View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
June 9, 2015updated 10 Jun 2015 1:56pm

London local newspaper journalists to strike for 12 days in protest at Newsquest job cuts

By William Turvill

The National Union of Journalists chapel at Newsquest in South London has called for a 12-day strike over redundancies, staffing levels and pay. (Shutterstock picture: Battersea in Wandsworth)

The union said the strike action, followed by a work to rule, will begin next Monday, 15 June, and last until Friday 26 June.

The newspaper titles affected include: The Croydon Guardian, Sutton Guardian, Epsom Guardian, Wimbledon Guardian, Wandsworth Guardian, Balham and Tooting Guardian, Mitcham and Morden Guardian, Kingston Guardian, Surrey Comet, Elmbridge Comet, and the Richmond & Twickenham Times. The News Shopper series is also involved and has editions in Dartford, Lewisham, Greenwich, Gravesend, Bexley and Bromley.

The strike is in response to Newsquest plans which would see the South West and South East London offices merged.

The plans also, according to the union, put the posts of group editor, editor, deputy editor, assistant editor and news editor at risk.

Two senior sports journalist roles across South East and South West London will be replaced, under the scheme, with one content editor (sports).

The number of editorial assistants will be cut from two to one and the roles of online commercial content developer, deputy news editor, assistant news editor and chief reporters jobs are also at risk of redundancy.

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

There are said to be 11 vacancies within the proposed restructure for Newsquest South London. Those at risk of redundancy will be considered for six content editor (news) jobs, four reporter (news) jobs and one sports reporter job.  

The new structure was proposed to take effect from Friday 26 June 2015.

A spokesman for the chapel said: "We have a very strong mandate for action from our members.

"We would prefer not to have to take strike action, but the management's decision has given us no option.

"We care about our readers and the communities we serve.

"Further cuts to staff will have an effect on the quality of the newspapers we produce and will add to the already-low morale among poorly-paid staff.

"The union remains willing to seek a resolution to the dispute with management."

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