NUJ Left is calling for mass action to support local authority press officers who refuse to work with BNP members if any are elected as councillors in this week’s elections.

Union guidelines already call on every member not to sensationalise the activities of racist organisations, including the BNP, and to challenge and expose their views.

The NUJ Left conference in central London on 30 May considered how activists should register protests across the UK if any NUJ members are threatened with disciplinary action for refusing to work with fascists.

NUJ Left also calls on branches to lobby the union leadership to reconvene January’s hugely successful jobs summit.

Since the summit, the NUJ has secured massive public support for industrial action to save jobs at newspapers in York, Leeds and Glasgow. Further strike ballots are active across the UK and Ireland.

The conference also debated combating police violence and intimidation – notably during the G20 protests.

NUJ Left is also calling for mass action to support Irish journalist Suzanne Breen, who faces possible imprisonment for refusing to hand over documents to the PSNI relating to articles for her newspaper, the Sunday Tribune, about the Real IRA.

Suzanne’s life could be in real danger if she is forced to hand over this material or reveal her sources of information. Messages of support for Suzanne Breen should be sent to protectsources@nuj.ie

The conference elected a new steering committee, with London magazine branch activist Alan Gibson as convenor. Other members are: Miles Barter, treasurer; Richard Simcox, bulletin/web editor; Simon Hardy; and current NUJ vice president Pete Murray.

The group’s next conference will be held in central London in mid-October.

Posted by NUJ Left

Tags: jobs summit, NUJ, NUJ Left, Suzanne Breen