Motion 141 passed, noting the death toll of media staff throughout the world.

It instructed the NEC to support the work of the International Federation of Journalists’ international support committee. The committee brings together the families of killed journalists to lobby for justice and humanitarian assistance in cases where they need long-term support.

Support for Russian journalists

Motion 142 was also carried, welcoming the launch by the IFJ and the Russian Union of Journalists of ‘Partial Justice’, a report which documents the killings of journalists in Russia between 1993-2009.

ADM noted that the report listed:

• over 300 deaths and disappearances of journalists; and
• that only a few of the deaths have been properly investigated resulting in killers escaping justice.

ADM instructed the NEC to support the Russian union’s campaign to improve the safety of its members and make killing or attempted murder of journalists a more serious offence.

Work with Zimbabwe

Motion 143 instructed the NEC to continue to develop its work with the Zimbabwean Union of Journalists to help Zimbabwean journalists improve their working conditions. It was carried.

Anti-Sikh massacres in 1984 India

Motion 147 instructed the General Secretary to write to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, urging the British Government to raise 1984’s anti-Sikh massacres with the Indian High Commissioner. It was carried.

Parvinder Singh of Book Branch spoke of how the Indian government believed that the anti-Sikh massacres in November 1984 were a natural reaction to the assassination of India Gandhi.

25 years later none of the key perpertrators have been brought to justice.

“NUJ is on the side of the widows in pursuit for justice and it’s high time that the Indian Government come clean,” he said.

NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: “It is important for all peoples that we seek not just the truth about the events of 1984 and beyond in Punjab but that we also act for justice.”

Composite F (covering motion 38 and 39) was carried. It expressed concern with the Equality Bill going through Parliament.

It said the bill:

• was weakening existing equality rights; and
• had missed the opportunities to enforce and improve equal pay.

It added that the failure to address disabled people’s needs in the Bill was worsening the impact of the recession.

Mindy Ran, Equality Councillor said: “With the Bill nothing is changing and this is because it has been taken with a light approach.”

Amelia Kenlock speaking on behalf of Southall Black Sisters said: “The aim is to give statutory rights to workplace based reps.

ADM voted to oppose Wirral Council’s decision to close 11 of its 24 libraries “without meaningful consultation” and to campaign against library closures and the downgrading of the role of books in public library provision as the motion carried.

Annie Pike from Book Branch said: “Libraries are vital to the public of all ages and more so to provide resources for people with financial needs.”

The Bill would abolish income support for working age people, give battered women a month on benefits before having to look for work and allow employers to by-pass paying the minimum wage via the “work for your benefits” rule.

Motion 45 was carried, meaning the NEC will now work with the trade union movement to campaign against the legislation.

The Equality Bill will extend anti-discrimination to the provision of goods, facilities and services, as well as offering further protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. The Equality Council, who submitted the motion, warned that it is likely to fall unless passed by the current Parliament.

The motion also called for the NEC to campaign, through the Parliamentary Group, for age discrimination measures in the field of health and social care to be implemented alongside all other areas. Under the current Bill, these areas will not become law at the same time as other measures.

Anne Coltart from Equality Council said that age discrimination was a problem for all workers. “Older people will cost more in the future. Ageism discriminates against older and younger employee,” she said.

Selina Scott, who successfully sued her employer for age discrimination and won £250,000 compensation, was congratulated in motion 42. NEC will now discuss how to toughen up anti-age discrimination laws with the NUJ Parliamentary Group.