NUJ Informed March 2020

NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE Informedissue 31 March 2020 other types of technology – and NUJ NUJ website. Or perhaps your branch business is being carried out, and indeed or workplace can think of ways to raise is busier than ever. money. In this special edition of NUJ Informed, If you go on to the website www.nuj. Seamus Dooley, Irish Secretary, outlines org.uk you will find our green Covid-19 how the union quickly switched to home button, where you can find a huge fund working, while still maintaining a major of advice, guidance and suggestions of role on the national scenes in the UK where you can find financial assistance. and Ireland. The page is regularly updated as the The coronavirus crisis quickly hit situation changes. the pockets of many of our freelance One aspect of this crisis has been to members, and others fear for the future highlight why quality journalism is vital of their jobs. It has been heart-breaking and the huge role that our public service to read some of the testimonies of broadcasters and local press are playing members whose shifts have been in providing information and working cancelled, with no more work in sight, with volunteers to make sure the while others fear for the future of the vulnerable receive help. Ensuring public titles they write for. service broadcasters were categorised as Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary, key workers was one important win for us Keep Safe! explains on page 2 how the union has last week. risen to meet these challenges, together NUJ members are resourceful and with the broader trade union movement, adaptable and will endeavour to be out As president of the NUJ, I hope you to support all our members and argue there telling the story. But I just urge you and your loved ones are keeping well for a proper financial package to see all to take great care if you are working in these difficult times and that you people through this emergency. Sadly, outside of your home – make sure you are doing all you can to keep safe. some of the usual suspects among our have the correct protections and don’t While the doors of our offices employers have been less generous in accept risk in this critical period. in London, Dublin, Glasgow and their response. As we all get to grips with new ways Manchester are closed, the union is very Now is the time to show solidarity of working – I’ve been on four different much open and working hard to support and support each other. Trustees of video and five different conference you and to uphold quality journalism. the union’s hardship charity NUJ Extra calling systems in the past fortnight – The union’s Emergency Committee met this week. They have pledged to we are bound to find the world of work met this week (by conference call help those directly affected and who changed after this pandemic. Among the of course) and had no choice but to lose money as a result, as well as those difficulties, stresses and sorrow of this postpone Delegate Meeting which was who contract the disease or who have challenging period, there will be new or due to take place next month. This has to self-quarantine because of it. The stronger connections and different ways several consequences, one of which charity will also consider applications of working which emerge and we will find relating to DM being when terms of office from those who do not contract the strength within ourselves and among – including mine as president – were disease but who lose significant income each other. due to come to an end. We decided in from the economic impact of Covid-19 So take care, look after each other accordance with the NUJ Rule Book that and the response to it – a significant and offer solidarity where you can. I send for the time being all national officers, variation to the charity’s normal policy. you mine. councils and committees will remain So, if you are still in a job and feel secure in place until the end of the next DM, in your employment, think about your whenever that is. However, rest assured less-fortunate colleagues and see if you that the union’s democratic bodies are can make a donation to NUJ Extra. It’s still meeting – by Microsoft Teams and very easy, you can do so online on the Also Michelle’s #WFH Virus in this Message Homeworking Threat issue: Page 2 Page 8 Page 10 02 Informed Michelle’s Message significant chunk of that pressure has ensure that those journalists – staff and come from the trade union movement freelance – who are doing vital public – notable when the UK Chancellor paid interest journalism documenting the tribute to the TUC and the CBI in the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, are able to same breath, during his announcement go about their work without interference of the financial package of support for or misunderstandings with local police. workers and companies. Of course, we’re also reminding all But a massive omission was for the NUJ members that this only applies to millions of freelance, self-employed journalists carrying out this work – a and workers in the gig economy whose press card is not a passport out of self- already precarious livelihoods have isolation and we’re also obliged to look been plunged into crisis. That’s when after our own safety and that of others in the NUJ, with the TUC and sister unions, the coming weeks. swung into action. It was unthinkable that the government was not going to come to the aid of 5m self-employed “We are here to help workers, including many in the media, and support you.” Speaking with just because it was difficult. This crisis has put the precarious lives of so many As Sian Jones, our president, reminds many NUJ members working people into sharp focus and us – the NUJ might be doing its work responses to our freelance office have differently, as we adjust to remote this week, there shown the stark reality of members working, but our support and presence is was a common whose work dried up virtually overnight. as real and personal as ever. The priority I joined a meeting with fellow trade of our staff and officials is to help our sentiment unions and treasury officials to thrash members through this difficult period. expressed about out the issues. We need to look at the Our charity NUJ Extra – which I’m proud package in detail and will continue our to be a trustee of – has swung into action the rapid escalation conversations with government, but and will do all it can to offer practical of the Covid-19 the obvious problem is that money is support to those who need it most, unlikely to be released into people’s back while continuing to support our existing pandemic accounts until June. beneficiaries. Of course the industry has also Our schedule of reps’ training had been lobbying and demanding state to be cancelled but the good news is We were suddenly faced with the intervention to support newspapers that we are working with our trainer challenge of having to adapt swiftly to and journalism – purporting to be the Caroline Holmes as we speak to ensure a new normal, one that has thrown our “fourth emergency service” in meetings we continue to support reps with work and personal lives into a swirling with ministers, then turning around and reconfigured online courses, and some vortex and imposed constraints that closing free titles, laying off reporters new bespoke packages – including a we’ve never experienced before. and – in the case of Newsquest – cutting focus on mental health which we’ll At the same time, as if the last few wages of staff they are not putting on launch in April, to help us through years of politics haven’t been enough of a furlough. The cynical opportunistic this period of remote working. With rollercoaster ride, we’re now witnessing – actions of companies who have the NUJ on your side we want to make and bearing witness to as journalists – an disgraceful form for “never wasting sure this period of necessary isolation unparalleled intervention of the state a crisis.” is a physical one, not a social one, and in our lives, hearing the language of Our lobbying intervention when the your NUJ family – your chapel, branch, collectivism, compassion and solidarity lockdowns commenced meant we were colleagues on industrial councils and from the most unusual of quarters. able to demonstrate how journalists union committees, and all of us who Of course the reality is that the must be regarded as vital keyworkers, work for the union, are here to help and conversion to socialist principles is ensuring those members that need it (in support you. a skin-deep and slow reaction to the the UK) would have the consequential Take extra care of yourself and your changing world around us, and in access to ongoing childcare provision. loved ones in the coming days and weeks response to enormous pressure for our We’ve also been liaising with the and know that the NUJ continues to have government to act more decisively. A National Police Chiefs Council to your back. Informed 03 besieged chapel reps faced with notices of layoffs, part-time working, temporary Coping with gale-force closures and redundancies. In the context of the state winds of change assistance packages, announcements unprecedented from a Tory government, support and helpful colleagues is there is no justification for employers entirely different proposition.

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