The National Union of Journalists has resolved to campaign for all its members to be paid at least the national living wage.
A motion passed at the NUJ’s Delegate Meeting, in Southport, instructed the union’s national executive to campaign for all members to be paid at least the appropriate living wage on entry to any job, and for this to be on hours actually worked, not just contractual hours.
The motion noted that staffing levels had decreased considerably, meaning employers are getting what it termed “unprecedented value out of their staff”.
In June last year, journalists at Newsquest South London secured the London Living Wage for trainees and other concessions after embarking on an 11-day strike.
Paul Scott, who represents Wales on the NUJ’s national executive, said: “It is a scandal that the bosses, encouraged by the overwhelming political creed of austerity, think they can get away with paying journalists as little as they can get away with.”
The motion also noted that pay remained low for many in commercial broadcasting, new media magazines and books, public sector communications and freelances.
Laura Davison, NUJ national organiser, said many members were on pitiful wages, suffering many years of pay freezes, with members in south London having to strike for 10 days to win the Living Wage for young colleagues.
She added: “It’s the same on the nationals. Members on Express papers have not had a pay rise for almost a decade.
“The conditions are so poor people are voting with their feet and leaving the industry for better-paid and family friend hours.”
This is a good idea in principle! However, it would mean EVERYBODY sticking together, finishing work on the dot, not answering the phone outside of working hours and not doing any unpaid work whatsoever! Alas, when many reporters happily take photos on an iPhone without a murmur of objection I can’t see many working to rule!
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In my (limited) experience with editors, I believed they set the tone. If the job was their life, it had to be your life too, but at least it was often rewarding working the long shift in print (although I never bought the ‘it’s more than a job’ mantra). The poor sods now are just exploited and under-valued.
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Like many, I did up to 20 hours unpaid overtime some weeks just to get my old JP paper on the streets. Reward? Redundancy and closure of office. This union idea sounds good, but bosses will not agree to it.
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Given the poor rates of basic pay and the skill required, to say nothing of the stress and increasingly poor working conditions, this should be standard practice. Reporters at my paper get OT by the hour, albeit at their standard rate, and we’re just an independent. The corporate-owned media can always find a few million knocking about for its shareholders and clueless execs – it shouldn’t be struggling to meet this very reasonable request.
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Hours actually worked – be careful what you wish for !
Big difference between worked and attended for work.
Most casual subbing shifts on a national , attend for 8 work for 4 ish
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Paul Scott “overwhelming political creed of austerity”
Careful , that sounds almost politically partisan, I though the NUJ were supposed to be politically neutral. We all know they are not, Guardianistas all, but has the constitution changed ?
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