02 Informed


Michelle’s Message


From DM, back to the nity, grity of NUJ work


Aſter the unique intensity of DM, far from having a bit of breathing space to plan and prioritise the work agreed by conference delegates, there has been no let-up industrially. Aſter 22 months of arduous


“DM’s decision not increase the union’s subs means we will have to cut our cloth accordingly… my priority will be to manage this challenge with as minimal impact as possible on staffing levels and industrial servicing .”


negotiations over the BBC’s proposal to revamp terms and conditions, the joint unions had proposed a final push under the auspices of arbitration service ACAS to try and thrash out important issues that remained. Tese ranged from night working, acting up and public holiday leave, to the pay offer, weekend working and the creation of new job titles and families. I led a team of 9 NUJ negotiators, including secondees and reps from Glasgow, Belfast, Devon, London and Birmingham – together with our sister unions, the union-side team was 30-strong. We’d set aside two days for talks with ACAS, taking up multiple rooms from 9am on day one in the chilly if beautiful Royal College of Physicians headquarters overlooking Regent’s Park, finishing that evening at 8pm, reconvening the next day at 9am, this time in the more bustling Royal College of GPs. Progress felt slower on day two but we ploughed on, and when kicking out time approached at 7pm, we all decamped to the BBC’s New Broadcasting House, geting a glimpse of sunshine for the first time that day. As 10pm beckoned, it was time to dial up the pizzas – a W1A moment as I made the call to a local pizza place our resident London rep recommended, with toppings ranging from beef brisket and pickled carrots, spiced lamb and cabbage and kimchi and porcini cream (amongst which my Margherita was definitely the odd one out!). A breakthrough moment came soon


aſter 3am; we had a deal that we felt able to recommend. As most of our team reps headed off, three of us stayed to ensure the deal was writen accurately – a painful and occasionally ill-tempered process that didn’t conclude until 6.30am.


Back at the NUJ, I set my alarm clock


for 25 minutes and slept on the couch in my office – a quick spruce up and I had to prep for an interview panel I was siting on, then it was straight on to our BBC MFoC meeting who treated their negotiating team prety kindly over the next three hours. Whether members vote to accept or reject the deal when it goes out to ballot, the reality is that their reps and officials throughout the BBC have put in huge effort to address the issues they have raised throughout the lengthy process. Two days later I was back at ACAS – this time with Al Jazeera. Despite having a recognition agreement, the company has refused over the past four years to negotiate a collective pay award. Following a strong mandate for industrial action, a strike day had been called and an ensuing work to rule. With help from the IFJ, the NUJ maximised the pressure on Al Jazeera internationally and in Doha, where the real decision making happens – using World Press Freedom day and one of the company’s own conferences to remind them that trade union rights are human rights too. Te first offer the company tabled – 3 per cent – was inadequate but in itself a milestone, as the first collective offer the company had ever made. By 10.30pm that Friday night, we were up to an offer of 5 per cent for 2018 and 3 per cent for 2019 – an offer the union side rejected as we leſt, making it clear we were willing to reconvene over the


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