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NUJ Finance Chair: Subs increase vital to survival of independent union


Chris Frost is an NEC member and chair of the union’s Finance Committee. Here he explains why the NEC will be seeking a subs increase at the next Delegate Meeting


By Chris Frost


The NUJ is facing a grave financial challenge that threatens its future, a challenge that is the product of three unrelated factors. The first is the decision of the 2018 Delegate


Meeting not to increase subscriptions, with the result that by 2020, the earliest time the NEC can seek a subs increase, subscription rates will have been static for six years while costs have risen by more than 16 per cent. Secondly, a slight decline in paying membership exacerbated the subs freeze and despite significant efforts to recruit, we have not managed to keep pace with the reductions facing the traditional media. The third factor is a change of policy by the UK Pensions’ Regulator requiring an increase in the rate at which pension deficits are paid down. The NUJ is in a significantly stronger position than it might have been because its defined benefits staff pension scheme is now closed, but the annual cost of paying off the deficit is expected to rise from €242,400 to €415,500 in the next and subsequent years. Whilst efforts to recruit new members must


continue, the only plausible solution to protect the union and therefore our members lies in a significant rise in subscriptions over a relatively short period and an acceptance that subs will need to keep pace with inflation in the future. Protecting and benefitting its members in their


working lives, their employment and their personal life is the union’s sole purpose. The


union gives voice to members’ concerns over issues such as media freedom, government policy on media, training, education and international issues to government, other authorities and institutions such as universities, NGOs and international organisations. The union is central to members’ employment,


campaigning to safeguard their working conditions including hours of work, holidays, health and safety, and of course pay through collective workplace strength – the stronger a workplace chapel, the more likely it is to get better pay. Freelances also benefit with better fees, earlier and more efficient payment and support when things go wrong. The union won more than €10.4m for members last year alone in legal settlements, including copyright infringements. The union is far more than just an insurance


Paying membership has fallen by 21.8 per cent over the last ten years


policy; it is a lifeline to a decent working life. Yet people who are prepared to pay at least €40 a month for gym membership, €45 for their phone contract, €42 a month for pet insurance or €90 a month to insure their car are often unwilling to pay €18-€30 a month to the NUJ to provide protection for their livelihood. But the union and its collective strength is at risk if we can no longer provide the standard of service members have come to expect, service that is significantly in excess of most unions. All of our organiser staff, from the General Secretary downwards, undertake personal casework. But this is at risk if we have to make more cuts. Already we


have been unable to fill all vacancies for lack of funds.


Without a sharp increase in income, it will be necessary to make further and more draconian reductions in costs; cuts in staff and, in all probability the closure of one or more offices. Even that, however, would provide only a stop- gap before we would have to seek a protective merger with a union that had the resources to absorb our pension debts, but would only provide a basic service. Our present subs income is projected to be


€5.3m by the end of this financial year. Had subscription income maintained its RPI value


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