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Redundancy threat lifted for Yorkshire journalists

The threat of redundancy for journalists at Newsquest in Bradford has been lifted according to union leaders.

Last month, 18 journalists working at the Telegraph and Argus, Ilkley Gazette, Wharfedale and Airedale Observer and Keighley News were told they were at risk of redundancy and had to reapply for 16 new positions in a merged daily and weekly newsroom.

But the threat of compulsory lay-offs has now been lifted after two members of staff volunteered for redundancy.

National Union of Journalists members at the Bradford chapel had previously voted for strike action over the cuts and Newsquest’s continuing pay freeze.

The union’s Northern and Midlands organiser Chris Morley said: “Their official line is that they have made the savings they require and they are not going through with their proposals to make all the weekly staff redundant.

“They shouldn’t have put their jobs at risk in the first place. They say they have made savings elsewhere, which I believe to be a couple of volunteers.

According to the union, those at risk of losing their jobs included the whole of the Keighley and Ilkley reporting staff apart from one trainee, all photographers apart the Craven Herald one and a trainee, along with two editors and senior editorial and newsdesk staff.

An internal memo sent by Newsquest Bradford group editor Perry Austin-Clarke said the company had now found an alternative which would deliver cost savings and improvements without the need for compulsory redundancies – although there would still be a restructure among management positions.

It said: “I am sorry for any uncertainty or concern that may have been caused by this process, which is largely driven by legal requirements, and I am extremely grateful to those who have stepped forward to provide us with the opportunity to reduce the potential impact of the need to find efficiencies at this time.”

Bradford is one of a growing number of chapels where union disputes are taking place, which could lead to a co-ordinated nationwide stoppage taking place on 6-7 January.

Mr Morley said: “There is a head of steam building up among chapels. They may choose to take action at the same time. It is a matter for the chapels.”

Chapels which have already voted for strike action include Bolton, Blackburn, York and Darlington, while a number of others are holding ballots.

Mr Austin-Clarke declined to make any official comment.

5 comments

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  • December 14, 2010 at 11:04 am
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    General Strike anyone? The lower paid are getting skinned while the fats cats just get fatter.

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  • December 14, 2010 at 11:46 am
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    The pressure’s on and they’re as rattled as hell. Keep the screws turning for the 21.5 per cent pay rise. Apparently it’s the going rate for the job.

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  • December 14, 2010 at 4:08 pm
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    Be aware, Newsquest staff, that JP took our strike to court and claimed it did not employ us, arguing (successfully!)that we were employed by its subsidiary companies. Hope you have better luck in your attempts to withdraw your labour.

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  • December 15, 2010 at 11:07 am
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    Rattled? Really? How on earth do you work that out?

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