Live coverage from The Lancet strike
NUJ members working at the Lancet are out on strike today (22 September) over pay - the first time workers have been forced to walk out in the company’s 200-year history.
Striking workers formed picket lines from 8am outside the two entrances of the Lancet Group’s London HQ this morning, carrying “Fair Pay Now” and “Solidarity For Science” placards and banners.
At least 120 members of the scientific community signed an open letter expressing their support for our members in the lead up to the action. Messages of solidarity have also been coming in from across the NUJ, fellow unions, and beyond today.
Picket line outside The Lancet offices
© Awil Mohamoud
Members in London holding "solidarity for science" placards
© Awil Mohamoud
Members holding "Fair Pay Now" signs.
© Sam Taylor
Striking workers outside the entrance of the Lancet Group’s London HQ
© Sam Taylor
The union balloted members last month after the NUJ Lancet chapel overwhelmingly rejected the company's pay offer following extensive negotiations with management. Members' strength of feeling was reflected in the ballot results with 94.5% supporting strike action and 97.8% supporting action short of a strike on a turnout of 87.5%.
Staff at The Lancet have absorbed rising workloads, increasing expectations, and sustained inflation in recent years. This has led to a reduction in the real-terms value of their salaries, leaving many employees significantly worse off than they were five years ago despite their growing experience, expertise, and responsibilities.
The Lancet has failed to offer a significant real-terms pay increase to staff despite the company which owns it, Elsevier, making an adjusted operating profit of £1.035 billion in 2025, translating to a 7% underlying profit increase and a 38% profit margin.
Workers at The Lancet Group, comprising 29 monthly specialty titles as well as the weekly journal, held action short of a strike last week and will do so again from 23 to 30 September.
NUJ Leeds & West Yorkshire branch said:
"We stand with NUJ members at the Lancet as they fight for a fair deal on pay after years of seeing the real terms value of their salaries steadily reducing. These hard-working journalists deserve to be properly rewarded for the expertise and professionalism that is central to the success of this 200-year-old publication.
“We note the Lancet's owner Elsevier made an adjusted operating profit of more than £1bn in 2025, yet still refuses to offer a genuine pay rise to its staff. We urge senior management to do the right thing and return to negotiations with a package that meaningfully recognises the contribution of journalists at the Lancet."
Alistair Dabbs, NUJ Freelance Sector Council chair, said:
“On behalf of NUJ Freelance Sector Council, I would like to express full support for our journalist colleagues in NUJ Lancet Chapel who have been forced to take legitimate strike action this morning, Tuesday 22 September 2026, as part of their current pay dispute. We also support Lancet Chapel's plans to continue industrial action in the weeks ahead.
"We respectfully ask freelance members to show their solidarity by not crossing picket lines and, if possible, by not accepting new freelance commissions from The Lancet management at this time, until our NUJ colleagues' pay dispute is resolved.”
The NUJ Book branch said:
"We send our full solidarity with our comrades at the Lancet going on strike today. We are with them and applaud their determination."
The Trade Union Coordinating Group said:
"Solidarity with the NUJ members taking strike action at The Lancet today - the first strike at the publication in 200 years."
The Irish Executive Council said:
"Solidarity with The Lancet chapel from the Irish Executive Council. A significant strike by a dedicated team whose specialist knowledge and proven commitment must be respected and recognised."
Members, branches, and other unions can send messages of support to [email protected]