Rules 2002
Rule 2
Membership
(a) The union
shall consist of journalists, including photographers, creative
artists working editorially in newspapers, magazines, books,
broadcasting, public relations and information, and electronic
media; or as advertising and fashion photographers, advertising
copywriters, editorial computer systems workers; or any
English language journalist or a journalist working in English
who is a member of an IFJ-affiliated union with an NEC-approved,
reciprocal agreement with the NUJ and full-time officials
of the union.
(b) Any member
or former member who takes up an occupation which the NEC
agrees is intimately concerned with the interests of journalism
may be readmitted to membership or retained in membership
by applying to the General Secretary and having their application
approved by the NEC.
(c) No applicant
shall be admitted to membership or, if already a member,
be allowed to hold any office or represent the union in
any meeting, if he/she is a member of any other organisation
which purports to further the interests of working journalists
by the regulation of their conditions of employment and
which is deemed by the NEC to be contrary to the interests
of the union.
(d) There
shall be the following classes of membership:
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(i)
Full members: Persons in staff occupations, freelances
who have no other full-time job, earn at least half
of their income from journalism.
(ii) Employee members: Employees of the NUJ, the NUJ
Provident Fund, the NUJ Members in Need Fund, or any
other fund or organisation which the NEC may establish.
(iii) Members of honour: The NEC may confer membership
of honour on any member in recognition of long and distinguished
service to the union. Each member of honour shall be
presented with a diploma and membership card.
(iv) Life members: Full members may be transferred to
life membership on the recommendation of their branch
or the general secretary and at the absolute discretion
of the NEC if they fulfil one of the following criteria:
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(a)
have been members for 15 consecutive years at
the date of retirement;
(b) have 20 years’ accumulated membership
at the date of retirement, including the five
years immediately prior to retirement; or
(C) have completed 40 years of continuous membership
and are still working. |
A life member who has not completed 40 years full membership
and who returns to regular journalistic work shall be
transferred back to full membership. Transfer to life
membership shall not invalidate any claim for death
benefit.
(v) Retired members: Members who have retired, do not
qualify for life membership and have not taken up any
other employment.
(vi) Temporary members: A branch or the General Secretary
may, with the agreement of a branch, issue a temporary
membership card to a new entrant to journalism –
or to a person returning to journalism – who proves
he/she is seeking to establish or re-establish himself/herself
as a full-time freelance journalist without any other
full-time paid occupation. Such cards shall be issued
annually for a maximum of three years, during which
time the temporary member may apply for full membership.
(vii) Student members: Any person studying journalism
or who practises student journalism in a medium supported
by the National Union of Students or the Union of Students
in Ireland who satisfies the NEC that he or she intends
to pursue a career in journalism.
(viii) Associate members: Any person who satisfies the
NEC he or she is carrying out significant journalistic
work and has a continuing commitment to journalism and
trade unionism.
A retired member, associate member, temporary or student
member shall not be eligible for benefit.
(f) An associate member shall not be entitled to apply
for a press card.
(g) Membership shall carry the following rights:
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(i)
Members of honour and full members may attend
and speak at meetings of their branch or chapel;
vote and hold office in their branch and chapel;
attend and vote at delegate meetings; hold office
in the union and vote in all union ballots; attend
meetings of other branches and speak if so invited.
(ii) Employee members shall have the rights of
full members except that they shall not, save
as specified in Rule 8 (f) and Rule 14 (g) (iv),
be eligible for election to the National Executive
Council or the Irish Executive Council or any
council of the union or as a voting delegate at
any NUJ delegate meeting.
(iii) Life members may attend and speak at meetings
of their branch or chapel; vote and hold office
in their branch or chapel; stand for election
to the NEC; vote and hold office in their branch
or chapel; attend and vote at delegate meetings;
vote in union ballots except those on contributions
and benefits.
(iv) Retired members and associate members may
attend, speak and vote at meetings of their branch.
(v) Temporary and student members may attend and
speak at meetings of their branch or chapel. |
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