Thursday 19 February 2009

NUJ accuses PA of 'strikebreaking' as Yorkshire Post staff start four day walk out

The NUJ accused the Press Association of being an "electronic strikebreaker" by planning to supply Yorkshire Post Newspapers in Leeds with extra copy as journalists started the first of two four-day strikes against job cuts today.
The union said more than 50 people were on the picket line in Leeds this morning and the strike also covered offices in Hull, Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield, London, Harrogate, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley, Scarborough and Northallerton.
NUJ members at the group have voted to strike after Johnston Press-owned YPN, which publishes the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post, announced compulsory redundancies. Today's and Friday’s strikes will culminate with rallies at 4pm each day outside the company’s headquarters on Wellington Street in Leeds.
The NUJ saidit has learned that the Press Association news agency at Howden is planning to supply extra work to the company during the stoppage.
Chris Morley, NUJ northern regional organiser, said: "We are not surprised that PA is setting itself up to be an electronic strikebreaker while our members at the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post take a principled stand for quality journalism."
Shropshire journalists have voted for strike action over job cuts.

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