NUJ fightback in York could pave way for national battle

Journalists at Newsquest in York have forced management into talks over pay after holding a mandatory chapel meeting last month.

The journalists have held several strike days against their pay freeze and have encouraged others to join them.

In a statement Mark Stead and Tony Kelly, joint fathers of chapel at NUJ Newsquest York, said, “We also hope that if other Newsquest chapels are subjected to pay freezes in 2013, they will unite, stand up and follow our lead.”

Meanwhile NUJ members at the Guardian and Observer newspapers have called on the union to begin organising a strike ballot.

Management have told workers that 100 posts need to be cut if a planned £7?million cut is going to be made.

Guy Smallman wins compensation

Photographer Guy Smallman has been awarded over £50,000 in compensation by the Swiss government after being seriously injured while covering the G8 protests in Geneva in 2003.

Guy is Socialist Worker’s photographer and a member of the NUJ union. Describing the events, he has said, “A flash band grenade was thrown at me by the cops and it blew a hole the size of a tennis ball in the back of my left leg. The police stood over me and laughed as I lay bleeding in the street.”

Guy praised the role the union played in his victory. He said, “It has been a long and exhausting battle but with the support of this union I have won.

“Had I not been an NUJ member I would probably have left the only job I have ever enjoyed without any hope of compensation.”