From Alan Taman (NUJ PRCC & Birmingham Vice-Chair):
Second International Conference on Health Journalism
14-16 May, Coventry
I'm co-organising a major conference on health journalism in May, as well as helping to run the NUJ's campaign on health journalism reporting and PR (details: www.europeanhealthjournalism.com ).
One of my chief concerns is that any journalist who could be called on to cover health hears about these, and can attend and contribute if possible. This of course includes many who do not have specialist training in health; if anything, I think it's more important that they hear about what we are trying to achieve, and we hear what they have to say.
Could I therefore please ask you to pass on the details about the conference to your members, especially those with an interest in health and the health services?
The aim of the conference is to look at the issues facing the reporting of health and health PR internationally as well as in the UK, and begin to address ways of ensuring all reporters and PRs who have to cover health have enough resources and training (www.europeanhealthjournalism.com ; #forhealthj on Twitter). Please contact myself for further details on aptaman@aol.com.
Thank you.
Showing posts with label conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conference. Show all posts
20 March 2014
30 September 2013
Hardworking demonstrators
Report from Manchester by Natasha Steel
The award for irony of the day must go to the Conservative Party. As a trade union march of 50,000 people whistled and booed their way past the heavily policed and fortified Manchester Central Conference Centre on Sunday, the Tory banners proclaimed their allegiance with “hardworking people”.
Strangely, a care worker from Chester I met who works fourteen hour shifts “wiping arses” and was on the demonstration was unswayed by the signage and showed no inclination for joining the party.
“Half of the month I sleep over,” she said. “I don’t like it, having to get into a bed that someone else sleeps in, but you have to do it if you want to pay the mortgage. If there’s overtime I always say yes.
“It’s the only way we can make ends meet.
“But you don’t actually get much sleep, there’s always someone up and you have to be up with them. I’ve done this for 25 years, what I really want to do is be an NHS nurse, but there’s no way I can afford to retrain and pay the mortgage. I just can’t take the risk.”
She recounted how her boss in the privately run company had told her that pay was low because ‘anyone can do care work.’
“Can you?” she’d asked. “Can you wipe shitty arses when it’s all up their back and on the walls? Can you do that?”
Unsurprisingly, he retracted.
She also described how work was made harder because the hoists that got boxes ticked on the inspectors’ rounds weren’t actually used because there wasn’t the time. “We just have to lift them in the old way,” she said.
Similar stories of overwork, low pay and worsening conditions could probably be told by many of the hardworking demonstrators on the march – over three times as many as were attending the party conference. However, according to the BBC’s chief political correspondent, Norman Smith, the Tories weren’t actually very interested in hearing from them after all.
“I was stopped from filming 'Live' for @BBCNews Channel from conf centre overlooking #nhs299 demo” he tweeted.
I think it’s safe to say – without irony - that on Sunday the hardworking people of Britain were on the streets of Manchester, not in the Conservative Party Conference.
 |
| Approaching the conference centre |
Strangely, a care worker from Chester I met who works fourteen hour shifts “wiping arses” and was on the demonstration was unswayed by the signage and showed no inclination for joining the party.
“Half of the month I sleep over,” she said. “I don’t like it, having to get into a bed that someone else sleeps in, but you have to do it if you want to pay the mortgage. If there’s overtime I always say yes.
“It’s the only way we can make ends meet.
“But you don’t actually get much sleep, there’s always someone up and you have to be up with them. I’ve done this for 25 years, what I really want to do is be an NHS nurse, but there’s no way I can afford to retrain and pay the mortgage. I just can’t take the risk.”
She recounted how her boss in the privately run company had told her that pay was low because ‘anyone can do care work.’
“Can you?” she’d asked. “Can you wipe shitty arses when it’s all up their back and on the walls? Can you do that?”
Unsurprisingly, he retracted.
She also described how work was made harder because the hoists that got boxes ticked on the inspectors’ rounds weren’t actually used because there wasn’t the time. “We just have to lift them in the old way,” she said.
Similar stories of overwork, low pay and worsening conditions could probably be told by many of the hardworking demonstrators on the march – over three times as many as were attending the party conference. However, according to the BBC’s chief political correspondent, Norman Smith, the Tories weren’t actually very interested in hearing from them after all.
“I was stopped from filming 'Live' for @BBCNews Channel from conf centre overlooking #nhs299 demo” he tweeted.
Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, care workers, bakery workers, teachers, firefighters, journalists – the range of professions was vast, but the experiences were common. Not only do most people already work exceptionally hard, but pay is poor and housing expensive. Where regulation is weak, they are hit again.
I think it’s safe to say – without irony - that on Sunday the hardworking people of Britain were on the streets of Manchester, not in the Conservative Party Conference.
Natasha Steel
01 July 2013
Over 4,000 join People’s Assembly Against Austerity
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| Photo by Natasha Steel |
The NUJ Brighton & Sussex banner made an appearance at a national meeting of over 4,000 people in London - and found its way onto News at Ten. The People’s Assembly Against Austerity, which took place at Westminster Central Hall on 22 June, was the largest gathering of individuals, unions and organisations fighting and resisting the Government’s austerity programme since the financial crash over five years ago.
Delegates, some of whom were taking their first action against the cuts, were buzzing after rousing speeches including plenaries from Frances O’Grady, Owen Jones, Mark Steel, Francesca Martinez and Tony Benn. Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said anti-union laws should not get in the way of strikes against austerity and Mark Serwotka, who leads the civil service PCS union, called for co-ordinated civil disobedience, protests and strikes.
Packed sessions exceeded the organisers’ expectations and a marquee and extra accommodation was found to accommodate everyone. Recognising the energy, potential and hopes of millions of people affected by austerity, the People’s Assembly called for concrete action to be undertaken across the country.
This includes:
- Local People’s Assemblies to be established in every area possible
- A mass protest at the Tory Party conference in Manchester on 29 September
- A day of civil disobedience nationally on 5 November
- A national demonstration in London in the new year
The national People’s Assembly follows more than 10 regional meetings, including one that was held at the Brighthelm Centre in Brighton on 30 May.
To create an infrastructure that can support the local organisations and take forward the national initiatives that were launched at the assembly, the People’s Assembly has launched an urgent financial appeal to raise funds. This can be done on the website: http://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/donate/
28 June 2013
Saturday 6 July: Sussex Trade Union Network conference, Uniting the Resistance
We now have the programme for the Saturday 6 July Sussex Trade Union Network conference, Uniting the Resistance, which Phil Mellows is sponsoring as NUJ branch sec.
With the Tories this week stepping up their attack on working people and public services, there couldn't be a better time to come together to discuss how Sussex trade unionists and campaigners can step up our resistance to cuts and austerity.
In addition to the speakers listed in the programme (see below for a link to the brochure), Ronnie Margulies, a Turkish trade union activist, is flying into the UK on the morning of the event, and will bring an eyewitness report and solidarity greetings from Turkish workers' struggle against their own right-wing government.
Above all, the majority of time at the event will be for activists and trade union members from across the region to share their experiences, and debate the practical steps we can take to build up the local opposition that can feed into a national movement of resistance.
It's at The University of Brighton, Pavilion Parade, BN2 1RA
Advanced booking is advised - email n.edmond@brighton.ac.uk
11am - 12.30 The fight against austerity
12.30 There is such a thing as a free lunch!
1pm - 3pm Workshops
3pm Uniting resistance across Sussex
This event is designed as a launch of the Sussex-wide network of trade unionists fighting austerity and privatisation.
What is a network for, and how will it work? These are questions to be addressed on the day. The answers to them will emerge from discussions at the various meetings; they do not exist in advance.
Some of the things that a network could do are clear, however.
• It can provide information across Sussex about disputes that are happening, or are about to happen.
• It can link up those in dispute or are campaigning across the counties,
• It can mobilise solidarity across two counties (from collections to picket support and demonstrations).
• It can provide a Sussex-wide perspective on defending the NHS, municipal services, and public education and postal services, etc.
• It can seek to predict where future disputes are to occur on cuts and privatisation, and prepare for them.
• It could run a Sussex-wide press and publicity operation to explain and raise support both within the trade union movement, and amongst the public.
• It could do much more than this but that is for the inaugural meeting to determine. It is not an alternative to any other organisation resisting the austerity programme. It is the trade union part of the movement against austerity, and focussed on supplementing and supporting the work of Trades councils and union branches, and local campaigning groups, in developing a programme of resistance.
DOWNLOAD AND PRINT OFF A PDF OF THE PROGRAMME:
Colour: http://bit.ly/18iKo0w
Black and white: http://bit.ly/19yl2wO
Contact Sussex Trade Union Network:
EMAIL: sussexunionnetwork@gmail.com
PHONE: Tom Hickey 07816 921105
Facebook: Sussex TU Netwrk
Twitter: @SussexTUResist
Advanced booking is advised - email n.edmond@brighton.ac.uk
11am - 12.30 The fight against austerity
12.30 There is such a thing as a free lunch!
1pm - 3pm Workshops
3pm Uniting resistance across Sussex
This event is designed as a launch of the Sussex-wide network of trade unionists fighting austerity and privatisation.
What is a network for, and how will it work? These are questions to be addressed on the day. The answers to them will emerge from discussions at the various meetings; they do not exist in advance.
Some of the things that a network could do are clear, however.
• It can provide information across Sussex about disputes that are happening, or are about to happen.
• It can link up those in dispute or are campaigning across the counties,
• It can mobilise solidarity across two counties (from collections to picket support and demonstrations).
• It can provide a Sussex-wide perspective on defending the NHS, municipal services, and public education and postal services, etc.
• It can seek to predict where future disputes are to occur on cuts and privatisation, and prepare for them.
• It could run a Sussex-wide press and publicity operation to explain and raise support both within the trade union movement, and amongst the public.
• It could do much more than this but that is for the inaugural meeting to determine. It is not an alternative to any other organisation resisting the austerity programme. It is the trade union part of the movement against austerity, and focussed on supplementing and supporting the work of Trades councils and union branches, and local campaigning groups, in developing a programme of resistance.
DOWNLOAD AND PRINT OFF A PDF OF THE PROGRAMME:
Colour: http://bit.ly/18iKo0w
Black and white: http://bit.ly/19yl2wO
Contact Sussex Trade Union Network:
EMAIL: sussexunionnetwork@gmail.com
PHONE: Tom Hickey 07816 921105
Facebook: Sussex TU Netwrk
Twitter: @SussexTUResist
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