branches


An ideas exchange


Branch officers learnt from each other at a summit. Kath Grant reports


V


enues, speakers and radical challenges within the industry are all issues NUJ branches are wrestling with as


they try to recruit new members. A branch summit held online in September brought together branch officers to discuss new ways of organising and recruiting in the wake of job losses and the rapid growth of AI. Problems and success stories were


shared, with an emphasis placed on discovering what works for most members and how branches can best use members’ skills and knowledge. The summit was the result of a motion passed at the delegate meeting in Blackpool. Ideas and experiences outlined by branches will be shared more widely in a handbook being put together by the NEC. NUJ joint president Gerry Curran said


the national executive council (NEC) wanted to hear from branches about how they were adapting to change. The summit provided an opportunity for them to support each other. The power of NUJ branches had been


visible over the summer, said general secretary Laura Davison. They had responded swiftly to members’ requests for solidarity events in support of journalists killed, particularly in Gaza but also in other places around the world. Davison also highighted the job cuts


at Reach, with 600 journalists at risk of redundancy. Supporting journalists who are losing or changing jobs is a ‘whole union approach’ and branches have their part to play, she said.


10 | theJournalist All branch officers had reconsidered


how they organised meetings during the pandemic. In some cases, new practices have


continued. Mark Fisher of Edinburgh freelance branch said more frequent online meetings had first been held because of the vulnerabiity of some members. His branch still meets regularly every Monday afternoon. “We’ve never lost that impetus,” he said. Officers agreed that hybrid meetings


were ideal but relied on having members able to facilitate them. New members were often reluctant to speak at online meetings unless specifically invited to do so. They sometimes felt they were ‘eavesdropping’ rather than taking part, one officer said. Nonetheless, Fisher reported, online meetings have been welcomed by many. They enable disabled members, parents and those with caring responsibilities to attend much more regularly and have also improved the gender balance. Ray Tostevin from South West England branch discussed being able to bring together members from various geographical areas, including the Channel Islands. “We even had a member join us from


Sri Lanka and another, who would not be able to travel to a physical meeting in Bristol, is able to dial in from Penzance. “It enables people who relocate to other countries to stay in touch and it unites members across the region.” Fisher said weekly meetings ensure ongoing issues are never overtaken or lost. He admitted that


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some members did not prefer online meetings, which was why socials were important.


Supporting journalists who are losing or changing jobs is a ‘whole union approach’ and branches have their part to play


Some meetings are set aside for general branch business, while others featured speakers on topics such as copyright and freedom of information. Cailin Mackenzie, from Brussels branch, said most members there were freelances. The branch meets in person; it offers expenses for carers and publicises how accessible venues are. Newsletters, holding meetings with other branches and WhatsApp groups are all useful for communication between members, said Phil Sutcliffe of London freelance branch. The branch’s hybrid meetings attract a range of speakers and the branch also holds online coffee mornings, which have a regular attendance of 35–40 people. All officers spoke of the importance of opening up special meetings and seminars to students and non- members as part of the union’s recruitment and retention work. Vice-president Georgina Morris


pointed to radical changes in the way journalists work, with many feeling isolated, working at home and not seeing colleagues in newsrooms. The threat of job cuts continues to affect livelihoods, so the role of branches has never been more important. Gerard Cunningham organises the Dublin freelance forum, which has been running for more than 15 years and is open to members and non-members. He said it organises two events a year and finds


newsletters are a good way of staying in touch with all freelances.


KEVIN COOPER PHOTOLINE


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