Have your say: Time to vote for MARK THOMAS


as Springer Nature, shows that we recruit well where the NUJ is obviously active. Replicating that is critical to membership growth. So too is campaigning vigorously for better freelance rates. Many have remained static for a decade or more. We must make employers ashamed to grievously underpay. Defending public-interest


journalism should also be at the heart of our work. RTÉ and the BBC have global reputations for news production. In recent times, management at both have been careless custodians of these vital institutions. The NUJ’s role defending their integrity has never been more important. Admiring the spirit of our


Laura Davison


In June I introduced our PA Chapel Committee reps to the NUJ’s national executive meeting. It was an electric moment.


Our current and former reps,


Emily Pennink, Jonathan Brady and Sian Harrison described their four-year campaign for union recognition – that had triumphed a couple of weeks earlier. Congratulations from NEC members poured out. We considered the lessons to be applied elsewhere. Our reps described their pay-claim plans. As the NUJ’s newspapers and news


agencies organiser, I had supported them from the outset. Recognition is a milestone, rather than a destination, of course. But two things struck me. Our PA reps’ determination to unionise sprang from their pride in their work. The self-respect, security, and better conditions that NUJ recognition brings, are intrinsic to producing the best possible journalism.


Second, the energy their campaign


unleashed is amazing. The confidence and purpose that those reps radiate is strengthening their


24 | theJournalist


own members and inspiring other chapels. When we generate and amplify that kind of dynamism, the NUJ’s potential is unbounded. That NEC’s other momentous


news was Michelle Stanistreet’s decision to stand down. We have been more than fortunate to have had a committed, skilled and empathetic leader, whose support and example has underpinned the development of so many active members, including me. Big shoes to fill!


Those lessons from the PA


campaign inspired me to stand for election. Determination to improve our members’ pay and conditions and to defend and promote journalism is intrinsic to the NUJ’s mission; we do that best by empowering our members. Of course, the challenges are significant. Headcount in traditional newsrooms falls and falls. Some employers appear determined to starve editorial operations of resources, disregarding editorial quality. Structural change has buffeted freelances more than most. Success at PA, and employers such


SUPPORT Successfully leading the NUJ is possible only with widespread and broad-based support. Scores of branch and workplace activists as well as officials and NEC members have urged me to stand, and I am proud to count over 130 of them among my named supporters. There’s space only for some names here - you will find a full list at www. laura4gs.co.uk


Samira Ahmed, (presenter); Gerry


Curran and Fran McNulty (joint vice presidents); Michelle Stanistreet


colleagues at PA reminded me how inspired I was, nearly 20 years ago when I was a BBC journalist. Campaigning against job cuts then opened my eyes to the possibilities of union activism. Since then, I have clocked up more than 17 years’ experience as an NUJ organiser. I have been engaged in negotiations at the BBC, The Guardian, The Financial Times, Reach, National World and many others. I now want to use that experience to energise the whole union. I hope that you will give me your support to do just that.


VOTE LAURA DAVISON FOR GENERAL SECRETARY


(general secretary), John Barsby (treasurer), Emily Pennink, Jonathan Brady, Sian Harrison (current and former chapel co-chairs PA); Georgina Morris, (former National World group chapel chair); Steve Bird, (FT chapel chair); Martin Shipton, (Nation.Cymru); Roger McKenzie, (NEC Black Members); Kathryn Johnson, (Belfast & District Branch); John Harris, (photographer); Andrew Wiard, (photographer); Maeve Shearlaw, Richard Alcock, Oren Gruenbaum, (Guardian/Observer) Datshiane Navanayagam, (presenter); David Gallagher, (BBC London Branch); Natasha Wynarczyk, (Reach group chapel); Ruby Lott-Lavigna (former Vice rep) Jeremy Dear (former general secretary); Pierre Vicary (past President and BBC World Service Branch); John Fray (former deputy general secretary); Sian Jones (previous Broadcasting Organiser) John Toner (former NUJ Freelance and Scottish Organiser)


INDEPENDENCE – TO DEFEND MEDIA FREEDOM As well as advancing members’ economic interests, the NUJ defends media freedom. Our union sponsored the most significant legal actions that, as case law, safeguards our right to do our jobs – Goodwin and the right to protect sources; Wilson – the right to trades union membership; Ahmed – landmark equal pay case. Other cases are ongoing, Barry McCaffrey’s action resulting from his being spied on by police forces in Britain and Ireland, for example. Retaining the NUJ’s independence underwrites this work. Difficult decisions about deploying members’ money to support legal cases are always taken by journalists – the people who know best how important such cases are to us all. As General Secretary, retaining the NUJ’s independence to continue doing this is an absolute commitment.


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