up front
General secretary Michelle Stanistreet outlines union campaign priorities
Finding the way forward
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t’s been a busy time as we entered the last straits of the Leveson Inquiry, submitting the NUJ’s contribution on the future of press regulation, giving evidence again in person, and putting the final touches to our closing statement. Now we all await Leveson’s recommendations, expected sometime in October – but it can’t simply be a waiting game. The NUJ has got to keep pushing our demand for substantive change if there’s to be the political will to abandon a system that has served the industry elite so well for so many years. That’s why I’ll be speaking at all the party conferences, along with colleagues from the Media Standards Trust, Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom and Coordinating Committee for Media Reform. We’re also holding a fringe meeting on Leveson at the TUC Congress early in September. We need to press home to politicians that this is a once in a generation opportunity for reform that we won’t allow to be squandered. At the same time, getting the union’s recovery plan in place has inevitably been a focus of concerted energy and attention. After several months of consultation with staff, we’ve collectively managed to reduce the level of cuts needed to the staffing budget and ensure the redundancy process is a voluntary one. Six staff have decided to take voluntary redundancy – each of them has exciting new plans on the horizon and June Coughlan, Don Mackglew, Lawrence Shaw, Eve DaCosta, Jo Frost and
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George McClure leave with our sincere thanks for all their hard work for the union over many years, and warmest wishes for the future. Key decisions will be taken at our delegate meeting in Newcastle at the start of October. The NEC is asking delegates to vote for a 5 per cent subscription increase and for a move to biennial delegate meetings – vital steps in a broader plan to ensure the union’s financial and political sustainability. The budget for 2012/13 was unanimously endorsed at last month’s NEC. But if delegates don’t adopt key income-generating motions, the union will have to revisit the budget and make further cuts. Please take the time to get along to your branch meeting and participate in the debate and discussion over the way forward for the NUJ.
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Volunteer your services. Don’t forget: your union needs you!
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n the meantime work has begun in earnest on recruitment and organising – the best way for the union to grow and thrive. Lists of members about to be lapsed for non-payment of subs have been sent to branches and chapels. This process needs the personal touch , with members contacting colleagues and persuading them to remain within the NUJ. Phone banks in NUJ offices are part of this work, as well as contacting people who’ve been supportive of our work, but are not yet members, via facebook, twitter and linkedin. There’s huge scope for recruitment in existing workplaces and in companies where we have little or no organisation. Think of all the journalists you know who are not members of the NUJ – then ask them to join! Planning for new term student recruitment in the universities and colleges is now in full swing. If we’re to succeed we need many more volunteers to come forward and help. Thanks to everyone who’s offered their help so far – if you haven’t yet, please email recruit@nuj.org.uk with your ideas and to volunteer your services. Don’t forget – your union needs you!
or all the latest news from the NUJ go to www.nuj.org.uk F To take part in debates see The Platform on the website theJournalist | 9