Talks today to avert a further four-day strike in Leeds failed after management rejected out of hand the proposals put forward by NUJ reps.

The Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post joint chapel got together after the meeting and agreed their next move. This will include a four-day stoppage from Thursday to follow last week’s massively-supported action.

In a fundamental misunderstanding of what is meant by the word ‘negotiation’, managing director Chris Green told reps that the 15 redundancies had to go ahead no matter what they put forward.

But, chapel secretary Richard Edwards reports on the dispute blog, Green had the cheek to praise their “creativity” and said some of their ideas may be useful in future. These people, it appears, have no shame.

Richard adds: ”The effect of the recent strike was clear to see, people had a relaxed, even casual confidence, born from the buzz of being a part of an organised, motivated and collectivised group of workers.”

The package the joint chapel put on the table included, among other things, members accepting two weeks redundancy money, with the third to be deferred into the next financial year, and an idea for staff to be offered sabbaticals, to save the company money in the short term.

The strike is scheduled to run from Thursday 26 February to Sunday 1 March.

Last week NUJ members picketed the Yorkshire Post building in Leeds from 7am to 6pm on Thursday and Friday. Friends and supporters joined them at picket line rallies from 4pm to 5.30 pm on Thursday and Friday. Full details of this week’s action will beposted on the dispute blog.

Please give whatever support you can by sending messages, visiting picket lines and donating money.

• Cheques should be made payable to: ‘EP/YP joint chapel branch’ and sent to PO Box HP346, Leeds LS6 1UL
• Donations online to: Unity Trust Bank account 35017589 sort code 08-60-01
• Messages of support to: nujleedsstrikers@googlemail.com and 07549 170401
• Join the Save Leeds’ Local Newspapers facebook group
• Keep up to date with strike news on the NUJ website
• And follow updates on the dispute blog

Send letters of protest over job losses and their effect on journalism to:

• Chris Green, managing director, Yorkshire Post Newspapers, Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 1RF
• John Fry, chief executive, Johnston Press, 53, Manor Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7EG

Posted by NUJ Left