Informed 05 Update


Bumper bequest for NUJ charity


NUJ extra has received a bequest of £36,000 (almost €43,000) aſter the proceeds of a will were split between the union’s welfare charity and Irish Guide Dogs. Ms Tanney died 1 January 2019 and


aſter the sale of her house, solicitors Barry, Healy & Company said the money totalled €85,781.35; NUJ extra’s share was €42,890.67 (£36,245.29). She had no family and the charity’s trustees agreed to send a leter of thanks to her friend, Frank Dolan, executor of her will, and to ask him for more details about the generous benefactor. Chris Wheal was re-elected as the chair of NUJ extra trustees and Francis Sedgemore as the vice-chair. Chris told his fellow trustees they should be proud of the charity’s work during the


Union finances John Barsby, NUJ honorary treasurer, told the NEC the union ended the year with positive net current assets of just over £1m and positive reserves of almost £2.8m. However, he warned, there were still financial challenges presented by its significant pension scheme liability, the need to continue to invest in the repair and maintenance of the London HQ Headland House – starting with the windows and building facia which


pandemic – many members whose jobs vanished or who were too ill to work were provided with a lifeline. He said a lot of money had been spent, but the charity’s assets had not suffered thanks to generous donations from branches and members, and its investments had since bounced back. A survey sent out during the pandemic brought praise from recipients. Te Covid scheme is now closed but those still suffering can apply for grants in the usual way. Francis added the charity was now in “a good position”. NUJ Extra: www.nuj.org.uk/about- us/nuj-charities/nuj-extra.html


needed urgent atention – and the end of upper floors’ tenancies at the beginning of 2023.


Claudia Jones lecture Te Black Members’ Council held a successful event with keynote speaker Charlie Brinkhurst Cuff, a senior staff editor at Te New York Times, in memory of the journalist, activist and founder of the Noting Hill Carnival. Charlie spoke of her belief that what she called joy was a major factor in the way black journalists could


deal with the past and confront the present and future: “If we accept that a fundamental part of the media at this moment is capitalising on Black pain without giving us space to exist outside those boundaries, how do we move forward?” she asked.


Video and text of lecture: www.nuj.org. uk/resource/the- sharing-of-joy.html Te 20th anniversary of the memorial lecture will be held in October and the BMC intends to celebrate it in style.


Union wins millions for members


Te NUJ’s legal department together with union officials and reps have negotiated more than £3m in compensation for members on setlement agreements alone last year, and £300,000-plus since the last NEC meeting. More than £150,000 in


compensation has also been paid out in personal injury cases and more than £1.5m won in awards ranging from discrimination to unfair dismissal claims. Te union’s work in successfully concluding individual compensation for equal pay claims, in excess of £100,000 for some members from a range of employers, continues, following the many millions secured for women working at the BBC, including the high-profile case of presenter, Samira Ahmed. Natasha Morris, legal & equality officer, said: “Te NUJ legal department and partner firms are extremely pleased to have been able to support so many members through oſten difficult and distressing circumstances. Cases such as these show the value of the union’s service and that it is prepared to hold companies to account.” As well as representing members


on workplace issues, the NUJ offers a comprehensive range of legal services to members and their families: htps://www.nuj.org. uk/advice/ legal-assistance.html


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