05/11/2007

If management at the Herald group of newspapers thought the National Union of Journalists had forgotten about an e-petition claiming that the future of the papers was not safe in the hands of the current owners, they had better think again -it’s being presented to the Scottish Parliament today.

The petition, set up online six months ago, has received 2034 signatories and, since it was established, relations between management and the NUJ have veered from union-led walk-outs to constructive negotiations.

But today, the NUJ, UK-wide, is launching a ‘Stand up for Journalism’ campaign and a lobby of the Scottish Parliament is one of a number of activities the NUJ in Scotland is undertaking.

On Saturday, more than 200 members attended an evening of music and presentations, at the People’s Palace in Glasgow. The event doubled up as a celebration of the NUJ’s 100th birthday.

Among many presentations, Scottish Organiser, Paul Holleran, was given a football strip of his favourite football club, Liverpool. It was from NUJ members at The Herald Sunday Herald and Evening Times, as a thank you for Holleran’s leadership during a successful wave of industrial action to prevent compulsory redundancies. On the strip’s back was Holleran’s name, above the number nine - “for the main striker”.

Herald management and the union have been recently discussing plans to introduce a new production system - so far, on amicable terms.

Among the other presentations, four were Life Memberships of the NUJ, conferred upon John McCalman (freelance), Ken Stein (PR freelance), Grace Frankllin (editor/publisher) and Roy Petrie (cartoonist/designer, Herald) for 40 years of membership.

A large chunk of the remainder went to members who have given sterling service, including as Fathers or Mothers of Chapel and on the Scottish Executive Council: Pete Murray (BBC deputy FoC, Broadcast branch officer for many years, SEC and National Executive Council member), Harry Conroy (former NUJ General Secretary/recently retired editor), Trevor Martin (Highland branch officer for many years. Active in supporting members in Highlands in staff and freelance sectors), Ann Coltart (Glasgow and West of Scotland Freelance branch official for many years. Equality role on SEC and national committees), Val McNulty (Former MoC at HarperCollins and branch officer at Glasgow for many years, now freelance), Ron Bowie (former FoC Daily Record and Sunday Mail and SEC chair), Frank Shennan (former chapel official at DR&SM, former  branch official at WoSFB, former chair of SEC), James Doherty (current chair, SEC, Vice president of the NUJ, NEC, Equality Committee, Development Committee chair, former Glasgow branch official, former Scotsman chapel committee rep.), Duncan McCallum (Forth Valley branch official for many years and currently chair/sec, former FoC at Falkirk Herald and Johnston Press Group Chapel, SEC member), and Brian Horne (Former FoC Edinburgh Evening News for many years, Edinburgh branch treasurer for many years).

The F/MoCs from the recent Newsquest dispute were also recognised for their efforts: Ian Bruce (FoC Herald, SEC member), Andrea Pearson (MoC, Sunday Herald), and John McCann (FoC, Evening Times).
 
A special presentation was made to John Fray (Deputy General Secretary), Anita Halpin (NEC and Hon Gen Treasurer) and Michelle Stanistreet (NUJ President) for their support of the NUJ in Scotland.

Visit the e-petition here.


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