The NUJ in the newsBy 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.
The first part of Press and PR branch’s monthly meeting on Wednesday 1 April will be open to all-comers as we welcome an activist from the Yorkshire Post/Yorkshire Evening Post dispute.
Senior reporter and secretary of the joint chapel Richard Edwards will update us on progress and discuss how we can build support for the strike and the fighting fund.
Feminist, journalist and (crucially) comedian Kate Smurthwaite will perform at our ‘Stand up for journalism’ comedy benefit for striking journalists.
Kate describes herself as an “obsessive blogger” and writes her own blog and also posts at the f word.
To show solidarity with all our members in dispute and to raise cash for fighting funds, NUJ Left is hosting ‘Stand up for journalism’ – a comedy benefit gig for striking journalists.
It will be at Bar B Lo, 76 Marchmont Street, London, on Wednesday 15 April. Doors open 7.30pm. Nearest tube Russell Square.
Nick Higham’s report on tonight’s News at Ten into the decimation of regional media by profit-hungry news organisations was long-overdue – if a little light on analysis when it finally arrived.
Odd though that he didn’t seem to have spoken to the NUJ. Or if he had, its view or those of its members affected by the cuts was not reported, or even reflected.
Guardian Media Group activists in Manchester have launched a petition as part of their campaign to save their jobs and newsrooms.
Management at the Manchester Evening News group want to make almost 80 journalists redundant and close all the offices of its Greater Manchester weekly titles.
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.