Thursday 18 November 2010

NUJ: 'Jobs under threat at Newsquest Bradford'


The NUJ claims that journalists at the Newsquest-owned Bradford Telegraph & Argus, Ilkley Gazette, Wharfedale & Airedale Observer and the Keighley News are facing the sack and having to apply for replacement jobs, on far worse terms and conditions.

It says that Newsquest intends to sack 18 journalists and create 16 new posts in their place. The NUJ claims: "In reality, this means that the whole of Keighley and Ilkley reporting staff bar one trainee are being proposed for redundancy; all photographers except the Craven Herald photographer and a trainee are at risk of losing their jobs, along with two editors, senior editorial staff and newsdesk staff.

"Having already taken a decision to ballot for industrial around the closure of the pensions scheme, the chapel are holding an emergency chapel meeting tonight to decide on their response."

The NUJ's northern regional organiser, Chris Morley said:"There seems no depths to which Newsquest will go to damage its own titles and put at risk the livelihoods of our members. There is already huge anger being generated by the treadmill of cuts from a permanent pay freeze to arrogant closure of the final salary pension scheme, but this has gone down like a lead balloon with our members at Newsquest's Bradford centre. We shall fight these unrealistic proposals in every way we can."

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