Decisions 06 Informed


DM Subs rise voted down by DM


Delegate Meeting voted down a motion which would have increased unions subs by between 50 and 60 pence a month, a measure the national executive said was needed to protect core budgets and carry out the vital work it does on behalf of journalism and journalists. John Barsby, honorary NUJ treasurer,


reminded delegates of the financial crisis the union faced some years ago and noted that rise of around 2.5 per cent for the next two years would be the first subs increase in four years. Te union’s recovery plan to build back up its reserves to £2million by 2020 was vital. He said: “If we don’t agree a rise this DM, we will have allowed our subs income to erode for over six years. While our finances are now stabilised, we cannot be complacent.” Changes in the accounting regulations


Fair terms for freelances Freelance delegates were briefed on a new campaign, Fair Terms not Teir Terms, by Tim Dawson, the outgoing president. He said it aimed to devise a strategy to end the practises of many publishers which result in freelance journalists being paid only on publication or being offered derisory kill fees if the newspaper, magazine or website changes its mind about running the story. A survey of freelances was proposed to find out how widespread these practices were, the identity of the main culprits and to determine ways to ensure that, as many other self-employed workers do, journalists receive remuneration within 30 days


Treasurer John Barsby argued for the subs rise


and the impact of the Brexit referendum result had knocked a notional £1.8 million off the value of the NUJ’s Kings Cross headquarters, but all the building had been let, making around £300,000 a year. Te treasurer’s report noted a surplus of almost £200,000. Natasha Bernal, from the magazine and book industrial council, said the proposal


of invoicing. Pennie Quinton, chair of the London freelance branch, said its members would be supporting the campaign.


Snappers’ safety Te wholesale sacking of staff photographers has put reporters covering courts at risk of assault when taking photographs of defendants with their mobile phones. A Trinity Mirror reporter for Gloucester Life had his throat grabbed when he photographed a man sentenced to a conditional discharge for shopliſting and possession of cannabis. Reporters using a phone need to get closer to their subjects than


would affect low-earning members much more than the higher paid, but Mark Fisher, freelance industrial council, said: “I want a union that is powerful and well resourced.”


Chris Wheal, London magazine


branch, called on the NUJ to recruit and organise a mass union, rather than one for wealthy journalists. Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary, said there was already protection for low earners. “We pride ourselves on the level of service given to members, second to none in the trade union movement, and I would never want that to change,” she said. Te motion did not win the two-thirds majority needed to make the change. Members also voted for the NUJ to look at the benefits of offering lower membership subscriptions for first-time joiners and those earning less than £30,000.


photographers with long lenses. Simon Bristow, East Yorkshire branch, said he knew of two local newspaper journalists who had been assaulted while covering courts and a third threatened with rape. DM instructed the NEC to raise awareness of the risks involved and agreed to a campaign on court reporting.


Strike threat Delegates from the BBC voiced frustration at the progress of 18-month-long talks to renegotiate terms and conditions. Pierre Vicary, vice-president, who works for the World Service, said if the corporation did not improve its offer,


industrial action was a possibility. He proposed a motion which instructed the NEC to continue its campaign against the BBC paying for free TV licence fee for over-75s, cuts in staffing and training and to reject any compulsory redundancies. Te BBC delegates proposed motions of solidarity for colleagues at Red Bee Media suffering from a toxic combination of out-sourcing, offshoring and extreme cost-cuting measures and at the Qatar-owned Al-Araby where members and reps have been victimised. Tey also pledged to support colleagues at Al-Jazeera who have voted for strike action over pay aſter four years without a rise.


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