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date: 4 July 2007

embargo: For immediate release

Union winners in TUC PR awards

Union press and PR teams were today (Wednesday) celebrating their success in the annual TUC/Bank of Scotland Press and PR Awards.

At a ceremony held last night (3 July) at Congress House, the TUC's London HQ, prizes were awarded across seven categories - best publication, best feature, best photograph, best illustration, best recruitment material, best campaign, and best use of electronic communication.

USDAW's magazine Arena scooped best publication for its distinctive 'Take a Break' style format, which judges felt 'broke the union mould', and was both challenging and engaging its readership in a fresh and confident way. Musician from the MU was highly commended, while ATL's Report and CSP's Physiotherapy Frontine were both commended.

The NUJ picked up the award for best feature for a hard-hitting story about asylum seekers. The FBU came a close second with an unsentimental tale of one member's unstinting contribution to his work, and ATL's brave decision to let Chris Woodhead hold court on the pages of its magazine won third place.

Best photograph went to Prospect's 'Sight for sore eyes' image, a 'striking and creatively conceived photo that worked consummately in its campaigning context'. The NUJ came a close second with a powerful and evocative reportage-style image of journalists in the Lebanon, and the FBU was commended for a different, but equally striking picture of a firefighter in a local amateur dramatics group, showing the 'off-duty' side of working life.

The judges awarded best illustration to Connect for a 'simple, well-executed drawing of powerlessness in the workplace' highlighting the effects of bullying. The FBU grabbed second prize for its disturbing depiction of home life being crushed by the wheels of relentless working time, and the CWU came third with its 'bold and well-used cover image of progression in negotiations'.

The best recruitment material award went to the NUT for a guide on how to survive the first year of teaching. The judges thought it a 'genuinely useful resource book'. UNISON's Challenge X was highly commended for its 'clear and direct focus', while the CWU's businesspost recruitment drive also impressed the judges.

Best campaign went to USDAW's 'Save our Sundays' campaign, the T&G's 'Justice for Cleaners' was highly commended, and UNISON's 'Protect the Local Government Pension Scheme' was commended by the judges.

Prospect were behind the winning entry in the best use of electronic communication. Judges thought its website demonstrated a 'mature approach to the problem of giving autonomy to branches online'. PCS took second prize with its campaigning DVD about the threats of cuts in staff and services, while USDAW's pensions site came a close third.

In this, the 30^th year of the competition, a total of 25 unions took part, submitting over 100 entries. Each year the awards are open to all affiliated unions of the TUC, which hosts the competition jointly with the Bank of Scotland.

The judges commented on the professionalism of clear-sighted campaigns, inspirational recruitment material, beautifully produced magazines, and new media initiatives that showed the union movement is embracing new technology with enthusiasm.

The judges for the awards, which were presented by Alison Shepherd, TUC President, were: Deborah Arnott, Director ASH; Ian Wylie, Editor, Work and Graduate sections, The Guardian; Doug Taylor, Personal Finance Campaigner, Which?; and Andrew Linington, Head of Communications, Nautilus.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The competition is open to all affiliate members of the TUC and is hosted by the TUC and the Bank of Scotland. It has been running since 1977. A pdf of the judges' comments is at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/PRJudges.pdf

- The focus on the winners pdf is at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/PRFocus.pdf

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Melanie Bahadur T: 020 7467 1242 E: mbahadur@tuc.org.uk

Press release (700 words) issued 4 Jul 2007