NUJ legal challenge to the lockdown support measures; #Giftcard500; the rise of micro-entrepreneurship; Remote work & AI.
I’ve been in full campaign mode this week.
The National Union of Journalists has submitted a legal challenge to the government’s lockdown support measures.
They believe the Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) introduction by the Treasury has excluded large numbers of freelance workers and is therefore discriminatory.
It’s a step up in their campaign to secure equal treatment for all freelance workers.
The government has excluded PAYE workers from the SEISS scheme and often from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). This means the chancellor has failed to protect a significant number of working people whose incomes were affected in precisely the same way as others who have qualified for assistance.
Another reason why you should #JoinAUnion.
After months of asking the BBC to help their PAYE freelances, the BBC has now agreed to provide some financial support to about 649 PAYE freelances and they will receive their average earnings for March, April, and May (capped at £2,500 a month).
This is being funded by the BBC, not the government, but still, good news – can others follow suit? Read more.
