NUJ Leeds and West Yorkshire

August branch social - Halifax
2025-08-13 18:15 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Three Pigeons, 1 Sun Fold, South Parade, Halifax, HX1 2LX
Everyone is welcome to join us for our August branch social – whether you’re currently a member or not.

We will start at the Three Pigeons, but may head on to the Piece Hall and Graystone Unity. We’ll update the WhatsApp group when we move on to a new venue!

If you RSVP below, you’ll get an email with the details and can easily add it to your calendar with location included.

Cartoonists, the Socialist Press and the Miners' Strike: South Yorkshire Festival
2025-08-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Wortley Hall, Sheffield, S35 7DB
Nick Jones, the former BBC Industrial Correspondent who covered the 1984-85 miners’ strike, is speaking at the South Yorkshire Festival on Sunday 10 August in the Unison Room at 2.00pm. The topic is Cartoonists, the Socialist Press and the Miners’ Strike.

He will be talking about how cartoonists from the left press – Labour Weekly, Morning Star, Militant, Socialist Worker and Newsline – tried to boost support during the strike and fight back against the highly paid cartoonists of the Conservative press.

Nick Jones is the author of The Art of Class War: Newspaper Cartoonists and the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike. He drew on his huge archive of newspapers from the strike to collect hundreds of cartoons which appear in the book. The archive has now been donated to Sheffield University, which also has Arthur Scargill’s.

Nick Jones believes that the work of cartoonists produced for these socialist publications was widely admired within the labour and trade union movement and many were reproduced on posters.

Jane Ingham will also be speaking at the Wortley Hall event about the recently published book Need Not Greed, a collection of cartoons by Alan Hardman for Militant. Alan was born in Barnsley into a mining family and was proud of his Yorkshire roots. He trained as a lithographic printer, completing a six-year apprenticeship in Barnsley. But his real skill lay in the political cartoons he regularly produced for Militant conveying quick, simple messages on political and trade union topics.

Both Need Not Greed and The Art of Class War will be on sale at the public meeting organised by the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (North). Admission is free.

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For further information or to interview the speakers, contact Granville Williams 07790958270 or email cpbfnorth@outlook.com

Visiting York and North Yorkshire branch
2025-07-17 18:30 - 20:30
All members are invited to join our friends at the York & North Yorkshire branch for their latest meeting and social on Thursday 17 July in the Parlour Room at the Minster Inn, Marygate, York.

NUJ Leeds & West Yorkshire branch meeting- July
2025-07-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84797516510?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 847 9751 6510 Passcode: [REDACTED]
One of the most important things we can all do for our union is to support the recruitment of new members and organising in workplaces. Building a stronger union in the good times means we’re in the best possible position to win for our members in the difficult times.

As the NUJ draws up a new recruitment and organising strategy, branches like ours are being invited to share their ideas for recruiting more members and developing the next generation of activists. We hope you’ll join us at the next branch meeting on Wednesday 9 July to be part of that conversation.

Read the agenda

Picnic in Saltaire
2025-06-21 14:00 - 17:00 | Roberts Park, Higher Coach Road, Saltaire, BD17 7LU
Join us for a picnic in the park to celebrate the longest day!

We’ll set up near the alpacas in Roberts Park, near the Half Moon Cafe (and the loo!).

Bring a blanket and some food and drink (or get something from the cafe!).

Dogs, partners, children and alpacas very welcome.

The park is a short walk from Saltaire station. There’s also a small car park next to the playground.

We’ll keep an eye on the weather forecast in the run-up to the event and update plans accordingly!

Branch social - Wapentake, Leeds
2025-06-11 18:00 - 21:00 | Wapentake, 92 Kirkgate, Leeds, LS2 7DJ
Leeds will be the destination for the next social on Wednesday 11 June.

Drop in to Wapentake on Kirkgate at any time between 6pm and 9pm to say hello.

Socials provide an informal – and importantly business-free – opportunity to chat to others about both one’s professional trials, tribulations and joys as well as meet colleagues past andpresent.

All journalists past and present are welcome to join us.

Why the cultural sector needs trade unions
2025-06-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Kala Sangam, 41 Bank Street, Bradford, BD1 1RD
This half-day event will explore the vital role of trade unions in the cultural and creative industries. Aimed at freelancers and employees working across Yorkshire in sectors such as visual arts, theatre, music, film, broadcast, journalism, museums and galleries, this session brings together major unions including Equity, The Musicians’ Union, Bectu, Artists’ Union England, National Union of Journalists, and The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain.

Trade unions are an important force in the workplace, with members of a trade union usually having better pay and conditions than non-unionised workplaces. Several trade unions represent workers in the cultural and creative sector – come and meet them and discuss what they have achieved and how they work for members.

This event will cover:

What a trade union is and which unions represent creative and cultural workers

How joining a trade union can make a difference

The benefits of union membership

Understanding contracts

Working together and taking collective action

Participants will learn about the trade union most relevant to them and their work, and there will be a short presentation from each union, followed by a roundtable discussion and an opportunity for 1:1 advice sessions.

NUJ Leeds & West Yorkshire Branch Meeting - May
2025-05-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
All branch members are welcome – and encouraged – to join this online branch meeting.

Details of the guest speaker and full agenda to follow.

With Banners Held High
2025-05-10 11:00 - 14:00 | Smyth Street, Wakefield, Smyth Street, Wakefield, WF1 1ED, United Kingdom
Yorkshire’s biggest trade union gathering begins with a banners parade setting off from Smyth Street in Wakefield at 11am.

Head to Wakefield Exchange from noon for speakers, music and stalls.

May Day march and rally
2025-05-03 11:30 - 14:00 | Leeds Art Gallery, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 3AA, United Kingdom
Assemble outside Leeds Art Gallery on the Headrow from 11.30am for a noon start.

Organised by Leeds TUC, the rally will include speeches from Richard Burgon MP, Ellen Clifford from Disabled People Against Cuts and regional TUC secretary Dave Pike.

All welcome, bring banners.

Workers Memorial Day
2025-04-28 11:45 - 12:30 | Leeds Art Gallery, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 3AA, United Kingdom
Assemble outside Leeds Art Gallery on the Headrow at 11.45am for a minute’s silence at noon, followed by laying of wreaths and speeches.

The event, organised by Leeds TUC, will also feature the Unite brass band. All welcome.

Curry in Bradford - April Social
2025-04-09 19:00 - 21:00 | The International, 40-42 Manville Terrace, Bradford, BD7 1BA
We’re heading out for curry in Bradford for the branch’s April social.

Join us at The International Restaurant in Manville Terrace, off Morley Street, on Wednesday 9 April from 7pm.

All journalists past and present are welcome, including those who are not currently members.

Please RSVP by 7 April below.

NUJ Leeds and West Yorkshire branch committee meeting - March
2025-03-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
This online committee meeting is a chance for us to deal with any matters that can’t wait until the May meeting, particularly any outstanding membership applications.

AGM
2025-03-12 18:30 - 21:30 | The Adelphi, 1-3 Hunslet Road, Leeds, LS10 1JQ
Join us for the branch AGM at The Adelphi in Leeds, with guest speaker Josh Halliday, the Guardian’s northern editor.

We’ll also elect your committee and other branch roles for 2025/26 and present any life memberships.

There will be time for socialising before and after the meeting. A buffet will be provided, including vegan and vegetarian options.

Please note, the function room is upstairs and there is no lift.

Join us from 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start.

Booking is essential – please RSVP below by 4 March.

Branch social - Wakefield
2025-02-12 18:00 - 21:00 | Black Rock, 19 Cross Square, Wakefield, WF1 1PQ
Wakefield will be the destination for the next social on Wednesday February 12.

Drop in to the Black Rock on Cross Square (WF1 1PQ) at any time between 6pm and 9pm to say hello.

Socials provide an informal – and importantly business-free – opportunity to chat to others about both one’s professional trials, tribulations and joys as well as meet colleagues past andpresent.

All journalists past and present are welcome to join us.

Please note the change of venue since the social was first listed in our branch newsletter.

DM amendments meeting
2025-01-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Meeting to vote on branch amendments for submission.

Zoom link to be sent to members by email.

News Leeds editorial meeting
2025-01-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
All members welcome to join the editorial meeting, where we will discuss what content to produce for the next newsletter and for the website.

Zoom joining instructions are sent by email to all members.

NUJ Leeds and West Yorkshire branch meeting
2025-01-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom
We’re delighted to welcome NUJ president Natasha Hirst to our branch meeting on Wednesday 8 January, 7.30pm-9pm. She’ll tell us about the highlights from her time in the role and the work she’s been doing across the union.

Also joining us is Huda Elmi, the union’s new organiser for Books and Magazines and our members in Wales. Make sure you’re with us by 8.10pm if you want to hear from them both.

The full agenda, minutes for the last meeting, reports from our branch representatives and the meeting link have been emailed to members. Logged-in members can also find these in the Meetings section.

December social
2024-12-11 18:00 - 21:00

News Leeds editorial meeting
2024-11-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
