The NUJ in the newsNUJ members working for Trinity Mirror in the midlands will meet later this week to discuss what action to take after a resounding strike vote.
Of those who voted, 84% opted to take industrial action and 97% for action short of a strike after the company announced plans to close nine titles and cut 17 journalists’ jobs in the region.
News today that NUJ members in Middlesbrough are to ballot over threatened compulsory redundancies brings the total of Trinity Mirror chapels currently considering industrial action to five.
Members at the Evening Gazette are particularly angry that they are facing more cuts after jobs went six months ago, the NUJ reports.
Three big stories that in recent months have dominated the news, and will continue to do so for some time to come, bolster the union’s case that there is no substitute for well-resourced quality journalism.
When in April Ian Tomlinson died after being hit by a police officer during the G20 protests, it was professional journalism that turned a citizen’s shaky video footage into an investigation that is still turning up stories.
Chapels in dispute will get another helping hand as NUJ activists stage another Stand up for Journalism comedy benefit.
Following successful events in London and Glasgow earlier this year, tomorrow’s event will be in Stockport, chosen because the Guardian Media Group has abandoned the area by closing offices.
Following the success of our event in London in April, a Stand up for journalism gig is to be held next month in the north west.
Stockport has been chosen as the venue because MEN Media has removed all the journalists from the local office where the Stockport Express, South Manchester Reporter and Trafford Metro News staff were based.
The NUJ’s Devon and Cornwall branch has been revived amid concerns about the savage cuts spreading across our industry.
Members in the south west are also angry about redundancies at Northcliffe subsidiary Cornwall and Devon Media, publishers of weekly titles and magazines across the two counties.
Members in east Lancashire have proved the only way to see off the bosses’ cuts is by standing together.
Collective action which manifested itself in a massive vote for a strike at the Johnston-owned Burnley Express, Clitheroe Advertiser and Nelson Leader has forced the company to back down.
By Pete Murray, NUJ vice president
A one-day strike at the Glasgow-based Daily Record and Sunday Mail titles has brought the NUJ’s campaign of resistance to the jobs carnage across the UK and Ireland to Scotland in the most forceful and determined way so far.
Following weeks of unproductive talks – and management’s refusal to consider dozens of volunteers for redundancy as an alternative to forcing through at least 20 compulsories – the NUJ chapel voted by 85% to strike.
As NUJ members at the Trinity Mirror titles the Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail took strike action yesterday over job cuts, the Scottish TUC called for a boycott. Brendan Barber take note.
More about the situation in Scotland will follow.
The final line-up for our ’Stand up for journalism’ comedy benefit gig for striking journalists is now confirmed.
Anarchist Andrew O’Neill will join ex-political journalist David Mulholland on the bill which we have previously announced also includes Kate Smurthwaite, Attila the Stockbroker and NUJ member Julia Brosnan.