Jeremy Dear 4 GS

BUILDING ON OUR SUCCESS
Being elected General Secretary of the NUJ was the proudest day of my life. I had been a member, an activist, an FoC, a branch officer and represented my fellow journalists on the union’s councils and Executive. I had served as the union’s President and as the national organiser for newspapers and agencies – leading the campaign to in back union rights for thousands of our members. But I’d also been a staff and freelance journalist. I understood all too well the problems faced by those on low pay, who worked hard for companies who care more about the bottom line than the quality of the title or programme they produce. I understood how long hours or poor conditions were driving people out of the industry, how a lack of training or dignity and respect for the important work we do was making people feel undervalued. And above all I understood that without a strong, independent voice for journalists, without a strong union speaking up for staff and freelances we were powerless. That’s why when elected I pledged to make the NUJ a powerful voice again – rebuilding our collective strength workplace by workplace, recruiting new members, taking up the issues that really mattered to members. I made a pledge to stop the internal squabbling, put the union on a solid foundation and turn it outwards to campaign, argue, negotiate and win on the issues which matter to those who part with their hard-earned wages to belong to our union. Working together with activists, lay reps, members, staff and officials we have delivered an unprecedented period of growth and stability over the past five years – we are bigger, stronger, more respected and better able to win for members. But we have a long way to go and much to do. I would be proud to be re-elected to continue the work we have begun – to work together to make our union an ever more powerful and effective voice for journalists and journalism.