Strong support for minimum wage demand

NUJ conference: Strong support for minimum wage demand

THE NATIONAL Union of Journalists held its annual delegates’ meeting
(ADM) in Liverpool from 23-26 March. The issue of job cuts within the
media industry, as well as low pay were on everybody’s minds.

Socialist Party members in the union have for a long time supported
and actively campaigned for the union to launch an official minimum wage
demand. Manchester and London Freelance branches, as well as the
Freelance industrial council were supporting a £26,000 minimum wage
demand after months of lobbying by Socialist Party members.

Unfortunately, the national union leadership decided to oppose the
motion at the ADM. However, they badly miscalculated the mood in the
workplaces. Working journalists are fed up with earning poverty wages,
while bosses have up to 30% profit margins.

So when national executive (NEC) speakers rose to oppose the demand,
they only earned abuse from the conference floor. The minimum wage
demand got a massive majority vote. Socialist Party member Molly Cooper
spoke for the minority position on the NEC and Christian Bunke seconded
the motion.

"Journalism matters" will be the title of a campaign
against job cuts and for high quality journalism. It will involve local
and national rallies, lobbies of politicians and publicity stunts.
Socialist Party members support the campaign as a vital part in building
the struggle against the job losses.