AddThis SmartLayers

Publisher claims job cuts will not reduce headcount

Regional publisher Johnston Press has insisted there will be ‘no overall reduction to current headcount’ from its plans to cut jobs at its subbing hub in Sheffield.

As reported on Friday, the National Union of Journalists is to ballot members for industrial action over proposals to dismantle much of the centralised production unit created nine months ago.

The company says it is planning to reduce 9.5 full-time roles within the subbing team, which is based at the Sheffield Star, with the union saying this amounts to half the staff working in the hub.

But the official announcement made to journalists by the company, which has now been provided to HTFP, said it aimed to minimise the impact by redeploying staff to other roles or through voluntary redundancy.

John Bills, managing director of Sheffield Newspapers and South Yorkshire Newspapers, said the company was proposing the re-organisation following a review of the current workflow in the sub-editing team.

His announcement said: “As a result of this proposal there would be a reduction of 9.5 full-time roles within the subbing team at Sheffield, however five new roles would be created and an additional 18 editorial roles are available within the North Midlands/South Yorkshire Region.

“Therefore as a result of this proposal there is no overall reduction to current headcount.

“Prior to any implementation, we will consult extensively on an individual and collective basis. During this consultation process we will explain the procedure, consider all alternatives, examine ways of mitigating the effects of this proposal, determine redundancy terms and address any other issues that may arise.

“We anticipate that this consultation process will be complete by the end of January 2011.

“In the event this proposal goes ahead, the company will endeavour to minimise the impact through re-deployment to alternative positions and voluntary redundancy.”

The union has said more than 50 NUJ members are affected by the plans and its ballot is due to begin tomorrow.

7 comments

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • January 18, 2011 at 11:12 am
    Permalink

    I notice while John’s carefully spun statement says 9.5 full-time roles will go, he doesn’t similarly specify the status of the five new roles or the additional 18 editorial roles. So while he justifies his headcount headline, there’s no reason here for the NUJ to celebrate and back off.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)
  • January 18, 2011 at 11:33 am
    Permalink

    Seems to be a growing management chorus of “editorial job cuts” starting up. Storm clouds of redundancy gathering already and it’s only January. Here we go again, eh?

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)
  • January 18, 2011 at 11:51 am
    Permalink

    What they don’t mention is that the 18 other roles are currently filled by full time freelancers. Many of whom have been in their positions for some time and do the same job as reporters on the books. So in real terms there is going to be a reduction in staff, as the freelancers will be let go.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)
  • January 18, 2011 at 12:25 pm
    Permalink

    Sick of hearing this ” minimise the impact” claptrap. It’s just a meaningless platitude they all spout these days.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)
  • January 18, 2011 at 1:02 pm
    Permalink

    When is a cut not a cut? When it’s JP making it. Perhaps these five new roles are a job share, 10 part time jobs, thus increasing the head count. Despite the semantics, JP is all about cut, slash and burn, except when it comes to dividends and executive bonuses. Fortunately, at their current rate of progress, the management is rapidly running out of things to cut and the world will celebrrate whenonly thing they could possibly cut will be their own heads off.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)
  • January 18, 2011 at 2:46 pm
    Permalink

    Yes we’ve seen this all before in other JP divisions. The headcount may not be cut but the editorial wage bill will be, that’s for sure. Current staff will be invited to reapply for posts at less than the salary they are presently receiving with the alternative of redundancy. Those that remain will under even more pressure to churn out publications and editorial standards will slip yet again. Just another step down the road to oblivion for a company that is appallingly managed and has no long term strategy.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)
  • January 19, 2011 at 1:02 pm
    Permalink

    How is Johnston Press cutting these jobs when it claims not to employ editorial staff?

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)