Meeting on 27 April, the London Photographers' Branch adopted a model letter "to send to the Guardian who have unilaterally imposed cuts to the rates paid for photographs after years of having agreed rates with the NUJ."

On Monday, BJP revealed that Guardian News & Media had sent a letter to its contributors announcing cuts of 10 to 50% to their rates. The move followed weeks of consultation with the NUJ after GNM had first proposed cuts of 15 to 50%. Read our report "Guardian rolls out new contracts".

The proposed model letter reads:

This is to inform you that from May 1st this year reproduction fees for my photographs in a single day's print editions will remain no less than they are today:

0-5 square inches -£65.46
5-20 ------- £77.46
20-30 ------ £89.46
30-50 ------ £116.74
50-80 ------ £127.65
80-108 ------ £141.83
108-216 ----- £337.12
216-432 ----- £561.87

If my photographs, whether supplied directly or received from third parties, continue to be reproduced in GNM Media Ltd publications, these are the minimum fees I will be charging. It is your responsibility to ensure that all staff (and freelances) responsible for putting pictures on the pages are aware that this is the case. Should my terms no longer be acceptable to GNM Media Ltd, please ensure that my pictures are not reproduced by GNM in the future and that you destroy all remaining electronic copies of my photographs in your possession.

The rates in the letter are the latest NUJ agreed minimum.

The London Photographers' Branch asks for the letter to be sent to Robert Hahn, rights manager at GNM. For more information, a copy of the letter and Hahn's contact details, visit the NUJ LPB's site.