View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
December 21, 2012

Newsquest journalists in York ‘furious’ after management u-turn sees pay docked

By William Turvill

Journalists in York are “furious” after being told they will be docked a day’s pay after taking industrial action – hours after being told they would not lose money.

Returning to work after a 10am mandatory meeting, which last just 10 minutes, they were told talks over the pay claim would be held in the new year, with Press managing editor Steve Hughes saying no wages would be docked, according to the National Union of Journalists.

But just three hours later members were told they would lose a full day’s pay after articles about the industrial action appeared in the trade press.
 
The journalists are involved in an on-going dispute with the company over a third pay freeze in four years. According to the NUJ, the journalists staged a second walk-out after being told their pay would be docked.
 
In a joint statement, fathers of the chapel Tony Kelly and Mark Stead said the U-turn was “embarrassing” and “double-dealing”.

They said:

Our members took action today fully aware of the potential consequences and did so because principles mean more than money.
 
What we cannot tolerate is that we are the victims of management misinformation. We were explicitly told we would not be docked pay, only for this to be U-turned on hours later.
 
Members have worked for more than half a day under false pretences and essentially for free. This has left an extremely bitter taste and an atmosphere of immense distrust at a time when there was hope of progress being made in this dispute.
 
We cannot accept this ridiculous and unfair treatment. We are absolutely furious and it is a huge setback in terms of reaching a solution.

Northern and Midlands Organiser Chris Morley said:

I am deeply shocked by the volte face carried out by management in which members were persuaded to suspend their industrial action and return to their desks – only to be informed hours later they would be docked pay anyway.
 
This is truly outrageous behaviour by the company and potentially has seriously put back the possibility of finding a solution to this crisis as members rightly feel betrayed and provoked by their own company.
 
After a year in which management has led the chapel along with promises of periodic reviews of the pay situation which resulted in a big fat zero increase yet again for members, confidence in what the company says is at an all-time low.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

By double dealing in this way, the senior managers have poured petrol on a dispute that just will not go away until they show a real commitment to tackle the growing hardship for a well-trained, experienced and award-winning team of journalists. The measly sum saved by this action of docking pay will probably pay for just a few days of the directors' annual – and ill deserved – bonus.

Newsquest chief executive Paul Davidson was unavailable for comment.
 

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network