Branch member enters Beeb debate

Glasgow branch member, David Miller, has joined the debate on the BBC's coverage of the war in Iraq.

Writing in The Guardian, David, of the Stirling Media Research Institute, argues that, despite criticism from both sides, "The empirical evidence, however, suggests a pro-war orientation."

He also refers to the sacking of Adli Hawwari and Dr Abdul Hadi Jiad "which some believe was linked to the pressure on the BBC to misreport the war."

STUC backs NUJ Scottish Press Commission call

The Scottish Trades Union Congress has adopted an NUJ motion calling for the establishment of a Scottish Press Commission.

Speaking at the STUC's annual conference in Inverness, Scottish Organiser Paul Holleran insisted that a Scottish Commission, with regulatory powers, would safeguard journalistic professional and ethical standards while preventing monopolies.

He also saw the Commission as complementing the work of the Competition Commission and the broadcast regulator Ofcom to ensure that the Scottish media would not be unduly influenced by individuals or groups.

Writing in the Scottish Left Review, last month, Paul said: "A Scottish Press Commission would certainly be a beacon of light shining on the media and - if we are clever - maybe a possible saviour of our plurality, addressing the incredible levels of apathy pervading our society."

Glasgow branch for European Social Forum?

David Miller has suggested that the Glasgow branch or the wider NUJ in Scotland send a delegation to this year's European Social Forum.

The ESF, which will take place in Paris from 12th to 16th November, will follow on from the inaugural event held in Florence last year.

The wide-ranging agenda of the first event included discussion of the privatisation of public services, GM crops, peace, housing, pension rights and GATS.

Proposals for seminars for this year's ESF are also invited from unions.

Attached is a letter from Mike Arnott of Global Resistance Scotland, which is co-ordinating Scottish participation at the ESF.

Members who are interested in forming part of a delegation or who have any views on the subject should make their feelings known to the branch on Thursday, 8th May.

NUJ Scottish Office Report April 2003

Daily newspapers

Chapels at SMG Publishing are seeking their first meeting with the new management team after the Gannet takeover of The Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times as well as Caledonian Magazines.

Chapels at the Scotsman Publications are stepping up their campaign for a fair and equitable pay structure.

Following negotiations resulting in extra increases for around 25 members the chapel officials and Scottish Organiser are looking at the next stage of the campaign.

This will almost certainly revolve around the equal pay legislation, which came in recently.

Recognition campaigners at Aberdeen Evening Express were celebrating the go ahead from the CAC to launch a ballot for recognition at the Journals tabloid title.

Former MoC Eugenie Verney was especially delighted despite having to wait until May for her adjourned tribunal for unfair dismissal.

Weekly newspapers

Pay talks at the weekly newspaper groups in Scotland have been fascinating in recent months with some impressive movement in targeting lower-paid journalists for larger than norm increases.

Trinity-S&UN group chapel voted two to one for deal worth 2.75% across the board and 5.5% on the junior and senior basic rates.

Johnston Group talks are continuing with a two year offer of 2.75% core increases for each year and increases on the basic of around 4% per year on the basic rate driving up lower salary bands.

Scottish Provincial Press Group Chapel are still negotiating over a similar deal and the chapel are seeking a more transparent pay structure as part of the agreement.

Dunfermline Press settled for a two-year deal worth 4% and additional allowances for photographers.

Broadcasting

Talks continue at SMG over the pay deal. Despite offering extra increases for around 80 people the company spoiled things by trying to impose a 12-month deal over 15 months.

Following a ballot for industrial action by joint unions NUJ and BECTU talks have resumed with the possibility of a two-year deal on the table.

A further dispute has erupted at SMG following the announcement of redundancies at Grampian TV.

The company is planning to move to new premises and want NUJ members to take on work currently carried out by BECTU members. Negotiations are ongoing.

NUJ members are demonstrating at BBC HQ in Glasgow following the sacking of two union activists from the World Service, a ballot is planned for later this month.

Freelance

Talks continue at SMG Publishing over a new freelance agreement, the first for three years.

Paul Holleran
Scottish Organiser

Understanding Islam

The NUJ is supporting a unique media conference in Glasgow.

Understanding Islam is intended to promote a better understanding of the religion and its followers by bringing journalists and key figures in the Muslim community together.

Major issues addressed will include Shariah Law, Hijab and the rights of women under Islam.

Mohammed Sarwar MP and the sacked BBC journalist Dr. Abdul-Hadi Jiad will join with other experts and community figures in addressing the delegates.

The conference was instigated by Glasgow NUJ branch member Elyas Hussain and organised with the assistance of the NUJ Scottish Office.

Scottish NUJ Organiser Paul Holleran said: "The war in Iraq and its aftermath presents journalists with fundamental challenges about how the religion and culture of Islam is reported and presented.

"Whatever the outcomes, at home and abroad, of the conflict, it has never been more crucial to have an informed perspective."

"And never has it been more important for journalists to understand and engage with all sections of the community."

Delegate forms, which can be downloaded from this page, should be returned the as soon as possible and preferably by 21 April to the NUJ, 114 Union Street, Glasgow, G1 3QQ.

Get well soon, Helen

Scottish delegates to ADM were sad to note the absence of Helen Russell due to ill-health. A highly popular and respected member of the NUJ, Helen was honoured with the union's gold badge in 2002.

The award was in recognition of her courageous defence of media freedom having resisted a gagging order at the Wishaw Press. Helen had taken on no lesser a figure than the then future Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell.

With the backing of the Wishaw Press chapel, of which Helen is MoC, and the Scottish Office, she won a famous victory, with Paul Holleran raising the subject before TV cameras at Holyrood.

We are sure that all members will join us in wishing Helen a speedy recovery.

Glasgow branch ADM motion adopted

The Glasgow branch's motion was passed overwhelmingly at the Annual Delegates Meeting in Llandudno. The motion was worded as follows:

"This ADM condemns the negative and stereotypical representation of Muslims within the Media.

"This ADM is concerned at the level of ill-informed and biased reporting on racial, Islamic and terrorist issues within the media.

"This ADM instructs the NEC to liaise with the Ethics Council and The Black Members Council to expand and update the NUJ's 'Guidelines on Race Reporting' to include guidance on religious, ethnic minority and terrorist reporting.

"In addition, this ADM instructs the NEC to:-

ensure the widest distribution of NUJ's 'Guidelines on Race Reporting'

take measures to encourage its usage and ensure full support for all members who stand by the NUJ's Code of Conduct and guidelines when they are pressurised to indulge in racist or Islamophobic reporting."

Glasgow Branch

Northern Soul

Shock And Awe

National Union of Journalists' members at Newsquest Bradford have voted 91.5 percent in favour of more strikes in a secret ballot - an even bigger majority than when they first voted in January.

They have named 12 new days for strike action - between Wednesday April 16 and Sunday April 27.

Twenty-seven UK MPs have signed an Early Day Motion - a parliamentary
petition - calling on the American-owned newspaper publisher to make a
realistic pay offer to the striking journalists.

Read the EDM and see who has signed at
http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=926

This is our chance to make the scandalously low pay of journalists a
political issue. Please use the attached model letter to write to your MP
urging them to sign the motion.

To find email and fax addresses and the name of your MP go to
http://www.urban75.com/Action/politicians.html or post to House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. Don't forget to put your address on the letter so your MP knows you are a constituent.

If your MP has signed the motion please send the attached thank you
letter.

The company has not improved the below-inflation two percent pay offer.
Graduate trainees are on as little as £12,000 and qualified senior journalists on just £15,000.

On the daily Telegraph and Argus there are journalists with 30 years service on less than £20,000.

Visit the chapel - workplace branch - website at http://www.geocities.com/bradfordnuj

Second front is opened up

NUJ members on Newsquest's Bolton and Bury titles hold their first two
day strike this Wednesday and Thursday - April 9, and 10.

In 2001 Newsquest Lancashire made pre-tax profits of £5.3 million - a
rise of 15.4 percent on 2000. That's £14,695 profit a day. Figures at
Companies House show that staff costs fell by £507,000.

At Bury trainee journalists start on £10,800. At Bolton evening paper
journalists with all their professional qualifications start on £15,390.

The US parent company Gannet has announced worldwide profits for 2002 of 1.1 billion dollars.

How you can help

The strikers URGENTLY need cash to sustain the dispute. Please ask your
union branch or chapel to send a donation.

Why not organise a workplace collection? You don't have to be a union rep to start it and you could be pleasantly surprised by how many people donate.

Point out that if the Bradford and Bolton chapels win it will mean that your management has to take the union more seriously.

Send money to NUJ Manchester at NUJ, Fifth Floor, Arthur House, Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3FH. Individual donations welcome. Every little helps.

Visit the picket lines this week at the Bury Times, Bolton Evening News,
and Leigh Journal.

More details from and messages of support to bradfordnuj@yahoo.co.uk and for Bolton and Bury thomsonfamily20@cwctv.net. Messages really boost morale.

Email polite protests to Newsquest UK chief executive Paul Davidson on
pdavidson@london.newsquest.co.uk

Balloting Broadcast Comrades

BBC NUJ members will receive ballot papers this week as part of the
campaign to reinstate sacked World Service NUJ activists Adli Hawaari and Abdul-Hadi Jiad. They were dismissed instantly without any formal hearings, or right to appeal. A total breach of BBC procedures and at odds with the 199 Employment Relations Act.

The corporation has said that the pair made unjustified complaints to
tribunals and through the internal grievance procedure. But Adli and
Abdul-Hadi were taking action over issues that affected all their colleagues with the support of their chapel.

Their sacking is an attack on the NUJ's organisation. If it goes unchallenged everyone at the corporation could be liable to summary
dismissal.

The union is urging BBC members to vote yes for strike action, and action
short of a strike.

Send messages of support to Adlih@nuj.org.uk - for more info contact
deputy general secretary John Fray on johnfr@nuj.org.uk

Delegates set sail for Wales

The union's Annual Delegates Meeting in Llandudno begins on Thursday.

A full delegation will represent the Glasgow branch, which will put forward a motion concerning the reporting of Islamic issues.

Delegates will report to the next branch meeting on 10 April.