Strikes off in Newsquest fight

Submitted by Matthew on 29 February, 2012 - 1:23

Journalists at newspapers in Essex have called off strike action after giving management one last chance over pay.

National Union of Journalist (NUJ) chapels in Basildon and Colchester called off a three-day and one-day strike respectively after members decided to give Newsquest management until June to come up with a pay offer.

The company had pushed back a January pay review date until June, saying they could not give a pay rise until the first quarter trading performance was known.

However no rise is guaranteed in June, and for members in the north Essex chapel with pay reviews currently later than June will not be eligible for any rise given until 2013.

The two chapels, who had both returned resounding ballot results calling for industrial action, elected to give the managing director a chance to give a pay award in June.

They had already held mandatory chapel meetings, and in the south a period of work to rule.

However both chapels remained resolute and said they would not hesitate to ballot again if no pay rise was forthcoming.

They have received just one pay rise, of 2%, in the past four years.

It is important both chapels now review their strategy so far, learn from any mistakes they may have made, and continue to build momentum for possible action in June.

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