In a surprising move, NUJ delegates managed to stick to the schedule and arrived at Order Paper 11 at 3pm as planned.
Irish South Western opened the debate on Wages, Payments and Conditions with an initial motion, no 114, condemning employer’s attacks on workers across the industry.
Pointing out that “there is nobody in this room who has not been touched in some way by the economic crisis,” the delegate resolved to “not tolerate the bully-boy tactics” of employers who have “failed business practices have brought this industry to its knees.”
Anti-union practices attacking existing terms and conditions are to be opposed across the board. Manchester branch seconded the motion and called for companies to be “told they cannot exploit their workers anymore.”
The motion was successfully carried.
Transparency
London Magazine Branch called for ADM to organise further to resistance to job cuts, forced redundancies, and a general worsening in labour conditions.
An amendment was put forward by Sylvia Sharp of Book Branch to force employers to open up business accounts to public scrutiny. This was a requirement if the union were to “see the figures so we can make realistic demands.”
The amendment was successfully carried.
Sharing of knowledge
Sharp again spoke, this time for motion 117. ADM was thus called upon to resist outsourcing – a business practice often associated with the exploitation of cheap, un-unionised labour.
The union should be looking to organise foreign workers to resist such practices, she said. “We need to share our knowledge and strategies. Together we can win.”
Tony Gosling spoke against the motion, claiming that outsourcing is not always a bad phenomenon and can lead to employment for freelancers. Ms Sharp countered this by claiming that she had been misunderstood and that the motion was in favour of “supporting outsourcing as long as it is done responsibly.”
The motion was carried.
Unionised shares?
The delegate for Birmingham and Coventry moved motion 118, which instructed the NEC, on behalf of the union, to obtain enough shareholdings of all media plcs to allow the participation of activists in their future AGMs.
The example of Trinity Mirror AGM last May was used to show how the union, as a recognised shareholder, had been able to access senior board members and highlight members’ pressing concerns.
It was argued that this practice should be extended, with shares being controlled by National Officers. Union shares would therefore act as a means for putting pressure on management to negotiate.
The motion was seconded by the Welsh Executive Council and was passed without dissent.
Falling standards
Motion 120, moved by London Magazine branch, instructed the NEC to campaign against casaulisation and falling editorial standards by targeting an organisational and recruitment campaign in the magazine sector and demanding that media owners do not reduce staffing levels.
The motion noted that despite Emap recording profits of £110 million last year, staff cuts were deemed necessary to service the massive debts of its owners Apax and Guardian Media Group.
The motion was carried.
Students Exploited
Edinburgh Freelance Branch took the floor by pointing to the increased exploitation of student journalists during work experience in motion 122.
Student members are also being used to undercut existing staff, who were losing working hours to students being used as a cheaper alternative to full timers, it was reported.
The NEC must, it was argued, campaign “vigorously” against such practices that were alleged to be “tantamount to slavery.” ADM shows its approval by passing the motion.
Call for clarity
Motion 123 from Manchester instructed the NEC to take up the issue of employment clarity. “When you start a new job,” the delegate argued, “it’s not too much to ask to receive written information on what you are actually supposed to be doing.”
Under existing law employers can delay providing written particulars on employment and contracts for up to two months.
A legal challenge is therefore required so that union members can be clear on terms and conditions, as well as workplace safety measures.
The motion carried.
Archaic
Edinburgh Freelance pushed motion 124, which called on ADM to take action on the payment of tax by freelancers. “Archaic payment arrangements” were argued to be causing some members to pay National Insurance Contributions twice over, an arrangement widely considered to be unfair.
As expected the motion was carried with overwhelming support.
An essential part of journalism
“All journalists are facing attacks in the current climate,” argued the Dublin delegate, “and photographers are feeling it in a particular way.”
Speaking for motion 125, the delegate called on the union to continue efforts to defend photographers, claiming that: “photography is not an option add on; it is an essential part of journalism.”
NUJ General Secretary, Jeremy Dear, seconded the motion on behalf of the NEC, stating that: “hundreds of photographers have become casualties of a practice that puts profits over quality.”
Motion 125 was successful.
Equal work for equal pay
The BBC World Service delegates said that current practices in the BBC have led to pay inequality.
Motion 126, which was carried, instructs the NEC to safeguard the principle of equal pay for equal work.
Staff should not have to suffer lower pay levels due to ethnic origin. ADM was called on to “send a clear message that this union is coming back to put things right.”
Strength through unity
NUJ is reputed to be in a position strength at the BBC. Although this has proven to be of benefit for staff journalists, freelancers are currently not recognised in collective bargaining.
Bristol branch moved motion 127 to provide a remedy for this by getting BBC freelancers to sign a petition in favour of collective bargaining. This was seconded by a delegate from the Netherlands Branch, who pointed out that many freelancers are not unionised and unaware of their rights.
Freelancers squeezed
Moved by Leeds, motion 128 highlighted the difficulties self-employed freelances encounter when being paid for contributions to course run by colleges and universities.
Further and higher institutions “seem unable to establish for paying such contributors gross… without delays of several months, follow-up correspondence and, in some instances, the threat of legal proceedings,” ADM noted.
The general secretary was instructed to write to lecturers unions to highlight the concerns and issue guidance to staff commissioning work from freelances and also to bodies in charge of education institutions to ask them to take action as soon as possible.
The Professional Training Committee will provide written guidance to all members working in further or higher education.
The motion carried.
Irish South West Branch moved motion 129 to mandate the NEC to raise awareness and understanding of copyright issues.
Delegates noted a “massive deterioration in work available and have come under pressure to perform the same work for reduced rates of pay.” A trend towards re-use of work submitted by freelance journalists and photographers without appropriate payment was also noted, as was pressure on freelance photographers to relinquish copyright.
The motion was successful.
