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Journalists’ jobs saved as Liverpool daily turns weekly

Four journalists who were threatened with the axe as a result of a daily newspaper switching to weekly have kept their jobs following talks.

Trinity Mirror was originally looking to cut seven editorial posts at its Liverpool centre following the decision to switch the Daily Post to weekly publication from this week.

Those under threat included two sports subs, two design subs, a news sub, a business writer and a photographer.

However the company has now confirmed there will be no compulsory redundancies with new roles found for those who wanted to stay.

The changes followed a series of negotiations between company bosses and the National Union of Journalists.

It is understood that three of the seven opted to take voluntary redundancy, two more have joined Trinity’s digital team, and one will be redeployed as a sub on the company’s weekly titles.

Meanwhile executive editor Toby Chapman’s move to the newly-created role of editorial development director meant one other editorial post could be retained.

Business writer Peter Elson, whose role had been under threat, will now be staying on to write news features.

Jade Wright, mother of the NUJ chapel, said: “There’s been a long process of negotiation. It’s a real result and shows how well everyone here has worked together.

“People have been really flexible because everyone wants to stay in jobs if they can.

“I haven’t seen any other centre that’s gone from making compulsory redundancies to not having any.”

Ali Machray, editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside said:  “We achieved our objective by setting out to consult as effectively and flexibly as possible and given the scale of the changes to our publishing portfolio believed that this would be achieved more effectively within an extended time frame.

“This approach proved to be successful and was an excellent example of the management team, staff and unions all working together to reach the best outcome for all concerned.”

4 comments

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  • January 17, 2012 at 11:41 am
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    “This approach proved to be successful and was an excellent example of the management team, staff and unions all working together to reach the best outcome for all concerned.”

    Or… “We tried hard to get rid of seven people and even after a scrap with the union we still managed to lose three who preferred redundancy rather than working here any more”.

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  • January 17, 2012 at 11:50 am
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    Sadly a number of freelancers have also lost their jobs so the picture is not altogether rosy.

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  • January 17, 2012 at 2:30 pm
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    Furryoldgreybadger.
    Its 2012. jobs go; but they don’t come.

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