Journalists on Johnston Press titles in the North are balloting for action over the introduction of new technology. The content management system is leading to greater workloads on some staff while threatening the jobs of others. Production staff in Scarborough have also been told that they will have to move to Sheffield. Here, Stephanie Pride, Joint MoC at Scarborough office, explains the dispute.
Ballot papers have now been issued for the election of editor of the Journalist and NUJ Left is urging members to vote for Richard Simcox.
Richard is a first-class journalist and, crucially, a committed trade unionist – the essential mix to be the next editor of our union’s magazine at what is certain to be a challenging time for journalists and journalism.
NUJ 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.
By Pete Murray, NUJ vice president
The jobs carnage across the media in the UK has now triggered a vote for strike action among one of the largest single groups of journalists in the UK.
NUJ members at the BBC have voted by 77% to take industrial action against compulsory redundancies – beginning with two strike days on the 3 and 9 April.
