04 Informed


Delegate Meeting


#DM20: Subs’ rise tops the agenda


cuting services to members, she said. Séamus Dooley, assistant general


A motion calling for a meaningful subs’ increase is likely to be the most important motion discussed at this April’s Delegate Meeting in Southport, the NEC was told. Michelle Stanistreet said it was vital


for the NUJ’s survival as an independent union. Te motion notes subscription rates have remained static for the past six years while costs to the union have increased and its contribution to pension deficit payments must significantly increase from this year. With the staff now totalling 31,


working across the UK and Ireland, cuting posts was not an option without


He’s back John Whitingdale has returned to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as minister of state. His boss is Oliver Dowden, the new Secretary of State, the tenth in the past decade, who was previously paymaster general and minister for the Cabinet Office and has worked for the PR company Hill & Knowlton. Caroline Dinenage was also appointed minister of state. She was previously minister of state at the Department


secretary, said the union was under pressure to deliver additional services as a result of recent successes, such as the recent Samira Ahmed and Anne Roper cases. While strides have been made in recruitment, with the NEC being told of seven bids for recognition in the magazines sector alone, the income was not enough to sustain the union. NEC motions also include: an end to


a two-thirds majority for contributions and benefits motions at DM; a broad- based campaign against the use of face-recognition technology; allowing students to remain members while searching for work; promoting the IFJ Convention on the Protection of Journalists and creating an alliance to improve media literacy. Other motions call for a commemorative event in honour of Lyra McKee and campaigns to boost members’ pay, in support of quality journalism at Newsquest and ending individual targets for journalists. Speakers at DM include BBC presenter


of Health and Social Care. Julian Knight was voted as chair of the media and culture select commitee. He said his priorities were to start an open conversation about how the BBC can be funded, geting broadband done and the online harms legislation.


Get it in writing Te NUJ’s freelance office has launched a campaign to inform members that from April 6, every employee and worker in the UK will have the


Samira Ahmed and Fatima Mutahar of the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate. DM takes place from April 24-26. Te final agenda and annual report will be available on 10 March. All documents can be found on the NUJ website, including the guide to DM for delegates: htps://www.nuj.org.uk/about/union- democracy/nuj-delegate-meeting/


Join the skills hub


Caroline Holmes, leader of the NUJ’s reps’ training, will be hosting a skills hub throughout DM. It will include taster sessions on branch revival, signposting to professional development and a range of activities including how to support workers through the menopause. It will showcase new online courses, including the collaborative leadership skills module, resources for reps and new recruitment materials. Caroline can answer your queries on the NUJ’s training programme, including the new workshop on dealing with redundancies.


right to a writen “statement of particulars”, summarising their terms of employment from day one of starting work. Tis includes hours of work, holiday pay and other benefits, plus details of any probationary period. Even if you are freelance you may be eligible for the statement as a “worker”. Freelances are also encouraged to see if they qualify as a “worker” and are eligible for holiday pay. More information can be found on the campaign page: htps:// www.nuj.org.uk/campaigns/


should-you-be-geting-paid- holiday/


Peers’ press inquiry Te Communications and Digital Commitee is looking at the future of journalism. It is taking evidence on how digital technology is changing the production and consumption of journalism and role of journalists and how the profession can become more trusted by the general public. Te deadline for writen submissions is Wednesday 25 March.


Paul Herrmann


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