06 Informed Round-up Conference decisions


Delegates vote for subs’ rise Te most crucial vote of the conference – which many believed would decide the future of the National Union of Journalists – was a national executive motion on changes to the subscriptions rate. “Your vote will decide whether the NUJ


remains as an independent union or if we will be swallowed into a huge general union and no longer be the voice for journalism and journalists in the UK and Ireland. Tat’s how important your vote on Motion 25 will be,” John Barsby, NUJ honorary treasurer, told delegates. He said the last subs’ increase had been


seven years ago, with delegates at the DM in Southport three years’ ago voting against a 5 per cent rise. At the end of the 2012 financial year, the union had employed 42 members of staff, now the number was 34. “But the level of work is not reducing,” he said, adding that if the union was to continue to pay for its pension fund, provide quality members’ services and punch above its weight in lobbying and campaigning for journalists and journalism, subs must rise. Joyce McMillian, from the Edinburgh


freelance branch, said: “We need an independent union and independent voice that speaks up for journalists and journalism for now and in the future.” Te motion was carried by 82 per cent of delegates. Te motion also called for a vigorous recruitment campaign and an effort to boost awareness of the union’s 1 per cent rule, which acts as safety net for low earners. Te new subscription rates from July 2021 will be: Grade 1: £16 or €19 per month Grade 2: £20 or €25 per month Grade 3: £28 or €34 per month Members earning less than £14,500 (€16,000) per annum will pay £12 (€12.60) a month. A further increase in subscription rates


in July 2022 will be introduced: Grade 1: £17 or €20 per month Grade 2: £21 or €26 per month Grade 3: £29 or €35 per month Members earning less than £16,000 (€17,500) per annum will pay £13 (€13.80) a month. A motion proposed by London Magazine branch introduced a new graduate members’ rate for student members who may now retain membership aſter qualifying, for two years, and a new joiners’ rate, lasting two years, set at 50 per cent of the current grade rate.


Effects of Covid-19 Conference discussed a range of motions relating to the effect of Covid-19 on members, the way they work and how the NUJ should respond. Te problems of home working, the blurring of work time and home time and people being forced to continue to work from home were all concerns. David Gallagher, BBC London branch, won agreement from DM for the union to lobby to enshrine in law a right to disconnect so members can turn off their technological devices aſter work without facing consequences for not replying to emails, phone calls or text messages. Te notion has already been adopted in a code of practice by the Republic of Ireland and passed into law in Slovenia. A survey carried out in the publishing industry found that while working from home has proved convenient for some, for others the experience has been highly unsatisfactory and stressful. Tose affected negatively were women, young people and the poor. Eleanor Connor, Oxford & District branch, said: “We must ensure the NUJ uses all its tools, including health and safety law and equality grounds, to ensure that


employers do meaningful impact assessments and consult with the union before imposing working conditions on members.” A motion from the Disabled Members’ Council (DMC) raised the issue of Long Covid, with its symptoms ranging from fatigue, depression and brain fog to joint pain. Ann Galpin, DMC member, said employers were notorious for not supporting workers with chronic conditions. Te DMC will raise awareness of Long Covid and produce guidance for reps on how to support freelances and employees with the condition, and the union will back proposals to get it recognised as an occupational disease. Te union agreed to support any NUJ member placed at risk by an employer’s “no jab, no job” policy and join the TUC and other unions in campaigning against employers who make having a vaccination mandatory. Conference acknowledged the


challenges faced by newsgatherers during the pandemic, particularly those working in public-order situations which resulted in increased incidents of abuse from protestors, the public and, on occasion, interference from the police.


Other debates Te finance motions may have been seen as the most important to the union, but delegates speaking to the climate emergency motion had the future of the planet in mind. Gareth Simkins, an environmental


policy writer, said journalists had responsibility for the way the climate emergency was reported and unions should monitor employers’ behaviour in promoting carbon neutral policies. Conference supported a range of ways it could promote the green agenda [htps://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/ dm2021-climate-emergency.html]. Te union will intensify its pay campaign to ensure all media workers get a pay rise. A survey of Newsquest members showed most existed on less than £22,000 – a senior journalist’s wage


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