Journalists at the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post will stage an open-ended mandatory chapel meeting from 7am tomorrow in the latest round of industrial action in defence of jobs and the quality of their newspapers.

They will also be on strike on Saturday 7 March, a key day for sports coverage, and Wednesday 11 March, the day the owner of both papers, Edinburgh-based Johnston Press, releases its profits for 2008.

Despite the recession - the excuse being used by Johnston and other news groups to slash jobs, freeze pay and close newspaper offices - profits are predicted to be somewhere between £100m  and £120m.

Shamefully pleading poverty under these circumstances, the company intends to sack 15 journalists at the Leeds titles – about 10% of the journalistic workforce.

The joint chapel has held two four-day strikes in the last two weeks, and we saw from the start whose side the community was on. The NUJ picket lines enjoyed massive support as we have previously reported.

Please continue to support the action by sending messages 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