Journalists strike for the first time in The Lancet's 200-year history
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" and "Solidarity for Science" signs.
© Awil Mohamoud
Members giving speeches and chanting
© Awil Mohamoud
Striking workers outside the entrance of the Lancet Group’s London HQ
© Sam Taylor
Lancet members striking today (22 September)
© Awil Mohamoud
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.
Speaking on the picket line, Gavin Cleaver, NUJ Lancet rep, said:
"It's wonderful to see everyone together on the picket line and to see the passion that we all have for Elsevier paying us fairly. That's all we ask for.
"We all know the last five years, our pay has gone down massively while costs have gone up hugely.
"I want to say how proud I am of everyone organising over the past couple of years. We've gone from nothing to this picket line in almost no time whatsoever. And it's extraordinary and a testament to the passion and commitment of everyone.
"As long as we stick together then we will win."
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."
Tony Sheldon, NUJ Netherlands NEC and chair, said:
"NUJ Netherlands sends it full support for our colleagues at the Lancet Chapel forced to take industrial action because they have consistently been offered pay rises below inflation.
"The Lancet owners, Elsevier have their headquarters in Amsterdam. I hope management there reflect today on the Netherlands' long tradition of conflict resolution and compromise in negotiations between employers and trade unions, the so-called Polder Model.
"While enjoying the benefits of a headquarters in the Netherlands they should also adhere to this country’s tradition of fairness which means not asking your staff to work for less and less each year."
Manchester & Salford NUJ branch said:
"Manchester & Salford NUJ Branch sends our support to NUJ members at The Lancet who are on strike today. Union members, who are striking for the first time in The Lancet's 200 year old history, have shown great courage and determination in their fight for fair pay. Solidarity."
NUJ South West England branch said:
"Solidarity from South West England branch members, to our colleagues at The Lancet. The irony of Elsevier's stated aim "Advanced human progress together". It means nothing without the writers and production staff; your work is vital for company success."
NUJ London Magazine branch said:
"The NUJ London Magazine Branch sends full solidarity to colleagues at The Lancet taking strike action today.
"Decent pay and conditions are essential to maintaining the rigorous editorial standards on which trusted scientific and medical publishing depends. We stand with Lancet NUJ members in calling for an offer that properly recognises the value of their expertise and work.
"Solidarity for science – and fair pay for The Lancet staff."
The London BBC branch and BBC World Service branch said:
"In a world of rising polarisation and disinformation, objective, high-quality journalism and research is essential to keep the public informed and to make sure the powerful are held to account. People need sources of information they can trust.
"It has therefore never been more important for there to be publications like the Lancet and their expert staff who champion researchers, safeguard the scientific record, strengthen the quality and accuracy of reporting, and help disseminate important findings during this particularly unstable time for research and science worldwide.
"This level of expertise and the importance of the function that publications like the Lancet provide for our wider society cannot be paid for on the cheap. Staff at the Lancet have faced years of below inflation pay offers whilst facing a rising cost of living. This is unsustainable and unacceptable.
"The London BBC Branch and BBC World Service Branch stand shoulder to shoulder with our NUJ colleagues at the Lancet in their industrial action to get a fair pay deal and call on Elsevier to return to negotiations with a pay offer that reflects the crucial value that these staff continue to bring to both the company and the scientific community."
The FT chapel said:
“The chapel offers solidarity and wholehearted support to journalists at The Lancet Group in their fight for an acceptable real-terms pay award. This follows several years of pay stagnation while workload and living costs significantly increased. We urge Elsevier, the journal's owner, to offer a meaningful real-terms pay rise in recognition of the significant contribution made by staff to company profit of £1.035bn in 2025.”
Cailin C E Mackenzie, Continental European Council chair, said:
"The NUJ Continental European Council supports The Lancet chapel in its fight for fair pay.
"The slogan of Elsevier, owner of The Lancet, is ‘advancing human progress together’. That progress, and Elsevier’s 2025 operating profit of 1 billion pounds, relies on the work of staff at The Lancet and other publications.
"There can be no excuse for failing to offer a significant real-terms pay increase.
"We stand in solidarity with the staff at The Lancet and call on Elsevier, which is headquartered in the Netherlands, to ensure fair pay now."
Members, branches, and other unions can send messages of support to [email protected]