Another hair-raising read from S America. We have one copy of the JFC's latest magazine. Again, I can put it in the post to whoever wants it.
03 January 2005
15 December 2004
Christmas shenanigans
Thanks to everyone that came along for Christmas drinks at the Cricketers last Thursday. Good turnout - about 50 or so - but we still didn't manage to drink £250 worth of booze! Call yourself journalists? Shame on you!
We're aiming for the next meeting in January to coincide with a pub quiz, possibly at the Nelson in Trafalgar Street. Unless anyone has any other ideas?
Meeting at a pub might sound a bit odd, and rather more of an informal social occasion than a 'proper' union affair. But I think that to be really supportive to members, the branch does need to be a strong social network before anything else. Then if members do need assistance, everyone should know each other.
In the meantime, I hope everyone has a relaxing Christmas and an enjoyable break...
We're aiming for the next meeting in January to coincide with a pub quiz, possibly at the Nelson in Trafalgar Street. Unless anyone has any other ideas?
Meeting at a pub might sound a bit odd, and rather more of an informal social occasion than a 'proper' union affair. But I think that to be really supportive to members, the branch does need to be a strong social network before anything else. Then if members do need assistance, everyone should know each other.
In the meantime, I hope everyone has a relaxing Christmas and an enjoyable break...
30 November 2004
Colombian student leader to speak in Brighton
Colombian student leader Juan Carlos Villamizar will be speaking at Sussex University next week. Juan Carlos is a student delegate to the Colombian peace process and a victim of paramilitary death threats.
The event is organised by campaign group Justice for Colombia who spoke at our September branch meeting.
Details:
Wednesday 8 December, 5pm
1st floor Debating Chamber, Sussex University Students Union Building (Mandela House)
Sussex University Campus, Brighton
For more information call Justice for Colombia on 020 7794 3644 or visit http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/events.html.
The event is organised by campaign group Justice for Colombia who spoke at our September branch meeting.
Details:
Wednesday 8 December, 5pm
1st floor Debating Chamber, Sussex University Students Union Building (Mandela House)
Sussex University Campus, Brighton
For more information call Justice for Colombia on 020 7794 3644 or visit http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/events.html.
27 November 2004
New media sector launched
If you work online or produce digital content, you can join the union's new media sector. See the NUJ site for details.
23 November 2004
Shall we have more parties?
If all our members received branch news by email instead of by post, we'd save as much as £600 every year. That's enough for a really superb knees up.
Postage, photocopying and envelopes cost around 40p per member every month. Email costs nothing (apart from our secretary's precious time) but only 50 of our 210 members have given us their email address. That already saves the branch £190 every year but it's not enough!
Just email nujbrighton@gmail.com and tell our secretary, Adrian, that you'd like to sign up for email newsletters instead of stuff on paper. It's that easy. And if you have any ideas on what to spend the extra cash on, let us know...
Postage, photocopying and envelopes cost around 40p per member every month. Email costs nothing (apart from our secretary's precious time) but only 50 of our 210 members have given us their email address. That already saves the branch £190 every year but it's not enough!
Just email nujbrighton@gmail.com and tell our secretary, Adrian, that you'd like to sign up for email newsletters instead of stuff on paper. It's that easy. And if you have any ideas on what to spend the extra cash on, let us know...
22 November 2004
Do you want to go to Scarborough for ADM?
Just got some bumf in the post today. If you're interested in being one of two branch members attending the Annual Delegates Meeting at Scarborough Spa from 7 to 10 April then you need to be nominated (and voted in) at the January meeting.
If there are only two nominees then there's no vote. More than two and there will be a vote on who goes along. This year myself and Rowan Dore went to Liverpool. It's not a closed shop - I'm not standing this time round - anyone is eligible to apply - you just have to be fully paid-up on the subs front. If you're interested in going contact me. You don't need to attend January's meeting but the decision on who attends will be made that night as the deadline for nominees is early Feb and January is our only meeting before then.
Accommodation and travel costs are met by the NUJ.
If there are only two nominees then there's no vote. More than two and there will be a vote on who goes along. This year myself and Rowan Dore went to Liverpool. It's not a closed shop - I'm not standing this time round - anyone is eligible to apply - you just have to be fully paid-up on the subs front. If you're interested in going contact me. You don't need to attend January's meeting but the decision on who attends will be made that night as the deadline for nominees is early Feb and January is our only meeting before then.
Accommodation and travel costs are met by the NUJ.
18 November 2004
Pub quiz anyone?
Some bright spark suggested combining our next meeting in January with a pub quiz somewhere. That gives the extra incentive of cash prizes to anyone that can't be bothered to show up!
Can anyone recommend a good pub quiz? The meeting should be round about 19 January but we can be slightly flexible...
Can anyone recommend a good pub quiz? The meeting should be round about 19 January but we can be slightly flexible...
Christmas Party
All members and friends are welcome to our Christmas party upstairs at the Cricketers, Black Lion Street, Brighton on Thursday 9 December.
We kick off at 7pm and there will - gasp! - be some free booze for early birds. Look forward to seeing you there.
Really geeky people might be interested to know that there's a free wireless network at the Black Lion pub next door. But you'll need to put your laptop down for a few hours to booze with us...
17 November 2004
Welcome!
This is the new website for the Brighton & Mid-Sussex branch of the National Union of Journalists.
We want to encourage debate among our existing members, and inspire more local journalists to join our union. Bookmark this page and come back regularly!
We want to encourage debate among our existing members, and inspire more local journalists to join our union. Bookmark this page and come back regularly!
November meeting - Christmas party decided
Minutes
1 John Stephen, David Blackman, Philomene Ellis Williams, David Mepham, Daniel Collins and Linda Kennedy elected as new members
2 Correspondence - copies of Black Journalist and Searchlight were circulated.
3 Justice for Colombia was asking for donations - meeting decided to send £25.
4 There were no nominations put forward for consideration as delegates for the TUC Young Members' Conference in April.
5 Treasurer's report - Adrian Colley said we had about £1,470 in the bank.
6 Secretary's report - Adrian Colley said the Xmas party would be at the Cricketers Arms, Brighton in the upstairs room which was being provided at no cost to the union. A debate was then held about how much to spend on food and drink. Meeting decided not to have food and to underwrite £250 worth of free drinks on the night. It also backed inviting students from the Brighton Tech (or whatever it's called) journalism course via James Morrison and Gordon Scott.
7 Meeting backed renewal of affiliation to Trade Union Friends of Searchlight at cost of £50.
8 Members agreed to donate £25 to Manchester branch backed campaign to stop Pakistani journalist Mansoor Hassan being deported to Parkistan. Donation sent to fighting fund. Petition circulated.
1 John Stephen, David Blackman, Philomene Ellis Williams, David Mepham, Daniel Collins and Linda Kennedy elected as new members
2 Correspondence - copies of Black Journalist and Searchlight were circulated.
3 Justice for Colombia was asking for donations - meeting decided to send £25.
4 There were no nominations put forward for consideration as delegates for the TUC Young Members' Conference in April.
5 Treasurer's report - Adrian Colley said we had about £1,470 in the bank.
6 Secretary's report - Adrian Colley said the Xmas party would be at the Cricketers Arms, Brighton in the upstairs room which was being provided at no cost to the union. A debate was then held about how much to spend on food and drink. Meeting decided not to have food and to underwrite £250 worth of free drinks on the night. It also backed inviting students from the Brighton Tech (or whatever it's called) journalism course via James Morrison and Gordon Scott.
7 Meeting backed renewal of affiliation to Trade Union Friends of Searchlight at cost of £50.
8 Members agreed to donate £25 to Manchester branch backed campaign to stop Pakistani journalist Mansoor Hassan being deported to Parkistan. Donation sent to fighting fund. Petition circulated.
01 November 2004
November news
1 This month's meeting
We'll meet in the upstairs theatre room at the Sussex Arts Club which is at 7 Ship Street, Brighton, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17 November.
2 Christmas party
But the other date for diary is the Christmas party night next month. We've booked the upstairs room at the Cricketers' pub in Brighton for Thursday 9 December. The bar will be ours from 7.30pm until 11pm and we will be laying on food and possibly some drink. The pub's address is 15 Black Lion St, Brighton BN1 1ND. For those outside Brighton, it's very close to the seafront and there is an underground public car park in the same street. Please make a note of the date as we will not be sending out a reminder in the post (though a reminder email will be despatched), because your secretary won't have time to do so. An invite is enclosed with this mailout. As the branch's new chair, Jemima Kiss, says: it will be a good opportunity to remind ourselves how interesting other members can be.
3 New branch officers
The branch has a new chair - Jemima Kiss, who replaces Fraser Addecott - and a welfare officer for the first time - Virginia Bridgewater - after last month's Annual Meeting. Adrian Colley remains secretary and treasurer. We are still looking for a social secretary, so if anyone would like to take the job on, get in touch or pipe up at a meeting and the job could well be yours.
4 John Kendrick
On a tragic note, it is with great sorrow that the branch learnt that former branch chairman Jon Kendrick was found dead in Brighton last month. A man has been charged with his murder.
Jon was a stalwart attender at meetings and served the branch faithfully as chairman for two years as well as attending the union's Annual Delegate Meeting on behalf of members. During his stint as chairman he helped run the branch at a difficult time, stepping into the secretary's shoes to ensure meetings went ahead. A former radio journalist in London and the ex-lecturer at Highbury Journalism College in Portsmouth he knew the industry inside out and his death has come as a shock to everyone who knew and liked him. We have no news on when his funeral is to be held. A minute's silence will be held at next month's meeting to commemorate his memory.
5 Branch membership
You may have read that NUJ membership has climbed by 4,000 nationally in the last five years. Well, Brighton and Mid Sussex has been no exception to the rule and in the last two months we've broken the 200 barrier for the first time and have about 210 members. That's quite a big leap from 1998 when we had something like 80 members when the branch was relaunched.
6 To be discussed...
Items on the agenda for this month's meeting include whether to re-affiliate to anti-fascist group Searchlight; a petition to support the public funding of the BBC; a request to support staff striking in Manchester in protest at changes at the Evening News, owned by the same company that owns The Guardian. We'll also be discussing how much to spend on this year's Christmas festivities, so if you have an opinion on that, let's hear it.
7 TUC Young Members' Conference
Does anyone want to attend the 2005 TUC Young Members' Conference? It's in early April in Newcastle. The NUJ can send four delegates and is asking branches to nominate members who might want to take part. You must be under 27 on 1 April 2005. Anyone interested should contact adecolley@1927club.com or make their interest known at this month's meeting.
8 Ethics Council Conference
The union's Ethics Council Conference is being held on Saturday, 4 December at the University of Westminster, London. Speakers include our president Jeremy Dear, Sir Christopher Meyer of the Press Complaints Commission and John Lloyd editor of the FT magazine. It's open to members but free places at the event have to be booked in advance – email jpt@mediawise.org.uk.
The themes of the event include: how to encourage journalists to be ethical and who sets the standards and how forms of regulation can help strengthen trust in journalism.
8 Workplace reps
The union has launched a two-year drive to improve support to workplace reps. It intends to launch an online pay database and publish a reps' manual for example, as well as tailor training to meet reps' needs better. More information on the Reps Matter survey can be seen at www.nuj.org.
9 PLEASE - sign up for email news
Finally, the usual appeal for members to think about receiving updates via email rather than in the post. Unfortunately, despite the record number of members, only one can be found to do the newsletter, admin, posting etc so any help in reducing the workload is appreciated. About 50 people receive branch information via email, which saves a fair bit of cash. During the last three years we have been able to donate hundreds to charitable causes and to causes worth fighting eg anti-fascist organisation Searchlight as a result of the money we've been able to save on admin costs.
We'll meet in the upstairs theatre room at the Sussex Arts Club which is at 7 Ship Street, Brighton, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17 November.
2 Christmas party
But the other date for diary is the Christmas party night next month. We've booked the upstairs room at the Cricketers' pub in Brighton for Thursday 9 December. The bar will be ours from 7.30pm until 11pm and we will be laying on food and possibly some drink. The pub's address is 15 Black Lion St, Brighton BN1 1ND. For those outside Brighton, it's very close to the seafront and there is an underground public car park in the same street. Please make a note of the date as we will not be sending out a reminder in the post (though a reminder email will be despatched), because your secretary won't have time to do so. An invite is enclosed with this mailout. As the branch's new chair, Jemima Kiss, says: it will be a good opportunity to remind ourselves how interesting other members can be.
3 New branch officers
The branch has a new chair - Jemima Kiss, who replaces Fraser Addecott - and a welfare officer for the first time - Virginia Bridgewater - after last month's Annual Meeting. Adrian Colley remains secretary and treasurer. We are still looking for a social secretary, so if anyone would like to take the job on, get in touch or pipe up at a meeting and the job could well be yours.
4 John Kendrick
On a tragic note, it is with great sorrow that the branch learnt that former branch chairman Jon Kendrick was found dead in Brighton last month. A man has been charged with his murder.
Jon was a stalwart attender at meetings and served the branch faithfully as chairman for two years as well as attending the union's Annual Delegate Meeting on behalf of members. During his stint as chairman he helped run the branch at a difficult time, stepping into the secretary's shoes to ensure meetings went ahead. A former radio journalist in London and the ex-lecturer at Highbury Journalism College in Portsmouth he knew the industry inside out and his death has come as a shock to everyone who knew and liked him. We have no news on when his funeral is to be held. A minute's silence will be held at next month's meeting to commemorate his memory.
5 Branch membership
You may have read that NUJ membership has climbed by 4,000 nationally in the last five years. Well, Brighton and Mid Sussex has been no exception to the rule and in the last two months we've broken the 200 barrier for the first time and have about 210 members. That's quite a big leap from 1998 when we had something like 80 members when the branch was relaunched.
6 To be discussed...
Items on the agenda for this month's meeting include whether to re-affiliate to anti-fascist group Searchlight; a petition to support the public funding of the BBC; a request to support staff striking in Manchester in protest at changes at the Evening News, owned by the same company that owns The Guardian. We'll also be discussing how much to spend on this year's Christmas festivities, so if you have an opinion on that, let's hear it.
7 TUC Young Members' Conference
Does anyone want to attend the 2005 TUC Young Members' Conference? It's in early April in Newcastle. The NUJ can send four delegates and is asking branches to nominate members who might want to take part. You must be under 27 on 1 April 2005. Anyone interested should contact adecolley@1927club.com or make their interest known at this month's meeting.
8 Ethics Council Conference
The union's Ethics Council Conference is being held on Saturday, 4 December at the University of Westminster, London. Speakers include our president Jeremy Dear, Sir Christopher Meyer of the Press Complaints Commission and John Lloyd editor of the FT magazine. It's open to members but free places at the event have to be booked in advance – email jpt@mediawise.org.uk.
The themes of the event include: how to encourage journalists to be ethical and who sets the standards and how forms of regulation can help strengthen trust in journalism.
8 Workplace reps
The union has launched a two-year drive to improve support to workplace reps. It intends to launch an online pay database and publish a reps' manual for example, as well as tailor training to meet reps' needs better. More information on the Reps Matter survey can be seen at www.nuj.org.
9 PLEASE - sign up for email news
Finally, the usual appeal for members to think about receiving updates via email rather than in the post. Unfortunately, despite the record number of members, only one can be found to do the newsletter, admin, posting etc so any help in reducing the workload is appreciated. About 50 people receive branch information via email, which saves a fair bit of cash. During the last three years we have been able to donate hundreds to charitable causes and to causes worth fighting eg anti-fascist organisation Searchlight as a result of the money we've been able to save on admin costs.
20 October 2004
October Annual General Meeting - election of officers
Minutes
Present
Virginia Bridgewater, Adrian Colley, Jemima Kiss, Mike O'Flynn, Claire Rigby, Damien Barr
Apologies
Fraser Addecott, Steve Whitehead
1 Minutes
Minutes of the September meeting were accepted.
2 New members
Several new members were admitted to the branch.
3 Election of officials
Chair – Jemima Kiss elected, proposed by Virginia Bridgewater, seconded by Adrian Colley.
Treasurer – Adrian Colley elected, proposed by Claire Rigby, seconded by Jemima Kiss.
Secretary – Adrian Colley elected, proposed by Claire Rigby, seconded by Virginia Bridgewater.
Welfare Officer – Virginia Bridgewater, proposed Jemima Kiss, seconded by Adrian Colley.
4 Correspondence
Copies of Searchlight and Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom pamphlets were handed out.
5 Officers' reports
Treasurer Adrian Colley reported that we had £1,265.10 in the bank.
6 Chapel reports
Argus: Virginia Bridgewater said Argus journalists, who won union recognition in the summer, had submitted a 6% pay claim to their bosses. The recent departure of Simon Bradshaw as Argus editor had not been universally welcomed in the office and management had threatened staff if they wrote to the UK Press Gazette. Sales of the Argus have slipped since the relaunch.
7 ADM motions
There were no motions to be submitted to next year's Annual Delegate Meeting in April.
8 NEC nominations
There were no nominations to stand for election as South East representative on the NUJ's National Executive Committee.
9 Christmas Party
Ideas for the form and venue of this year's party were canvassed. Claire Rigby suggested the Cricketers' pub in Brighton. Damien Barr suggested a Thursday night as the best night of the week on which to hold it and that 2 December would be the pick of the December Thursdays. And the Tzar Bar on Brighton seafront was also suggested. The idea of a possible joint party with Evening Argus was floated. The meeting agreed that Adrian Colley could research and, if necessary, book a venue for the event.
10 Any other business
Adrian Colley mentioned that former chairman Jon Kendrick had been murdered a week earlier. The meeting agreed to his suggestion that if the funeral was held and he was able to attend, that the branch would underwrite the cost of a wreath.
Contact adecolley@1927club.com if you would rather receive mailings by email.
Present
Virginia Bridgewater, Adrian Colley, Jemima Kiss, Mike O'Flynn, Claire Rigby, Damien Barr
Apologies
Fraser Addecott, Steve Whitehead
1 Minutes
Minutes of the September meeting were accepted.
2 New members
Several new members were admitted to the branch.
3 Election of officials
Chair – Jemima Kiss elected, proposed by Virginia Bridgewater, seconded by Adrian Colley.
Treasurer – Adrian Colley elected, proposed by Claire Rigby, seconded by Jemima Kiss.
Secretary – Adrian Colley elected, proposed by Claire Rigby, seconded by Virginia Bridgewater.
Welfare Officer – Virginia Bridgewater, proposed Jemima Kiss, seconded by Adrian Colley.
4 Correspondence
Copies of Searchlight and Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom pamphlets were handed out.
5 Officers' reports
Treasurer Adrian Colley reported that we had £1,265.10 in the bank.
6 Chapel reports
Argus: Virginia Bridgewater said Argus journalists, who won union recognition in the summer, had submitted a 6% pay claim to their bosses. The recent departure of Simon Bradshaw as Argus editor had not been universally welcomed in the office and management had threatened staff if they wrote to the UK Press Gazette. Sales of the Argus have slipped since the relaunch.
7 ADM motions
There were no motions to be submitted to next year's Annual Delegate Meeting in April.
8 NEC nominations
There were no nominations to stand for election as South East representative on the NUJ's National Executive Committee.
9 Christmas Party
Ideas for the form and venue of this year's party were canvassed. Claire Rigby suggested the Cricketers' pub in Brighton. Damien Barr suggested a Thursday night as the best night of the week on which to hold it and that 2 December would be the pick of the December Thursdays. And the Tzar Bar on Brighton seafront was also suggested. The idea of a possible joint party with Evening Argus was floated. The meeting agreed that Adrian Colley could research and, if necessary, book a venue for the event.
10 Any other business
Adrian Colley mentioned that former chairman Jon Kendrick had been murdered a week earlier. The meeting agreed to his suggestion that if the funeral was held and he was able to attend, that the branch would underwrite the cost of a wreath.
Contact adecolley@1927club.com if you would rather receive mailings by email.
15 September 2004
September meeting - smallest yet!
Minutes
Present
Rowan Dore, Jemima Kiss, Barbara Wiseman
Apologies
Adrian Colley, Fraser Addecott
Membership applications from Kitty Bale, Michael O'Flynn, Isobel Todd, Sally Gainsbury, Robin Emanuel approved.
Rest of meeting abandoned due to low turnout. It was unfortunate – and rather embarrassing – that the three of us were joined by no less than seven members of Justice for Colombia who arrived early to speak to our branch, fresh from their fringe meeting at the Trades Union Congress.
Other business
Questionnaires on how to improve our branch meetings: 13 received so far. Your comments would be helpful, so please send your completed questionnaires by post before 10 October to Adrian Colley, 35 Campbell Road, Brighton BN1 4QD. If you need another questionnaire or would like to be emailed a copy, please email jemima@journalism.co.uk.
Branch account balance is £1358.10.
The branch has received a copy of the NUJ petition to support the BBC. Please attend the next meeting on 20 October if you wish to sign this.
The NUJ has published ethical guidelines and working practices for journalists working in PR and information services. More information will be available at the next meeting.
The European Social Forum takes place 15-17 October: three days of international debate, celebration and protest. The NUJ has played a major role in organising the event and speakers include Tony Benn, George Monbiot and Jeremy dear. Tickets are £30 (£20 concessions); see http://www.fse-esf.org for more details.
Age discrimination at work seminar: 12 October, 1.30pm to 4.15pm at the NATFHE Centre, Britannia Street, London WC1. Contact the Institute of Employment Rights for more information on 020 7498 6119.
TUFS – Trade Union Friends of Searchlight: Ten copies available for members at the next meeting.
Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom: Our branch subscription runs out next month!
Searchlight: copy available at next meeting.
The Palestine Post: copy available at next meeting.
Present
Rowan Dore, Jemima Kiss, Barbara Wiseman
Apologies
Adrian Colley, Fraser Addecott
Membership applications from Kitty Bale, Michael O'Flynn, Isobel Todd, Sally Gainsbury, Robin Emanuel approved.
Rest of meeting abandoned due to low turnout. It was unfortunate – and rather embarrassing – that the three of us were joined by no less than seven members of Justice for Colombia who arrived early to speak to our branch, fresh from their fringe meeting at the Trades Union Congress.
Other business
Questionnaires on how to improve our branch meetings: 13 received so far. Your comments would be helpful, so please send your completed questionnaires by post before 10 October to Adrian Colley, 35 Campbell Road, Brighton BN1 4QD. If you need another questionnaire or would like to be emailed a copy, please email jemima@journalism.co.uk.
Branch account balance is £1358.10.
The branch has received a copy of the NUJ petition to support the BBC. Please attend the next meeting on 20 October if you wish to sign this.
The NUJ has published ethical guidelines and working practices for journalists working in PR and information services. More information will be available at the next meeting.
The European Social Forum takes place 15-17 October: three days of international debate, celebration and protest. The NUJ has played a major role in organising the event and speakers include Tony Benn, George Monbiot and Jeremy dear. Tickets are £30 (£20 concessions); see http://www.fse-esf.org for more details.
Age discrimination at work seminar: 12 October, 1.30pm to 4.15pm at the NATFHE Centre, Britannia Street, London WC1. Contact the Institute of Employment Rights for more information on 020 7498 6119.
TUFS – Trade Union Friends of Searchlight: Ten copies available for members at the next meeting.
Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom: Our branch subscription runs out next month!
Searchlight: copy available at next meeting.
The Palestine Post: copy available at next meeting.
Justice for Colombia speak to the NUJ
Liam Craig-Best, Tom Feiling and Oliver Houston of Justice for Colombia brought Hernando Hernandez to speak. Hernando is the president of the Colombian USO (oil workers' union) and has become a national hero in Colombia – their own Nelson Mandela – after numerous assassination attempts and 14 months under house arrest for his union activities.
Hernando spoke about President Uribe's regime and how the 'war on terror' has been used as an excuse to clamp down on trade unionists, claiming that they are collaborating with Colombia's guerrilla forces. The government wants to weaken the unions by removing their leaders, leaving US-controlled firms, such as Exxon and BP, in control of Colombia's lucrative oil industry. Some union leaders have been imprisoned for five to six years with no charge, and 1,500 trade unionists have been assassinated in Colombia in the past ten years.
Teachers and health workers, who are seen as community leaders, are also targeted by Uribe's military forces. Uribe is supported by the US, UK and Israeli governments only; Spain withdrew its support when Zapatero's government came to power in March this year. Justice for Colombia say that the regime displaces 650 Colombians every day, and kills 7,000 civilians every year.
Hernando was in the UK for just three weeks and also spoke at the Welsh Assembly, Amnesty International Newport, Northern TUC International Forum, at public meetings in Manchester and Glasgow and at the Labour Party conference.
Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the UJ, is vice chair of Justice for Colombia.
For more information on their campaigns, or to donate more to Justice for Colombia, please visit justiceforcolombia.org.
Hernando spoke about President Uribe's regime and how the 'war on terror' has been used as an excuse to clamp down on trade unionists, claiming that they are collaborating with Colombia's guerrilla forces. The government wants to weaken the unions by removing their leaders, leaving US-controlled firms, such as Exxon and BP, in control of Colombia's lucrative oil industry. Some union leaders have been imprisoned for five to six years with no charge, and 1,500 trade unionists have been assassinated in Colombia in the past ten years.
Teachers and health workers, who are seen as community leaders, are also targeted by Uribe's military forces. Uribe is supported by the US, UK and Israeli governments only; Spain withdrew its support when Zapatero's government came to power in March this year. Justice for Colombia say that the regime displaces 650 Colombians every day, and kills 7,000 civilians every year.
Hernando was in the UK for just three weeks and also spoke at the Welsh Assembly, Amnesty International Newport, Northern TUC International Forum, at public meetings in Manchester and Glasgow and at the Labour Party conference.
Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the UJ, is vice chair of Justice for Colombia.
For more information on their campaigns, or to donate more to Justice for Colombia, please visit justiceforcolombia.org.
21 July 2004
July meeting - Argus recognition one step closer
Minutes
Present
Fraser Addecott, Virginia Bridgewater, Adrian Colley, Jemima Kiss, David Blackman, Gordon Scott, Steve Whitehead, Rowan Dore, Jon Kendrick, Nicky Sullivan.
Apologies
Karen Hoy
1 Minutes
June minutes accepted.
2 New members
Several new members were admitted to the branch.
3 Correspondence
A letter from Justice for Colombia, thanking us for affiliating to the cause was handed round. The monthly copy of anti-fascist magazine Searchlight was also available.
4 Officer's reports
Treasurer Adrian Colley said we had £1,269.55 in the bank.
5 Chapel reports
Argus: Rowan Dore said the hot-off-the-press news was that union recognition had been won at the Argus that very day. The ballot had 100% support in favour of the NUJ representation on issues like pay and conditions. Discussions about a pay claim would be held in August at a Newsquest group chapel meeting. Rowan said some staff at the paper were on a pittance. He paid tribute to the hard work of Karen Hoy, the Mother of the Chapel.
6 Donations
The branch gave £100 to the Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers Centre towards the cost of a summer outing for children in need. The outing, on the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex, was for kids whose parents are sick, out of work or on low income.
A donation of £60 was also agreed towards the cost of a national conference for freelance activists. This hopes to promote collective organisation of freelance members.
The meeting was followed by a talk from a speaker from the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
Present
Fraser Addecott, Virginia Bridgewater, Adrian Colley, Jemima Kiss, David Blackman, Gordon Scott, Steve Whitehead, Rowan Dore, Jon Kendrick, Nicky Sullivan.
Apologies
Karen Hoy
1 Minutes
June minutes accepted.
2 New members
Several new members were admitted to the branch.
3 Correspondence
A letter from Justice for Colombia, thanking us for affiliating to the cause was handed round. The monthly copy of anti-fascist magazine Searchlight was also available.
4 Officer's reports
Treasurer Adrian Colley said we had £1,269.55 in the bank.
5 Chapel reports
Argus: Rowan Dore said the hot-off-the-press news was that union recognition had been won at the Argus that very day. The ballot had 100% support in favour of the NUJ representation on issues like pay and conditions. Discussions about a pay claim would be held in August at a Newsquest group chapel meeting. Rowan said some staff at the paper were on a pittance. He paid tribute to the hard work of Karen Hoy, the Mother of the Chapel.
6 Donations
The branch gave £100 to the Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers Centre towards the cost of a summer outing for children in need. The outing, on the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex, was for kids whose parents are sick, out of work or on low income.
A donation of £60 was also agreed towards the cost of a national conference for freelance activists. This hopes to promote collective organisation of freelance members.
The meeting was followed by a talk from a speaker from the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
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