Journalists at South Yorkshire Newspapers are calling for an investigation into the methods used to break the strike.
The union members, now in their fifth week of indefinite strike action, have written to Johnston Press chief executive John Fry about students, some as young as 16, being used to help write the papers and not being paid for it.
Around 20 journalists from the Doncaster Free Press, Selby Times, South Yorkshire Times, Goole Courier and Epworth Bells have been manning picket lines outside their office since the strike began on 18 July.
Chris Morley, NUJ northern & midlands organiser said: “We are concerned and angered by the appalling levels to which the company has stooped in attempting to break the current strike at South Yorkshire Newspapers.”
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I think what is more imporant here is is the tactics used to dupe the public by the strikers.
All 18 jobs cuts were not in journalism you failed to mention that around half were in advertising but you wouldn’t want the public to know that would you.
Those on strike are stooping to an appalling level with inacurate stories and leaflets being handeded out targetting ppl who had nothing to do with the job cuts. Also targetting events that have nothing to do with editorial is pretty low.
Get a grip of yourselves. If you were that passionate about the job cuts you would be picketting for more than 1-3 hours a day.
Then again journo’s are renowned for not telling the truth aren’t they…
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Here Here! “Fed Up Now”!! It seems to me that theses strikers are less about fighting job cuts, and more about creating the demise of their wage payer. Johnston’s is a big corporate company that has to juggle figures and find the best way to deal with the current economic climate. Newsquest and other fore-runners are in the same position!
If you are not happy with the situation at your workplace, why do you not apply for other jobs? (Although this may become more difficult for you after plastering you names and faces around the news industry. Who wants to employ a troble causer? Especially one who targets their employer).
Good luck with your campaign, and I hope that your absence has not made the company see fit to make more redundancies. After all, papers have been coming off the press each week I believe. Mistakes there are, but even the News of the Don has innacuracies. I think one of your events listed is actually on a Sunday and not, as printed, a Saturday.
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Our company now relies entirely on work experience kids to cover for weeks when reporting staff are on hols, in order to save a few quid on a freelance. This is a consequence of reporters not being replaced when they leave, so no one is available to cover if the remainder take hols or are off sick.
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