Striking journalists from South Yorkshire Newspapers today spoke directly to Johnston Press chief executive John Fry and managing director John Bills outside the offices of the Sheffield Star.
Mr Fry came out to talk to the reporters who are on indefinite strike and had a 25 minute informal discussion with them.
The strikers, currently in their third week of indefinite strike action, told him of their concerns about job cuts, office closures, excessive workloads and the declining standards of the newspapers.
When asked if South Yorkshire Newspapers would consider discussions through ACAS – an offer made by strikers last week – Mr Fry replied “no”.
He added: “We prefer to talk directly with our colleagues.”
Staff taking part in the strike work for titles the Doncaster Free Press, the Selby Times, the South Yorkshire Times, Epworth Bells and Goole Courier.
Striker Jonathan Jurejko from the Doncaster Free Press, said: “He and John Bills came out and listened to us. It was a full and frank discussion and we wanted to get over out concerns as a chapel as a whole.
“John Bills told us to go back to work then we can sit down and discuss things.”
Union members are in dispute with management over a proposed 18 editorial job cuts at the titles, which are currently being produced by skeletal staff.
Chris Morley, the National Union of Journalists’ northern and midlands organiser said: “While it is good that our striking members were able to put the issues directly to the chief executive, we should be having proper discussions with reps without the threat of our members losing their jobs.”
Johnston Press had not provided a comment at time of publication.
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“While it is good that our striking members were able to put the issues directly to the chief executive, we should be having proper discussions with reps without the threat of our members losing their jobs.”
Translate as:
” Oh god if the bosses talk directly with staff they might stop being influenced by my warped lefty opinions – I might become surplus to requirements!”
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… Or you could translate the comments of that notorious ultra-left troublemaker Chris Mlorley as:
“It was good to talk in the street with the company’s chief executive, but resolving the dispute needs an opportunity for him to sit down in a careful and formal way. with the people our strikers have chosen from amongst their own ranks to represent them all. That’s why the strikers have been urging the company to join us at talks moderated by the notorious left-wing conciliation service ACAS. There’s nothing we left-wing troublemakers like more than a bit of conciliation.”
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Johnston Press don’t employ any journalists. This is what they claimed to the courts to prevent a previous NUJ strike action. The JP annual report contains no references to ‘journalists’. Most odd for a newspaper company.
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Not sure if anyone has seen who they’ve got in to break the strike, but it shows up how seriously JP takes the business of news…
http://collectiveinvective.blogspot.com/2011/08/ever-wondered-what-strike-breakers-are.html
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