Johnston Press strikers stand firm ahead of meeting

Johnston Press journalists in South Yorkshire are expected to call on the company to acknowledge their ongoing strike following a chapel meeting this afternoon.

Staff from the South Yorkshire Times, Selby Times, Doncaster Free Press and Epworth Bells Times are on indefinite strike over cutbacks in the region, 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 South Yorkshire Times.

Despite 25 staff going on strike 10 days ago, Johnston Press has so-far failed to acknowledge the industrial action, according to the NUJ, and has refused to comment to the press. A spokesman for the company reiterated its silence on the matter today.

Speaking to Journalism.co.uk ahead of this afternoon's chapel meeting, NUJ organiser Lawrence Shaw claimed that staff would stand firm on the strike, despite the company "not doing anything to bring about a resolution to the dispute".

"I detect absolute solidity from most members," he said. "The position is hardening."

"At the end of the day, no one wants to be here, but they feel that they have no choice now."

Shaw criticised management at the company, accusing them of a "wilful refusal" to enter into any sort of dialogue with the staff.

"What I am hearing from the staff is that they want to be reasonable about this, but they need dialogue.

"The company's idea of meaningful dialogue is seeing our representatives in a room and telling us what they intend to do, not negotiating.

"They are also attempting to bypass the union and deal separately with individual staff. But we have a strong union here and they need to learn that they are dealing with a collective."

Johnston Press has reportedly been attempting to use work experience volunteers to cover for staff. According to the union, a 16-year-old was asked to extend his sports desk placement by a week and write news stories as well.

He was reportedly then asked to leave following protests from staff.

Former Selby MP John Grogan came out in support of the strikers today, telling the NUJ that he was "dismayed at the actions of Johnston Press" and accusing the publisher of "vandalism of our local media".

"When I was an MP, they wrote and spoke to me many times about how committed they were to local papers. For a profitable company to indulge in the vandalism of our local media in Yorkshire is deeply worrying.

"One of the strengths of Goole and Selby has been the competitive local newspaper market. Local offices with eyes and ears on the ground are the basis for this, and I hope JP will think again."

Labour leader and MP for Doncaster North Ed Miliband has also spoken out over the strike, saying on Twitter: "I hope the issues facing staff at the Free Press and the South Yorkshire Times are solved soon.

"They are great local papers and I have always appreciated the work they do, with their campaigns and local stories. A strong local press is a big part of our community in Doncaster."

Miliband had come under fire for ignoring the dispute, despite being a local MP.

South Yorkshire Times editor Jim Oldfield won praise from the NUJ last month when he ran a front-page story on the planned job cuts affecting his title.

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).