Union reputation and the Drogheda Independent agreement

All respondents were asked how the Drogheda Independent agreement had affected their opinion of the NUJ in survey question nine.

Which of the following statements best represent how your opinion of the union has been affected (if at all) by the Drogheda Agreement ?
All respondents
NUJ members
Non-NUJ members
NI/ROI respondents
 
It has strongly increased my estimation of the NUJ 1.5%
0.6%
2.2%
3.9%
 
It has moderately increased my estimation of the NUJ 1.2%
1.2%
1.1%
  0%
 
It has not affected my estimation of the NUJ 20.2%
14.2%
25.1%
  0%
 
It has moderately lowered my estimation of the NUJ 22.3%
21.6%
22.4%
19.2 %
 
It has strongly lowered my estimation of the NUJ 54.8%
62.4%
49.2%
76.9%
 

The NUJ and freelance photographers

In question ten, respondents were asked to rank their opinions of eight statements made about the Drogheda Independent agreement and the NUJ on a five point scale from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree”. The individual statements were shown in random order for each respondent.

How much do you agree with the statement "The NUJ is committed to fighting for the best interests of freelance photographers"
All respondents
NUJ members
Non-NUJ members
NI/ROI respondents
 
I strongly disagree with the statement 46.1%
51.2%
42.5%
80.8%
 
I mildly disagree with the statement 25.6%
25.3%
25.1%
7.7%
 
Neutral 9.9%
6.2%
12.8%
7.7%
 
I mildly agree with the statement 11.7%
9.3%
14.0%
3.8 %
 
I strongly agree with the statement. 6.6%
8.0%
5.6%
  0%
 

Additional comments left by NUJ members:

  • “I thought the NUJ was not only there to defend the rights of photojournalists, but to uphold the quality of journalism in Britain. Clearly neither of these aims holds true, and all involved in this sorry affair should be ashamed of themselves, though I doubt they’ll ever really understand what they have done.”
  • “The Drogheda Agreement was a disgraceful display of how the NUJ simply has no intention of serving freelancers especially photographers. “
  • “I don’t think the Drogheda agreement is in any way representative of general NUJ policy towards freelancers like myself. Though I am alarmed by it. My own experience of the NUJ is positive to say the least. When I was seriously injured while working abroad the Union was there when I needed it. My subs probably paid for about a 1,000th of what was provided for me. The Gen Sec and Freelance organiser were instrumental in helping me in the most difficult of times. Having said that, the Union very clearly needs a photographers organiser as a matter of urgency. The fact that the National Freelance Organiser’s workload is mostly taken up with snappers issues proves this point very well.”
  • “The staff in the NUJ’s Freelance Office work extremely hard for photographers unfortunately this does not seem to be the case throughout the Union. A number of NUJ photographer activists have work hard and promoted the interest of editorial photographers most notable Pete Jenkins. But the signing of the Drogheda Independent House Agreement and the unions disregard for the internal discussion on the issue, the treatment of NUJphoto and disregard for the union’s own rules by the Emergency Committee has done great damage to the confidence of NUJ photographers in the NUJ.”

Additional comments left by non NUJ members:

  • “The NUJ are only interested in reporters, as a photographer they have nothing to offer me.”
  • “The NUJ is a union for Journalists and is not concerned about the rights of photographers. Photographers only remain in the union to get a press card other than that the union has little to offer.”