Newsquest journalists threaten strike action if no pay rise

Journalists working at Newsquest titles have threatened strike action if they do not receive a pay rise this year, with 82 per cent of members of the National Union of Journalists voting that they would support action.

According to a release from the union, there is not a group-wide pay freeze in place at Newsquest but that "no chapel has reported being made a pay offer, with most being told the situation will be reviewed at the end of March".

"Newsquest has not given its staff a pay rise in three out of the past four years, yet the profits for its US owners, Gannett, have risen by 15 per cent to £82.5 million," the union adds.

As a result it has held a ballot asking members if they would support strike action if management refuses to make an offer for 2012, to which 82 per cent of respondents said yes.

The union claims that "the indicative ballot sends a strong message to the Newsquest management that staff are not prepared to put up with these conditions and also suffer the hardship of a pay freeze", with the majority (95 per cent) also issuing a vote of no confidence in owners Gannett.

"The resounding majority prepared to strike to defend wages shows the determination not to let Newsquest bosses excuse themselves from paying a rise for the third time in four years," father of the Newsquest group chapel Bob Smith said in the release.

"Newsquest managers need to realise the strength of feeling of journalists as we near the date they set to review their decision to freeze pay. Our members are sick of hearing hollow promises and excuses from a company that is, let’s not forget, still very profitable."

Northern & Midlands organiser Chris Morley added: "Our members are massively sceptical that the company has the slightest intention of paying any rise at all this year which will make it three years out of four that salaries stand still while inflation ravages the modest incomes of our members.

"The result of the ballot the NUJ has conducted among its members shows that they are in no mood to accept this sort of cynical and miserly treatment and would be prepared to take strike action to support a campaign for fair pay, if necessary. The company should take careful heed of the powerful message our members have expressed by such a strong result."

Journalists at Newsquest newspapers in Essex called off a planned strike last month, which had been due to take place over a delayed pay review. Calling off the action the NUJ chapel said it was "hoping for some positive news in June", when management there are said to be due to review staff pay.

The union confirmed that last year staff were offered a 2 per cent pay rise after "local negotiations". Members across many centres had threatened strike action around the end of 2010.

Newsquest had not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing.

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