Politics: In or Out of the Union?

For Monday’s meeting of the London Magazine Branch, we will be debating whether the union should play a part in wider political issues.

Magazines National Executive member Martin Cloake and Nick Serpell from BBC TV News will put the arguments for and against. Pete McCready and Niall Hunt will chair.

Here is an extract from the Maglight Newsletter:

“In the wake of the Annual Delegates Meeting, which passed a motion calling for a boycott of Israeli goods, the last (inquorant) branch meeting thought it was time we had a proper discussion about this particular hot potato.

“So should we keep out of all politics, or of party politics, or should we be free to discuss and have policy on whatever we want?

“Should we be political with a very small ‘p’, such as over global warming, but draw the line, well, somewhere?

“Or should every motion that we discuss have some relevance to journalism.”

The meeting starts at 6.30pm, at Headland House, 308-312 Gray’s Inn Road.
Refreshments and sandwiches will be provided.

We will also discuss workplace issues and other business. There will be an update on union members fight to keep the final salary pension scheme at RCN Publishing, with a full report from National Organiser Sue Harris.

We will also be nominating members for election to the sector’s industrial council and the union’s ethics council. If you would like to stand or nominate someone, come along to the meeting or get in touch with a member of the branch.