Dominic Ponsford
Jeremy Dear has been re-elected unopposed to serve a second five-year-term as general secretary of the NUJ.
It
is believed to the first time in the union's 100-year history that
no-one has wanted to stand against the general secretary for election.
Dear's
achievements have included helping to bring about a resurgence in
official NUJ recognition at dozens of newspapers throughout the UK –
helped by more sympathetic union legislation under the Labour
government since 1997. He has seen membership of the NUJ pass through
the 40,000-mark and guided the union's finances back out of debt for
the first time since the 1970s.
Related
As general secretary Jeremy Dear is paid just over £50,00 a year.
He
said: "I was very proud to be elected the first time in 2001 but to be
re-elected unopposed is a tremendous honour and is a testament to the
massive progress the union has made in recent years. That progress has
seen the union grow substantially, rediscover its confidence, clear its
debts and show it is prepared to stand up for journalists and
journalism.
"Hundreds of people have played a key role in that –
our staff, our officials, our lay reps and above all our workplace reps
who are the public face of the union day in, day out. I and all our
members are indebted to them.
Content from our partners
"I now look forward to working with
them to build on our recent progress and make the NUJ ever stronger,
ever more effective – an active, campaigning union for all journalists."
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
