Indymedia York

The
action will affect The Press, the company’s main paper in the city, as
well as other Newsquest titles including the Gazette & Herald. The
strike will run from Thursday 22 May until Monday 26 May.

The
decision to stage a five-day walkout was taken at a meeting of NUJ
members on 8 May, following eight months of negotiations that have
failed to result in a deal on pay. The company has made a
below-inflation offer of three per cent, which has been rejected by the
union’s members at the York titles.

There is particular anger
that management will not match pay-offers given to journalists at other
Newsquest centres. Chapel reps say the below-inflation pay-offer comes
against a background of increased workloads, understaffing and attacks
on members’ pensions.

Joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate said:
"NUJ members at Newsquest York are frustrated and infuriated in equal
measure. This dispute is a result of management intransigence getting
in the way of securing a reasonable deal.

"We’ve been patient
throughout eight months of negotiations and have put forward a number
of proposals to solve the dispute. We offered to bring in NUJ national
officials and suggested going to ACAS for arbitration. At every turn we
have been rebuffed and management is refusing to budge.

"Newsquest still has time to avoid this dispute by returning to the table for genuine and meaningful negotiations.

"Journalists
at The Press and the Gazette & Herald want to get on with reporting
news to the local community. It’s a real shame that management’s
failure to move on pay has forced them into taking this action."

See www.nujyork.blogspot.com for more.