Shropshire ballot as trainees face axe

Journalists employed by Shropshire Newspapers are to ballot for industrial action after owner Midland News Association announced a dozen compulsory redundancies, the NUJ said today.
The NUJ chapel says it is particularly concerned that a number of young reporters could be axed in the middle of their training.
The jobs under threat are the weeklies group editor, John Butterworth, one out of five other weekly editors, five reporters, two subs and three editorial support workers.
Chris Morley, NUJ northern regional organiser, said: “I think the fact that trainees have been caught up in this round of proposed cutbacks is most disturbing. People starting out in their careers deserve protection not a boot out the door."