NUJ 'stunned' by Newsquest cuts in North West

The National Union of Journalists is to hold an emergency meeting of its North West members after regional newspaper publisher Newsquest announced planned job cuts at three offices in the region.

According to the union, Newsquest is proposing to cut three sub editors out of 12; one in three reporters in the three offices affected and one in six photographers.

The cuts will affect the Warrington Guardian, the Sale and Altrincham Messenger, and the Northwich Guardian.

The NUJ said the Warrington Guardian would be particularly badly affected as staff cut from the title earlier this year have not been replaced. According to the union, the newspaper will have seen its reporting staff halved in six months if it loses another reporter in this fresh round of cuts.

Newsquest has announced a standard 30-day consultation period.

The union published the company's accounts for the region in its statement, showing that Newsquest North West made a profit of £5.03m in 2010, down from just £5.4m in 2009, and that staff costs fell by nearly £600k over the year.

Chris Morley, NUJ northern and midlands organiser said the announcement had "stunned" members in Warrington, Sale and Northwich.

"It is highly regrettable that the company did not seek to engage with our chapel well ahead in a bid to find other, less damaging ways forward before it was too late and business trends became unacceptable in the company’s eyes.

"As it is, we have discovered that Newsquest’s North West business actually got off relatively lightly last year given the profit fall was less than 8 per cent and now the company has chosen to drop out its devastating news to employees at the height of the holiday season when people affected by the decision are away for their annual break."

Newsquest was unavailable for comment.

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