So proud of our magazine FoC
THE FATHER of the NUJ’s biggest and strongest magazine chapel has been dubbed a union hero both for both his work to benefit all his members and for his help for individuals in trouble.
Sue Proud, a sub on Reed Business Information’s Personnel Today magazine, has nominated Patric Cunnane, who “has been FOC at RBI for yonks, and puts in staggering amounts of time and effort to support fellow journalists”.
In fact Patric Cunnane has led the 250-strong chapel for 17 years. During that time it has regained recognition and won the best pay in the sector.
It was within months of Patric Cunnane taking up the position that the Reed group tore up all its agreements with the NUJ and “derecognised” the union. For seven years the chapel campaigned tirelessly and in 2000 won back recognition after a 93 per cent “yes” vote in a membership ballot.
Within a year it became the first in the magazine sector to establish a minimum of £20,000 a year. The RBI pay agreement is still the model for magazines, with a grading structure that covers every single job at the group.
The chapel is currently fighting to stave off redundancies and a massive restructuring of jobs at the Sutton, south London, HQ. A ballot for strike action is under way, which Patric Cunnane is confident the chapel will win.
Patric Cunnane led the way internationally in 1999 by joining Reed Elsevier’s European Works Council, which brings together all the unions representing the group’s 13,000 employees across Europe. He now chairs the council.
But it is for his help for individuals that Sue Proud particularly admires him. She says: “Two years ago when my husband died suddenly at the age of 52 he contacted me to offer support and access to the welfare fund if I needed it. It is that kind of personal commitment that really makes the difference.”
Do you want to put forward your local union leader as a union hero? Email campaigns@nuj.org.uk