Last week's meeting bunged £50 to The Working Class Movement Library (WCML) in Salford, in answer to a plea for cash - and they've been in touch to thank us.
The library holds a collection of English language books, periodicals, pamphlets, archives and artefacts, concerned with the activities, expression and enquiries of the labour movement, its allies and its enemies, since the late 1700s.
Click on the headline to see its website.
30 April 2005
29 April 2005
Wanna be a councillor?
HQ is looking for members to serve on NUJ committees like the ethics council and a variety of industrial councils.
For example, take the freelance council - the branch could nominate any member for the South seat, a black member for the black seat and a disabled member for the disabled seat.
* Newspapers and agencies - equality, black members, national newspapers and news agencies
* Magazine and book council - equality, black members and disabled members
* Freelance industrial council - South, black members and disabled members constituencies.
* PR and information - London/South East and disabled members
* Ethics - members sought from Book and Magazine sectors.
* New Media - Black members and disabled members
* Broadcasting - Agencies, black members and disabled members
I'm a bit hazy on how the councils operate, never having served on one. Maybe our chair Jemima can enlighten us on the new media council's operations?
If you're interested in standing please let us know at nujbrighton@gmail.com. You can be nominated at the May meeting, as closing date is May 31. If there's more than one nominee for a seat then you need to supply a ballot statement, as there will be a vote.
For example, take the freelance council - the branch could nominate any member for the South seat, a black member for the black seat and a disabled member for the disabled seat.
* Newspapers and agencies - equality, black members, national newspapers and news agencies
* Magazine and book council - equality, black members and disabled members
* Freelance industrial council - South, black members and disabled members constituencies.
* PR and information - London/South East and disabled members
* Ethics - members sought from Book and Magazine sectors.
* New Media - Black members and disabled members
* Broadcasting - Agencies, black members and disabled members
I'm a bit hazy on how the councils operate, never having served on one. Maybe our chair Jemima can enlighten us on the new media council's operations?
If you're interested in standing please let us know at nujbrighton@gmail.com. You can be nominated at the May meeting, as closing date is May 31. If there's more than one nominee for a seat then you need to supply a ballot statement, as there will be a vote.
26 April 2005
CPBF manifestos
The Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom has issued two new pamphlets - its 'Media Manifesto 2005' and 'Keeping Broadcasting Public'.
Manifesto - this 40-page A5 booklet outlines what the CPBF thinks the government should do to improve the 'media environment' and makes forthright demands on everything from Whitehall briefings to a regulatory framework for the internet.
Keeping Broadcasting Public - written by Tom O'Malley, this coincides with the recent launch of the government's green paper on the future of the BBC. It outlines plans to defend and improve the BBC and public service broadcasting.
It also highlights the dangers to the future of commercial public service broadcastings after Ofcom endorsed plans to slash regional ITV broadcasting to 1.5 hours a week.
We've been sent one copy of each publication. Email adecolley@1927club.com and I can put it in the post. Or either can be ordered at 50p a pop from the CPBF or click on the headline above and then click on the home page story which starts 'NEW Important Campaign pamphlets available' and you can download a pdf.
Manifesto - this 40-page A5 booklet outlines what the CPBF thinks the government should do to improve the 'media environment' and makes forthright demands on everything from Whitehall briefings to a regulatory framework for the internet.
Keeping Broadcasting Public - written by Tom O'Malley, this coincides with the recent launch of the government's green paper on the future of the BBC. It outlines plans to defend and improve the BBC and public service broadcasting.
It also highlights the dangers to the future of commercial public service broadcastings after Ofcom endorsed plans to slash regional ITV broadcasting to 1.5 hours a week.
We've been sent one copy of each publication. Email adecolley@1927club.com and I can put it in the post. Or either can be ordered at 50p a pop from the CPBF or click on the headline above and then click on the home page story which starts 'NEW Important Campaign pamphlets available' and you can download a pdf.
25 April 2005
Peace and love and bloke from TV
Sussex Action for Peace are busy this week!
THURSDAY APRIL 28
Are we losing the right to protest? A public evening of information sharing, debate, networking and building alliances with guest speakers: Mark Thomas (activist/comic); Dr Caroline Lucas (Green MEP); Coun Keith Taylor (Green candidate); Plus local activists. At the Brighthelm Centre, Brighton, 7.30pm.
FRIDAY APRIL 29
Anti-war hustings. Ask candidates from all parties & all three Brighton & Hove
constituencies about their views on Iraq & Palestine; how they feel about EDO; what do they think of ID cards & Control Orders. At The Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton, 7.30pm.
SATURDAY APRIL 30
Protest for peace in Iraq. Meet 12 noon in George Street, Hove. March to Hove Town Hall & Defence Minister Ivor Caplin's last surgery!
THURSDAY APRIL 28
Are we losing the right to protest? A public evening of information sharing, debate, networking and building alliances with guest speakers: Mark Thomas (activist/comic); Dr Caroline Lucas (Green MEP); Coun Keith Taylor (Green candidate); Plus local activists. At the Brighthelm Centre, Brighton, 7.30pm.
FRIDAY APRIL 29
Anti-war hustings. Ask candidates from all parties & all three Brighton & Hove
constituencies about their views on Iraq & Palestine; how they feel about EDO; what do they think of ID cards & Control Orders. At The Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton, 7.30pm.
SATURDAY APRIL 30
Protest for peace in Iraq. Meet 12 noon in George Street, Hove. March to Hove Town Hall & Defence Minister Ivor Caplin's last surgery!
17 April 2005
Local newspaper pay rises
Head office reports Newsquest chapels in Scotland accepting 3% on the Sunday Herald; 3% in York, with minimums of £16,500 for newly qualified seniors on weeklies and £18,500 on the daily; at least 2.75% for staff at Bradford, w ith 3.5% for juniors and newly qualified seniors.
At Kendal, 2% has been agreed. At Darlington pay went up 9% for trainees with a 2.75% basic rise.
Johnston Press titles in Leeds have accepted a 3% increase and a minimum starting rate of £20,000 for seniors. Scottish Johnston Press chapels are considering a ballot on a pay offer giving between 2.5% and 3.5%.
Average earnings in the year to 2005 rose by 4.2%. Since then average has been 4.4%.
At Kendal, 2% has been agreed. At Darlington pay went up 9% for trainees with a 2.75% basic rise.
Johnston Press titles in Leeds have accepted a 3% increase and a minimum starting rate of £20,000 for seniors. Scottish Johnston Press chapels are considering a ballot on a pay offer giving between 2.5% and 3.5%.
Average earnings in the year to 2005 rose by 4.2%. Since then average has been 4.4%.
16 April 2005
UKPG Argus piece
Press Gazette carried a piece on the Argus on page 3 this week
Three photographic Mac operators and the newsdesk secretary have gone and another photographic job could be cut. Use of freelance columnists and photographers has also been reduced. Editorial staff believe they are suffering the effects of a relaunch which was seen as a failure of the sales and marketing department.
NUJ members boycotted a party held on Friday to mark the paper's 125th birthday. Argus management was unavailable for comment.
Three photographic Mac operators and the newsdesk secretary have gone and another photographic job could be cut. Use of freelance columnists and photographers has also been reduced. Editorial staff believe they are suffering the effects of a relaunch which was seen as a failure of the sales and marketing department.
NUJ members boycotted a party held on Friday to mark the paper's 125th birthday. Argus management was unavailable for comment.
15 April 2005
Justice for Colombia affiliation
Justice for Colombia is celebrating after the release of an agricultural trade union's leader Luz Cordoba after a campaign to free her was launched last year.
She was held for more than a year without being formally charged and now released.
Last year JFC says 94 trade unionists were assassinated in Colombia - no one has been arrested for any of the crimes. JFC aims to end UK military aid to Colombia.
The branch has been asked to reaffiliated to JFC as our affiliation has run out and the campaign says support offered by groups like ours has helped with successes like Luz's release.
She was held for more than a year without being formally charged and now released.
Last year JFC says 94 trade unionists were assassinated in Colombia - no one has been arrested for any of the crimes. JFC aims to end UK military aid to Colombia.
The branch has been asked to reaffiliated to JFC as our affiliation has run out and the campaign says support offered by groups like ours has helped with successes like Luz's release.
14 April 2005
Rowan Dore on ADM 2005
Report on 2005 Annual Delegate Meeting Scarborough
April 7-10 2005 from Rowan Dore
Jemima Kiss and myself were the two delegates from the Brighton and Mid Sussex Branch.
We maintained a continuous presence on the conference floor for the three day conference and voted on virtually all the 142 motions put to the ADM. We made sure it was known that the Brighton and Mid Sussex was an effective branch representing all aspects of the media in the area.
Although there were no motions from Brighton and Mid Sussex for the 2005 ADM, I spoke on three issues:
• The need for a minimum £25,000 basic salary for all senior journalists
• I supported photographers in their call for a NUJ photographic organiser, who would deal with all matters affecting photographic staff.
• During a debate on a motion urging the NUJ to modernise its logo and rebrand some of its literature I warned the NUJ not to go down this road, citing the experience of The Argus, which has seen falling sales, a drop in advertising and now redundancies following its rebranding.
The minimum £25,000 motion was thrown out on the grounds that some seniors were only getting £14,000 a year and a leap to £25,000 was unrealistic. But there was general agreement that wages in the provincial sector were too low and salaried journalists were now falling behind teachers, nurses and firefighters.
There was a lot of criticism of Newsquest and Gannett for deliberately keeping wages low, especially as parent company Gannett is making profits of around £100 million a year. All senior journalists on the Yorkshire Post have broken the £20,000 pay barrier. The NUJ will continue to press for better pay for journalists.
The call for a photographic organiser was rejected out on the grounds it would cost the union £60,000 a year and would duplicate some of the work done by regional organisers.The idea of re-branding the NUJ by modernising its logo was withdrawn
Jemina, an ADM virgin, spoke up for the New Media Council, of which she is a member and organised a successful and well attended fringe meeting about blogging.
A lot of the ADM was taken up with issues concerning the cut backs and redundancies at the BBC, and how the sacking of thousands of BBC staff, many of them journalists. There was much talk about how this affected programme quality. The NUJ is fighting some of the redundancies and a day of action is planned. Don Mackglew, our regional organiser, asked me "When is The Argus going to have a day of action?". He also was in agreement that we should change our name to the Brighton and Sussex branch.
There was also discussion and debate about low pay in the provincial sector, the organisation of the union, health and safety matters and media freedom.
The union now has 36,000 members across all sections of the media and the numbers are growing daily. General Secretary Jeremy Dear's vision of a well run, campaigning union encompassing all aspects of the media is taking shape.
All union subscriptions are to go up by £5 annually from next Year, which will mean a slight increase in the monthly direct debit. Jeremy Dear said that when he was a delegate he always opposed such increases on the grounds that the union was previously squandering money. "We are now a well run effective campaigning union and to remain an effective campaigning union we need this increase."
It was agreed that the union should look at holding an ADM in Northern Ireland (There are always a lot of Irish delegates attending).
The next ADM will be from Thursday March 23 to March 26 2006 in Southport. Closing date for motions is November 7 and nominations for delegates should be completed by January 23 2006. Judging by the way recruitment to the branch is growing we should be able to send three delegates to Southport and play an important part in the next ADM.
Rowan Dore
April 7-10 2005 from Rowan Dore
Jemima Kiss and myself were the two delegates from the Brighton and Mid Sussex Branch.
We maintained a continuous presence on the conference floor for the three day conference and voted on virtually all the 142 motions put to the ADM. We made sure it was known that the Brighton and Mid Sussex was an effective branch representing all aspects of the media in the area.
Although there were no motions from Brighton and Mid Sussex for the 2005 ADM, I spoke on three issues:
• The need for a minimum £25,000 basic salary for all senior journalists
• I supported photographers in their call for a NUJ photographic organiser, who would deal with all matters affecting photographic staff.
• During a debate on a motion urging the NUJ to modernise its logo and rebrand some of its literature I warned the NUJ not to go down this road, citing the experience of The Argus, which has seen falling sales, a drop in advertising and now redundancies following its rebranding.
The minimum £25,000 motion was thrown out on the grounds that some seniors were only getting £14,000 a year and a leap to £25,000 was unrealistic. But there was general agreement that wages in the provincial sector were too low and salaried journalists were now falling behind teachers, nurses and firefighters.
There was a lot of criticism of Newsquest and Gannett for deliberately keeping wages low, especially as parent company Gannett is making profits of around £100 million a year. All senior journalists on the Yorkshire Post have broken the £20,000 pay barrier. The NUJ will continue to press for better pay for journalists.
The call for a photographic organiser was rejected out on the grounds it would cost the union £60,000 a year and would duplicate some of the work done by regional organisers.The idea of re-branding the NUJ by modernising its logo was withdrawn
Jemina, an ADM virgin, spoke up for the New Media Council, of which she is a member and organised a successful and well attended fringe meeting about blogging.
A lot of the ADM was taken up with issues concerning the cut backs and redundancies at the BBC, and how the sacking of thousands of BBC staff, many of them journalists. There was much talk about how this affected programme quality. The NUJ is fighting some of the redundancies and a day of action is planned. Don Mackglew, our regional organiser, asked me "When is The Argus going to have a day of action?". He also was in agreement that we should change our name to the Brighton and Sussex branch.
There was also discussion and debate about low pay in the provincial sector, the organisation of the union, health and safety matters and media freedom.
The union now has 36,000 members across all sections of the media and the numbers are growing daily. General Secretary Jeremy Dear's vision of a well run, campaigning union encompassing all aspects of the media is taking shape.
All union subscriptions are to go up by £5 annually from next Year, which will mean a slight increase in the monthly direct debit. Jeremy Dear said that when he was a delegate he always opposed such increases on the grounds that the union was previously squandering money. "We are now a well run effective campaigning union and to remain an effective campaigning union we need this increase."
It was agreed that the union should look at holding an ADM in Northern Ireland (There are always a lot of Irish delegates attending).
The next ADM will be from Thursday March 23 to March 26 2006 in Southport. Closing date for motions is November 7 and nominations for delegates should be completed by January 23 2006. Judging by the way recruitment to the branch is growing we should be able to send three delegates to Southport and play an important part in the next ADM.
Rowan Dore
13 April 2005
May Day stalls
Brighton and Hove unitary UNISON branch is marking May Day on Brighton seafront and we've been asked if we want to join in.
From 11am – 3pm on Monday, May 2, Unison is running a stall on the seafront on the seafront at the end of East Street, near the "kissing wall".
May Day is the day when trade unionists peacefully celebrate the achievements of the union movement, when we recommit ourselves to achieving economic and social justice for all. It is also a day when we remember our sisters and brothers who are suffering victimisation, such as trade unionists in Colombia, Palestine and Iraq.
Stalls at the event are free and Brighton and Mid Sussex NUJ has been asked if we want to run one. It could be a great opportunity for us to raise our profile in Sussex, forge links with other union activists and recruit new members.
There will be provision for union reps to take the opportunity to deliver speeches or addresses to those present throughout the day.
**NB from Adrian Colley. I won't be able to take part as I'll just have finished working seven nights in a row. Is there anyone out there who would be interested in taking this on? It occurred to me that maybe Argus journalists might be interested in publicising their pay campaign via an NUJ presence. Just a thought.
From 11am – 3pm on Monday, May 2, Unison is running a stall on the seafront on the seafront at the end of East Street, near the "kissing wall".
May Day is the day when trade unionists peacefully celebrate the achievements of the union movement, when we recommit ourselves to achieving economic and social justice for all. It is also a day when we remember our sisters and brothers who are suffering victimisation, such as trade unionists in Colombia, Palestine and Iraq.
Stalls at the event are free and Brighton and Mid Sussex NUJ has been asked if we want to run one. It could be a great opportunity for us to raise our profile in Sussex, forge links with other union activists and recruit new members.
There will be provision for union reps to take the opportunity to deliver speeches or addresses to those present throughout the day.
**NB from Adrian Colley. I won't be able to take part as I'll just have finished working seven nights in a row. Is there anyone out there who would be interested in taking this on? It occurred to me that maybe Argus journalists might be interested in publicising their pay campaign via an NUJ presence. Just a thought.
12 April 2005
The Zimbabwean online
Click on the headline to see the online newspaper for expat Zimbabweans, which is providing information on the troubled African state.
The publication has been selling 10,000 copies weekly in Zimbabwe after being shipped in from South Africa - and it has not gone down well with authorities in Harare.
The publication has been selling 10,000 copies weekly in Zimbabwe after being shipped in from South Africa - and it has not gone down well with authorities in Harare.
11 April 2005
Model freelance claims
The Freelance Industrial Council is plugging its model claims form - for use in negotiations with employers.
It hopes that union reps and officials can use them to renegotiate agreements with employers in all media - from online to books and magazines. The ultimate aim is to set up good freelance agreements after a period when very few existed and many NUJ reps were unfamiliar with them.
Copies available from freelanceoffice@nuj.org.uk
It hopes that union reps and officials can use them to renegotiate agreements with employers in all media - from online to books and magazines. The ultimate aim is to set up good freelance agreements after a period when very few existed and many NUJ reps were unfamiliar with them.
Copies available from freelanceoffice@nuj.org.uk
09 April 2005
On location
Rowan and Jemima, armed with tea at Scarborough Spa.
We didn't put any motions forward this year, so let's start making notes now for the next ADM. Burning issues, anyone?
We didn't put any motions forward this year, so let's start making notes now for the next ADM. Burning issues, anyone?
No such thing as a free lunch
I was talking to Tony Gosling from the Bristol branch this morning about methods of luring more members to branch meetings.
They meet at the Tobacco Factory, a particularly impressive arts centre in Bristol, and the branch buys dinner for all the members that turn up. That sounds good to me.
We've moved our meetings for now to the Nelson on Trafalgar Street so we can piggyback their pub quiz, but how about doing dinner one month? Is anyone up for that?
Or any other ideas for a stonking summer party?!
They meet at the Tobacco Factory, a particularly impressive arts centre in Bristol, and the branch buys dinner for all the members that turn up. That sounds good to me.
We've moved our meetings for now to the Nelson on Trafalgar Street so we can piggyback their pub quiz, but how about doing dinner one month? Is anyone up for that?
Or any other ideas for a stonking summer party?!
No photographers' rep
Delegates this morning voted against the proposal for a dedicated photographers' organiser.
Can't help feeling that was a good idea and wasn't convinved by any of the arguments against it. Those arguments included "the union just isn't organised like that" and "photographers are already looked after by every other sector". If the photographers feel they need a rep to better support their work, then they are really the best people to assess that need. IMHO.
Can't help feeling that was a good idea and wasn't convinved by any of the arguments against it. Those arguments included "the union just isn't organised like that" and "photographers are already looked after by every other sector". If the photographers feel they need a rep to better support their work, then they are really the best people to assess that need. IMHO.
08 April 2005
Where the action is!
Fantastic! I'm on the conference floor right now at the NUJ's Annual Delegate Meeting. Praise be for wireless internet.
I just about survived the raging tempests outside to make it to the venue this morning - Scarborough's very beautiful Spa on the South Bay.
We've already had a telephone call from Mordechai Vanunu which was very faint, but at least the noisy delegates at the back had to stop chatting so they could listen.
I've met loads of interesting people (is there anyone Rowan Dore doesn't know?!) and we've barely even started yet. The main event for me is the New Media drinkypoos tonight where we try to persuade old school hacks how important the internet is. Or at least show them what a computer looks like. (Saucer of milk, table two...)
Charles Arthur, former Indy tech editor and blogger, will be there to tell everyone what they need to know. This is only just the beginning for our nascent New Media Industrial Council and we have a very long way to go...
I just about survived the raging tempests outside to make it to the venue this morning - Scarborough's very beautiful Spa on the South Bay.
We've already had a telephone call from Mordechai Vanunu which was very faint, but at least the noisy delegates at the back had to stop chatting so they could listen.
I've met loads of interesting people (is there anyone Rowan Dore doesn't know?!) and we've barely even started yet. The main event for me is the New Media drinkypoos tonight where we try to persuade old school hacks how important the internet is. Or at least show them what a computer looks like. (Saucer of milk, table two...)
Charles Arthur, former Indy tech editor and blogger, will be there to tell everyone what they need to know. This is only just the beginning for our nascent New Media Industrial Council and we have a very long way to go...
07 April 2005
Local newspaper protest
As part of the union's campaign against low wages in the newspaper industry, a protest is to be held outside the Newspaper Society agm and lunch at the Savoy Hotel, London from noon on Tuesday May 17. If you can make it, go along and vent your feelings.
More info at endlowpay@nuj.org.uk
More info at endlowpay@nuj.org.uk
05 April 2005
NUJ editor to speak at anti-war event
Tim Gopsill, editor of the NUJ magazine The Journalist is among speakers at an anti-war conference in Sussex this month.
The event on Saturday April 23, from 11am-3.30pm is at the Brighthelm Centre in North Road, Brighton. It is organised by 'Hands Off' an anti-war forum linked to Sussex Action for Peace
It will focus on Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and other issues raised by New Labour foreign policy. There will also be stalls and kids' activities.
Others speakers are Sami Ramadani Iraqi-born lecturer and writer; David Chandler, a writer on the politics of humanitarian intervention; Haifa Zangana, Iraqi-born novelist and antioccupation activist, focusing on women's rights; Ana Lekaj, from former Yugoslavia; Nicholas Gilby, of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade; Howard Davies, local photojournalist documenting refugee crises.
The event on Saturday April 23, from 11am-3.30pm is at the Brighthelm Centre in North Road, Brighton. It is organised by 'Hands Off' an anti-war forum linked to Sussex Action for Peace
It will focus on Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and other issues raised by New Labour foreign policy. There will also be stalls and kids' activities.
Others speakers are Sami Ramadani Iraqi-born lecturer and writer; David Chandler, a writer on the politics of humanitarian intervention; Haifa Zangana, Iraqi-born novelist and antioccupation activist, focusing on women's rights; Ana Lekaj, from former Yugoslavia; Nicholas Gilby, of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade; Howard Davies, local photojournalist documenting refugee crises.
04 April 2005
Searchlight magazine
Copy of anti-fascist magazine Searchlight can be put in post if someone wants it. Also have several copies of Trade Union Friends of Searchlight four-page mag available. Email me if you want one.
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