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October 31, 2007

Coventry strike aborted after promise of more staff

By Press Gazette

Industrial action at the Coventry Telegraph has been averted after the paper’s management agreed to employ more staff.

NUJ members had voted for strike action and planned to walk out on Friday and Monday in protest against low staffing levels. The NUJ chapel claims that the number of journalists has dropped from 27 to 15 in six years at the Trinity Mirror-owned title.

According to the union, editor Alan Kirby has now promised to fill two vacant reporter posts as well as adding a trainee reporter, a business reporter and an additional district reporter to the paper’s staff. A freelance sub editor will also be hired.

Chris Morley, NUJ northern organiser, said: ‘There was anger when vacancy after vacancy at the Coventry Telegraph was left unfilled or took months to get a replacement heaping yet more work on to those left. Very often this persuaded others to leave and a vicious cycle developed which was damaging to the quality of the paper.

‘But the dogged determination of the chapel to reverse the decline has paid off with the company investing substantially in new staff. The chapel has delivered a significant blow against cynical cost-cutting and shown the way in standing

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