Wednesday was TUC General Council day and more discussions about the Agency Workers Directive and the UK government's attempts to wriggle out of their obligations to some of the most vulnerable workers there are. The government want a long qualifying period before temporary and agency workers acquire rights - why? So it's not a burden on business. It's only a burden on businesses who mistreat workers and deny them justice. The latest government tactic to defuse the row is to come up with a commission. Excuse me being sceptical about its real purpose but it appears an attempt to kick the issue in to the long grass.
Other issues discussed included the situation at the BBC - I briefed the General Council on the latest moves - work your proper hours day, pensions and the impact of private equity as well as a discussion on the challenge posed by China and India. As the NUJ and other unions have already found out work is being transferred (in the media to India) and there are implications for jobs and terms and conditions which we are trying to address through the International Federation of Journalists and building links with our sister unions in India.
On Thursday I met with Spencer Neal and NUJ members at the New Statesman and met with Tory Blair, the incoming BBC secondee before attending the George Viner Memorial Fund awards ceremony in the evening. The guest speaker was Samira Ahmed from Channel 4 who I found really engaging - very honest, funny and down to earth. The Fund has ploughed a lone furrow for many years to try to help address the lack of black and Asian journalists in so many newsrooms and has done a tremendous job. The union is very proud to support it and to show our support President Michelle Stanistreet handed out the certificates.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
More transparency, less complacency wanted from PCC
The NUJ's Parliamentary Group is to take up the campaign to have the Press Complaints Commission designated a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act. Plans to extend the range of organisations covered by the Act are currently under review and the NUJ and Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom are urging the Government to ensure greater transparency at the PCC.
It was an interesting time to be discussing the issue in Parliament given the earlier victory in the FOI case over MPs expenses which the NUJ welcomed and then the furore over Nick Robinson's blog.
That was one of a number of decisions made at a meeting of the Parliamentary Group I attended yesterday. Other issues discussed were BBC job losses, ITV and the future of public service broadcasting, the outcome of the Marc Vallee case and how to ensure the police/pres guidelines are more effectively implemented and the forthcoming Employment Bill.
Prior to going to Parliament I met with the Trustees of NUJ Extra and had a constructive discussion about future funding of the charity. I hope the discussions will result in an agreement which will offer protection to the fund whilst addressing the union's need to curb expenditure.
I also met with Lena Calvert, the union's Equality Officer to assess our progress in meeting TUC policy on disability issues. Our progress has been good and we have scheduled in some staff training and a further audit to identify those areas which need to still be addressed.
It was an interesting time to be discussing the issue in Parliament given the earlier victory in the FOI case over MPs expenses which the NUJ welcomed and then the furore over Nick Robinson's blog.
That was one of a number of decisions made at a meeting of the Parliamentary Group I attended yesterday. Other issues discussed were BBC job losses, ITV and the future of public service broadcasting, the outcome of the Marc Vallee case and how to ensure the police/pres guidelines are more effectively implemented and the forthcoming Employment Bill.
Prior to going to Parliament I met with the Trustees of NUJ Extra and had a constructive discussion about future funding of the charity. I hope the discussions will result in an agreement which will offer protection to the fund whilst addressing the union's need to curb expenditure.
I also met with Lena Calvert, the union's Equality Officer to assess our progress in meeting TUC policy on disability issues. Our progress has been good and we have scheduled in some staff training and a further audit to identify those areas which need to still be addressed.
Monday, February 25, 2008
A fair cop...?
Began this morning by welcoming the news that photographer Marc Vallee had won an out of court settlement to his case agaianst the Met Police. We joined comedian and campaigner Mark Thomas and Marc's solicitor in condemning the attack on him and the attack on media freedom.
You can see the attack on marc here
Wrote my monthly media column for Tribune dealing with the furore surrounding the media coverage of the recent suicides in Bridgend.
I also spent some time preparing materials for a complicated grievance hearing I am dealing with.
Tonight I'm meeting with reps from a number of other unions to discuss our campaigning for improved rights at work...oh and still basking in the glory of Spurs winning the Carling Cup Final yesterday.
You can see the attack on marc here
Wrote my monthly media column for Tribune dealing with the furore surrounding the media coverage of the recent suicides in Bridgend.
I also spent some time preparing materials for a complicated grievance hearing I am dealing with.
Tonight I'm meeting with reps from a number of other unions to discuss our campaigning for improved rights at work...oh and still basking in the glory of Spurs winning the Carling Cup Final yesterday.
Friday, February 22, 2008
working my proper hours...
Meetings on Wednesday and Thursday in Swansea were really successful.
First up the Stand up for Journalism public meeting captured a mood amongst journalists at the failure of companies to provide them with the resources to do their job properly. Former BBC political correspondent Nick Jones was brilliant and amusing in highlighting the attacks on public service broadcasting, the understaffing and under-resourcing of newsrooms and the culture of spin which is distorting so much news coverage. Kate Carr, chair of the union's Wales Council and a rep at the BBC outlined the campaign against the current job cuts and one of the new reps at the South Wales Evening Post highlighted the problems faced by journalists trying to take on more work with fewer resources. Inevitably much of the discussion focused around churnalism and I spoke about the disputes at Milton Keynes, Coventry and the Stand up for Journalism campaign which was challenging this corporate-dominated model of journalism.
Thursday we did meetings with members and potential members at the South Wales Evening Post as the union builds its presence there. Our membership has doubled in the past year.
Last night i suffered an agonising 90 minutes at White Hart Lane as Tottenham nearly threw away their advantage in the UEFA cup game with Slavia Prague.
Today I've had meetings with Tim Gopsill, the editor of The Journalist and then attended the meeting of the Journalist Editorial Advisory Board to discuss the future direction of the publication. Integration is coming to the NUJ too - and let's hope our discussions aren't nearly as tortuous as those at The Guardian/Observer or the BBC!
Given today is Work Your Proper Hours Day for once I'm going home - having issued a statement telling everyone else to!
First up the Stand up for Journalism public meeting captured a mood amongst journalists at the failure of companies to provide them with the resources to do their job properly. Former BBC political correspondent Nick Jones was brilliant and amusing in highlighting the attacks on public service broadcasting, the understaffing and under-resourcing of newsrooms and the culture of spin which is distorting so much news coverage. Kate Carr, chair of the union's Wales Council and a rep at the BBC outlined the campaign against the current job cuts and one of the new reps at the South Wales Evening Post highlighted the problems faced by journalists trying to take on more work with fewer resources. Inevitably much of the discussion focused around churnalism and I spoke about the disputes at Milton Keynes, Coventry and the Stand up for Journalism campaign which was challenging this corporate-dominated model of journalism.
Thursday we did meetings with members and potential members at the South Wales Evening Post as the union builds its presence there. Our membership has doubled in the past year.
Last night i suffered an agonising 90 minutes at White Hart Lane as Tottenham nearly threw away their advantage in the UEFA cup game with Slavia Prague.
Today I've had meetings with Tim Gopsill, the editor of The Journalist and then attended the meeting of the Journalist Editorial Advisory Board to discuss the future direction of the publication. Integration is coming to the NUJ too - and let's hope our discussions aren't nearly as tortuous as those at The Guardian/Observer or the BBC!
Given today is Work Your Proper Hours Day for once I'm going home - having issued a statement telling everyone else to!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Media in the spotlight again
The media are once again under the spotlight following the coverage of the recent suicides in Bridgend. I'm doing a public meeting in Swansea tonight under the union's Stand up for Journalism banner - and the issue will undoubtedly come up.
It's clear there has been some sensationalist reporting designed to drive sales.The union has been quick to stress the obligations on journalists to report sensitively and accurately and in line with the union's code of conduct and the material we produced on the issue alongside Mediawise a couple of years ago but it is absolutely right the media are covering the story and carrying out their own investigations.
On Monday I met with the trustees of the Journalists Copyright Fund to consider an application for funding from the Creators Rights Alliance and we supported a major project to launch a creators manifesto on copyright.
I also met with a number of other TUC unions, including the RMT, NAPO, PCS and campign groups to talk about boosting the fight for better employment rights and in defence of public services.
I also spent a few hours going through all the motions to the union's annual conference, ADM, and costing them and writing to branches who hold significant funds in their local accounts seeking their support with some of the costs of organising the conference which amounts to around £200,000 a year.
At the request of the European Federation of Journalists and the Greek affiliates President Michelle Stanistreet and I wrote to BBC Director General Mark Thompson raising concerns about the use of BBC News material on Greek TV during a reent dispute and I also wrote to Graphical Paper and Media section of Unite seeking a meeting to discuss joint recruitment/organising initiatives.
It's clear there has been some sensationalist reporting designed to drive sales.The union has been quick to stress the obligations on journalists to report sensitively and accurately and in line with the union's code of conduct and the material we produced on the issue alongside Mediawise a couple of years ago but it is absolutely right the media are covering the story and carrying out their own investigations.
On Monday I met with the trustees of the Journalists Copyright Fund to consider an application for funding from the Creators Rights Alliance and we supported a major project to launch a creators manifesto on copyright.
I also met with a number of other TUC unions, including the RMT, NAPO, PCS and campign groups to talk about boosting the fight for better employment rights and in defence of public services.
I also spent a few hours going through all the motions to the union's annual conference, ADM, and costing them and writing to branches who hold significant funds in their local accounts seeking their support with some of the costs of organising the conference which amounts to around £200,000 a year.
At the request of the European Federation of Journalists and the Greek affiliates President Michelle Stanistreet and I wrote to BBC Director General Mark Thompson raising concerns about the use of BBC News material on Greek TV during a reent dispute and I also wrote to Graphical Paper and Media section of Unite seeking a meeting to discuss joint recruitment/organising initiatives.
Friday, February 15, 2008
I'm back..and so's the blog
Arrived back Wednesday relaxed from 2 weeks in Ghana at the African Nations Cup. Not so relaxed now after dealing with all the emails, letters etc which arrived while I was away.
Wednesday was the TUC Executive, dealing with issues ranging from childcare to the forthcoming budget and from union-busting to international issues. I was able to push for a greater emphasis in the budget submission for monies to be allocated to enforcement of the national minimum wage and health and safety laws and regulations and in the international discussion to highlight the plight of journalists in Ethiopia and in particular the dismantling of their union by the government there.
On Thursday I had more negotiations over the NUJ Staff Pension Scheme and the planned changes to it with the NUJ, GMB and SIPTU chapels.
Today I've issued a statement about the long hours culture pervading journalism as part of the TUC's Work Your Proper Hours day campaign and had meetings about union communications, pensions, ADM and our work with the IFJ.
I also launched a new membership retention initiative today working with 6 of our large branches to make personal approaches to those whose membership, for a myriad of reasons, is about to lapse. Recruitment and retention are priorities for the union - and whilst we continue to recruit in large numbers it is important we pay attention to retaining members too. We will be running the pilot project with a few branches over the next few months and then evaluating the results and plan to roll it out to all the union's branches later this year.
Wednesday was the TUC Executive, dealing with issues ranging from childcare to the forthcoming budget and from union-busting to international issues. I was able to push for a greater emphasis in the budget submission for monies to be allocated to enforcement of the national minimum wage and health and safety laws and regulations and in the international discussion to highlight the plight of journalists in Ethiopia and in particular the dismantling of their union by the government there.
On Thursday I had more negotiations over the NUJ Staff Pension Scheme and the planned changes to it with the NUJ, GMB and SIPTU chapels.
Today I've issued a statement about the long hours culture pervading journalism as part of the TUC's Work Your Proper Hours day campaign and had meetings about union communications, pensions, ADM and our work with the IFJ.
I also launched a new membership retention initiative today working with 6 of our large branches to make personal approaches to those whose membership, for a myriad of reasons, is about to lapse. Recruitment and retention are priorities for the union - and whilst we continue to recruit in large numbers it is important we pay attention to retaining members too. We will be running the pilot project with a few branches over the next few months and then evaluating the results and plan to roll it out to all the union's branches later this year.
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