The NUJ in the newsJohnston Press announced the cutting of 18 sub editors posts (out of 38) in the North West today. Newspapers targeted include the Blackpool Gazette and Lancashire Evening News, both of which will be losing nearly half their sub-editors.
Great news from the Birmingham Post and Mail that the chapels have secured an agreement there will be no compulsory redundancies.
Congratulations to the chapel members who mounted a solid, united resistance to these proposals, voting massively in favour of a strike.
This time next week, journalists on Trinity Mirror’s titles in the midlands are likely to have staged a strike in defence of jobs and journalism in the region and be planning their next move.
After a massive vote in favour, the members at the Birmingham Post and Mail, Coventry Telegraph, Sunday Mercury and Midlands Weekly Media titles plan to walk out on Thursday 30 July.
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.
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.
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.