NUJ DM 2014 BULLETIN

SOLIDARITY AND ACTION NEEDED TO DEFEND MEMBERS

Wages, payments, conditions

s ever, big decisions face delegates to 2014 DM - particularly on the future of the industry we work in Without doubt, we have to face up to how our union protects its members in the face of a rapidly changing media landscape. Stress and bullying at work, unpaid journalism, Montgomerys threat to abolish subs at Local World and Newsquests new super subbing hub, are all urgent challenges. Add to that the drive to online without a business model that secures jobs and conditions, then the need for a fighting democratic union that delivers for members is more urgent than ever. The NEC, unfortunately, does not have a motion on wages, payments and conditions. This must cause us some concern, particularly if it reflects a lack of strategy on the issue, or that there has been a preoccupation with other issues as important as they may be. While the motions in this section all point in the right direction, its clear that we need a clear lead from the top to secure the best joined-up approach both within sectors and across them. Without this, then chapels and groups will face a difficult struggle alone. NUJ members will undoubtedly support all sectors and chapels taking action to improve members pay and conditions.

But the NEC urgently needs to reorientate towards conducting effective struggle on behalf of its members. That is the key to building the union as we have seen in other unions such as the RMT and consolidating the best conditions for members at all levels. At the same time, our members are being affected by the austerity cuts as much as other workers. We need to link up with other unions and to co-ordinate a push from below to force the TUC to call a 24-hour general strike. Such action, would be a marvellous way to channel the anger at the austerity policies of the ConDem coalition government and to give NUJ members confidence that struggle can bring results.

Anti-racism

elected motion 46 and motions 47 and 48 will be supported by delegates who want to defend journalists threatened by far-right organisations It is important also that we have the right to take industrial action if management refuse to defend or safeguard reporters. So, DM should reject the Leeds amendment. The union should also support other anti-racist organisations as well as reaffirming its broad support for Unite Against Fascism and Hope Not Hate. It should not and need not be a case of either or. Instead, we should give support to all organisations that do important work in combating racism. However, how we report far-right groups as distinct from rightwing parties is a complex issue. Some anti-racist groups have, unfortunately on occasion, put a very crude position that could be viewed as attacking some journalists who report on the far right. We need to ensure that the union issues updated guidelines before elections where the far right are standing. These should be circulated to reps and anti-racist organisations to raise

awareness of the way the union suggests reporters take up the issue. We also need to ensure in such advice that parties like UKIP, as abhorrent as many of their policies are, should not be crudely conflated with far-right parties.

Organisation

ome of the sharpest debates at DM will focus on organisational issues. These are important debates, not least because we need effective organisation to inspire members However, many of the NEC proposals seem designed to have the opposite effect, or indeed to have the aim of loading more work on to the already burdened shoulders of lay activists. Motion 121 from the NEC in particular can either be seen as being ill thought or a disingenuous way of offloading responsibility under the guise of decentralisation. The proposed resources compared to the tasks suggested for already pressurised lay reps do not add up. Better to take the suggested amendment from MABIC and come back with a proposal based on proper consultation about what works best for members.

SOUTH AFRICA NEW FORMATION NEEDS BACKING

he Swansea amendment to Motion 151 on South Africa allows delegates a chance to push the NEC to work with new workers organisations developing in South Africa. Following the Marikana massacre in 2012, there has been increasing questioning among workers of the ANC government, COSATU and some other official union organisations. It is important to continue to support MWASA, but we also need to start dialogue with new formations, as appropriate. That includes workers organisations moving into struggle against the ANC government. At the same time, new political formations based on workers and trade unionists are developing. One of these is WASP the Workers and Socialist Party. Swanseas amendment is not calling on the union to give backing to WASP, because the movers understand why (correctly) the NUJ does not support political parties in the UK or internationally. However, the Socialist Party would ask delegates to support the amendment to start dialogue with new trade union formations, and then ask if individual delegates would consider giving support to WASP. WASP launched it election manifesto in South Africaon 29 March. The socialist programme outlined by WASPs working class and trade union candidates at their rally gives hope to the millions of impoverished and oppressed in that country who are looking for an alternative to the corrupt, pro-capitalist ANC government at the general election on 7 May. Other parties may get a lot more media publicity than WASPbut in the trade unions, among community campaigners, in the workplaces, colleges and universities, WASP is getting an increasing echo from the best militant fighters across South Africa. With Moses Mayekiso, the first general secretary of Numsa, as WASPs presidential candidate and number one on the WASP election list, then thousands of Numsa members and trade unionists can be attracted towards the party. WASP, even in its infancy, has been a great inspiration to socialists in Britain. Similarly the campaign to build TUSC in Britain over the past few years has inspired South African socialists. The Socialist Party in England and Wales has pledged to raise 4,000 to help as a contribution to the tens of thousands of pounds it will cost the new party to contest the election. If you would like to help then please ask a Socialist seller at DM or go to www.socialistparty.org.uk to donate.

TRADE UNIONIST & SOCIALIST COALITION (TUSC)

he TUSC national steering committee has just approved its 440th candidate for the challenge in Mays localelections.

Out of the 160 councils with elections in May,TUSC already has candidates in place in 76. In 12 councils, TUSC will be standing in at least 10 seats. The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is an electoral alliance that stands candidates against all cuts and privatisation. It involves the RMT transport union, leading members of other unions and socialists including the Socialist Party. This May TUSC plans to stand hundreds of no-cuts candidates in the councilelectionsagainst all the austerity parties voting through the destruction of jobs and services. Could you be a candidate? To apply to be a TUSC local election candidate complete the council candidate authorisation application form available on the Candidates page of the TUSC website atwww.tusc.org.uk/ candidates.php

National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN)

ight national unions are affiliated to NSSN, including the NUJ, and wed ask delegates to support motion 152, which backs continued affiliation. The national NSSN conference is taking place on Saturday 5 July. If your NUJ branch or chapel wants to send delegates to the conference, then please go to http://shopstewards.net/

Text JOIN with your name & postcode to 07761 818206

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