news


Equal pay fight begins for 100 BBC women


women at the BBC. The move comes following


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a survey by the union that found nearly eight out of 10 women at the corporation believe they are paid less than male counterparts Over 78 per cent of


respondents to an NUJ survey said they knew or believed that men doing the same or comparative roles got better pay than their female counterparts. The findings followed the


publication by the BBC of the on-air “talent” who earned more than £150,000. The list showed that only a third were women and of the 96 named only 10 were from black or


minority ethnic backgrounds. The pay disparity came as a


great shock to many women journalists who suddenly discovered their male counterpart next to them on the sofa, in the studio or newsroom were earning much more than them, in some cases with less experience. Recent figures from the


Office for National Statistics


he NUJ is taking action to secure equal pay on behalf of more than 100


show that the gender pay gap for women in their 20s is now five times greater than it was six years ago – rising from 1.1 per cent to 5.5 per cent. They also demonstrate that older women still face greater pay discrimination than workers at the start of their career, with women in their 50s paid on average 18.6 per cent less than their male colleagues. The BBC’s own report of its


graded staff, overseen by Sir Patrick Elias, the former Appeal Court judge, concluded that there was “no systemic discrimination against women in the BBC’s pay arrangements”. The report did not include on-air staff, which is subject to a separate review.


“ UNION LOSES PENSIONS LEGAL BATTLE ”


about £200,000 for the corporation’s legal costs. The case follows a long-running fight with the BBC over pensions after the organisation tried to encourage staff


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he union has lost a legal case over pensions against the BBC and is likely to face a bill of


to opt out of a final salary pension and cap how much of pay rises could be pensionable. Both the NUJ and Bectu took strike action. Acas, the conciliation service, suggested a compromise on the pensions changes, which was accepted by Bectu but rejected by the NUJ.


The NUJ went on to back John


Bradbury, a BBC symphony clarinet player, in a legal challenge to the BBC over pensions. The case went to the High Court, the pensions ombudsman, back to the High Court and then to the Court of Appeal at which Lady Gloster ruled in the BBC’s favour.


Mirror NUJ members asked for proof N


UJ journalists trying to re-establish the union at the Daily and Sunday Mirror and Sunday People have been told to


“prove” they have a better case for recognition than the rival British Association of Journalists.


Mirror executives including managing editor Aidan McGurran faced questions over why NUJ members were still being denied a voice at the titles during a recent Q&A meeting with staff. One member wanted to know whether it was time for the Mirror, as a Labour-supporting paper, to allow Jeremy Corbyn’s own union – the NUJ – back inside the building. Mr McGurran, a Labour councillor in Basildon, Essex, insisted that the NUJ had “never left the building”, despite a long campaign by journalists for union recognition. He said that it was up to the NUJ to “prove” it had more members than the British Association of Journalists.


Nearly eight out of 10 women at the corporation believe they are paid less than male counterparts


in brief...


HOPKINS LEAVES THE MAILONLINE Katie Hopkins, the controversial columnist, has left MailOnline after two years writing for the website. The Mail said that her departure was by mutual consent and that her contract was not renewed. The move comes several months after her radio show was axed by LBC.


SUPPORT FOR BBC PERSIAN CAMPAIGN The International Federation of Journalists executive committee unanimously backed the BBC Persian journalists campaign to stop the targeting, harassment and persecution of journalists and their families by the Iranian authorities.


NEWSQUEST SEEKS ISLE OF WIGHT CUTS Newsquest has called for voluntary redundancies at the Isle of Wight County Press four months after it bought the title. The publisher described the move as regrettable but part of its plan to ensure that the paper has a sustainable future. The NUJ has urged Newsquest to share its plan with its staff ahead of their decisions on whether to seek redundancy.


BILL TACKLES BOGUS SELF EMPLOYMENT The NUJ has welcomed publication of a Labour Party bill in Ireland to tackle bogus self-employment contracts. The Protection of Employment (Measures to Counter False Self Employment) Bill 2017 would put all workers on an equal footing where they carry out the same duties, but are not legally designated as ‘employees’. Irish delegate conference, Page 7


ARTS COUNCIL FUNDS FOR NUJ MEMBERS Northern Ireland’s Arts Council has given awards to two NUJ members. Former Cathaoirleach (Chair) of the Irish Executive, Felicity McCall, received funding for an imaginary memoir based on single motherhood in her family. Former MoC in BBC Radio Foyle Freya McClements won funding for a collection of short stories, provisionally entitled ‘On The Threshold’.


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VEEKAY / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


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