tuc news


Oxford journalists praised for opposing ‘greedy’ fire and rehire


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JOURNALISTS at the Oxford Mail who resisted Newsquest’s plans to rip up their contracts and change their working conditions were praised by NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet at a TUC fringe meeting. Speaking in support of the


Fire and rehire is the result of unscrupulous employers hoping to exploit the ‘anything goes’ atmosphere created by the pandemic


Michelle Stanistreet NUJ general secretary


Stop Fire and Rehire campaign, she said the trade union movement needed to join forces to fight “arrogant, greedy and shabby employment practices”. In Oxford earlier this year,


NUJ members who threatened strike action were supported by local politicians and their community, and a settlement was negotiated. Stanistreet said: “We


must empower workers to take action when they are threatened. “Fire and rehire is the result of unscrupulous


and rehire, said employers should be subjected to penalties and appeals if they cancel contracts and fail to consult and negotiate. He has spoken at events


around the country to publicise the campaign and asked all trade unionists to get involved. TUC congress condemned


JESS HURD


employers hoping to exploit the ‘anything goes’ atmosphere created by the pandemic – a cynical power play inspired by a ‘never waste a crisis’ approach to running a business.” The meeting was chaired


by Unite’s assistant general secretary Tony Burke, who described fire and rehire schemes as “abhorrent” and


said they had already sparked a number of disputes. Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, said that in Sheffield the UCU had worked successfully with other unions to resist the university’s redundancy plans. Barry Gardiner MP, who is leading a private member’s bill in parliament to stop fire


Pay and conditions hit hard by Covid Graham Revie of the Royal


KEY WORKERS including journalists played a critical role during the pandemic but the government did not match their contribution, the NUJ general secretary said at TUC Congress. Chairing the fringe meeting


Fair Pay for Key Workers, Michelle Stanistreet said union members who had worked hard during the pandemic needed better pay.


College of Nursing spoke about the deaths of many patients taking a huge emotional toll on nurses and care workers. Demands on them were rising because many staff were leaving the NHS and not being replaced. Sarah Woolley of the Bakers,


Food and Allied Workers’ Union said that despite producing food,


many of her members were struggling to afford to eat. Workers who had lost the


most during the pandemic were now faced with pay freezes and attacks on workplace agreements, said Mick Lynch of the RMT. He called for trade unions to join together in rolling industrial action.


JESS HURD Attacks on media workers rise


CONGRESS supported NUJ concerns about the increasing number of journalists coming under attack during the course of their work. A motion on the safety of journalists, which outlined how women and black journalists face a disproportionate amount of abuse, was agreed. Incidents have risen, especially during lockdowns, with reporters and photographers accused of being ‘government agents’ and producing fake news. Congress agreed that journalism plays a vital role in a democratic society. It


supports the campaign to ensure journalists work without physical or verbal attacks, and urges tech giants to act on disinformation and fake news on their sites.


6 | theJournalist


fire and rehire for attacking pay and working conditions. One in 10 workers have experienced it, with black and minority ethnic workers hit the hardest. During the coronavirus pandemic, a quarter of all workers have seen their terms and conditions worsen. Congress supported a motion calling for a campaign to end fire and rehire, expose employers who use it and support workers in disputes relating to it.


EDDIE GERALD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


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