Informed NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE issue 23 May 2018 All pictures from DM © Paul Herrmann


In her speech to DM, Michelle recalled the highlights of the past two years, including the successful events across the UK and Ireland for Local News Maters Week, the landmark victory on collective bargaining for freelances in Ireland, securing the government inquiry into the future of the press, the Photographers’ Summit, #Useitpayfor it campaign and the refurbishment of the union’s HQ in London. She also paid tribute to colleagues


working for Newsquest who took strike action over poverty pay and redundancies, and the Penguin Random House chapel which fought for union recognition.


On the money: women delegates queue up to talk about equal pay


DM sets a two-year campaigning agenda


A major initiative to end pay discrimination, a 10-point plan to support women affected by workplace sexism and harassment, a Journalists Need a Pay Rise campaign and a commitment to work with chapels to fight against work-related stress were all agreed by the 2018 Delegate Meeting. Te union will now be carrying out


research into new business models for journalism to feed into the government’s inquiry into the sustainability of the press; recruiting more equality reps; and campaigning for fair terms for freelance payment. Delegate Meeting (DM) is the NUJ’s policy-making body and the three days of


Also in this issue:


Michelle’s message Page 2


debates in Southport resulted in a union programme of action for the next two years.


A national executive council (NEC) motion calling for an increase to union subscriptions was turned down by conference. John Barsby, NUJ treasurer, had described the proposed increases of 50-60 pence per month, the first for four years, as necessary to ensure the NUJ’s future as an independent fighting union. Delegates argued that the present


fees were already too high and, despite Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary, saying there were already measures to help the low-paid, the motion did not achieve the two-thirds majority needed to be carried.


Motions round-up Page 8


Equal Pay Page 10


Her personal highlight was the birth of her daughter Nell, which proved that motherhood was no bar to being a general secretary, she said, thanks to help from her senior team who took over the union reins during her maternity leave.


One of the union’s major pieces of industrial work in the past two years was representing more than 180 BBC women with equal pay claims. Tese claims were lodged following the forced publication of the BBC’s high-earners list which revealed a dearth of women and black journalists. Michelle said: “It has given a shot in the arm to recruitment of new members, with spikes of women joining the NUJ in broadcasting, and increasingly in other sectors, as they realise it is through collective action that we can secure meaningful change.” DM applauded three new Members of Honour, Joyce McMillan, Chris Frost and Charlie Harkness; paid a silent tribute to the 162 journalists killed in action around the world during the past two years; and welcomed in the NUJ’s new president, Sian Jones, and newly-elected vice-president, Pierre Vicary.

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