Tuesday 8 February 2011

NUJ calls off Sheffield strike after dispute resoved


A strike planned tomorrow by nearly sixty journalists at Sheffield Newspapers has been called off after the NUJ chapel accepted a new deal negotiated with management to resolve a dispute over plans to halve the number of production jobs at the Johnston Press ‘editorial hub’ in the city.

NUJ organiser Chris Morley said: “The settlement meets the NUJ’s demands and represents a significant victory for our members. We have secured a guarantee of jobs for all staff. Just as important, freelances will have the opportunity of permanent contracts."

The planned strike came after a ballot for action in a dispute about potential loss of jobs for both employees and freelance contracts, and what the union described as inadequate consultation and inadequate redundancy payments. The Sheffield hub produces pages for a range of Johnston Press titles in Sheffield, Doncaster, Chesterfield and North and Mid Derbyshire and South, West and North Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, the NUJ says journalists at Newsquest newspapers in Bolton have voted to take strike action in their continuing dispute over pay. Twenty-one NUJ members took part in the ballot, with 16 voting to strike: a 76 per cent vote for action, according to the union.

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