NATIONAL Union of Journalists members at the Herald group of newspapers have unanimously condemned the sackings of colleagues, as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
At a mass meeting held on Wednesday, it is believed there was not a single abstention to a motion that read:
“The NUJ chapels at (Newsquest) Herald and Times condemn the attempts by [Evening Times editor] Donald Martin to force staff into industrial action by pursuing entirely unnecessary compulsory redundancies at the Evening Times.
“The chapels further condemn his decision to block voluntary transfers of staff to other titles which would allow staff to develop and would retain their skills within the company.
“Donald Martin’s actions are contrary to the best interests of the Evening Times and the entire (Newsquest) Herald and Times group.
“The chapels call on managing director, Tim Blott, to insist that his editors work together with staff and the NUJ to ensure that entirely preventable compulsory redundancies, and likely subsequent industrial action, are avoided in the best interests of the company.”
The Herald group is currently pursuing a budget cut of upto three million pounds. Already, a number of voluntary redundancy packages have been agreed and taken by staff. In response to the sackings, the NUJ served notice – at the start of the week – that it is to ballot on industrial action.
P.S. Of course, this should have been reported yesterday. Apologies for delay.
