Newsquest in Glasgow has told staff it is looking to shed 40 jobs at its three titles – 20 in editorial.

The company, which owns the Evening Times, The Herald and Sunday Herald, informed staff that voluntary redundancies would be sought as they begin a period of consultation.

Paul Holleran, Scottish organiser for the National Union of Journalists, said: “I am wondering how they are going to get the papers out if they having redundancies of 20 editorial staff because people are struggling now. That’s the big question.

“They say that income is falling but the question is, is the product going to suffer more? It’s a downward spiral.

“We have major concerns if they are making editorial cuts.

“We know there are difficulties within the industry but I am not aware of any other newspaper company that is looking to make that sort of cut.”

Paul added that the three titles had a 100 per cent NUJ membership – 220 people – meaning a cut in editorial staff of around 10 per cent.

Last summer staff at the three titles took industrial action over the proposed compulsory redundancy of a sub-editor.

Around 200 union members across the papers staged a 24-hour walk out in July which was followed by further strike action in the following weeks.

Comments

Kerry Hebberley (01/05/2008 15:02:11)
Hi, I’m a sub-editor in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Last November I survived the big cull as centralised subbing took effect. Our newsroom will never be the same.

Dave (03/05/2008 00:33:39)
Hi Kerry,
Interesting to see another Godzone based journo here. I’m a bit further north than you & we’re just about to feel the bite of our own “Cost Benefit” evaluation.
Funny, isn’t it, that we bear the brunt of struggling business conditions while those in senior pay-grades are put there to grow the business , fail miserably & carry on regardless.
I’ve worked in Brum, Manchester, London & indeed Glasgow, and none of the execs in any of those places come close to matching the incompetence & mismanagement of Kiwi execs.