02 Informed


Michelle Says


in. The number of redundancy consultations has been steadily building over the last few weeks, with ongoing consultations and negotiations over thousands of jobs. Whilst the blow to advertising revenue, sales and subscriptions is severe and obvious, some proposed cuts and redundancies are more opportunistic. Through pushing back on companies’


Hot desking … at home. Michelle Stanistreet sits out the heatwave as the union seeks to stave off redundancies, challenge the Treasury’s package for the self- employed, batle with union-busting tactics from BAJ and work with the government on a rescue plan for the media.


It’s sweltering in south east London as I write at my kitchen table, and the thought of ice-cold office air- conditioning has never felt more appealing. The NUJ’s staff and officials continue to work remotely from home, and it is less a case of work carrying on as normal and more that we are flat out, busier than ever. And no wonder – the impact of Covid-19 is really beginning to kick


proposals, putting alternative counter proposals, questioning and sanity- checking restructure plans and boosting redundancy terms, we are able to save jobs and neuter the worst excesses of successive managements’ latest “vision” and do all we can to ensure those leaving are doing so on a voluntary basis. We are lucky to have such a dedicated


team of staff, backed up with amazing reps and activists who continue to pull together to provide NUJ members with as much support, advice and the best representation possible. Where reps themselves are also at risk


from redundancy, it’s a real testament to their commitment to the NUJ and their colleagues that they’re working so hard despite being under enormous personal pressure themselves. As well as being involved in a wide


range of industrial work, we are also fighting hard on the legal front. This week we lodged a protective award claim on behalf of the 20 staff dismissed from the Jewish Chronicle – who learned of the liquidation of their employer on the eve of Passover. There was no consultation over their dismissals, no attempts to seek alternatives or ways to mitigate them. Taking this case is important to demonstrate to the Jewish Chronicle management – and all other employers – that they cannot trample over workers’ rights without facing consequences and penalties. Throughout lockdown, and the launch of the government’s Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) we’ve been lobbying hard for the Treasury to do the right thing, and bridge the


many gaps in provision that have left so many freelance and self-employed workers cast adrift. It makes no sense for government support to be provided at a time of unprecedented crisis to some workers, and for others to be excluded – simply because of the nature of their employment status or payment relationship with engagers.


“We are lucky to have such a dedicated team of staff, backed up with amazing reps and activists who continue to pull together to provide NUJ members with as much support, advice and the best representation possible.”


Despite our best efforts the


government has not righted this wrong, and following legal advice we have now lodged a Judicial Review against the government’s discriminatory actions against freelances, and the failure to allow PAYE workers at the BBC to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme furlough scheme. We haven’t taken this decision lightly, but the NUJ is firmly committed to doing all we can to resolve this injustice – and to ensure that in the event of future lockdowns, our members are not further discriminated against. We know so many freelances have been plunged into huge insecurity, anxiety and financial challenges as a result. As this is affects many more workers


beyond NUJ members, we will be seeking a cost-capping order and are launching a crowd-funder to raise money for the funds for the case, seeking help from across the trade union movement and from groups that have also been campaigning on this issue. Please do all


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