The return of the National Union of Journalists to the provincial newspaper industry in Britain?

Abstract

This article examines whether the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) can regain its former position of industrial influence within the British provincial newspaper industry after a decade of de-recognition by employers, particularly in the context of the new statutory mechanisms to gain union recognition. The article outlines the process by which the NUJ was de-recognized by employers and demonstrates how the union has made considerable progress in regaining recognition rights after maintaining its membership base. However, it concludes that such progress is not necessarily synonymous with rebuilding its organizational presence and influence given continuing employer hostility and membership weakness.