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Reduced staffing levels have not been accompanied by a reduction in work, and
(4)
unacceptable workloads and stress for those remaining has reached disturbing levels. The
lack of resources also means readers are being shortchanged and once bread-and-butter functions
of local newspapers – such as covering council meetings and courts – are being jettisoned because
reporters are so thin on the ground.
(5)
Conference notes the efforts of the NUJ in defending jobs and standing up for quality
journalism – a vital part of local democracy, holding politicians and businesses to account and
providing vital information as well as entertainment.
(6)
Conference therefore calls on the GFTU to campaign vigorously to protect local and regional
journalism, and for changes that will allow greater plurality of ownership and better standards of
journalism.
(7)
Conference further supports calls for a government-commissioned inquiry into the crisis,
which will look at new models of ownership and allow newspapers to be protected with community
asset status, which will limit owners’ ability to close publications overnight and allow more time for
consultation on their future.
Resolution 12
Representation on GFTU Executive Committee
(1)
SUE Executive committee reaffirms the importance and value to our members of GTFU
affiliation. In particular we commend the education courses through which many of our members
have gained new skills and experience.
(2)
SUE wish to support the future expansion of GFTU affiliates and encourage those non
affiliated unions to join. In particular we feel that affiliation is of significant value to those smaller
organisation like ourselves, who whilst modest in membership number are mighty in terms of the
impact we have at the workplace on behalf of members.
(3)
As part of efforts from GFTU to attract other affiliates it is important that their voices are
heard and are properly represented on the GFTU executive committee.
We therefore call for the GFTU to bring forward a rule change that would facilitate smaller
organisations being represented on the GFTU executive and urge affiliates to support such a rule
change should it be tabled.
Resolution 13
Data Collection T&C’s
(1)
Conference notes at present employees working for Trade Unions are often represented by
other trade Unions who in the outside world are competitors to the employer, or are offered in
house ‘federations to ‘represent’ their interests’. Trade Unions as employers are notoriously shy in
publishing details of terms and Conditions offered to their staffs.
(2)
For the reasons above Conference agrees to instruct the incoming GFTU Executive to set up
a database of terms and conditions of workers who are employed by Trade