A campaign to boost the presence of trades unions in the newspaper industry has been launched with an early day motion in the House of Commons.

Parmjit Dhanda MP tabled the motion yesterday at a public meeting questioning the way Northcliffe Newspapers in particular works with unions. It also applauded the way Johnson Press recognised the National Union of Journalists.

Also at the event were Frances O'Grady, the new deputy general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Trevor Phillips, a former journalist and chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, Jeremy Dear, the general secretary of the NUJ and Chris Harding, national officer of the Graphical, Paper and Media Union.

Parmjit said: "People are often afraid to speak out against newspapers. MPs have this opportunity to take a stand for progressive trade unionism and to let the newspaper industry know that the Government's legislation should be respected."

Northcliffe's personnel resources director Ken Thompson responded to the EDM (below) saying: "Centres within the Northcliffe Newspapers group recognise four trades unions, including the NUJ and the GPMU.

"The group complies implicitly with the law, and with decisions of the Central Arbitration Committee, who oversee this element of legislation.

"The company is surprised and disappointed that the MP concerned has not sought its point of view on this matter."

The EDM read: "This house applauds the important work of the NUJ, GPMU and other unions in workplaces across the UK to secure better pay and conditions for journalists and other newspaper workers; congratulates Johnston Press and others for recognising the NUJ; urges Northcliffe Newspapers to follow suit and refrain from anti-trade union practices; abhors anti-trade union practices and intimidation propagated by management; and reminds Northcliffe Newspapers of the legal right for a trade union to be recognised if more than half of the workforce support it."

MPs who back Parmjit's views will be able to sign in support and the different unions will refer back to the EDM in future campaigns.

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