The following motions have already been proposed and accepted by the branch. However, they are open to amendment before submission after the meeting on 11 November.
BDS
This DM notes the vote by the TUC in Brighton to back the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement earlier this year. DM recalls DM 2007 voting to follow the TUC’s lead in relation to boycotting Israel.
DM therefore instructs the NEC to support the TUC position and to produce material for members on how they can support the movement.
Proposed by Donnacha.
Term limits
DM instructs the NEC to amend the rules to give effect to the principle that no person shall be elected to the same role on any NUJ council or committee for more than five consecutive terms (or 10 years, whichever is shorter).
DM instructs the NEC to ensure that this rule change does not apply to anyone elected to a national officer position on the NEC.
DM further instructs the NEC to ensure that there is no restriction on any person seeking election to another role or to their previous role after taking a break of one election cycle.
Proposed by Donnacha.
The following motion was agreed in principle, but the text was unfortunately hidden in the branch’s spam folder. The motion can be amended if needed and agreed at the 11 Nov meeting.
Defending UK jobs and functions in international media
This DM is concerned by the continued reduction of London and UK operations by international news agencies and media organisations, including the transfer of editorial, production and technical functions to lower-cost locations overseas.
This DM believes that these changes can take place gradually, through the transfer of functions, knowledge and responsibilities before formal redundancies are proposed, making it harder for individual chapels to identify the cumulative impact until decisions are well advanced.
This DM further believes that the continued loss of skilled UK media jobs risks weakening collective bargaining, reducing career opportunities and eroding the experience and expertise on which high-quality journalism depends.
This DM instructs the NEC, in consultation with the relevant sector councils, to develop a coordinated NUJ strategy for international media employers, including:
- improving information-sharing between affected chapels, branches and sector councils about restructuring and the movement of work;
- supporting chapels seeking early and meaningful consultation where employers are considering the transfer, outsourcing, substantial reduction or displacement of UK-based roles or functions;
- providing coordinated organising and industrial support where jobs or functions are threatened; and
- monitoring the cumulative movement of roles and functions out of the UK across multinational media organisations.
This DM further instructs the NEC to report progress on this work to the relevant sector councils and branches.
Proposed by George.
The branch also agreed to draft motions on the following subjects:
- The LGBT+ crackdown in Turkey.
- The attacks on trans rights in the UK.
- Increasing hostility to journalists.
- A motion on recruitment.
