NUJ to ballot members at Al Jazeera
Members employed by Al Jazeera International Ltd are being balloted on whether they are prepared to take part in strike action and action short of strike.
40 members will receive ballot papers following a decision by the Al Jazeera group chapel to move to an industrial action vote, rejecting the company’s 2022 offer of 4.5% plus an unconsolidated £500 for those earning less than £50,000.
The NUJ asked for either a higher award covering this year or a two year deal consisting of 4.5% this year and 4.5% next year. With inflation around 10% and expected to remain high for all of 2023 we do not consider that pay claim to be unreasonable. Rising cost of living increases and pay stagnation at Al Jazeera has left some journalists in financial hardship. Despite efforts by the NUJ to negotiate with the company, bosses have failed to move from the 4.5% per cent offer.
The NUJ is willing to return to meaningful engagement to achieve a fair pay offer that can be put to members.
The ballot opens on 22nd September and closes on October 17th.
Paul Siegert, NUJ senior organiser, said:
“Our members will determine next steps in this dispute. A 4.5% pay offer this year combined with below inflation increases in previous years does not reflect the value and hard work of journalists at Al Jazeera and it’s time for the company to return to negotiations and come back with a decent increase to show they value their staff.
“We hope management will meet with us urgently with a pay offer that can avoid members taking industrial action”