VICE UK media workers announced their intention to unionise in March 2019, following the examples of VICE US and VICE Canada, which successfully unionised in recent years.
An earlier attempt to unionise was rejected by VICE UK management in April 2016, alleging that the NUJ was “not used to innovative and digital workplaces”.
Three years after, the NUJ has achieved a voluntary recognition at VICE UK, becoming one of the first digital media organisations to unionise in the United Kingdom.
NUJ general secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, said: "We’re delighted to welcome this agreement. The energy and enthusiasm our reps and members at the VICE UK have brought to their organising drive has been hugely impressive. Their commitment to delivering a collective voice at work is inspiring and to be congratulated."
IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: “We congratulate the NUJ for this successful negotiation to achieve recognition at VICE UK and we wish that this victory will inspire other digital media workers to unionise in the UK and Europe. We celebrate that many digital media workers are increasingly seeking collective bargaining rights all over the world”