Unions

shrimperblue

shrimperblue

Suspended / Banned
Messages
625
Name
Dave
Edit My Images
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Hello all.

Just to explain. I am freelancing at football matches on my weekends. I work full time mon-fri and most of my evenings/weekends is spent taking landscapes and football photography.

I AM providing my photos to my local newspaper and I also sell my landscapes occasionally to local shops to sell on.

As I work full time, I am unable to join the NUJ. They said to me on the phone if my employed job was part-time I could qualify for a temporary membership. There is no way I can afford to do that?!

So how is a new starter supposed to get off the ground and get some protection from a Union??? Are there unions out there that would accept me in my current situation? I am willing to pay their rates so why cant I join?

Im getting quite dis-heartend if im honest :(
 
What "protection" are you after?
 
I'm not sure why you need to be in a union to protect what is clearly a hobby, your not making significant money so have nothing worth protecting.
 
I too am a bit confused as to why you feel the need to join the NUJ, Im not a member as I refuse to pay them for what amounts to a bit of paper that says you are a member of the NUJ.. So what.
I have had my work published in every newspaper in this country and abroad and been paid the going rate as a freelancer.
I really wouldn't worry about it too much.
 
I work on a retainer for my local newspaper and I aint in one. Nor do I feel the need TBH
 
ok thanks im glad to get your feedback. What I ment by protection was really some where to go and report things too if customers go back on deals etc. Maybe this is my naivety showing so sorry if i'm wrong.

Also the press card you get is good to have as a recognised union when talking to large firms/football clubs. I have had my work published so im not worried about that, it was just about all the above.
 
You dont need to be part of a union to get a UK Press card
 
[Duplicate Posting
 
I wouldn't be so quick to slate union membership, union membership has proved very useful to me in the past . Granted I was working full time then for a large company but they provide you with legal expertise and advice which otherwise would generate bills of thousands of pounds. Being a union membership for something that is just a hobby is probably overkill, but in general union membership in my opinion is a good thing.
 
I really do appreciate your comments, thanks :) but as I said in the first post, how is someone that cant afford to take a part time job, BUT does sell their photos to the press everyweek, supposed to get into a union?
 
shrimperblue said:
I really do appreciate your comments, thanks :) but as I said in the first post, how is someone that cant afford to take a part time job, BUT does sell their photos to the press everyweek, supposed to get into a union?
Click to expand...

Join the BPPA for £36 a year. I found them on the home page of the previously linked presscard website :shrug:
 
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