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Journalists from newspapers in North West to strike

Journalists at newspapers in Cheshire and Merseyside have voted unanimously to hold a two day strike.

National Union of Journalist members who work for Newsquest North West titles will take to the picket line on Wednesday 14 September and Tuesday 20 September over proposed job losses.

Last month the company announced seven job losses at the group, which includes the Warrington Guardian, Northwich Guardian, Sale and Altrincham Messenger, St Helens Star and The Wirral Globe.

The union says five of these will be compulsory redundancies and a 30-day consultation using a skills matrix has been put in place to decide who is at risk.

The Chapel will start an indefinite work-to-rule following the first day of strikes.

Union members say they are determined to take action unless the company agree to immediate high level talks.

The chapel want the company to suspend the redundancy consultation until they can reach an agreement.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary said: “Our members at Newsquest Cheshire and Merseyside have shown by voting 100 per cent in favour of strike action and action short of a strike that they want to respond to the threat of compulsory redundancies.

“The NUJ is calling on Newsquest management to urgently get round the table and talk to the union.”

 Newsquest had not commented at the time of publication.

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  • September 8, 2011 at 12:55 pm
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    Solidarity! Best of luck to the journalists taking this action – hoping to save jobs.
    It’s time profit-seeking bosses thought about their readers and their workers – and stopped putting qualified, experienced journalists on the dole!
    We must fight their short-sighted decisions and attacks on journalism as best we can.
    http://unemployedhack.wordpress.com/

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