TWO journalists facing compulsory redundancy at The Scotsman have been handed something of a reprieve, in the case of one: guaranteed freelance work for at least a year.
It follows discussion with the National Union of Journalists, and also included casual, picture desk workers being offered, by the newspaper’s publishers, Johnston Press, compensation for being let go.
The offer from Johnston follows a meeting last week, which included the NUJ’s general-secretary, Jeremy Dear. It is understood the other member of staff might be offered redeployment, on her return from maternity leave.
Dear was also speaking with Johnston Press about its plans for its other titles, throughout the UK.
On his www.nuj.org.uk blog, he wrote: “Like all newspaper groups, Johnston are axing jobs, leaving vacancies unfilled and cutting resources, leading to unmanageable workloads, stress and falling morale. [Scottish Organiser] Paul Holleran and I sought to convey the enormous concern, fear and in some cases anger there is at the current situation.
“That meeting, like so many at the moment, focused a lot on the stress facing journalists in under-resourced newsrooms.
“We had a very constructive meeting and I’m hopeful something more positive can come from it.”
Said Holleran: “Johnston Press have been more constructive than before.”
