The NUJ has published more details about the election to the post of general secretary – a contest which throws the future of the union wide open.
Anyone who has been to one of the NUJ’s annual delegate meetings will know the huge job Jeremy Dear has done in keeping the union on course and stopping it from becoming mired in factionalism and in-fighting and from being side-tracked by those who would use the union to pursue their own political hobby-horses.
Until the economic meltdown of the last few years the union had steadily grown under his leadership. It now has around 30,000 paid-up members.
For my part, I think the NUJ has been lucky to have Jeremy Dear – who has always come across as a polished and principled political performer – and his will be very big boots to fill.
If you think you are up to the job (which Dear told me has been a 70-hour week commitment) you need to have been in the union for at least five years, and held some trade union position for at least three years. The deadline for applications is 6 April 2011.
The upside is that once elected, you probably have the only job in journalism which is guaranteed for the next five years. And the pay – at £63,481 – is pretty good.
Full details of how to apply are here.
Background on Jeremy Dear resigning as NUJ general secretary here.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
