Michelle's chance to make union history
In the next few days National Union of Journalists members will receive a ballot paper to vote for a new deputy general secretary – the second most important full-time job in the organisation’s structure.
I will be giving my first preference vote to Michelle Stanistreet.
For the past two years Michelle has given enormous commitment to the unpaid roles of vice-president and president.
She has represented the union with distinction at the TUC conference, international journalists’ union conferences, and at countless functions across the UK and Ireland.
She co-ordinated last year’s Stand up for Journalism day of action.
In her own workplace – Express Newspapers in London –Michelle was one of the brave activists who stood up to new owner Richard Desmond and his cronies when they took over in 2001.
Michelle represents the future of the NUJ.
She is the only candidate who has worked and organised the union in the modern newsroom.
With Michelle in a leading role the Express Newspapers NUJ chapel was revived, recognition was won, improved pay and conditions were negotiated for staff and freelances, and compulsory redundancies and outsourcing were stopped.
Michelle knows what its like to worry about your student loans and your pension, to be a journalist in the multi-platform media age, and to go on strike over pay.
She offers a unique combination - experience of leading the union coupled with first-hand knowledge of 21st century working practices.
Michelle has pulled together a coalition of hundreds of hard-working reps from all sections of the union who want her to be their voice in head office.
The NUJ is rightly proud that just after the World War One the UK’s first ever equal pay agreement for women was negotiated with the national newspaper employers.
We should be less proud that in our 101 year history no woman has ever been elected general secretary or deputy.
Michelle gives us the chance to put that right. She has the courage and energy needed to inspire the next generation of activists.
I’m proud to be part of her campaign to make history.
I urge NUJ members to vote for the future. Please vote Michelle Stanistreet 1.
For more information, campaign news, and a list of Michelle’s supporters see www.michelle4dgs.org.uk
posted by Action @ 13:14
9 Comments
9 Comments:
I think Michelle has done a grand job but as you know Miles I'm voting for John Toner.Several reasons :
1. He's worked tirelessly for freelances for many years and did a brilliant job when full-timer in Manchester
2. He's utterly committed to the NUJ
3 He has the right skills for the job and is a committed trade unionist and socialist.
Finally, as a woman can I say I don't vote on the basis of gender but on ability to do the job. Michelle would do a great job, I think John would be a better DGS.He has far more experience
Hi Susan,
The big question for me is what experience is needed and what experience might actually be a drawback. John's campaigning so far has confirmed to me my suspicion that:
1. He's too focussed on the freelance sector and the issues therein
2. He's wedded to the current union structures.
The incoming DGS is going to have the unenviable task of managing the staff through the changes the structure review will bring. My main prediction is that these changes will, at the very least, either radically alter or completely abolish the current sectoral divisions. This will mean big changes to each organiser's job. I honestly don't think a union insider is the best person to manage this. Instead, I think someone with the kind of representing staff in the cut-throat environment Michelle has worked in is better equipped.
There're many union reps who have more experience than Michelle - but they're not being supported by the leadership. The only thing Michelle has that's different to the rest of the members is a friendship with Jeremy Dear.
Maybe a union 'outsider' would be a good option but Michelle is not just a bit inexperienced, she is completely and utterly without the experience it needs - and warrants - for a job paying thousands of pounds from union subs. She even talks about having been a barmaid while at uni on the ballot paper - some journalists still are barmaids due to low wages.
She also argues that the way to fight the financial problem is with recruitment - but you have to show support to members to recruit them. If Michelle were the Members' Voice she would've supported Jen Walley when it mattered - but she didn't.
When's the result due?
The count is on July 4.
ICanFreelance.com - payroll outsourcing, freelance graphics, freelance marketplace, freelance careers
I've only just read the comments on this post. What an odd comment the previous one is. Some weird anonymous freelance fetishist. I'm going to name it freelerotomania.
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