Fifteen motions for next year’s Delegate Meeting (DM) were agreed by the NEC last weekend. Four on international issues covered Palestinian photographers, the attacks on the Gaza flotilla, safety of African journalists and attacks on freedom of expression in South Africa.On political domestic matters, motions covering the proposed sale of BSkyB and News Corporation; government policies on pensions and the Hutton report, and the abolition of the Press Complaints Commission were agreed.
Two motions were also agreed; one proposed lowering the requirement that freelancers who have no other full time job and earn at least a quarter of their income from journalism should qualify for full membership; the second to widen the criteria for membership (which was agreed by 9 votes to 7 – I voted in favour).
There was also considerable discussion on a proposal to set up a publishing industrial sector council, which would mean the abolition of the councils covered by the union’s publishing department. On voting the motion was defeated by 10 votes to 8 (I voted against the motion).
A number of other motions were agreed and the DM preliminary agenda will be published just before Christmas, where you can read them all, plus the rest from branches and other tabling bodies.