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Latest News Monday 23 June TUC training materials on equal pay cite a civil service agreement from the 1940s as the first on record. But in October 1918 the NUJ secured equal pay with men for female national newspaper journalists. Michelle - who works for the Sunday Express - said: "This year is the 90th anniversary of a remarkable and forgotten achievement by the pioneers of the NUJ. Monday 23 June Until the recent sale of the company to CenturyComm, previous owners Trinity Mirror had thwarted attempts by Racing Post staff to be collectively represented by the NUJ, going so far as to sign a sweetheart deal with so-called union, the British Association of Journalists (BAJ). Michelle, newspaper representative on the union's national executive council, said: "This is a real victory for the persistence and loyalty of NUJ members on the titles. Despite the tawdry deal cooked up between BAJ and Trinity Mirror to deny NUJ members a real voice at work, Racing Post staff were determined to get the representation they deserved. Now, under new ownership, they've at long last been able to achieve just that - and it's largely down to the sterling efforts of FoC Robin Gibson, who's done a great job of keeping his members on board during particularly difficult times. It's been a long time coming, but I'm sure NUJ recognition will be worth the wait."
The Northern Echo - one of the UK's most prestigious regional papers - the York Press, and the company's Warrington based weekly groups are all facing cuts.
The hustings is open to all NUJ members. If you can get along tonight, please do - the meeting starts at 7.30pm at the New Mechanics Institute, Princess Street, Manchester.
Michelle joined a team of NUJ members leafleting journalists and bosses attending the Press Gazette Regional Press Awards. Staff at the York Press were nominated for the prestigious Scoop of the Year award - but not invited to the ceremony by their own management. Earlier this month members on the Newsquest title staged a 5 day strike, and yesterday began the next phase in their action - a series of mandatory meetings. Industrial action was suspended last night pending talks with management at the conciliation service ACAS. Michelle, the newspaper and agency rep on the National Executive Council, said: "Journalists and editors attending the awards today were very supportive and interested in what was happening up in York. It's ironic that staff on the Press are rightly deemed worthy of awards by their peers - yet their own management values them so much they're trying to impose a below-inflation pay rise." Don't forget - you can help members at York by sending messages of support to the chapel at: nujyork@gmail.com. Read updates on the chapel blog at www.nujyork.blogspot.com and sign the petition for a fair pay deal online at www.petitiononline.com/nujyork.
Today members of both chapels, together with members from Reuters TV, condemned attempts by management to trigger the voluntary redundancy process without meaningful negotiations with the NUJ. Members overwhelmingly passed a motion that instructed chapel officials to move to a strike ballot if the company refuses to engage in proper dialogue or if the threat of compulsory redundancies becomes a reality. Michelle, who represents newspapers and agencies on the NUJ's national executive council, answered questions at the meeting about the help and support the union centrally could provide. She said: "Staff at Reuters and Thomson Financial News have my full support. They made it clear today that they won't tolerate the company paying mere lip service to the consultation process. They want meaningful progress to be made and if the management refuses to rule out compulsory redundancies they are fully prepared to take industrial action."
Chris Wheal, chair of the union's charity NUJ Extra and the Professional Training Committee sent in a message of support, saying: "I am voting for Michelle because she is an individual who does what she believes is right and not just what she is told. She is a pragmatist and an inherently practical person who does things and doesn't just talk about doing them. I have seen first-hand the hard work she has put in to areas that have made a huge difference to large numbers of members. I like her independent spirit."
Michelle said: "Recruitment needs to be right at the top of the union's agenda and something that all members need to focus on. There's a great opportunity for us to persuade all those non-members out there that the union is relevant to them. Events like this by proactive branches like York are vital if we're to get out there and boost membership and, ultimately, our collective strength." Staff at The Press, the Newsquest title that went back to work last week after five days on strike, were also at the branch meeting. Joint FoC and Branch chair Sam Southgate updated the meeting on the progress of the dispute, and outlined the chapel's plans to continue the action with a series of mandatory meetings starting next Thursday. Michelle added: "The chapel in York are genuinely inspirational. They've kept their cool, developed creative ways of engaging people in their dispute and done a brilliant job of garnering support from their local community and politicians. They've been blown away by the support they've had from other chapels and branches within the union - but it's important to keep the messages of support and the donations coming in if they're to sustain the dispute and get the settlement they deserve." You can help - send messages of support to the chapel at: nujyork@gmail.com, read updates on the chapel blog at www.nujyork.blogspot.com and sign the petition for a fair pay deal online at www.petitiononline.com/nujyork.
Susan Stuckey, a London freelancer added her name to Michelle's campaign, saying: "The NUJ needs people like Michelle with her experience, energy and dedication. Good luck!" She was joined by Kate Bohdanowicz from the Daily Express. Former Irish Organiser Des Fagan also backed Michelle's bid to become DGS. "I found the advice and support from Michelle was second to none during intense periods of negotiation for Irish members. Her commitment to the cause went beyond what would be expected from a full-time official let alone someone who was operating as a lay activist with many other commitments including her important family commitments. She is the best and only choice for the future in the union undertaking the important role of Deputy General Secretary."
The compensation package is estimated to be worth up to £750k. Father of Chapel at the Racing Post, Robin Gibson, said: "I hope it demonstrates that it's never wise to take at face value what the company presents to you as a fait accompli, and that it highlights the benefits of being a member of the NUJ." Michelle, who represents newspapers and agencies on the NUJ's national executive council, said: "I'm delighted that Trinity Mirror wasn't allowed to get away with its shabby treatment of staff at the Racing Post. Journalists - and other workers at the company - really deserve this victory and I'm glad the NUJ was able to secure such a good deal on their behalf." Friday 30 May The Manchester mental health nurse and UNISON union activist expressed her concerns about the outsourcing of NHS work to the voluntary sector - and was accused of gross misconduct.
In Dublin, the campaign was launched by Mary Curtin and Andrew O‘Connor at RTE, Ireland’s public service broadcaster, with leaflets being distributed and a newsroom walkabout in radio, TV and online. Mary, the NUJ rep on the joint unions group, pledged her “enthusiastic support” for the campaign. Other supporters to sign up include members across different sectors of the union - from the book sector, Simon Ashby, Deputy FoC at the Open University, from press and public relations, Fergal Parkinson, a former BBC journalist and freelance photographer Larry Herman who writes: “I want a DGS who exemplifies the capacity to synthesise all of the work experiences of the entire membership, whether writer, cartoonist, sub, in public relations or photographer, and can translate all of it into action. I want a DGS who stimulates our membership to agitate and fight for our collective and Union-wide aspirations. I want an optimistic DGS, full of vigour, who will build the Union as the defender of media workers' interests. As a consequence, I'm a supporter of Michelle Stanistreet.” Asif Dar, a member of Greater London Newspapers Branch has emailed to offer his backing for Michelle saying: "I believe Michelle is the best candidate for deputy general secretary and hope that members will vote for her"
Michelle, who represents newspapers on the NUJ national executive, said: "I was keen to talk to MEN journalists because their owners Guardian Media have been one of the most aggressive supporters of converging different types of media.
Michelle, who is the National Executive Council member for newspapers, spent the morning on the picket line outside the company’s Walmgate headquarters. For more information and to show your support visit the chapel website at www.nujyork.blogspot.com
Recruitment leaflets were handed out to PA journalists arriving for their afternoon shift. Saturday 24 May Thousands of leaflets, letters and posters are sent across the UK, Ireland, Continental Europe and beyond. New supporters are added to the website - Deepak Tripathi former BBC World Service and now a broadcast freelancer pledges his support alongside Simon Coss, a freelancer who represents Continental Europe on the National Executive and feature writer Susan Wallace who praises Michelle's "calm, assertive manner which achieves results".
The 34 staff who work on the Newsquest owned titles voted to take their stand when offered three per cent on pay - less than colleagues in Glasgow and Essex. If you or your union branch can afford to support the chapel’s efforts with a donation, cheques should be made payable to "NUJ Newsquest York Chapel" and sent to the National Union of Journalists, Arthur House, Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3FH. You can find out the background and keep up to date with the dispute by logging on to the chapel’s own website at www.nujyork.blogspot.com Michelle, who is the national executive council member for newspapers, said: "Local paper pay is a disgrace and the companies that make big profits from the skills of over-worked and under-rewarded staff should be ashamed of themselves. Wednesday 21 May Tuesday 20 May The launch of the website has already won new supporters including Rod Minchin from Press Association in Newcastle who says "Michelle will make a great Deputy General Secretary". Monday 19 May - 6pm Michelle was among 100 journalists from the South Asia Service and World Service Newsroom who took part in a demonstration to highlight concerns about threats to quality journalism at Bush House as a result of BBC offshoring plans. Protestors tied flowers to the gates of Bush House as a symbol of their fears that the BBC's cuts will lead to the death of quality journalism and the break-up of the World Service. Michelle said: "I am delighted to lend my support to members who are standing up for justice in this way. It is vital the NUJ is at the forefront of campaigns for quality and active in protecting the jobs and conditions of our members. I wish World Service staff success in their campaign".
Michelle Stanistreet will be one of four candidates on the ballot paper for the NUJ Deputy General Secretary Election which kicks off on 27 May. The union's National Executive Council today shortlisted candidates to contest the election. Michelle will be the only workplace rep and the only woman in the four-person field. Among Michelle's many supporters is Sam Southgate, joint FoC at the York Chapel.
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