View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
September 11, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Six-month Bradford pay row ends

By Press Gazette

Journalists at Newsquest Bradford have called off their long-running pay dispute in order to begin negotiations for next year’s pay deal.

After 47 days of strike action between January and June, NUJ members have voted to accept the original offer of a 2 per cent rise. The increase will be backdated to January. Both sides have agreed not to comment further than two statements.

Father of the NUJ chapel Bob Smith said: “The dispute is over without being settled. Both sides have agreed not to agree and we will now start looking ahead with the company to 2004 and 2005.”

The Newsquest statement said: “A line has been drawn under the NUJ’s dispute at Newsquest Bradford over its editorial pay proposals for 2003. “Both parties have agreed to commence negotiations with regard to the company’s pay offer for 2004.”

The Bradford pay dispute involved around half of the 99 journalists employed on the Telegraph & Argus, Keighley News, Craven Herald, Ilkley Gazette and Wharfedale & Airedale Observer.

The management offered a revised deal of a 2 per cent increase along with discretionary one-off payments of £400. Under the new agreement journalists will just get the original 2 per cent rise.

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

Current minimum pay scales at Bradford are £17,100 for senior journalists on the daily title and £15,000 for seniors on the weeklies. Trainee reporters start on £12,000.

The Bradford NUJ chapel is expected to put in a pay claim for next January’s increase in the next week or so.

By Dominic Ponsford

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