07 Hybrid times


Caroline Holmes looks at how the union can recruit and organise as work paterns change


2020. Tose once office-based are now working from home or are spending only some time in an office (hybrid working). Some members are opting for flexible hours because of increased caring responsibilities. Many freelances lost work or are now doing different jobs. Others now find themselves disabled aſter developing Long Covid and cultural, organisational and structural barriers continue to exclude disabled members from accessing paid work. Tis change has presented a number of challenges to chapels and branches. How do you find out who is a new member of staff who needs to be recruited to the NUJ when all of them are working remotely? How do you develop relationships with members and encourage activity when you are not able to meet face to face? What do you do when you are in an unrecognised workplace and want to gain recognition for NUJ members? How do you start the process, and how do you initiate


H


ow NUJ members live and work has changed dramatically for many since March


informal conversations when you never come into contact with most of the staff? Tese are just some of the challenges that reps face when trying to organise collectively. Tere has never been a more important time to belong to the NUJ and to find ways of collectively challenging some of the poor behaviour many members are experiencing. Examples include employers failing to complete and publish comprehensive risk assessments in conjunction with NUJ reps. Freelance members are oſten excluded from Covid safety measures and are expected to assess their own risks with litle or no support.


NUJ chapels and branches have


had to respond quickly to find new ways of involving members in their activities. One branch has been organising weekly meetings so freelance members can drop in, share their concerns and get help. Some chapels have been holding weekly surgeries for members and have run training and information- sharing workshops. In January 2022, NUJ Trade Union Training launches monthly organising and campaigning workshops (all courses are still


being held on Zoom) so chapel and branch reps can share some of their specific challenges and swap ideas. Te workshops will explore ways of recruiting members and developing different approaches to involving members in union activity when so many are working remotely, flexibly or in a hybrid way. Te next NUJ reps meeting, on


Wednesday 1 December, 3pm-4pm, will explore some of these issues. Te dates for the Organising and Campaigning workshops are now on the NUJ website: they are: 27 January 2.30pm-4.30; 24 February 2.30pm-4.30; 25 March 10am-12; and 28 April 2.30pm-4.30. Email tutraining@nuj.org.uk to book your place.


training NUJ Training Scotland and NUJ Training Wales have a full programme of courses to improve and learn new professional skills and keep you up to date with technological developments. All members can apply for online courses. More information can be found on the Scotish website: htps:// nujtrainingscotland.com/ and Welsh website: htps://www. nujtrainingwales.org/


Professional


TRAINING


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