NUJ History

We have acquired some ancient minutes of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Northern Ireland. Some of them are more that 70 years old. They relate to the
1930s and 1940s. They are the minutes of the “Northern Ireland Branch” – which no longer exists, there now being several branches in different parts of the
Province.
The minutes reflect something of the struggle for recognition by newspaper employers; the fight for better wages, the employment of non-journalists to cover
sports, and the milking of material for “corr”
These minutes are if historic interest. They are being passed on to an appropriate keeper, whether NUJ or the public library for the benefit of researchers.
Meantime, some extracts from the minutes will be published below, and will be added to from time to time. Your comments are welcome...

 – Graham McKenzie, Copyboys President

Comments

[Graham]

THE CLOSED SHOP STRUGGLE

In 1935, the NUJ in Northern Ireland appeared to be struggling. On December 19 NUJ headquarters in London wrote to the N Ireland branch secretary, Andy Semple in response to a plea for help. “I wish to assure you that the National Executive Council of the NUJ is very anxious to do everything to help you” came the reply.

The writer said that he had that day had a chat with the General Secretary of the Typographical Association “about the Belfast position” They had agreed that the Belfast journalists should approach the local PKTF (Printing and Kindred Trades Federation) to “ask for their support on the question of a closed shop”

However, there were some young journalists who claimed that they could not afford to pay the unions subs. London HQ, therefore would be prepared “for the sake of getting a complete organisation” to allow them to pay probation rates of 2s 6d (12.5p) a month “until such time as time as the were able to pay the full rate”

When I worked at the “Belfast Telegraph” thirty years later, the struggle for a closed shop was still going on…but was nearing success, due to the efforts of WD “Billy” Flackes and others, who saw the rival Institute of Journalists (IoJ) as an “employers’ organisation, and not a trade union"

[Derek Black]

Interesting reflection of then. Moving on the the 70s and 80s we had 100% voluntary membership in BT. As FOC I was still wrestling with copy milking and use of non journalists for sport so that didn't change. Had the luxury of being consulted by management before anything significant happened. Pay was a problem with both Scotland and the South doing much better. That never changed.

[Graham]

Posted December 17 2011

REPORTING BY NON-JOURNALISTS
The question of non-journalists acting as sports correspondents greatly exercised a meeting of the NI branch of the NUJ on June 2, 1935.

“It was eventually agreed that the hon. Secretary should write to the sports editors of the “Daily Express” and “Thomson’s Weekly News” asking them to discontinue the services of Mr Fred Russell and Mr J Shanks respectively”according to the minutes

However, “instruction was given to the hon.secretary to write to the sports editor of the “News of the World” thanking him for appointing one of the branch members (Mr W Irwin) Whig as Belfast sports correspondent in place of a non-Unionist”

Thirty years later, when I attended NUJ meetings the sore point of “non-journalists” was still being aired, and our N Ireland branch was having regular wrangles with BBC N Ireland on the topic.

And, fifty years later, across the water, in the 80s, journalists, enraged by a local grocer reporting on football matches for an English local radio station, set up a stall selling groceries at a football match. Does this issue of non-journalists still rumble on?

[Graham]

LOCAL NUJ 76 YEARS AGO

The minutes of a meeting of the N Ireland NUJ branch of September 21, 1935 were signed by Ruddick Millar, as vice-chairman. Ruddick Millar’s father was lost in the sinking of the Titanic. As well as being a journalist he was also a playwright. His son, Rupert Millar, was also a journalist, who worked on the “News Letter” and at BBC N Ireland. Rupert’s daughter, Susan Millar, grand-daughter of Ruddick, also became a journalist with both the BBC and UTV. In recent times she went into business organising tours of the Titanic quarter, and speaking on the subject.

At the November 1935 meeting a letter was read from the editor of the “Irish News” regarding the “forcible expulsion of Mr Woods, Irish News, from the Ulster Hall on the occasion of a meeting held under the Protestant Association auspices”

On another topic, the secretary was instructed to write to the Recorder of Belfast “regarding the lack of proper accommodation for the Press at the Recorder’s court, on occasion being taken sometimes to use the ante-room”

It was also agreed at this meeting that the Inspector-General of Police be written to “putting forward the suggestion that identification cards, bearing the photographs of Pressmen, be issued” [This could mean that NUJ cards were not being recognised, or that NUJ did not then issue cards. I don’t know]

At the same meeting Mr Millar reported that the Dublin branch “were desirous of having reptvs of the Northern Branch at their dance on 14th Decr. The vice-chairman, secy and treas were appointed to attend."