Johnston Press strikers call for ACAS to broker dispute

Journalists at Johnston Press South Yorkshire titles have called for conciliation service ACAS to broker their industrial dispute, claiming that the company "doesn't know what it's doing".

The NUJ chapel at South Yorkshire Newspapers – a subsidiary of Johnston Press –  unanimously backed the call to involve ACAS at a meeting held yesterday afternoon.

There are currently 25 staff on indefinite strike over cutbacks in the region, including journalists from the South Yorkshire Times, Selby Times, Doncaster Free Press and Epsworth Bells Times.

Lawrence Shaw, NUJ assistant organiser for the region, told Journalism.co.uk that the chapel is "happy to negotiate" but has no faith in the company's approach.

"Our position is that we believe that the company doesn't know what it's doing or know how to cope with an industrial dispute.

"So what we want is for them to go to ACAS to get help."

Shaw said that he had spoke to a conciliator at ACAS and informed them that the NUJ is "absolutely fine" to begin talks with the company if it agrees.

Journalists at the titles have been on strike since 15 July, protesting against cutbacks including 18 potential editorial redundancies, the closure of the Goole Courier's office, and the scrapping of the editor's role at both the Courier and the Mexborough-based South Yorkshire Times.

Shaw also wanted to emphasise that the chapel's efforts at negotiation aren't an indication that the strike is "running out".

"If anything people are more determined than ever, we want to reach a resolution and get back to doing the job that we love.

"There is no suggestion that if ACAS talks go ahead that that will be the end of it."

A statement issued by the chapel this afternoon accuses the company of relying on "a combination of bullying, harassment and bunker mentality over the dispute" and "stonewalling both the union and even other media, who have tried unsuccessfully to obtain any reaction from Johnston Press regarding the dispute".

Johnston Press declined to comment again today.

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