Strike starts at Tindle titles in North London as journalists are warned of posssible redundancies

NUJ members at the Sir Ray Tindle-owned North London & Herts Newspaper group began a two week strike over low staffing levels today which they say are harming the editorial quality of their titles.

The nine NUJ journalists claim more than a third of editorial staff have left without being replaced and key positions are not being filled.

NUJ FoC Jonathan Lovett said: “This dispute is solely about the quality of our papers, we are not asking for more pay. We are hard working journalists trying to do a decent job without having to rely on people doing work experience. Staff are not being replaced and we have three reporters churning out nine newspapers every week.”

The journalists are planning a mock funeral procession in Enfield tomorrow to mark the death of their newspapers.

Tindle Newspapers says it regrets the decision of the NUJ members and claims the company was unable to take on new people or increase pay because of the North London centre's rising losses. It also says Tindle Newspapers is the only newspaper group not to have made journalists redundant during the recession.

Lovett said that the journalists were warned on the eve of the strike that the papers may be restructured and there could be redundancies.

Tindle Newspapers said in a statement to HoldtheFrontPage: "The rest of the group is currently supporting Enfield, but it is not possible for the group to continue to support the current level of loss.

"It follows that unless we are able to increase our profitability dramatically over the coming weeks, we will need to take action to make the papers profitable.

"We may do this by re-structuring the newspapers, which could potentially result in redundancies."

North London & Herts Newspapers comprises: The Enfield Advertiser, The Edmonton Advertiser, The Winchmore Hill Advertiser & Herald, The Enfield Gazette, The Barnet & Potters Bar Press, The East Barnet Press & Advertiser, The Edgware & Mill Hill Press, The Hendon & Finchley Press and The Haringey Advertiser.

Pic: NUJ