The National Union of Journalists has formally notified local and regional newspaper publisher, National World plc, of unprecedented strike action by journalists as members resolve to walk out for a week, from 23rd to 27th October.
National World reported £9.3m in operating profits last year and with £10m in cash balances, the NUJ believes the company, listed on the London Stock Exchange, is well placed to take action to address pay issues and disparities, uprating pay grades to address concerns.
The company’s £11m cash acquisition last month of Midland News Association and Press Computer Systems – a company providing technology solutions to publishers – means its annual revenue is expected to exceed £100m. Despite this growth, calls by journalists and MPs for National World to offer its staff a decent wage have been met with resistance as the company’s leadership consistently fails to engage in negotiations with the NUJ.
The next phase of industrial action by NUJ members across the UK and Ireland follows historic three day company-wide action last month, as journalists opposed a below-inflation 4.5 per cent pay award imposed upon them in April.
The Union is calling on National World to return to talks with an increased pay package to settle the dispute.
Public support for journalists has grown, coupled with dismay at the £1.4m payout to shareholders as those producing original and valued news content struggle to meet financial commitments, worsened by their real terms pay cut. The union’s petition calling on National World to offer a fair pay rise has also amassed hundreds of signatures. It can be signed and shared at this weblink.
The likely impact of further strike action has been described by the NUJ as considerable, not least as it bridges school holidays in most of the operational areas where walkouts are planned. It is likely to leave communities with outdated news, or formulaic articles irrelevant to their locality, with National World’s depleted management and non-union reporters being forced to replicate campaigns across its broad spread of titles, as it did during walkouts in September.
Laura Davison, NUJ national organiser, said:
“The decision to take further strike action has been a difficult one for our members at National World who desperately wish the company’s leadership would engage with the NUJ to reach a fair settlement. The resilience displayed by journalists is rooted in their belief that changes must occur at the company to address flawed approaches to pay. No journalist should be forced into seeking a second job to make ends meet, and we remain open to talks encouraging the company to rethink its position, seeking solutions that bring an end to the dispute.”
National World claims on its company website that it ‘will retain, recruit and develop talented people, appropriately incentivised and motivated, and provide them with the prerequisite digital skills that will aid the execution of its strategy’.
Their news website carries no report of the strike by its own journalists.
The company strategy, they say, involves ‘consolidation and change by combining acquired digital technology innovation and traditional print assets in a new industry model designed to grow revenue by aggregation of audiences and maximising efficiencies’.
Details of locations of pickets and rallies will be announced by the NUJ nearer the time.
Page last updated: Tuesday 10th October, 2023 at 0905 hours
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