Turning to the NUJ S


The union has been inundated with calls for help. Ruth Addicott reports


hortly before lockdown, freelance journalist Louise Bolotin saw her income disappear almost overnight. Bolotin was a freelance sub on a small local newspaper and did editing for business


clients. One by one, they cancelled, leaving her approximately £10,000 out of pocket. “My situation has been horrific,” she says. “I was worried I’d


lose my flat. I thought ‘I’m facing destitution’.” Bolotin, 58, has been in journalism since she was 16 and is


now looking at supermarket jobs to bring in cash. Like many journalists who have lost their livelihoods, she


has no idea when she will work again. Since the crisis began, the NUJ has been inundated with


enquiries. Union officials have been working flat out to secure key worker status for members, and to protect their income as well as the future of the industry with its From Health Crisis To Good News recovery plan. As well as regular discussions with the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, treasury officials, publishers and police chiefs (over the freedom to report), NUJ reps have been supporting members on a daily basis. Tim Dawson, who represents freelances on the union’s


national executive council and is welfare officer for the London freelance branch, says enquiries from branch members have risen from one or two a quarter to one or two a week.


“Most are from members whose work disappeared around the time the lockdown started,” he says. “One had been working four or five news shifts a week on national newspapers. These were reduced to one or two. The work


How to work from home and do it well


• Act as if you’re going into the office – resist the urge to hit the snooze button, get dressed and start on time.


• Create a designated workspace – don’t be tempted to work from bed. Adjust your chair and screen to support your posture


10 | theJournalist


• Stay in contact with colleagues – pick up the phone and schedule meetings via Skype/Zoom/ Microsoft Teams.


• Structure your day – that includes taking regular breaks. Short, regular breaks are more beneficial than less frequent longer ones.


“ ”


• Do the most important tasks first – that’s when you have most energy


• Get fresh air – go for a walk, run or cycle even if it’s just for 10 minutes


Most enquiries are from members whose work disappeared when the lockdown started


being paid on a PAYE basis and the titles using the furlough rules cynically exacerbated problems. Photographers covering events have seen all their work evaporate as events have been cancelled. And one member was not able to work because their partner became seriously unwell with the virus.” While the self-employment income support scheme announced on March 26 was welcomed, it excluded thousands of workers. Many news organisations pay journalists and photographers through PAYE (although they are not on the staff) and have refused to put them on furlough. The union has around 8,000 freelance members, many of whom juggle jobs that are taxed differently. One member, who pays taxes both under PAYE and as a self-employed person, says: “This leaves me in a situation where I am entitled to less than two days’ earnings. It works out less per month than universal credit (to which I am not entitled). I’m also aware that, as the chancellor has heavily hinted, come next year I’m going to be paying more tax on my self-employment to cover the government help – help that I will have received on only a small fraction of my income.” In April, the NUJ launched its #ForgottenFreelances


campaign to strike a deal for those who have fallen between the cracks. Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, called on the chancellor to act urgently, saying freelances should be given “the same safety net as other workers”. Brian Williams, secretary of Brighton and Mid Sussex branch, points out that many employers are choosing to use the job retention scheme, but not always sticking to the rules. “We have heard of employers trying to furlough staff, thereby not having to pay them, then bringing in freelances at a lower rate of pay to do the job. You can’t get much more in breach of the Government’s scheme than that,” he says. “Clearly, being furloughed is better than being made


redundant, but it’s important to do it properly.” Issues over whether to agree to conditions of a furlough


and how contracts should be changed to accommodate it are a widespread problem (the union’s legal team has a template for reps to use). Williams says: “Where there is no union representation, members have to agree the terms of a furlough themselves – and that’s where we can do a lot of the heavy lifting for them by advising what they should and shouldn’t sign up to. “This crisis is going to get worse before it gets better. I can’t think why any journalist wouldn’t want the support and advice the NUJ can provide right now.” Scotland organiser Nick McGowan-Lowe has also seen an


increase in calls. Employers have been approaching staff individually, which has caused anger among members. One major publisher told freelances they would not be paid for work commissioned but not yet published – a decision they managed to get overturned.


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