Michelle4DGS - Experience

Experience

Ever since becoming a journalist and NUJ member I have been actively and enthusiastically involved throughout the union’s lay structures. I’m incredibly proud of the NUJ, proud to be part of a union that is truly democratic, one that genuinely has the interests of its members at its heart.

Like all reps and lay activists, I spend a lot of time and energy working, campaigning and recruiting for the union – we do it because we love all the NUJ stands for and we know our efforts make a difference. As trade unions go, we punch well above our weight and we’re all the stronger for that.

I believe members need a DGS prepared to get stuck in and put members first. I believe that person should know the reality of life as a working journalist today and have the dedication and commitment necessary to make a difference – chapel reps, branch officials, officials and members across the union’s regions and nations believe I am that candidate.

Workplace
As a chapel rep in an anti-union company I have fought many battles. I know firsthand the issues facing staff and freelance members and I will deliver on them. I have represented members at all levels of the union and within the wider trade union movement. As Vice President and President I led the union through challenging years, negotiating, organising and campaigning on behalf of members.

As a chapel rep at Express Newspapers I have:

Led, along with the other two reps, a successful campaign for recognition in 2001
Challenged – and successfully defeated - the imposition of unfair contracts that would significantly down-grade terms and conditions of existing staff
Secured improvements in contracts given to new members of staff
Fought redundancy rounds in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006 – each time ensuring that the only people who left were volunteers, and that they left on improved redundancy terms (both staff and long-term casuals)
On the back of a successful dispute over pay in 2005 we secured a house agreement to build on terms achieved in our recognition. I co-wrote the agreement – one of the most comprehensive within the NUJ. Recognition has to be just the start – we need more house agreements, with better and broader terms and conditions for our members, both staff and freelance
Successfully fought plans by the company in 2006/7 to impose 60 compulsory staff redundancies, slash editorial budgets, sack casuals, cut freelance budgets, pool departments across titles and outsource in their entirety the city and travel desks.
In successive years, secured better deals for staff on low pay, boosted terms and pay for graduate trainees
Tied annual pay increases to negotiated casual rates
Negotiated pay deals each year – achieving deals and decent financial settlements for staff and casuals
Repeatedly taken a strong public stance condemning management for lack of editorial integrity – speaking out and taking action against racially inflammatory coverage on asylum seekers in 2001, gypsies in 2004 and anti-Muslim coverage in 2006. Twice referred management to PCC on racist editorial coverage and the pressuring of journalists to write unethical material
Held industrial action in 2006 and in 2008
Represented, advised and been a support and listening ear for members on a whole range of issues – late payment, bullying, equal pay, ethical concerns, personal problems, flexible working applications…

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Lay Leadership
As NEC rep for newspapers and agencies since 2002 I have:

Consistently and proactively worked with the national organiser – first Jeremy Dear and then Barry Fitzpatrick – delivering for members. With Barry I introduced the “Fleet Street” regular meetings of reps from all national titles and agencies – enabling activists in the sector to get together, swap ideas and information and provide crucial support and help to each other.
Supported the work and activities of group chapels – vital if we are to properly deploy our collective might against companies
Developed recognition deals in the sector – eg at Western Daily Press / Bristol Evening Post. I also took part in the campaign for recognition at the Times Supplements, after the company sale released them from grip of Murdoch and his staff association – and was part of the negotiating team with management that eventually secured a recognition agreement
Supported the push into new media – I set up the inaugural meeting of staff at AOL and supported the set-up of a chapel, which went on to become the first to get recognition in the sector

National official
As vice-president and president since 2006 I have:

Represented the NUJ at countless conferences, committees and meetings
Chaired NEC and committee meetings
Provided leadership through challenging times
Introduced new measures to cut costs and ensure we secure the union’s financial stability
Led and coordinated the Stand Up for Journalism campaign – helping organise the November 5 series of rallies and meetings, the first union-wide day of action in over 20 years, which brought together members from across our sectors, and across the union’s nations and regions in defence of quality journalism
Spearheaded the development of Stand Up for Journalism into a campaign that puts the recruitment of new members and the retention of existing ones at the heart of union business.
As the public face of the union I made countless representations to governments, embassies and global organizations, acting on behalf of the NUJ in defence of journalists everywhere, their trade unions and basic human rights as well as their safety and development.

Wider trade union movement
I have also played a big part within the wider trade union movement, representing the interests of NUJ members and building links and solidarity with journalists around the world.

Represented the NUJ as a delegate to the International Federation of Journalists’ Congress in 2004 and 2007; to the TUC Congress in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and was elected as a delegate to the TUC Women’s Conference in 2006 and 2007 – speaking on issues including press freedom, the killing of journalists, collective bargaining, the defence of public service broadcasting, work experience and equal pay.
Elected onto the TUC Women’s Committee in 2008 – the first NUJ member ever to achieve this
In India, I collaborated with the three journalists’ unions in a programme that aimed to organise the unorganised – low-paid workers, in their majority women and young journalists – and empower them to play their role in the fight for better conditions.
This work with the Indian unions led to a major breakthrough for the NUJ, in the signing of an agreement on outsourcing between the NUJ and the three Indian unions – the Indian Journalists’ Union, the National Union of Journalists (India) and the All-India Newspapers Employees Federation. Offshoring is a key challenge for us as journalists in the UK and Ireland, one we need to tackle proactively and imaginatively.
In Russia, I played a key role in work seeking to strengthen the capacity of the Russian Union of Journalists – the biggest journalists’ union in the world –addressing the new challenges posed by the arrival of foreign media and defending the social and professional rights of their members.