Catalogue Number
NMLH.1995.81
Object Name
Arm band
Title
'NUJ Official Picket'
People
National Union of Journalists (NUJ), News International, Rupert Murdoch, National Graphical Association
Events
Wapping Dispute
Date
1986
Description
A luminous yellow arm band. "N.U.J Official Picket". Used during the Wapping Dispute.
This arm band was used during the Wapping dispute of 1986, by a picket supervisor from the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). A picket supervisor is a union member who is responsible for overseeing behaviour and wellbeing of people taking part in a picket during a strike. While the Wapping Dispute was primarily a strike by printers unions like the National Graphical Association, the NUJ encouraged its members to refuse to work at the plant, in solidarity with the printers.
The Wapping Dispute was an unsuccessful year long dispute between print workers and Rupert Murdoch's News International group which included newspapers like The Times and The Sun. The dispute began following News International opening a new printing plant in Wapping which used modern computerised machinery rather than typesetting that required human workers to print the papers. The modernisation led to ninety percent of printers losing their jobs. The new plant also didn't operate a 'closed shop' where only union workers could be employed, unlike the facility it was replacing. The print unions called a strike, and held regular pickets to attempt to block shipments of newspapers leaving the plant. One thousand five hundred strikers were arrested during the strike, and it is seen as a significant defeat of British trade unions, akin to the previous year's Miners' Strike.
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