Journalists walk out after 'insulting' pay offer
NUJ members at Newsquest's newspaper offices have just completed a three day strike. According to a Senior Newsquest Journalist, staff have had enough of 'insulting' pay offers that have ranged from 0% to three%.
Journalists including reporters, sub-editors and assistant editors, at some of their papers are insisting the company improve the current offer on pay, hours and holiday, but after three months of negotiations and six hours of talks at ACAS, management still refuse to increase the amount on the table.
NUJ Assistant Organiser Don Mackglew said "Newsquest management need to reward their staff properly for the excellent job they do. The huge profits the company makes is largely down to them."
The union has been in dispute with the management of Newsquest since the latest annual round of pay talks began. Staff are looking for an across the board rise of 6%.
Low salaries are often a contentious issue in oversubscribed professions such as journalism. The laws of supply and demand mean that newly qualified journalists at local papers are paid £13,500 a year full time, however anyone who has tried to get their foot on the career ladder in the industry would appreciate that this infact is an average salary. However, Newsquest journalists believe that their job has been historically underpaid for many years therefore now is the time to put this right.
Newsquest have refused to pay the 6% increase stating the trading position is very poor and advertising revenues were down. However, NUJ discussions have revealed that the company is not set to make a loss, simply that it will miss its target profits which are set to run to millions. Gannett, the American parent company which owns Newsquest, made US$1.3bn profit last year.
The initial 0% offer was eventually revised to 3%, around the current inflation rate, but NUJ members believe they deserve more. All Newsquest's journalists possess a journalism diploma, which requires knowledge in specialisms such as media law and the workings of government, and many also have a first degree.
Their argument is that they are not being paid professional salaries for the professional jobs they do. Therefore, as a last resort, NUJ members numbering over 40 voted overwhelmingly to strike on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week picketing the Morden and Croydon offices. The Richmond offices of Newsquest, who publish The Chiswick and The Brentford, Chiswick & Isleworth Times did not take part in the action.
July 29, 2005
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