NUJ launches awareness campaign for freelance rights

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has begun a month-long campaign aimed at freelance journalists, who may be facing a sharp fall in work available as a result of the current economic climate.

The recession means increased competition for the same work with redundancies across the media leading to more journalists going freelance, a release from the union said. 

During July the union's branches and chapels are being encouraged to organise events for freelancers and to discuss ways of defending their pay and conditions.

"We urge all freelance members to play a part in the campaign by attending their branch meeting and ensuring the programme of activities is endorsed. They can then follow up by ensuring that the programme is carried out. There is a momentum behind this campaign, and we need our freelances to keep that momentum going," John Toner, NUJ freelance organiser told Journalism.co.uk.

"Just bringing isolated workers together can be a boost for morale," recommended the union on its website.

While the union always includes freelancers in its analysis of problems facing journalists, members who work from home can feel left out, added NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear in the press release.

"[T]hroughout July we want all our activists and staff colleagues to think about the concerns of our self-employed members," said Dear.

According to Toner, the way in which the UK government defines a worker means many freelancers are working full-time for companies, but without the same protection granted to employees.

"I know of a reporter who worked for 18 months for a newspaper, doing between five and 10 shifts per week. One night he was approached and told: 'we won't be needing you any more after tonight'. His entire source of income was cut off at a stroke," he said in the release.

"We would like to see a clearer definition of a 'worker' in the UK and Ireland with statutory workers' rights on a pro rata basis. There is already a European directive on holiday pay, and a similar formula could be made to apply to other rights."

A series of events have been organised for members, including the London Freelance Branch's evening session for NUJ members who were made redundant and are now freelancers on July 27. For more information contact freelanceoffice [at] nuj.org.uk.

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