MEMBERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

By joining the Press Association of India (PAI), you join a democratic association. The PAI is run by its members, who have rights and responsibilities. Members are expected to work to help strengthen the PAI in its work and to abide by the following principles and practices:

STRENGTH THROUGH UNITY

The PAI is an association founded on the principle that the pay and conditions of individuals at work are best improved by, improving the conditions of all. Because of this, members are expected:

• to treat other members of the association, with consideration and respect and not to take actions which threaten their livelihood or working conditions.
• to defend the interests of other members of the association in the same way as they would defend their own interests.

STAFF JOURNALISTS AND FREELANCE TOGETHER

The PAI has among its members both, employees and self-employed members. Both groups share common interest in promoting high standards of journalism and in defending security of work and the levels of pay offered in the industry. Members are expected:

• when commissioning from freelance, to try to ensure that payment rates offered are not lower than PAI recommended minimum rates, that payment is made promptly after receipt of copy, and that freelance members are able to negotiate as appropriate for the retention of copyright and moral rights.
• when commissioning from freelances, to familiarise themselves with any current detailed advice issued by the PAI.
• to cooperate with other members to improve rates of pay and strengthen the rights enjoyed generally by freelances in the industry.
• staff members are expected not to undertake freelance work outside their regular employment, if this directly deprives freelance or unemployed member of work.
• freelance members are expected to support staff members taking industrial action by not undertaking work that would undermine strength of that industrial action.

COLLECTIVE REPRESENTATION

PAI seeks to strengthen the role of collective organization and representation in the workplace. Because of this, members are not expected to accept employment on terms or conditions worse than those set out in any existing collective agreements applying to their place of work Members are expected to assist the work of the association officials, and inform own terms and conditions of employment on request.

DEMOCRACY

The PAI is a democratic organization, and its strength comes from the involvement and engagement of all its members. Because of this, members are expected:

• to take an active interest in the life of the association and to participate as much as possible in association meetings and events, including branch meetings.
• to consider taking on responsibilities and duties within the association.
• to use their vote in ballots and elections.
• to abide by the majority decisions of the association, as expressed in ballots and votes, including any decisions to undertake action.

BUILDING THE ASSOCIATION’S STRENGTH

By growing, the association becomes stronger and more able to defend its members’ interests. Because of this, members are expected:

• to encourage work colleagues who are eligible for membership of the PAI.
• to support those, who are starting out in careers in journalism (trainees too).

STRENGTH THROUGH DIVERSITY

Diversity of the association’s membership is one of its strengths. Discrimination, on grounds of gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age or disability means that some members are more likely to suffer poorer conditions of employment and lower pay than others, irrespective of their skills and abilities, because it divides rather than unites.