The National Union of Journalists has called off a strike planned for Thursday at Trinity Mirror newspapers in Birmingham.
Journalists on the Birmingham Post and Mail, Coventry Telegraph and a string of weeklies were due to hold one day of industrial action over plans by the publisher for around 17 editorial redundancies and the closure of nine weekly titles.
The Birmingham chapels called off their industrial action today after a confirmation from the publisher there would be no compulsory redundancies among journalists on the Post, Mail or the Birmingham-based weeklies.
A statement from Neil Elkes and Martin Warrillow, joint NUJ fathers of chapel at the Birmingham Post and Mail, said: “NUJ representatives have worked closely with BPM Media management to avoid job losses and are relieved that no union members will be made compulsorily redundant this week.
“However, a number of our colleagues are leaving under voluntary terms. Our best wishes go with them.”
Union members at Coventry Newspapers meet tomorrow to discuss the developments.
The planned strike had brought condemnation from Georgina Harvey, managing director of Trinity Mirror’s regional newspaper wing, as she accused the union members, who said are a minority of staff, of holding the majority to ransom.
John Griffith, managing director of BPM Media, said: “We are delighted that the NUJ have called off the strike threat in Birmingham. As we said at the start of this process we are committed to constructive consultation and we are extremely pleased to have achieved this outcome.”
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