I am told that the vote on the motion calling for a ballot yesterday was actually 43 in favour, 1 abstention, none against.
We now have to encourage other branches across the country to vote for similar motions.
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
LONDON BRANCH CALLS FOR BALLOT
In a meeting addressed by the General Secretary Jeremy Dear, the BBC London branch heard strong views from members about the NUJ's Israel boycott policy. One member, who works frequently in the Middle East said "I don't want to pay my dues, only to have my views misrepresented by the union." Jeremy Dear explained that the National Executive might find it difficult to find anything in the rulebook allowing for a ballot - but he admittted that the executive could take that decision and accept the risk of censure at next year's ADM. The branch then passed the following motion:
“As BBC journalists and NUJ members we are dismayed at the passing of a motion at ADM calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. As members of a corporation which prides itself on providing impartial news coverage, we cannot associate ourselves with a move which involves taking sides in any conflict. This branch calls on the Executive to hold a ballot of all members to see whether they support the view taken at ADM on an issue which could have a profound effect on the way all British journalists are viewed at home and abroad.”
43 were in favour, 1 against - with no abstentions. It was the best attended branch meeting in recent years - by contrast, the meeting that sent our delegates to ADM was attended by 3 people.
“As BBC journalists and NUJ members we are dismayed at the passing of a motion at ADM calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. As members of a corporation which prides itself on providing impartial news coverage, we cannot associate ourselves with a move which involves taking sides in any conflict. This branch calls on the Executive to hold a ballot of all members to see whether they support the view taken at ADM on an issue which could have a profound effect on the way all British journalists are viewed at home and abroad.”
43 were in favour, 1 against - with no abstentions. It was the best attended branch meeting in recent years - by contrast, the meeting that sent our delegates to ADM was attended by 3 people.
Monday, 7 May 2007
BRANCH MEETING – WHAT KIND OF MOTION?
Just a reminder:
BBC London NUJ Branch meeting:
Tuesday 8th May. 1:30 pm,
in room B551 in the basement of the main TVC donut
What kind of motion should we try to pass at the branch meeting on Tuesday if we want our union to act quickly to reverse the boycott policy? I still favour the original call for a ballot as outlined in our petition:
“As BBC journalists and NUJ members we are dismayed at the passing of a motion at ADM calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. As members of a corporation which prides itself on providing impartial news coverage, we cannot associate ourselves with a move which involves taking sides in any conflict. This branch calls on the Executive to hold a ballot of all members to see whether they support the view taken at ADM on an issue which could have a profound effect on the way all British journalists are viewed at home and abroad.”
Some are suggesting there is no mechanism for a ballot – but I have been told by one official that there could be. He points to provision for a ballot if the union is seen to be signing up to a political campaign.
“The union shall not affiliate to any body, other than those promoting the principles of press freedom and/or workers rights until the proposal to do so has been submitted to a ballot of the members in which a simple majority of those voting shall decide the issue.” (Rule 9c)
It could be argued that an ADM motion which, amongst other things, “instructs the NEC to support organisations including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign” should trigger a ballot. But some are convinced that this won’t work – and that we should instead have a broader motion…:
“to instruct delegates to oppose (or abstain from) any resolutions at the next ADM which seek to link the NUJ to, or which support, any political issues or campaigns which do not directly relate to journalism, press freedom/safety or industrial relations within the British/Irish media….”
This would, in effect, kick the issue into the long grass until next April’s ADM, but I suppose it would put down a marker that we did not want our delegates to assume that we wanted to sign up to any kind of political campaign. Perhaps we should pass both motions?
BBC London NUJ Branch meeting:
Tuesday 8th May. 1:30 pm,
in room B551 in the basement of the main TVC donut
What kind of motion should we try to pass at the branch meeting on Tuesday if we want our union to act quickly to reverse the boycott policy? I still favour the original call for a ballot as outlined in our petition:
“As BBC journalists and NUJ members we are dismayed at the passing of a motion at ADM calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. As members of a corporation which prides itself on providing impartial news coverage, we cannot associate ourselves with a move which involves taking sides in any conflict. This branch calls on the Executive to hold a ballot of all members to see whether they support the view taken at ADM on an issue which could have a profound effect on the way all British journalists are viewed at home and abroad.”
Some are suggesting there is no mechanism for a ballot – but I have been told by one official that there could be. He points to provision for a ballot if the union is seen to be signing up to a political campaign.
“The union shall not affiliate to any body, other than those promoting the principles of press freedom and/or workers rights until the proposal to do so has been submitted to a ballot of the members in which a simple majority of those voting shall decide the issue.” (Rule 9c)
It could be argued that an ADM motion which, amongst other things, “instructs the NEC to support organisations including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign” should trigger a ballot. But some are convinced that this won’t work – and that we should instead have a broader motion…:
“to instruct delegates to oppose (or abstain from) any resolutions at the next ADM which seek to link the NUJ to, or which support, any political issues or campaigns which do not directly relate to journalism, press freedom/safety or industrial relations within the British/Irish media….”
This would, in effect, kick the issue into the long grass until next April’s ADM, but I suppose it would put down a marker that we did not want our delegates to assume that we wanted to sign up to any kind of political campaign. Perhaps we should pass both motions?
Friday, 4 May 2007
OBSERVER CHAPEL CALLS FOR BALLOT
The NUJ chapel at the Observer has passed the following motion - as I understand there was just one abstention.
'This chapel is dismayed at the passing of a motion at ADM calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. If Observer journalists come out for any side in any conflict, we do so after researching and thinking about it for ourselves. We are angered that reports have gone round the world that 'British journalists' have democratically agreed to single out Israel - and only Israel - for sanctions. We call on the union to hold a ballot of all members to see whether they support the view taken at ADM on an issue that could have a profound effect on the way the independence of British journalists is viewed at home and abroad'
'This chapel is dismayed at the passing of a motion at ADM calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. If Observer journalists come out for any side in any conflict, we do so after researching and thinking about it for ourselves. We are angered that reports have gone round the world that 'British journalists' have democratically agreed to single out Israel - and only Israel - for sanctions. We call on the union to hold a ballot of all members to see whether they support the view taken at ADM on an issue that could have a profound effect on the way the independence of British journalists is viewed at home and abroad'
WHAT ADM SAID ON ISRAEL
Just so that everyone is clear, here is the composite motion passed at ADM last month:
ADM condemns the savage, pre-planned attack on Lebanon by Israel. ADM notes that the vast majority of those killed in 2006 have been Lebanese together with Palestinians in the Israeli occupied territories.
This ADM condemns the slaughter of civilians by Israeli troops in Gaza and the IDF’s continued attacks inside Lebanon following the defeat of its army by Hezbollah.
This ADM calls for the end of Israeli aggression in Gaza and other occupied territories.
This ADM calls for a boycott of Israeli goods similar to those boycotts in the struggles against apartheid South Africa led by trade unions and the TUC to demand sanctions be imposed on Israel by the British government and the United Nations.
This ADM instructs the NEC to support organisations including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Jews for Justice for Palestinians and the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding and continue supporting the programme of safety training and union building set out by the IFJ with its affiliate, the Syndicate of Palestinian Journalists.
ADM encourages branches to find ways to support their Palestinian colleagues, noting as an example the ‘Reporting under Occupation’ meeting organised by the Oxford branch, which gave a platform to Al Hayat’s West Bank correspondent to explain the dangers, restrictions and limitations faced by Palestinian – and to a lesser extent non-Palestinian – journalists operating in the West Bank and Gaza.
ADM condemns the savage, pre-planned attack on Lebanon by Israel. ADM notes that the vast majority of those killed in 2006 have been Lebanese together with Palestinians in the Israeli occupied territories.
This ADM condemns the slaughter of civilians by Israeli troops in Gaza and the IDF’s continued attacks inside Lebanon following the defeat of its army by Hezbollah.
This ADM calls for the end of Israeli aggression in Gaza and other occupied territories.
This ADM calls for a boycott of Israeli goods similar to those boycotts in the struggles against apartheid South Africa led by trade unions and the TUC to demand sanctions be imposed on Israel by the British government and the United Nations.
This ADM instructs the NEC to support organisations including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Jews for Justice for Palestinians and the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding and continue supporting the programme of safety training and union building set out by the IFJ with its affiliate, the Syndicate of Palestinian Journalists.
ADM encourages branches to find ways to support their Palestinian colleagues, noting as an example the ‘Reporting under Occupation’ meeting organised by the Oxford branch, which gave a platform to Al Hayat’s West Bank correspondent to explain the dangers, restrictions and limitations faced by Palestinian – and to a lesser extent non-Palestinian – journalists operating in the West Bank and Gaza.
Thursday, 3 May 2007
LONDON BRANCH MEETING
The NUJ's BBC London branch will be meeting on Tuesday to discuss the Israeli boycott - Jeremy Dear will be there. The detaills are:
Tuesday 8th May
at 1:30 pm,
in room B551 at TVC,
in the basement of the main TVC donut
We are invited to submit a motion to the branch meeting - and it has been suggested to me that calling for a ballot will not fit in with the NUJ's rulebook. Anyone got any thoughts as to whether we should ignore that - or draft an alternative motion which could for example call for a recall conference?
Rory Cellan-Jones
Tuesday 8th May
at 1:30 pm,
in room B551 at TVC,
in the basement of the main TVC donut
We are invited to submit a motion to the branch meeting - and it has been suggested to me that calling for a ballot will not fit in with the NUJ's rulebook. Anyone got any thoughts as to whether we should ignore that - or draft an alternative motion which could for example call for a recall conference?
Rory Cellan-Jones
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
JEREMY DEAR RESPONDS
Jeremy Dear has emailed to say that he has received our petition and will make the motion available to the Executive. He says it will first be discussed by the Policy Committee on 8 June and then by the Executive later in June. He promises to keep us updated on any outcome.
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