interview
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I’ll never be remembered for being the smartest general secretary. I’m never happier than in jeans and trainers
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I’d encourage anyone to go into journalism – but go in with your eyes wide open and be prepared to argue, debate and fight for the truth
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through legal action or the threat of it. We’ve won some significant victories – on casuals’ rights, on pensions, on equal pay, on unfair dismissal, on protection of sources and much, much more. We’ve recently put more legal resources into head office to improve the service.” What’s the state of the union as he goes? “Membership is up and the union’s finances, having been through a torrid time over the past two years, are stable again. I’ve had to make some very tough decisions to keep the union in financial good health. I’ve done it, and it is. They were the hardest decisions of all.” What, I wonder, is the future of The Journalist? Jeremy is unequivocal. “The Journalist is the only thing that goes to every member, so it’s vitally important. I think people should be able to choose if they want the print edition or an electronic version.” Memo to successor: leave well alone! Journalists are highly individual men and women. Should our union stay independent or consider a merger? And he’s unusually cautious, arguing: “We should always consider all options. But a merger for merger’s sake would be a disaster. “I think there is logic to us seeking closer relations, perhaps in a federation, with unions such as Bectu with whom we work on a daily basis. We could share accommodation, front of house services, research, purchasing and much more so we could reinvest savings in expanding legal services and providing more officials.” Which brings me to the wider role of the NUJ, and Jeremy’s own place in it, his socialist views and his working relationship with similar leaders such as Bob Crow of RMT and Mark Serwotka of the civil service union PCS. What have journalists got from that? “I remain a socialist, and always will,” he says defiantly. “I have had many friends in the trade theJournalist | 13
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