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National reps report confidence boost and earning wins at work


NUJ In the opening session, NUJ national newspaper organiser


NUJ national representatives gathered in person for the first time since the pandemic in March, Bethan Staton writes. Energising discussions on the cost-of-living crisis, opportunities for organising and the growing connections between unions, showed demands have evolved fast since lockdown. With inflation still rising and strikes nationwide, winning pay


rises headed the agenda and reps brought ideas, experience and drive to secure deals. National organisers and reps from branches including Reach, the Financial Times and the Press Association (PA) shared their rising confidence among members as well as news of victories. The day before the meeting, Guardian staff secured a general pay rise of 6.5 per cent plus and eight per cent for those earning less than £71,900, plus a lump sum of £2,000 this year which will be consolidated into pay next year.


Laura Davison reported an increase in chapels starting to get organised, often out of outrage at inequalities and cuts. Those attending heard from Georgina Morris (pictured), rep at National World, on the ‘ripple effect’ of support from other NUJ groups that helped the branch grow despite increasing workloads and reps being lost to redundancy. The PA chapel has nearly doubled to nearly 130 members, but high staff turnover and fear of repercussions meant this growth was hard won. Rep Sian Harrison said staff mobilised after a proposed 10 per cent pay cut revealed that vast discrepancies between salaries had gone unchallenged because of a culture of not discussing pay, adding: “Not any more because we’re all talking and we’re all furious.” Lewis Emery, from the Labour Research Department, set out


data on pay, settlements and economic trends for branches to use in negotiations. The FT’s Keith Fray showed how, ahead of negotiations last year, the chapel used company data to model pay rises across bands and against inflation, showing what uplifts would mean for staff and, ultimately, winning a 10 per cent increase for the lowest paid. Natasha Wynarczyk from Reach also showed how greater transparency could tackle pay inequality where gender gaps are hidden. An inspiring part of the day was a visit from Amazon workers and the GMB, who this year organised the first strike action at a UK fulfilment centre this year. Amazon employee and new organiser Darren recalled being moved to tears as workers emerged through the fog to join him on the picket line at the midnight start of a walkout in March.


Call on pay clarity for equality


AT THIS year’s TUC Women’s conference, the NUJ moved motions on pay transparency in job adverts and the attacks on journalists covering protests in Iran, Cristina Lago writes. It also seconded motions on part-time and freelance work and spoke in support of


confidential reporting of sexual harassment in the union movement. Lack of pay transparency in job adverts is widespread, particularly in the private sector, which is a barrier to women achieving equal pay. The NUJ called on the TUC to lobby the government to


extend its pilot scheme addressing the gender pay gap and normalise the publication of salaries in job adverts.


The union highlighted the


attacks on Iranian journalists covering the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the so-called morality police.


The NUJ called on the TUC


to condemn the Iranian government’s attacks on women and the right of journalists to report the protests without being labelled as spies and instigators of the demonstrations. Natasha Hirst also spoke


on how online abuse of journalists is highly


Survey looks at RTÉ salaries The questionnaire follows calls


THE UNION is conducting an equal pay survey within RTÉ, Ireland’s public service broadcaster. Following on from the RTÉ gender pay gap report in December 2022, which indicated a 13.03 per cent pay differential, the NUJ is carrying out a confidential online survey among journalists in RTÉ.


04 | theJournalist


for action by the Dublin broadcasting branch and its RTÉ NUJ sub-branch. The union said that the survey is part of its ongoing equal pay campaign. Emma O’Kelly, Dublin


broadcasting branch chair, has highlighted branch concerns over


“


Vast discrepancies between salaries had gone unchallenged because of a culture of not discussing pay – but no more because we’re all talking and we’re all furious


Sian Harrison Press Association chapel


gendered and intersectional during a fringe panel on the role of trade unions in tackling misogyny.


The delegation included


NUJ equality council members Raj Sangha Ford, Ann Coltart and Cristina Lago, and attendees elected by the last delegate meeting Ann Galpin and Natasha Hirst, NUJ vice-president.


the gender pay gap in RTÉ and drawn attention to the loss of younger women from the workforce. The survey is for all members and


also anyone at the broadcaster who wishes to join the union. Séamus Dooley, NUJ Irish


secretary, said: “Look out for our survey as well as our upcoming seminar on the principles of equal pay, from both legal and industrial relations perspectives.”


FRANK33 / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


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