Journalists at a group of weekly newspapers in Yorkshire are to take indefinite strike action from Friday in a protest over job cuts.
Publisher Johnston Press announced plans last month to axe 18 posts at South Yorkshire Newspapers, including the loss of two editors’ posts.
Following a ballot in favour of strike action last week, National Union of Journalists members at the group have announced they are to go indefinite strike from this Friday.
Those taking part in the action include staff of the Doncaster Free Press, Epworth Bells, South Yorkshire Times, Goole Courier and Selby Times.
The proposals will see the roles of editor of both the South Yorkshire Times and Goole Courier disappear, with the titles coming under the Doncaster Free Press and Selby Times respectively.
Two news hubs will be created at Selby and Doncaster, with the number of staff at the Mexborough-based South Yorkshire Times cut by half.
According to the NUJ, several key advertisng managerial roles have also been axed and the company’s offices at Epworth and Thorne have already been closed in recent weeks and staff made redundant.
On top of the vote for strike action, staff have also unanimously passed a two votes of no confidence in South Yorkshire Newspapers editor in chief Graeme Huston and SYN and Sheffield Newspapers MD John Bills.
NUJ northern and midlands regional organiser Chris Morley said: “The NUJ is completely committed to fighting these proposals and saving our members jobs. We hope the company now wakes up and withdraws the cuts proposals.”
No one from Johnston Press has so far been available for comment.
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JP has been running newspapers in an appalling fashion throughout South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire for many years now, ruining what were once proud titles serving specific communities.
The vote of no confidence is also no surprise. Some individuals stood idly by as news budgets and paginations were slashed to the point where paid-for titles have ended up resembling free sheets despite the hard work and effort of the staff.
I hope the strike succeeds and that JP really do listen to their employees – somehow I doubt they will.
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Usually I don’t approve of such action, but Pete Catt is my idol.
DFP ‘Til I Die!
Does this mean that i wont be able to catch up on the daily fires, drunken fighting and general goings-on in my boyhood town?
Terrible day for the people of Doncaster. When the beloved rag DFP grinds to a halt, I don’t get out much these days and rely on the paper for my fix of doncaster news. The staff there have my support.
The sheets of the free press kept me warm when I was on the streets.
Much love,
Mike
Doncaster is a massive town and deserves to have a quality paper.
Circulation is in absolute freefall from 40,000 to about 24,000.
The strikers need support to continue the fight for quality journalism in Doncaster and the rest of South Yorkshire.
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Quote from Hack It: “Doncaster is a massive town and deserves to have a quality paper.
Circulation is in absolute freefall from 40,000 to about 24,000.”
Whilst in the meantime, circulation for the South Yorkshire Times has been steadily rising for the last couple of years. JP’s answer to this is to axe the Times’ Editor and have it covered by the clown that’s currently running the Free Press.
Who in their right mind would make such an idiotic decision? Surely it should be the other way around, if anything…?!
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JP needs to listen to its staff and listen NOW.
People are not happy and those voices need to be heard about the shambolic way this company is being run at both local and national level.
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HMS Johnston Press needs to realise you can’t save a sinking ship by throwing all the crew overboard.
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All JP will do is get content from PA. Unless you can stop publication your strike will be a waste of time. Get the printing unions on board and you might stand a chance. Good luck, just remember JP are deaf as well as dumb!
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Everyone around here used to read the SYT, but since its not what it was, the Barnsley Chronicle now do a Dearne edition.
Since the demise of the Star in this area, more and more people are switching to the Barnsley Chronicle, which now sells well in Mexborough and I understand that they have plans to expand even more.
I feel for the SYT staff who have gone before, to see it being run down like it is must be heartbreaking for them.
I also feel for the current SYT staff who are fighting for the survival of the paper as well as their jobs.
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This ties in with the story about the appointment of Chris Burton. People from Worksop were nurtured and promoted by former editor George Robinson – they have all risen in the ranks. But in Doncaster it’s like the dark side of the Force, where a mean-spirited vibe has served to crush any ambition or joy. People love working in Worksop, the sister region, while in Sunny Bar it’s like working in Mordor. If only George had taken charge at the ironically-named Sunny Bar, maybe life would have been tolerable. Maybe if management hadn’t used it as a kind of experiment in despair, journalists would not be striking and the paper would reflect the pleasure of journalism done right, with improved sales and content, and not the stink of misery which is present.
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