NEC rapped for ‘abdicating responsibility’

THE UNION’S Appeals Tribunal has sharply criticised the National Executive Council for “abdicating its responsibility to enforce union rules”.

The Tribunal — the union’s highest disciplinary body — was reacting to the executive’s decision not to hear a complaint from Manchester Branch. The branch appealed against this decision to the tribunal, which effected conciliation between the parties involved, and made a statement about the case.

“The NEC decision to note the complaint denied to all parties any access to the NUJ’s procedures and to natural justice,” it said. “While the decision was technically within the rules, the [rules concerned] are clearly not intended to allow the NEC to abdicate its responsibility to enforce the union’s rules and code of conduct.

“If it is the NEC’s desire to abandon any role in the application of the union’s disciplinary procedure, it must bring an appropriate rule-changing proposal to the union’s delegate meeting.”

The Journalist is published by the National Union of Journalists