Journalists working on Newsquest titles in South London have called a 12-day strike over plans to axe up to 14 editorial roles.
Members of the National Union of Journalists working at the titles will walk out next Monday and the strike is not set to finish until 23.59 on Friday 26 June.
The strike dates have been set after union members voted unanimously last week to take action and will be followed by a work to rule from Monday 29 June.
Journalists in South London are being faced with redundancy or a pay cut as part of a cost-cutting drive which will see 16 weeklies placed under a single group managing editor, Andrew Parkes.
Under the plans, Newsquest plans to merge the South West London and South East London editorial departments and ask South East London reporters to work remotely.
Up to 14 roles are at risk and, although three new posts are being created and 11 vacancies are available, many senior roles are set to disappear and staff who stay on are likely to face the prospect of a pay cut.
A spokesman for the chapel said: “We have a very strong mandate for action from our members.
“We would prefer not to have to take strike action, but the management’s decision has given us no option.
“We care about our readers and the communities we serve. Further cuts to staff will have an effect on the quality of the newspapers we produce and will add to the already-low morale among poorly-paid staff.
“The union remains willing to seek a resolution to the dispute with management.”
Titles affected by the changes include the eight-edition South London Guardian series, the six-edition News Shopper series and the Surrey Comet, Elmbridge Comet, and the Richmond & Twickenham Times.
NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet has written a letter to Culture Secretary John Whittingdale about the Newsquest dispute and a wave of redundancies in local newspapers.
Union members at Newsquest York also voted for strike action last week over further redundancies but have not announced any dates for action yet.
Newsquest had not responded to requests for a comment at the time of publication.
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
Scared of a bit of work, are we lads?
Report this comment
Curious how few comments are here, given it’s been the lead for a while. I simply don’t think enough people care about local papers for anyone even to notice a few hacks on strike, no matter how morally worthy the cause. Sorry, people, it won’t make a blind bit of difference.
Report this comment
Great joke JP, great joke. I can’t stop laughing at your irony
Report this comment
I have noticed with Newsquest that when they are making a batch of people redundant, that they also always create a couple of new positions. I wonder why they do this?
Report this comment
JP shareholder misses the point. The lads (and lasses) want to work, but it’s the bloody stupid Newsquest management that is preventing them from working because they don’t know how to run newspapers.
It won’t be long before Newquest goes the way of so many other failed companies because its bosses are more interested in milking the business for fat bonuses rather than learning how to run a company properly.
Then we will see how funny media shareholders find that.
The wheel will come full circle when journalist start up papers will rise, like a phoenix, from the corporate ashes.
Roll on that day…long live the workers!
Report this comment
What a splendid idea. For 1975.
Report this comment
I think Nut indent misses the joke. Well done NUJ members in South London. Courageous move.
Report this comment
I doubt the strike will make the slightest difference and doubtlessly it will save Newsquest money in terms of unpaid salaries.
However, you try anything when sheer frustration sets in. I wish those involved the best of luck.
Report this comment
So I guess NQ will use freelancers to provide stories and pictures, a mix of Editors and one or two strike breakers too. Perhaps even UGC. Then they will template and sub out of one of Wales. The major question is whether the South London readers/advertisers will notice any difference whatsoever. If they don’t then maybe the proposed 14 redundancies will increase to a larger number.
Report this comment
No matter how worthy, this strike is pointless. Do they really expect NQ to back down? Look at all over the redundancies over the last 5 years, the media owners will do what they want. This strike is the equivalent of a footballer moaning at the ref for giving a yellow card!
Report this comment
To the negative commenters:-
I think what your journalist colleagues, taking this action, deserve is your support not derision! Better to go out on strike than lay down and die.
To those going on strike:-
I commend all those taking part. It will perhaps achieve nothing but that is better than the alternative.
Report this comment
I applaud those striking and wish more people had their gumption. However, it’s a lose/lose situation whichever way you cut it. You can take redundancy OR you can stay behind and have the inflexible Knowledge templated system forced upon you… which will see you tearing your hair out in great big clumps as you work 12-hour days and go mildly insane for a product that can only be, by the nature of the terrible programme, half as good as its predecessor. Think long and hard…
Report this comment
Well, Wazza, the NUJ has a long and pathetic history of glorious defeat, so just add this to the list.
Report this comment
Give them hell. To the negative commenters….at least they are making a stand and are united. What did you do when cuts came? Sat there with your head down and hoped it wasn’t going to be you. Then took it when your workload increased for no more money..cowards
Report this comment