed by South African police forces.

Many organisations and communities have come together to call for this parade and rally. Join us in rejecting racism and showing that migrants are welcome. Let's celebrate diversity by expressing our cultures and identities. Let's demonstrate our confidence in a future free of scapegoating, racism and hatred.

http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/

People's Assembly Public Meeting 6th March 7pm Coventry

 

The People's Assembly Public Meeting Thursday 6th March 7 pm

 Methodist Central Hall

Coventry City Centre CV1 2HA

Main Speaker : Owen Jones (Author of Chavs :the demonisation of the Working Class')

Other speakers include Disabled People Against Cuts, Defend George Elliot Hospital Campaign, sacked union activists, Anti Bedroom Tax and more.

Atos Demonstrations in Birmingham and Coventry

Coventry
Demonstration at Coventry Assessment Centre, Cofa Court, St Patricks Rd, Coventry CV1 2HJ ( from 10am) Wednesday 19th February

https://www.facebook.com/events/717017001642348/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

Birmingham
Birmingham Assessment Centre, Five Ways House, Islington Row Middleway, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1SL
from 8am 
https://www.facebook.com/events/267028783448981/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

Early Day Motion 1088: Newsquest Newspapers And Local Journalism
That this House deeply regrets that Newsquest Media Group intends to transfer the design and sub-editing for the Northern Echo (Darlington), Telegraph and Argus (Bradford) and the Press (York) to Newport, Wales; notes that the US-based owner Gannett paid £922 million for Newsquest in 1999, taking on the company's debt, leading to cutbacks and lack of investment in the local newspaper titles; further notes that the current plans represent de-skilling of the workforce and entail serious risks in the reduction of quality due to the loss of local knowledge and the vital connection with the local community; resolves to support members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) taking action to defend local journalism; and calls on the Government to convene urgent discussions with the NUJ and publishers to discuss how to encourage investment, decent pay and conditions essential for a thriving local press and also to develop an effective strategy for protecting local jobs and quality journalism.

Sponsors: McDonnell, John / Mitchell, Austin / Corbyn, Jeremy / Skinner, Dennis / Russell, Bob    -   House of Commons: 12.02.2014

Annual General Meeting Birmingham and Coventry NUJ

Tuesday 11th February 2014
Kahawa Cafe
163 New Union Street
Coventry
CV1 2PL
6:00 pm for 6:30 start

Election of Branch Officers for 2014/2015
All branch posts become vacant at the AGM and all members can stand to serve the branch for 2014/2015.

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>

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HOPE not hate
Invited speaker: NUJ member  Owen Jones, West Midlands Community Organiser for HOPE not hate. To give an update on the campaigns they are currently running in the lead into the European Parliament elections scheduled to be held on Thursday 22 May 2014

Owen, manages and oversee twelve community engagement projects across the West Midlands, working on extremely disenfranchised social housing estates to try and make their communities a nicer, safer and more welcoming place to live.

Birmingham & Coventry NUJ January 2014 Branch Meeting

Tuesday 21st January 2014
Carrs Lane Church Centre
Carrs Lane
Birmingham
B4 7SX
6:00 pm for 6:30 start

Guest speaker: Diana Peasy
Diana has previously served on the NUJ's National Executive Committee for five years, firstly representing Broadcasting and then the Midlands region. And will again represent the Midlands region from April 2014 to March 2016

She has been a member of the Broadcasting Industrial council for the past decade and has spoken in the House of Commons lobby following the announcement on job cuts at Carlton (formerly Central) Television in Nottingham. She supported the campaign to oppose job losses and the closure of the studios in the city. Diana helped with collecting signatures for a huge petition which was presented to 10 Downing Street.

MoC at the BBC in Nottingham for 17 years during which time she was involved in national talks on multi-skill working, pay and the regrading of posts. Diana also represented several members at disciplinary hearings.

Diana is Chair of the Nottingham NUJ branch. She knows the Midlands well, having lived and worked in Leicester, Nottingham and Birmingham. She has worked in newspapers, commercial radio and for the BBC in local radio and regional television. As Chair, she’s given considerable support to one of her freelance photographers who has appeared in court on a charge of obstruction for taking pictures of an armed police marksman.
http://www.dianapeasey.com/


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Elected to NUJ Industrial Councils & NEC for April 2014 to March 2016

Eleanor Lisney:    Midlands seat, on the New Media Industrial Council.
Stalingrad O'Neill: Freelance Industrial Council, East/West Midlands seat.
Ozen Sengülen :  Midlands/East Anglia seat, on the Photographers’ Council.
Alan Taman:  Public Relations and Communication Industrial Council, Midlands seat.
John O:   National Executive Council - (Job share with Diana Peasy )

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Annual General Meeting for Birmingham & Coventry Branch

Will take place in Coventry in February, venue and date to follow. All branch posts will be elected at this meeting, they are: Chair, Vice Chair, Equality, Minutes, Welfare,Communications, Treasurer/Secretary; there is a Bursary of £600 for the latter two posts.

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Early Day Motion 909: Threats To Anabel Hernández
That this House salutes the bravery of Mexican journalist Anabel Hernández whose recently published book on Narco Wars has highlighted issues of security and corruption in Mexico; is appalled that in common with many investigative journalists she faces constant death threats; notes that on 19 December 2013 her home was invaded by an armed gang in an attempt to find her and threaten her life; supports campaigns to secure the freedom and security of journalists to go about their work; and calls on the authorities in Mexico to ensure the safety and security of Anabel Hernández and the many serious investigative journalists who are also constantly threatened.

Sponsors: Corbyn, Jeremy / McDonnell, John / Sheridan, Jim / Hopkins, Kelvin / Durkan, Mark / Llwyd, Elfyn   -   <http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2013-14/909> House of commons: 06.01.2014


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Early Day Motion 844: Banning Of Journalists From Football Grounds
That this House condemns the decision of Newcastle United FC Chairman, Mike Ashley, to withdraw all report facilities for journalists working on the Newcastle Chronicle, Newcastle Journal and Sunday Sun; notes that the denial of access to the St James' Park stadium press box, training ground and interviews with players and manager leaves reporters unable to report on events which are of great interest to the local community; further notes that this follows the temporary banning of a Daily Telegraph reporter by the same club last season and similar actions by Nottingham Forest, Crawley Town, Port Vale and Rotherham United; supports the National Union of Journalists in believing that journalists working for a free press in a democratic society must be able to express themselves as they see fit within the law, without fear of petty and vindictive corporate sanctions; welcomes the broad support that supporters of the club have given to reporters trying to do their professional best in reporting the affairs of football clubs; and therefore calls on the Premier League and Football Association to implement a code of conduct in respect of the treatment of working journalists.

Sponsors: Lavery, Ian/ Mearns, Ian / Morris, Grahame M / Meale, Alan / Campbell, Ronnie / Skinner, Dennis          <>   House of Commons: 04.12.2013