Sheffield journalists to strike two days next week

NUJ members at the Johnston Press-owned Sheffield Newspapers, publisher of the Sheffield Star, will strike next week over management plans to halve the number of production jobs at the ‘editorial hub’ in the city.

The two day strike will begin on Wednesday next week, February 9. The strike decision, affecting 57 NUJ members, follows a ballot for action in a dispute about potential loss of jobs for both employees and freelance contracts,and what the NUJ claims is inadequate consultation and redundancy payments.

NUJ members decided earlier this week (January 31) to act on their strike vote unless management guaranteed there would be no compulsory redundancies under reorganisation plans at the ‘hub’.

They are also demanding that freelance jobs be converted into staff posts where these become available through reorganisation. And they are insisting on a proper response from Johnston Press to their claim for a pay increase.

Last week the journalists voted for strike action over the management scheme to dismantle the Sheffield ‘editorial hub’ which the company had forced through less than a year ago despite NUJ resistance.