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/
This is the official blog for the NUJ Birmingham and Coventry branch.
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