Strike threat at the Independent over 20 job cuts

The NUJ chapel at the Independent newspaper will be serving notice of an industrial action ballot, unless the management withdraws its threat of compulsory redundancies.

Independent Print Ltd, publisher of the Independent, Independent on Sunday and London Evening Standard, has declared its intention to make job cuts of up to 20 posts as a result of merging the business and sport editorial departments across all titles.

It has also proposed restructuring the Travel section on the Independent and the Independent on Sunday and the editorial production department.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary said: “The Independent’s editor Chris Blackhurst said there would be ‘genuine consultation’ - he should keep his word and get back around the negotiating table. The editorial staff is already cut to the bone, after several rounds of redundancies.

"The NUJ will defend its members’ jobs and we will support the chapel in a strike ballot for industrial action, unless the management withdraws its threat of compulsory redundancies.”

Barry Fitzpatrick, NUJ head of publishing, has called on the company to remove the threat of compulsory redundancies and conduct the consultation in a genuine effort to reach an agreement that "protects jobs and the editorial quality and independence of the papers".