A full delegation from Brighton & Mid-Sussex branch attended the NUJ's Delegate Meeting in Eastbourne last weekend. There will be a full report-back and time for questions and discussion at the next branch meeting on Monday, April 28 (time and venue to be confirmed soon).
Fate of the branch's motions:
Motion 62 (Recruitment), instructing the NEC to make it easier for people to join the union online by streamlining the application process.
The NEC amendment, which effectively removed the instruction, was passed and the substantive motion agreed. A defeat for the branch, but we succeeded in opening up a dialogue with those responsible for the NUJ website and we hope that the required improvements follow.
Motion 101 (Ethics), calling for the NUJ to take a clear position on media regulation, post-Leveson, balloting the membership on the question of an independent regulator, underpinned by statute, and to promote its own representation on any bodies that are formed.
This was ruled out of order on a technicality only a few hours before it was due to be debated. Conference Standing Orders Committee (SOC), which makes such recommendations, apologised for not advising the branch at an earlier stage, when it would have been simple for the motion to be amended and put in order. We were offered the opportunity to effectively speak to the motion in the form of a question about the union's Annual Report, which we took, and we also challenged the decision in front of conference, but the attempt to reinstate the motion failed.
The branch was involved in two other motions:
Composite W (Government Policies), bringing together motions from a whole number of branches, including ourselves, on low pay, calling on the TUC to call a one-day general strike and other coordinated action. This was won. An amendment from the NEC cutting weakening the general strike call was defeated.
We were also among a number of branches proposing a late-notice motion on Egypt that aimed to involve the union in the campaign against repression, including the repression of journalists. This fell off the agenda because of lack of time.
Other debates and decisions worth highlighting:
The problems at Newsquest Group surrounding job losses and the transfer of subs to remote production hubs, affecting our members at the Argus, were discussed. We'll have a report from the chapel at the next branch meeting.
A broader definition of who can join the union, extending it more clearly to those in digital media and 'community journalists' was agreed. This is something the branch has been quite keen on, and we voted for it.
Subscriptions were increased, by 11% for Grade 1, 5% for Grade 2 and 7% for Grade 3. Branch delegates voted in favour.
A move towards earnings-related subs, while attracting support in principle, was defeated because of problems with its proposed implementation. Branch delegates voted against.
A further motion from the NEC giving it the power to increase subs between DMs was defeated. Again, branch delegates voted against.
DM voted, narrowly, to abolish the elected position of Deputy General Secretary and replace it with a non-elected Assistant General Secretary. Branch delegates voted against.
There was lots and lots of other stuff. Please come to the meeting on April 28 to hear more.
Phil Mellows
