THECRISIS in the National Union of Journalists looks set to continue, despite victories for the left at its annual Delegates Meeting (ADM) over the May Day holiday weekend.
The key issue at ADM was the sacking of ex-General Secretary Steve Turner by the executive for flouting union policy. Three out of four delegates, including the left sanctimonious exception of the SWI), criticised the NEC for its handling of the case, but confirmed the right wingers aistrussel Now Turner has resigned from the union, vowing to ser up a right wing competitor.
Delegates were also up in arms over the sacking Financial controller Daniel Stafford. ordered on a flimsy pretext by General ecretary Jake Ecclestone. An Instruction from the NEC to reinstate him was ignored.
Al AUM, Excistone's allies fight reinstatement hack-up from starlord's own union, APEX (*)-but delegates voted by a hefty majority to order his rapid reinstatement. But on the day after the bank holiday, Ecelestone refused point-blank to implement the decision, and ordered security staff not to allow Stafford into the union HQ.
Now moves are afoot to force Ecclestone to back down at the union's National Executive. If these attempts fail, a campaign is likely to be launched within the union for a Special Delegate Meeting to sack him.
The NUJ right-wing's other move at conference was to try to use the union's financial crisis to try to slash back every last vestige of the union's campaigning structures; but they again heavily defeated by delegates.
In elections, NU] Left candidates generally did well. John Toner was elected unopposed as Vice President; Pergamon strike leader Jim Boumelha tied with right-winger Bob Trevor, and will serve as President for the first six months, and Kyran Connolly came within ten votes of unseating the union's General Treasurer.
The conference also agreed to back the 'Unshackle the Unions' campaign and to ge involved in the work of the Anti Racist Alliance and the Anti Nazi League.