Fair pay for York journalists

Journalists continue action

2009-03-23T12:46:00.000Z

NUJ York has taken further industrial action, after Newsquest sought to impose compulsory redundancies at The Press.
The chapel held a mandatory meeting on Friday, after two long-serving journalists were told they were losing their jobs. Journalists walked out at noon and did not return to work that day.
Joint fathers of chapel Tony Kelly and Gavin Aitchison said: "We have warned Newsquest repeatedly that we will not tolerate compulsory redundancies. The union has identified and proposed alternative savings, worth tens of thousands of pounds, which negated the need for compulsory job losses.
"These proposals have not been implemented. Despite a conciliatory approach, and our best efforts, two of York's most loyal and devoted journalists have now been told they will lose their jobs, in order to satisfy the excessive demands of Newsquest's American owners and shareholders. It is utterly unacceptable."
Further meetings have been planned for the next four days, including an all-day walk-out on Thursday.

Journalists take a stand

2009-02-25T01:09:00.001Z

Journalists at The Press and Gazette and Herald in York walked out of work as their dispute with management over job losses continued.

Members of NUJ chapel held a 12-hour meeting yesterday [Tuesday 24 February], starting at noon and finishing at midnight. The meeting, held in the Five Lions pub in Walmgate, York, came following last Friday’s announcement that seven out of 59 editorial jobs were to go at the Newsquest titles.

It was the latest in a series of mandatory meetings held by the chapel in recent weeks, but the first to last more than an hour. It is believed to have caused major disruption to both the daily title, The Press, and its weekly sister-paper, the Gazette and Herald, which prints on a Tuesday.

The NUJ has called for guarantees that Newsquest will not force through compulsory job losses at the papers, to no avail. The decision to stay out all afternoon yesterday followed the release, by managing editor Steve Hughes, of a skills matrix, proposed for use in the event of compulsory lay-offs.

Joint Fathers of Chapel, Tony Kelly and Gavin Aitchison, said: “We have been pressing the company for nearly two months to assure our members that there will be no compulsory redundancies. Newsquest has failed to give that assurance, and having seen the arbitrary and unjust assessment criteria proposed by the company, the chapel decided it was time to take a stand.

“The Press and Gazette and Herald have suffered horrific cuts in recent years. The papers have been mismanaged and mistreated, and further cuts will only serve to further hinder our ability to serve our readers in York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire.

“Newsquest (York) Ltd has repeatedly recorded multi-million profits, which have been shipped to its parent company in the United States. The journalists and readers of The Press and Gazette and Herald deserve better than Newsquest is able or willing to offer.”

Adam Christie, NUJ National Executive Council member for the North East of England, who attended the meeting, said: “If taking action is the only way journalists can get their voices heard, then this is what we will have to do.”

More cuts announced

2009-02-20T23:41:00.002Z

SEVEN out of 59 editorial jobs are set to be cut at The Press in York.
Newsquest management announced the cuts in a staff meeting on the newsroom floor this afternoon.
The proposed cuts include four journalists, two editorial support staff and a graphic artist.
NUJ York today condemned the decision, the latest in a series of cut-backs at The Press.
In a statement, joint fathers of chapel Tony Kelly and Gavin Aitchison said: "The Press and its journalists have been battered by repeated and callous cuts in recent years, placing serious strain on our ability to serve the people of York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire.
"Today's announcement is a further body-blow to local journalism in our region. We have no faith whatsoever in Newsquest's commitment to quality journalism, nor its ability to deliver it."
The NUJ chapel has already given notice of industrial action for every weekday between now and March 30.
Jenny Lennox, NUJ Assistant Organiser, said: “By giving notice of discontinuous industrial action, starting afresh every day at noon, the chapel has the option of meeting whenever they feel the need to.”
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ Deputy General Secretary, also condemned the cuts.
She said: "Our chapel is very resourceful and we will support them fully in their battle to defend journalists and journalism.”
The news comes as journalists at the Yorkshire Post - which also covers York - and its sister paper the Yorkshire Evening Post are striking over redundancies.

NUJ Leeds the way

2009-02-14T10:52:00.002Z

Journalists at the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, over savage cuts planed by Johnston Press.
The NUJ will be striking from Thursday 19 February to Sunday 22 February, and again from Thursday 26 February to Sunday 1 March.

NUJ York backs the NUJ Leeds chapel 100% in their fight against Johnston's continued butchery of local journalism.

A Facebook group has been set up for anyone wanting to show their support to the journalists. NUJ York will also be joining NUJ Leeds on the picket line during the strike.

Back on the go...

2009-02-14T10:48:00.002Z

After a six-month hiatus, we're planning to get the blog up and running as a regular source of NUJ York news. Watch this space...

Sing when you're winning

2008-07-17T15:16:00.001+01:00

After the conclusion of this year's pay deal, NUJ members at Newsquest York rounded off their campaign with a social event at the city's Minster Inn on July 16.

The evening, atttended by most chapel members, featured subeditor-striker-singer Richard Foster performing his popular strike song Things I Learnt This Year as well as a new tune about the dispute: Gannett Mean And Petty. Click on the picture above to see video of his performance. His set list also included Bob Dylan's You Ain't Going Nowhere, Billy Bragg's Between the Wars, Part of the Union by The Stawbs and, of course, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. More videos are available on the chapel's YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/nujyork

First with the news

2008-07-11T20:44:00.000+01:00

The conclusion of our recent pay deal has been covered across the trade press: on the Media Guardian website, Hold The Front Page, Journalism.co.uk and the media industry weekly Press Gazette.

Some of the stories were changed after management refuted the fact that new trainees will get an increase of 17% (going from £13,449 to £16,188) after a three-month probationary period rate was scrapped. This is, in fact, the case and it will make a real difference to new starters who are struggling with student debt and rising living costs in an expensive city like York. We have also set a new baseline in the fight against low pay.

In traditional Newsquest style, the bosses did not issue a statement themselves. Who would have thought we work in the communications industry? Likewise, The Press's own coverage of the pay deal was meagre at best. A small nib on page seven of today's paper reads:

Pay offer accepted
Members of the National Union of Journalists at The Press have accepted the company's three per cent pay offer, ending a ten-month dispute. NUJ members at the newspaper and its sister title, the weekly Gazette & Herald, owned by the Newsquest Media Group, staged a five-day strike in May following a deadlock in talks. Agreement has now been reached following further talks between management, NUJ officials and the arbitration service ACAS.

The chapel had requested for a detailed, fair article covering the conclusion of the dispute, allowing also a comment from an NUJ spokesman. Sadly, in the end this was not permitted.

Job cuts figure is cut

2008-07-10T19:50:00.002+01:00

John Greenway, the Conservative MP for Ryedale in North Yorkshire, has written to chapel officers saying he is concerned about the situation facing journalists at The Press and the Gazette & Herald. He said he will be writing to Paul Davidson, chairman and chief executive of Newsquest Media Group, expressing his concerns. He will also be copying his letter to David Coates, Newsquest's regional managing director, and Steve Hughes, Newsquest's man in York. We applaud John for his staunch support for quality local journalism.

The chapel had some positive news this week when management revealed it is now only looking at making five redundancies within the editorial department, rather than the eight originally planned. Editor Kevin Booth also told NUJ members that no compulsory redundancies would be made after nine journalists applied for voluntary redundancy. An announcement on which areas of the newsroom will be hit is expected early next week when the "consultation period" reaches a conclusion.

Making the links

2008-07-09T21:56:00.000+01:00

Our dispute with management has certainly brought us closer to other trade unionists in York and beyond. We were buoyed by the support we had during our five-day strike and we have tried to return the favour.

So when we received a call from Communication Workers Union (CWU) reps asking for assistance we were only too happy to help. On Wednesday, one of our NUJ members took part in a CWU media school for postal worker reps at the union's office in Gillygate, York. He discussed the inner workings of a local newspaper and gave advice on how to approach the media, before taking part in a filmed mock interview of a CWU rep.

On the same day one of our number visited the Leeds NUJ Branch to speak about the dispute and what we see as ongoing struggles within the newspaper industry against low pay. Our colleagues in Leeds showed huge solidarity during our strike - donating some £750 in all to our fund - so we were pleased to be able to thank them personally.

Pay deal's signed and sealed

2008-07-07T21:17:00.003+01:00

Journalists in York have reached agreement with bosses at Newsquest, bringing a ten-month long dispute to a close. As a result of the deal negotiations on 2009 pay will be brought forward and are expected to begin within weeks. Further talks are also planned to improve the union’s recognition agreement and the company’s pay banding structure.

NUJ members at The Press and the Gazette & Herald newspapers voted to accept a 3 per cent salary increase, but pledged to continue their fight for decent pay. The agreement ends a long-running campaign by the 33-strong NUJ chapel, which staged a five-day strike in May and another day of industrial action last month.

The agreed deal, which will be backdated to January, includes an increase of almost 17 per cent for new trainees and a 13 per cent rise in payments to specialist reporters. It takes the basic rate for senior journalists over £20,000 for the first time and includes increases in meal allowances and extra cash for Bank Holiday working.

Shortly after their second round of action, NUJ members were hit by news of eight redundancies planned in the editorial department. A total of 29 jobs are to go within Newsquest’s York division – about 14 per cent of the workforce.

Joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate said: “These savage cuts demonstrate just what Newsquest employees are up against. The chapel still feels we deserve an above-inflation pay rise that recognises our hard work and commitment. But we also feel duty bound to secure the best deal possible for those who are forced out. We will resist any compulsory redundancies and we will carry on our battle against low pay. In the coming weeks chapel members will begin drawing up next year’s claim.”

Sam thanked all those who had supported the chapel during the long-running dispute. He said: “We were overwhelmed by the support our campaign received from fellow journalists and trade unionists across the country. From readers, local councillors and MPs the message was loud and clear: the job our members do is highly valued by this community. Our hope is that Newsquest bosses have come to recognise this fact and will begin to invest in their skilled and dedicated team of journalists.”

Joint Father of Chapel Tony Kelly added: “We hope Newsquest management has realised the anger and frustration felt by their staff over low pay, overwork and understaffing. We now look forward to taking part in meaningful discussions that aim seriously to address these ongoing problems.”

Pressing home the message

2008-07-02T23:27:00.003+01:00

We learned today that two more of our colleagues are facing redundancy, this time in Newsquest York's advertising department. It takes the tally to 29 from a workforce of about 210; the chapel rightly feels these cuts will be devastating to the long-term future of both The Press and the Gazette & Herald.

We raised the issue at a full meeting of City of York Council on Monday when joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate went along to speak. He thanked those councillors from all parties who supported NUJ members during our five-day strike in May and spelt out the situation journalists at the company are now facing, before detailing the threat to democracy and the local community posed by cuts and a deterioration in the regional press.

In other news, we have heard from City of York MP Hugh Bayley, who said in a letter to the chapel he is concerned about the situation at Newsquest York following the redundancy plans. He said:

"York would lose a valuable asset if its daily paper closed or if the quality of its coverage declined. The media have an important role as public watchdogs, and the national media do not examine the range of issues covered by regional and local papers. There is an overriding public interest in keeping local papers going."

That Friday feeling...

2008-06-27T22:58:00.003+01:00

Another Friday afternoon, another letter from managing director Steve Hughes lands on the chapel's desk. You have to admire management for their consistency - we could set our watches by these 4.50pm letters. In any case, negotiations over our 2008 pay award are still ongoing. We'll report here when there's some concrete progress.

In more encouraging news, the chapel strike fund today received a brilliant donation of £400 from the Oxford NUJ Branch. Our thanks to our fellow trade unionists there, many of whom have experience of Newsquest's corrosive policies first-hand at the Oxford Mail.

Talking about the dispute

2008-06-26T10:44:00.003+01:00

Following a visit to the TUC Trades Councils Conference in Sheffield last weekend, we were invited to speak at Leeds Trades Union Council (TUC) about our dispute.

Joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate attended the TUC's meeting last night and gave the background to our five-day strike in May, where the situation is now with the planned redundancies and the ongoing negotiations. (Chapel and national NUJ officers met with management and ACAS yesterday but a deal has not been agreed.)

There was a good discussion about the dispute in a question and answer session and Leeds TUC donated £50 towards the chapel's strike fund, for which we are very grateful.

Reporting the redundancies

2008-06-19T23:40:00.005+01:00

News of the eight planned redundancies (in addition to one post remaining unfilled) among editorial staff at The Press and the Gazette & Herald has reached the trade press, with Press Gazette and Hold The Front Page both covering the story.

Hold The Front Page also has news of more brutal job cuts by Newsquest at the Northern Echo, based in Darlington. There, ten editorial posts are to be axed through non-replacement of staff and early retirements, rather than redundancies, which gives some idea of how below-strength this rapacious company runs its newsrooms.

The NUJ website nationally also covers the stories, with its coverage of the York job cuts making clear that management's "consultation" is a sham as union representatives have been given no details of so-called restructuring plans. It also features the news from Darlington

In today's Press, meanwhile, there is a 150-word filler setting out how "difficult trading conditions" have forced the company to cut jobs. Managing director Steve Hughes says the company must "expand and contract with the market", which is utter nonsense: staff in York suffered cutsbacks and redundancies throughout the good economic times, during which Newsquest scarcely invested a penny. No response from NUJ reps was permitted.

Archbishop's prayers for pickets

2008-06-19T22:23:00.004+01:00

Divine assistance may soon grace the NUJ's campaign for fair pay at The Press and the Gazette & Herald. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, responded to a letter from the chapel making him aware of the planned strike action by offering prayers for chapel members.

He wrote: "I was saddened to read of the strike action at the York Press and the difficulties you have experienced in trying to reach agreement thus far. Please keep me informed of developments and be assured of my prayers for your members during this difficult time."

'Swingeing cuts' slammed

2008-06-17T21:21:00.003+01:00

This is our latest press release on the dispute, issued to local media tonight. Another piece of news you won't read in the pages of The Press tomorrow...

Members of the National Union of Journalists at The Press and Gazette & Herald have vowed to fight compulsory redundancies after the newspapers' owners Newsquest announced the loss of eight jobs in the editorial department.

The swingeing cuts, which follow on from severe job losses across York's daily newspaper just 16 months ago, have been made as the NUJ chapel at York is still locked in a battle over fair pay.

Ironically, on the very day the NUJ entered talks with conciliation service ACAS over trying to resolve their nine-month long dispute over pay, management revealed the shock news.

There are also job losses elsewhere at the Walmgate offices with cuts in the pre-press department, among the drivers, cleaners and engineers and also in the press hall. All told, job losses amount to about a tenth of the 200-plus Newsquest York workforce.

Journalists voiced their anger at the cuts which, if implemented, will weaken the proud and distinguished traditions of a newspaper which has been operating in the city for 125 years.

"It is not as if Newsquest York are not making money. They raked in a profit of £4.3 million last year, but again they are imposing cuts on a workforce which is being dictated to by its American owners Gannett," said NUJ joint Fathers of Chapel Tony Kelly and Sam Southgate.

"As journalists we are proud to serve the community with integrity and dedication, but it is obvious the employers do not share that same faith by yet again hacking at those people who work tirelessly for the company.

"We are certain the quality of the company's core product will be fatally damaged. These planned job losses represent utter disregard for the community of York whom we are privileged to serve and will inevitably lead to a drop in its standing.

"We are totally opposed to the idea of compulsory redundancies and are prepared to fight them as much as possible. If these losses are implemented they will drive another nail into the well-being and reputation of The Press and that will be to the detriment of its loyal readership."

The axe swings again

2008-06-17T20:00:00.001+01:00

Those who thought Newsquest had already cut its York operations back to the bone were clearly mistaken. In the face of the economic downturn and anticipating a fall in its profits due to slacker advertising revenue, the company is once again planning to cut jobs.

We learned last Friday - a day after a regal visit from Newsquest chairman and chief executive Paul Davidson - that 18 of our colleagues are to be made redundant - nine van drivers, two cleaners, two printers and five pre-press staff. Today, just minutes before chapel reps were due to begin mediation with ACAS over our outstanding pay claim, management dropped a bombshell for the company's journalists.

Editor Kevin Booth told staff of plans to axe eight journalists' posts. A current reporting vacancy will not be filled, making a total of nine redundancies. No details were provided about which departments will be hit, but the editor said photographers, graphic artists and admin staff (all with virtually no union members) would be safe.

At a chapel meeting held later that day, members were rightly furious about the planned cuts, which are being replicated at Newsquest centres across the country. Two years ago, the company made nine editorial staff redundant but there was no decline in workloads, on the contrary. It seems we can expect the same scenario this time.

Chapel members committed themselves to opposing any compulsory redundancies and mounting a campaign to save quality local journalism in York and North Yorkshire, which we believe is being destroyed by Newsquest's slash and burn policies. We will be fighting for every one of our union colleagues who is under threat and making sure management engage in full assessment, consultation and representation as provided for in law.

We'll have more on our campaign soon...

Spreading the word in Sheffield

2008-06-16T11:43:00.010+01:00

Joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate addresses the TUC Trades Councils' Conference. Picture: Sid Frisby

We were honoured to be invited by NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear to speak at the TUC Trades Councils' Conference 2008 at Sheffield Town Hall, which was held over the weekend.

Joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate went along and told about 70 delegates from all over the country of our five-day strike, the background to the dispute and Newsquest's policies, and our continuing campaign for decent pay. Many delegates were based in areas where Newsquest has operations, so they understood well what we are up against. Others said two of the key issues raised during the conference were how to encourage young trade unionists (the majority of our members at The Press and the Gazette & Herald are in their 20s) and how to assist those involved in disputes, so our appeal was a perfect fit.

A motion was passed to urge delegates to do all they could to back NUJ members in York - including signing our petition, pressing MPs to sign our Early Day Motion, and sending messages of solidarity and donations for our strike fund. A collection among delegates during the conference raised £210 for our fund - an amazing sum for which we offer sincere thanks.

If you would like an NUJ member from Newsquest York to speak at your union branch or chapel meeting, please get in touch by emailing nujyork@gmail.com

Railing against low pay

2008-06-16T11:26:00.006+01:00

Joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate on the picket line at the National Railway Museum. Picture: John Jones

During our five-day strike, we were overwhelmed by the support we received from fellow journalists, trade unionists and members of the public.

So when workers at the city's National Railway Museum (NRM) went on strike on Friday, June 13, we made sure to show our solidarity with the PCS and Prospect union members there. Like our campaign, their action was over pay. They are taking a stand against an offer worth just three per cent for 2007, and a derisory 2.7 per cent this year.

Joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate visited the picket line, in Leeman Road, in the morning and took a message from the chapel which had been agreed during our seven-and-a-half hour mandatory meeting the previous day.

Later, a whip-round among NUJ members raised about £20. Because the members did not have a strike fund, we used the cash to buy a load of chocolate and fudge goodies for the strikers.

We send our union colleagues at the NRM best wishes for success in their struggle. They are forecasting further action this summer, and if they strike again NUJ members will once more be standing side-by-side with them.

Ignored while bosses sip champagne

2008-06-13T23:58:00.002+01:00

NUJ representatives today leafleted outside the Press Gazette Regional Press Awards to raise awareness for members currently taking action in York.

Staff at The Press helped their paper to a nomination in the Scoop Of The Year category, but were not invited to the awards - only the management attended.

NUJ Assistant Organiser, Jenny Lennox, said: "It is shameful that managers from Newsquest York are in London sipping champagne while their staff are struggling on low pay. To not even reward the journalists who earned them the nomination shows the contempt they have for their staff.

"The papers should recognise their award-winning staff and give them award-winning pay deals, not below inflation pay rises and worse deals than other titles."

Journalists at Newsquest-owned titles in York have been continuing their action this week by holding mandatory chapel meetings. Despite threats from management that any journalist who was late for work would be sent home without pay, yesterday's inaugural meeting was well attended.

NUJ members met for seven-and-a-half hours from 8am and returned to work en-masse after discussing ways to take their protests further. The managing director then sent home journalists from the morning shifts with no pay but those on the late shifts were allowed to stay and receive a full-day's pay.

Subsequent meetings have been put on hold as management have agreed to mediation through ACAS.

Pay campaign in the House

2008-06-13T20:03:00.000+01:00

Our Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons continues to go from stength to strength - with 24 MPs now signed up. The latest members to have signed EDM 1639 are Labour MPs: Tony Lloyd, David Anderson, Colin Burgon, Alan Simpson, David Hamilton, and Rudi Vis, plus Liberal Democrat Bob Russell.

To view the full text of the EDM 1639, click here. If your MP isn't listed, please urge them to sign the EDM by contacting them through www.writetothem.com

We have also been boosted this week by a £200 donation from South Yorkshire NUJ Branch towards our strike fund - a magnificent sum, so thanks go to our colleagues there.

Meeting management's challenge

2008-06-12T09:45:00.009+01:00

Journalists at Newsquest York prepare to return from their seven-and-a-half hour mandatory chapel meeting

Today witnessed more brave and determined action from journalists in York, as their campaign for decent pay continued. More than two weeks on since our five-day strike, members were together again in the first of eight scheduled mandatory meetings.

The chapel's business started early - at 8am at York's Caffé Nero. But about 25 chapel members and our NUJ assistant regional organiser were soon in the thick of debate over the dispute and an renewed offer from management to go to independent body ACAS for mediation.

After lunch we reconvened at the Seahorse Hotel to talk through other plans for action and links with other trade unions. And, after a few hours of fruitful discussion, we made the decision to return to work.

We entered Newsquest York's office, in Walmgate, at 3.30pm en masse and, once again, in the rudest of health. Management seemed surprised to see members taking their places to get on with the day's work - especially as most journalists only had two hours left in their working day.

Unfortunately all staff - apart from three late shift workers - were told their services would not be required and were sent home. Management had brought in journalists from elsewhere to cover for their absence, including Brian Nuttney, deputy editor of the Bradford Telegraph & Argus (also a Newsquest paper).

However, positive discussions between the NUJ and managing director Steve Hughes led to an agreement that will see the chapel voluntarily suspending its planned industrial action until a mediation session with ACAS is convened early next week.

This is exactly the result the chapel wanted. We now hope management prove they are serious about resolving this dispute and will improve their derisory pay offer.

Pay for the day

2008-06-11T20:40:00.000+01:00

The latest story about our dispute by Press Gazette, the journalism trade weekly, is on the threat by management to dock a full day's pay if any member misses part of the day due to the mandatory meetings. As the meetings last as long as is needed to complete the chapel's business, this is clearly about reducing the effectiveness of the action and saying: come in on time or not at all. The chapel will decide how to respond to this tomorrow, at the first of eight planned mandatory meetings at 8am.

Parliamentary support still growing

2008-06-07T15:15:00.000+01:00

Support for our Early Day Motion (EDM) within Parliament is increasing. We now have 17 MPs signed up to the statement in support of the strike. The latest additions are Labour MPs Martin Caton, Jeremy Corbyn, Robert N Wareing, Ronnie Campbell, Harry Cohen, Ann Cryer, Andrew Dismore, David Drew, Neil Gerrard, Katy Clark. Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd has also signed up.

The text of the EDM 1639. If your MP isn't listed, please urge them to sign the EDM by contacting them through www.writetothem.com

That this House notes with disappointment the below-inflation pay rise offered to journalists at Newsquest York; further notes that Gannett, Newsquest's US parent company, made a profit last year of over $1 billion; is concerned that the journalists at Newsquest York work hard to deliver good quality local news to the community in difficult circumstances of increasing workloads and understaffing; believes that high quality journalism is essential to any democratic society and recognises that poor conditions and inadequate pay threaten this provision; supports the strike action taken by National Union of Journalists members at Newsquest York; and urges the management to enter into meaningful dialogue with staff over pay and conditions.

Topping up the strike fund

2008-06-06T20:43:00.003+01:00

During our five-day strike nearly all members lost out on pay, so our strike fund has compensated members to make sure they suffer no hardship as a result. This has reduced our strike fund. Fortunately, we have received considerable donations over the last few days to make up for some of the shortfall.

The NUJ Chapel at Newsquest Glasgow, who are struggling against the company's cuts and drive for profit at the cost of quality, sent a donation of £200 to our strike fund. A collection at the Northern Echo in Darlington, also a Newsquest title, brought in £131 for the fund. The Birmingham and Coventry NUJ Branch sent us £300, following an earlier donation of £350. Fellow Newsquest colleagues at the Oxford Mail sent us £50, as did friends at the Darlington NUJ Chapel. We also received individual donations totalling £50.

The chapel offers its wholehearted thanks to all these supporters.

Mandatory meetings make the news

2008-06-05T14:35:00.002+01:00

News of our continuing battle for fair pay has already hit the trade press. We are featured in an article on the Press Gazette website, and also on Hold The Front Page. This was the press release issued by the NUJ and on its website:

Journalists in York are continuing their battle for fair pay by holding a series of mandatory chapel meetings each morning starting Thursday, June 12.

The 34 NUJ members will be holding meetings at 8am each morning up to and including Thursday, June 19. The meetings are intended to last as long as is needed for business to be completed.

NUJ Assistant Organiser, Jenny Lennox, said: "We are very disappointed that management still refuses to take this matter seriously. Our members feel they have no option but to take further action.

"The union remains committed to finding a resolution to this dispute and has repeatedly stated that we would be happy to meet with management but they continue to ignore us."

The action will affect The Press, the company’s main paper in the city, as well as other Newsquest titles including the Gazette & Herald. Members from these titles went on a five-day strike last month against a below inflation pay rise demanding a pay deal which matches local salaries and is in-line with pay at other Newsquest newspapers.

New action, new theme

2008-06-05T14:20:00.005+01:00

After the success of our strike song Things I Learnt This Year, NUJ member and folk troubadour Richard Foster has repeated his success by penning another sure-fire hit. The tune is called Gannett, Mean And Petty and is based on Sally Free And Easy by Cyril Tawney. Richard gave the debut performance at the NUJ York Branch Social event last night, at the Golden Ball pub, which saw NEC member for newspapers Michelle Stanistreet talk with activists about recruitment and organising.

Richard said he was inspired to write the song afer receiving a letter this week from Newsquest York managing director Steve Hughes detailing how much pay he would be losing through the strike, and also "for the avoidance of doubt" stressing his annual leave and sick days would too be docked.

Richard was recently featured on the website of his church St Paul's, in Holgate, where he regularly plays guitar, talking about the strike. We hope to have a video of Richard's latest performance online soon. Here are the new lyrics:

Gannett, Mean And Petty
by Richard Foster (based on Sally Free And Easy by Cyril Tawney)

Gannett mean and petty, That should be their name.
Gannett mean and petty, That should be their name.
Took a decent pay claim, for a nursery game.
Send in the strike breakers, pay for their travel to York.
Send in the strike breakers, pay for their travel to York.
Buy them cake from the trolley, and praise them in York Talk.*

Hit your profit targets, that’s what Gannett always say.
Hit your profit targets, that’s what Gannett always say.
Ship out the jobs to India, and sack the ones that stay.

Gannett mean and petty, That should be their name.
Gannett mean and petty, That should be their name.
Counting cash in America, it’s a crying shame.

*NB: York Talk is the company's weekly internal newsletter.

Hitting the road

2008-06-05T13:44:00.004+01:00

Given the huge amount of support we've received from fellow trade unionists and NUJ members, we want to make an effort to visit other chapels and branches to speak about our fight and to share any experiences we can.

One of our members travelled to Middlesbrough for the NUJ Teesside Branch meeting yesterday afternoon and told journalists there about our pay fight and why we decided to strike this time after suffering years of below-inflation pay rises. Teesside members generously donated £300 towards the chapel's strike fund.

At the same time, joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate attended a Unison branch meeting at City of York Council's Guildhall. He spoke about the background to the dispute with Newsquest and the current situation. The council employees, who are currently in the middle of national strike ballot over a derisory 2.45% pay offer, expressed their solidarity with NUJ members in York and donated £100 towards our strike fund.

If you would like NUJ members from York to speak at your union branch or chapel meeting, please get in touch by emailing us at nujyork@gmail.com

Chapel is fighting on

2008-06-04T14:29:00.001+01:00

Today the chapel gave notice to management of our intention to continue the fight for fair pay - by staging more industrial action.

At a lively and well-attended meeting last night, members agreed to stage eight days of discontinous industrial action. We are planning to hold mandatory chapel meetings - of indeterminate length - at 8am every day from Thursday, June 12, to Thursday, June 19, inclusive.

The beauty of chapel meetings is that we can take action for as long or short a length of time as we like. We can simply return to work when we decide the meeting's business is over - effectively allowing us flexibility in whether to strike for five minutes, two hours, or days at a time.

While delivering the notice of our next action, we also reiterated that union officials remain willing to get back around the table should management be willing to reopen serious negotiations.

Of course, while our fight continues we hope the solidarity and messages of support from other trade unionists and journalists will also continue.

Please email messages of support to nujyork@gmail.com, sign our petition online at www.petitiononline.com/nujyork and lobby your MP to sign EDM 1639 by logging on to www.writetothem.com. If you have not already donated to our strike fund, please do so by sending cheques made out to NUJ Newsquest York Chapel to NUJ, 5th Floor, Arthur House, Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3FH. Thank you.

EDM signatures increasing

2008-06-04T14:28:00.000+01:00

Our Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament is going from strength to strength, with six MPs now having signed up to the motion supporting our strike and urging Newsquest to enter into meaningful negotiations to tackle low pay and poor conditions.

Those to have backed EDM 1639 so far are: Labour MPs John McDonnell, Kelvin Hopkins, Paul Flynn, Lindsay Hoyle, Lynne Jones and Michael Clapham. If your MP is not on this list, please urge them to sign up by logging on to www.writetothem.com

In the news again

2008-06-02T22:11:00.003+01:00

Our campaign for fair pay continues to make headlines in the journalism press. This week, the dispute has been covered in a very positive article on the Hold The Front Page website and also in Press Gazette, right, the industry's weekly trade magazine. Both made clear that despite the five-day strike being over, the chapel is very much determined to continue to press its case.

A day at the races

2008-06-02T22:03:00.006+01:00

A team of NUJ members visited York Racecourse on The Press Family Raceday to highlight our campaign for fair pay to racegoers. The Press put its name to the day's racing on Friday, May 30, and we thought it only right to provide a news service about the event's sponsors.

Chapel members and supporters handed out leaflets to punters stressing how US-owned Newsquest is gambling with the future of the city's community newspaper, and the Gazette & Herald, which covers Ryedale. They also gathered signatures on our petition, which is still going strong after we handed in 900 names to managing director Steve Hughes last week.

Celebrities including Nikki Sanderson, pictured right, who played Candice in Coronation Street, took leaflets and spoke to members about our dispute.

Taking a lead in pressuring Newsquest

2008-05-28T21:52:00.004+01:00

We reported earlier how former Seahorses singer-songwriter Chris Helme, now lead guitarist of The Yards, signed our petition backing the NUJ campaign for a decent pay rise. We now have a copy of a letter to the managing director Steve Hughes from his bandmate guitarist Chris Farrell, reproduced below. We are urging all our supporters to email Steve at steve.hughes@ycp.co.uk and his boss regional managing director David Coates at david.coates@nne.co.uk to suggest they start paying their journalsts fairly. Here's Chris's eloquent letter:

Dear Steve,

I'm emailing you to express my support for the journalists currently on strike at the Press and concern that a once much valued local paper has been reduced to treating its staff so badly.

As a York resident for over 14 years I have always relied on the journalists working for the Press to keep me informed about what is happening in my community in an informative and relevant way.

As a charity fundraiser and musician I am only too aware that without coverage in the Press the cultural and social life of York would be greatly impoverished. Without sufficient properly paid and committed journalists covering local issues and events you simply cannot produce a paper that should properly be seen as a keystone of our city and as such the relevance (and readership) of the Press will disappear.

As an employer I feel it is demeaning to your staff to offer a 3% pay rise when real inflation is over 4% and food inflation is over 10%. We in the charity sector have recognised that you really do get what you pay for in the end and it is both exploitative and self defeating to expect staff to work in these conditions. As a company that makes a considerable profit off the hard work of your employees I can see no reason why you feel the need to adopt your current position other than sheer greed.

I therefore very much hope you will recognise the legitimacy of your employees position and revise your pay offer, allowing the journalists of the Press to return to what they does best, providing relevant local coverage and comment on all aspects of York life.

Yours sincerely

Chris Farrell

When the strikers went marching in...

2008-05-27T23:02:00.006+01:00

We returned to work today with our heads held very high indeed. About 20 strikers gathered in a car park close to Newsquest York's offices just before 9am and marched in to the offices en masse - still united, still strong and still fighting.

Joint Fathers of Chapel Tony Kelly and Sam Southgate immediately presented managing director Steve Hughes with a petition signed by 900 readers and residents demanding fair pay for journalists at The Press and the Gazette & Herald.

This was the inspiring message to members from Tony

We returned to work today not in doom nor gloom, but in a positive, vibrant mood. We have not won our battle yet - it may well take quite a while - but we are already winners because we have shown such a unity of spirit, defiance, commitment and togetherness.

Can any of us have been prouder to be members of the National Union of Journalists than during our brave and concerted action throughout the York chapel’s five-day strike? No.

We might take some knocks in the next few days or weeks, but we have to remember the five days between May 22 and 26 when, as one, we supported each other, worked for each other, looked out for each other and revelled in each other’s determination not to be brow-beaten or bullied or battered

We now have a chapel of strength. We now have a chapel of character. We now have a chapel of purpose.

Those five days have given us that. They have earned respect across the city of York, across the union nationally, across the industry country-wide.

The taboo of taking industrial action has been shattered. There is no need to fear it. Provided we stick together we can embrace the notion of fighting legitimately for our rights and steadfastly pressing our claims for fair pay and better working conditions.

As said before, our stoppage reinforced our status as winners. Now let’s go on to even more memorable
victories.

Making news in cyberspace

2008-05-27T22:55:00.006+01:00

Our campaign continues to attract attention and support.

We reported how NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear visited the picket line on Saturday morning. He has written about his experience on his blog He says:

"There's a fantastic spirit about the strike and a determination to win a fair pay deal. I was happy to be able to deliver a show of support for the strikers and importantly pledge cash to them from the union's fighting fund."

Michelle Stanistreet, the NEC member for newspapers and agencies, who visited the picket line on Monday, has also paid testament to the spirit among the strikers on her blog She says:

"We need to keep up the fight for decent pay for journalists on highly profitable local papers. The York chapel is showing us the way. I can empathise with the people I spoke to today who are struggling to pay off student loans and find accommodation in an expensive area. The spirit of determination, unity and fun on the picket line was a lesson for the union as a whole. I was delighted to see the Stand Up For Journalism banner on display – as well resourced, motivated journalists are vital for a community like York. It was great to see that the chapel has the support of many local people – including the councillors and MP John Grogan who turned up on a bank holiday to show their support."

There's also a new article in the newspaper Socialist Worker by Frank Ormston, a local TSSA union rep who visited the picket line a number of times.

And we've had the following messages of support, one from our Business Editor who was sunning himself in warmer climes during the strike:

Feeling part of it
Well done all. The blog is fantastic. I really felt part of it from all this distance away. I know it's hard to believe, but I wished I was there. This is just the start of the battle. Fraternal greetings from paradise.
Ron Godfrey

Support for justice quest
Dear comrades, On behalf of all the 22,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union employed in the South West of England may I extend to you and all your fellow strikers our total support in your dispute to obtain justice for your members. If there is any practical help or support we can provide, please do not hesitate to get in touch, Yours fraternally
David A Millar
South West Regional Secretary, PCS

Chapel's message: this ain't over

2008-05-26T19:41:00.001+01:00

A lively chapel meeting at the end of our five-day strike had one message for Newsquest management: this dispute is not over. After taking such a brave and principled stand, we are determined not to let our hard work be for nought. A full chapel meeting next week will discuss how to step up our campaign, and we already have plenty of ideas. But one thing's for sure: with a huge strike fund behind us and the taboo of industrial action utterly shattered, all options are now open.

Marching on the Minster

2008-05-26T17:21:00.025+01:00

On the march in York's Parliament Street

Actors, MPs, councillors, lecturers and shoppers got behind our strike on its final day. More than 20 picketers marched on the city's Minster on another glorious day of sunshine in York to round off the first wave of our action for fair pay.

We were buoyed early on by a visit from Selby MP John Grogan, whose constituency includes part of York and is covered by The Press. He had earlier sent us a message of support but today he spoke to strikers and gave us his backing in person.

Then City of York councillor Dave Taylor dropped by to give us his backing. We had earlier visited by his Green Party colleague Andy D'Agorne so we now have 100 per cent of the council's Green group on board.

Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for York Central, Susan Wade Weeks paid another visit to the picket line. She said her daughter, the actress Honeysuckle Weeks, from the TV show Foyle's War, would also be rooting for us.

More celebrety backing came in the shape of Robinson Crusoe. The lead in an upcoming series by American TV company NBC, Philip Winchester, signed our petition and gave us his support. Along with stars such as Sean Bean and Sam Neil, he has been in the city for filming over the last week.

Three NUJ national executive members turned out today - Michelle Stanistreet, Tom Davies and Adam Christie - along with Miles Barter from the Manchester NUJ Branch and our regional organiser Jenny Lennox. They brought with them the branch's banner which we hoisted in front of the building.

The University of York's UCU secretary James Cussens paid us a visit and wished us fraternal greetings, as did a Japanese lecturer in labour relations at York St John University and a trade unionist in his home country.

By noon, we were ready to move off on our march into the city centre. Our demonstration was lively, fun and loud - it surely made an impression on the Bank Holiday shoppers. From Newsquest York's offices in Walmgate, we marched to the Minster and then to Parliament Street.

There we staged an impromptu singalong of our strike song, which saw dozens of members of the public throw money into our bucket. Union members handed out copies of our strike paper The Stress, collected signatures on our petition, and shouted slogans on the megaphone.

From there, we went back to Newsquest York's offices and stood outside chanting our slogan: "What do we want? Fair Pay! When do we want it? Now!" We were certainly loud enough to make our point to the management inside. We rounded off our five-day strike with a chapel meeting and devoured a lunch laid on at a local pub.

Selby MP John Grogan on the picket line

Richard Foster sings his heart out in the city centre

A video of our end-of-strike march and rally

Thanks for 'phenomenal' support

2008-05-26T17:19:00.000+01:00

Striking journalists in York wish to thank the thousands of people who have backed them during their five-day walkout.

The NUJ chapel at The Press and Gazette and Herald are striking over a derisory pay-increase offer of 3% - well below inflation, and less than several other papers in Newsquest, the papers' owners.

The journalists have been backed by local politicians of all parties, as well as thousands of local residents and readers of the papers.

Former Press editor Dave Nicholson also backed the strikers, as have many other workers around the city.

Joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate said: "The support has been phenomenal. Many people have been amazed to learn how poor local journalists are paid, and were shocked to hear that millions of pounds made in York were being sucked out of the local economy by Newsquest and their American owners.

"Donations and messages of goodwill have been flooding in from all over the country, and even as far afield as New York. The support from other employees at The Press, such as advertising staff, and delivery drivers, has also been fantastic.

"The ball is now in Steve Hughes' court - he must decide whether to listen to the people of York and pay their journalists a fair wage, or to continue pandering to the excessive demands of American shareholders."

This is the first strike by journalists at The Press since 1978.

Support for campaign runs deep

2008-05-26T17:10:00.003+01:00

Our strike fund is edging steadily towards the £10,000 mark after two significant donations today. We received £100 from Newcastle Branch as well as a £40 donation from a supporter in Tyneside.

Meanwhile, we are on the cusp of smashing through the 1,000-signature barrier with our petition for fair pay. We now have an online version of the petition, so please log on and add your name.

Below are two further messages of support that arrived today:

Lively, imaginative action
To all members on strike at the Press. It was great to meet some of you down on the picket line today. I've been really impressed by the lively and imaginative nature of your strike. This note is just to convey a message of support to you from University of York. Let's hope come round to giving you the pay you deserve! In solidarity,
James Cussens, University of York UCU secretary

Trail-blazing strike
Add our support for your courageous and trail-blazing action.
Gloria McShane, chair, Teesside branch

Robinson Crusoe backs strike

2008-05-26T17:09:00.005+01:00

The star of the new Robinson Crusoe TV series has joined our stance for fair pay. American actor Philip Winchester, pictured, who played Scott Tracy in the recent remake of Thunderbirds, took a copy of our strike paper, The Stress, and signed our petition while filming in York today.
Philip, Sean Bean, Sam Neil and other cast members have been filming the 13-part drama for US production company NBC in the city for the last two weeks. Philip took time out to ask questions about our strike, read The Stress and wish us good luck. Extras and crew members have also supported our cause throughout the last five days.

Cost of living is rising

2008-05-26T17:02:00.002+01:00

We began our campaign for fair pay with a five-day strike because chapel members feel fed up with below-inflation pay rises eroding our standard of living while our employer - Newsquest - continues to make massive profits.

Living is costly

While the standard measure of inflation (RPI) currently stands at four per cent year-on-year, house prices have gone up by 6.6 per cent, food by 7.2 per cent and energy costs by 15 per cent, not to mention the spiralling cost of fuel. These increases, coupled with below-inflation pay deals year after year, are making life costlier than ever.

In our last round of pay negotiations more than two years ago, we agreed a deal based on RPIX (a rate of inflation that doesn't include mortgages) plus 0.25 per cent. Using the same calculation for this year - just to stand still on our deal last time around - would currently work out at a 4.25 per cent rise.

Yet we have been offered just a three per cent pay rise - in real terms a 1.2 per cent pay cut.

Four other Newsquest centres have been offered a 3.5 per cent deal - Glasgow, North Essex, South Essex and South London. Our management has said an extra 0.5 per cent would be available as "merit money" for the editor to shower on whoever he pleases. But it has become clear both here and from colleagues in Bradford that Newsquest bosses are not in any way committed to spending this cash.

Billion dollar racket

Newsquest's management is pleading poverty but its profits in York alone were £4.3 million last year. Gannett, the American parent company that owns Newsquest - including The Press and the Gazette & Herald - made $1 billion in 2007.

Newsquest's national chief executive and chairman Paul Davidson received more than £1.1 million in salaries, bonuses and benefits last year and lives in the exclusive Virginia Water estate in Surrey - the wealthiest village in England.

Yet trainee reporters on The Press - graduates often with a mountain of debt - are forced to struggle by on only £13,500. The most any non-management journalist at The Press or the Gazette & Herald could ever hope to earn is £22,500 - even if they work for the company for decades they will never break through this glass ceiling.

And unless we put a stop to below-inflation pay deals year after year, journalists' standard of living will continue to worsen.

We're all fine - on the picket line

2008-05-25T21:42:00.009+01:00

It was another cracking day on the picket line for the York strikers. Due to the work patterns on Sunday we started at 3.30pm, but the line was soon dancing a jig as Fozzy and the Fozzettes were once again on song.

NUJ regional organiser Chris Morley joined us and brought along the Birmingham NUJ Branch banner. About 15 strikers turned out and enjoyed more glorious sunshine while handing out leaflets and getting members of the public to sign our petition for fair pay.

Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for York Central Susan Wade Weeks also visited the picket line, following up on her message of support. Susan, who lives locally, said she was pleased to give us her full backing. She has spoken to Newsquest York's managing director Steve Hughes on our behalf to press him to give us a fair pay rise. We are very grateful for her continued support.

Union member Richard Foster, accompanied by his son Daniel, performed the NUJ York strike song Things I Learnt This Year and other numbers including Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life and Part Of The Union, by The Strawbs.

Passing motorists - epsecially bus drivers from First York - were again offering sterling support by honking for fair pay. On a similar theme, The Press's former pocket cartoonist, known as Wolf, whose slot was axed when the paper was redesigned last month, sent us a cartoon about our strike, pictured right.

The Press's editor Kevin Booth was back from holiday today - he has missed out on the strike so far - and we were there to greet him as he entered the office.

Tomorrow is the final day of this strike and we'll be out in force. We're planning a march around the city centre followed by a rally at the Minster and a celebratory lunch to mark the end of this action and to plan what comes next.

We're determined to continue our fight for decent pay; this is just the beginning.

Face to face with supporters

2008-05-25T21:36:00.001+01:00

Membership of our Facebook group is growing at a rate of knots. We now have more than 220 online supporters. Stay in touch with the latest news, discuss the strike, watch videos and view our picture gallery by joining the group. Just click here.

Chapel fighting fund nears £10k

2008-05-25T21:30:00.002+01:00

Countless donations towards our strike fund have been thrown into our bucket by members of the public over the weekend. We now have some £300 pounds in there, which together with a £25 donation from an NUJ member in the US, pushes us close to the £3,750 mark.

However the big news today is that the NUJ's national executive committee (NEC) has agreed to send us £6,000 towards the strike as a down payment for our dispute. This is a simply incredible sum and reaffirms Jeremy Dear's message yesterday that the union nationally is behind us all the way. Officials have stressed that more financial support will be coming our way from the NEC should we need it.

We now have a fighting fund of close to £10,000, giving members the confidence to plan where we go next in battling for fair pay. There's a feeling that union members at (especially Newsquest) papers across the country are willing us on and, given the help we've had, we feel we owe it to them to continue our struggle.

Rock royalty backs strikers

2008-05-25T21:21:00.006+01:00

York's rock band royalty are in harmony with our strike. As we approach the final day of our five-day stoppage, our walkout has been backed by former Seahorses singer-songwriter Chris Helme, whose new band The Yards will be performing a charity gig at the Minster on Thursday night.

Helme signed our petition, which is closing in on more than 1,000 signatures, declaring that journalists at The Press and its weekly newspaper, the Gazette & Herald, should be given a fair pay deal.

And in a further boost, Chris Farrell , the lead guitarist with The Yards, has written an eloquent letter to Newsquest York's managing director Steve Hughes backing the NUJ campaign for a decent pay rise. Helme and Farrell said they both "totally supported" the journalists’ fight for a fair pay offer.

The three per cent deal proposed by management has been overwhelmingly rejected by the NUJ chapel prompting the five-day stoppage. No fewer than four other companies in the Newsquest empire have been given 3.5 per cent pay deals.

Tickets for The Yards charity gig on Thursday at the Minster - ironically in aid of The Press’s Guardian Angels charity appeal and also the Minster Restoration Fund - are available from Fibbers nightclub and the Church House reception, in Ogleforth.

Backing us to the hilt

2008-05-25T21:01:00.004+01:00

Cause is just
Dear Colleagues, I am unable to visit your picketline as I am recovering from an operation. But as a former NUJ Northern Organiser I know how difficult it must be to live in York on what Newsquest pays you. Your cause is just: your action is sound: your aims are entirely fair. Willing you to success.

John Toner NUJ, Freelance Organiser

Inspiration to all activists

To all the members of the York Press NUJ chapel, I just wanted to email to say what a wonderful job you are all doing and to keep up the good work. I've been keeping in touch with your efforts online and it is great to see everyone coming together to support what you believe in. The treatment of staff by Newsquest York is ridiculous in this day and age, and sadly not an isolated case. Your strike will be an inspiration for activists across the UK as it has been to me. Since I moved to New York six months ago, I have been intending to get an NUJ network up and running in the city. I kept saying I was too busy but now I realise you can always find the time. After all, united we're stronger. I hope your final day is a success and that you will get the results you truly deserve. If nothing else, you will have scored a strong moral victory and given the people of York food for thought. The bosses at The Press love to stress what a campaigning local paper it is - how can they expect journalist to expose the wrongdoings of other companies if it can't look after its own?! All the best guys!
Alex Lloyd

Recalling past pickets

Dear Fozzy and the Fozettes and all, I was pleased this morning to be able to share your picket line, albeit for only ten minutes, as my wife and I arrived on a visit to York. It took me back to picket lines on several occasions in Sheffield where I worked on the old Sheffield Telegraph and later The Star for 45 years. It makes me sad that journalists are still being forced by intransigent and short-sighted managements to strike to achieve fair rewards. I wish you success and hope the Fozettes will soon be playing a celebratory tune.

Stuart Machin, NUJ life member, now retired.

Student journalist's support

Hello all, This is a message of support from a Nouse student journalist. Good luck with your protest, I blogged about you on my Tumblr. Good news on the Minster scoop and don't let them grind you down! Best,

Jennifer O'Mahony

Fighting for quality journalism

It is heartening to hear that you are taking action in defence of the a standard of journalism which is becoming a truly "endangered species" in the face of the kind of dumbed down rubbish which fills the newsstands. All power to you and it is my dear wish that you succeed.

Daniel Russell

Friends in Scotland

Solidarity from Scotland.

From the Campsie branch Scottish Socialist Party

Willing you to win

Great to hear you had a good first day. You obviously know by now that you have our unflinching support and solidarity. It's an absolute scandal that companies like Newsquest talk about local bargaining, while implementing national policies to cut back on resources, pay, and workers' terms and conditions. Keep up the fight. The whole union is behind you.
Richard Simcox NUJ London Press & PR Branch

Magazines chapel greetings

Good for you! All the best

Charlotte, Emap Public Sector Deputy MoC

London lecturers offer backing

The branch sec of UCL UCU joins me in expressing solidarity with your strike.

Maggie Gray, post-graduate assistant UCL History of Art Department, UCLU Postgraduate faculty rep for Social & Historical Sciences

Fraternal greetings

Fraternal greetings etc. from London - best of luck with the pay claim.

Gary Dunion, Chief Press Officer, Green Party, and Asst Branch Sec, Press & PR Branch, NUJ

University union's best wishes

Good luck with the strike.

Andrew Collingwood, York University UCU Executive Member

Dark days before recognition

Good luck with the strike guys - I hope they sit up and take notice. As a former Press worker in the dark pre-union recognition days, I will be thinking of you all. Keep fighting.

Catherine Bruce

Canada high

2008-05-24T18:48:00.001+01:00

Support for our strike has attracted global support. Messages backing our stance have ranged from as far afield as the United States of America, Singapore and Romania.

But one of the most endearing was from a care worker in Canada who was holidaying in York. He asked was there any way of contributing to the strike fund and when being told there was a collection bucket, he proceeded to put in a sizeable amount of cash.

Pressed as to why he should be so generous, he recalled how he and his co-workers had undertaken their first strike for three decades in his native Canada.

He said: "The local newspaper there was extremely supportive to our campaign for fair pay and through their assistance we were able to win a 25 per cent pay deal. I hope yourselves at York achieve your demand for fair pay. It is vital that unions stick together and fight for what they believe to be right."

Watching Gannett, watching us

2008-05-24T18:43:00.003+01:00

News of our strike has now gone transatlantic after the story was picked up by Gannett Watch, a US-based blog that keeps an eagle-eye trained on the doings of the American conglomerate that owns Newsquest and indeed The Press and the Gazette & Herald. Click here to see the post.

Call for petition signatures

2008-05-24T18:22:00.000+01:00

Since launching our petition on Friday, we have collected hundreds of signatures from people who agree journalists at The Press and the Gazette & Herald should be paid a fair wage. We now have an e-petition to accompany it and to allow supporters elsewhere to register their backing. Click here to add your signature.

Video documents strike day

2008-05-24T18:18:00.001+01:00

We now have a short video explaining why we are striking alongside footage of the first day on the picket line:

Time to press our MPs

2008-05-24T18:09:00.004+01:00

A parliamentary motion has been lodged calling on Newsquest to give its York journalists a decent pay rise. Early Day Motion 1639 has been sponsored by Labour MP John McDonnell, secretary of the NUJ's parliamentary group. To contact your MP, log on to www.writetothem.com The motion reads as follows:

That this House notes with disappointment the below-inflation pay rise offered to journalists at Newsquest York; further notes that Gannett, Newsquest's US parent company, made a profit last year of over $1 billion; is concerned that the journalists at Newsquest York work hard to deliver good quality local news to the community in difficult circumstances of increasing workloads and understaffing; believes that high quality journalism is essential to any democratic society and recognises that poor conditions and inadequate pay threaten this provision; supports the strike action taken by National Union of Journalists members at Newsquest York; and urges the management to enter into meaningful dialogue with staff over pay and conditions.

Donations still pouring in

2008-05-24T18:06:00.002+01:00

The strike fund is still going strong. Today we had £180 donated by one good friend of the union and about £50 from members of the public, no doubt helped by Daniel's fine fiddling.

Yesterday afternoon, Richard Edwards of the Leeds NUJ Branch paid a visit to our picket line. He had whip-round among his workmates at the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post which raised an extra £138 for our strike fund. This was incredible given that the chapel and branch had together already donated £750. So we owe a big thank you to Leeds members.

This all takes our total of received and pledged donations to somewhere near £3,600 - a simply incredible figure. We never expected to received such wonderful solidarity, so thank you all.

Minster fire alert scoop for NUJ journalists

2008-05-24T17:34:00.007+01:00

Another exclusive for strike paper The Stress's reporters...

HUNDREDS of York residents and tourists looked on as emergency services swooped on the city's Minster this afternoon. Four fire engines and police rushed to the historic church shortly before 5pm after the fire alam sounded. After an anxious examination of the building it was found to have been a false alarm. It was believed to have been sparked by either bellringers or workmen disturbing dust in the bell tower. NUJ journalists were on the scene and pictures will follow soon. Where were The Press? Remember, you read it here first.

Picture copyright NUJ Newsquest York Chapel. All rights reserved.

General Secretary joins picket line

2008-05-24T17:16:00.004+01:00

On the third day of our strike, picketers were in bouyant mood as we were accompanied by violin and guitar outside Newsquest York's offices.

We started at 8.30am and were joined by the NUJ's General Secretary Jeremy Dear, pictured, who emphasised we had the full support of the union behind us.

Richard Foster, a subeditor at The Press and composer of our strike ballad, was joined by his son and fiddler Daniel to keep our spirits high at the mid-point of our five-day action. He played a range of Scottish, Irish and even Norwegian fiddle tunes to keep the line's feet tapping. Then we had a number of rousing renditions of our strike song Things I Learnt This Year.

Members of the NUT and Unison joined us to help hand our fliers and press our case. At noon the group of about 15 union members headed into the city centre and set up our stall on Parliament Street. We handed out copies of our strike newspaper The Stress - today with an exclusive York Knights rugby league story - and encouraged shoppers to sign our petition demanding Newsquest give us a fair pay rise.

We will be back again tomorrow to show there will be no let up in our demand for fair pay . To see highlights from today, watch this video:

TV coverage spreads our message

2008-05-23T18:08:00.003+01:00

More good news on the media front. Aside from longer slots with interviews shown on Calendar and Look North last night, we also featured on ITV Tyne Tees news. Management have refused to give any comments to radio and TV, leaving us with a free run at it.

We also featured on the Hold The Front Page website today and at Journalism.co.uk, although the latter article looks at the video journalism angle. In a nutshell, we balloted for industrial action over this issue in December because of a lack of training, a shortage of reporters and there being no extra pay for the new skills. We called off the action after Steve Hughes promised 0.5% of budget towards payments for this. However, in the ongoing pay talks, this changed to become simply "merit money" for the editor to reward who he likes. It seems management are not even intending to spend this money.

Fundamentally, though, this strike is down to low pay and a below-inflation pay offer that we cannot accept.

Strke fund is still on the up

2008-05-23T18:00:00.003+01:00

Our strike fund smashed through the £3k barrier today thanks to a £300 donation from the NUJ Newsquest Bradford Chapel and about £50 donated by members of the public.

In his letter to the York strikers, Bradford Father of Chapel, Bob Smith, said:

On behalf of members of the Newsquest Bradford Chapel, I'd like to wish you success with your action in support of better pay and conditions.

Newsquest makes vast profits on the backs of its workers and ships most of it back to its US shareholders. Investment in its companies is minimal and its long-term strategy non-existent. NUJ members' standards of living fall further with every below-inflation wage settlement the company offers. How your managing director Steve Hughes can call a three per cent offer "increasingly attractive" when inflation is soaring above four per cent and food prices are up by more than seven per cent is mindboggling and shows how out of touch our managers are.

Hughes's take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum with the company's offer indicates a Victorian vindictiveness which is completely out of place in the 21st century.

All of which is why we applaud your decision to take strike action, and why I and my chapel members are right behind you. Your fight is for every journalist in Newsquest and is vital at a time when management are set to hack even more resources from a company which has already been pared to the bone.

Thanks very much to Bob and all those at Bradford for showing such wonderful solidarity. Please everyone, keep the donations coming.

Strike paper scores scoop

2008-05-23T17:48:00.005+01:00

Our strike paper, The Stress, today scored a scoop on the management cobbling together The Press with an exclusive story about the city's football team.

The story concerning former York City captain Manny Panther's prospective move to Exeter City was entirely missed by The Press. But fans could still find out the news thanks to the strike paper, 1,250 of which were handed out yesterday. The Stress is carrying a mixture of news about the strike and exclusive stories readers only available to the dedicated journalists on the picket line. We are set for another three exclusive stories in Saturday's edition.

Joint Father of Chapel, Tony Kelly, said the support for the strike has been brilliant. He said: "We are overwhelmed by the support we have received from the public, councillors and our colleague inside the building. Countless numbers of drivers are responding to our 'Honk for fair pay' placards.

"There was much interest in our stall - more than 1,000 people took leaflets before lunchtime - and our strike paper The Stress, which covers the dispute in depth, was also popular on the picket line. We even managed to secure an exclusive story in the sports pages which The Press had not heard about.

"The weather has been perfect with glorious sunshine. The managing director came out yesterday and tried to dampen our spirits by telling us it would rain but he was wrong.

Conservative candidate backs strike

2008-05-23T17:42:00.003+01:00

Another political big-hitter pledged her support to our campaign today. Susan Wade Weeks, the Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for York Central, has given us her full backing. She promised to phone Newsquest York managing director Steve Hughes and ask him how it is fair that journalists at The Press and the Gazette & Herald can be handed below-inflation pay rises that are worse than those elsewhere in the company. She gave us this message:

"I give you my wholehearted support in this strike action. The issue of fair pay goes to the heart of any decent society. Life in this country is becoming impossibly expensive. A difference of £1,700 a year in two journalists pay packets amounts to a whole year's council tax . It is simply and obviously unfair that even within the region rates of pay vary dramatically, when the cost of living doesn't. You have my support."

The chapel would like to extend its thanks to Susan for her efforts.

Power is in chapel's hands

2008-05-23T17:01:00.006+01:00

Another hot, sunny day on the York line and more feel-good vibes among the pickets. We started early again at 7.30am and although there were a few tired legs our spirits were high and about 25 union members picketed throughout the day. We were joined by former NUJ regional organiser Miles Barter, from the Manchester Branch, as well as NUJ official Jenny Lennox. They brought their branch's impressive-looking banner, which we raised in front of the building.

Early on Tracey Simpson-Laing, a Labour member of City of York Council, dropped by on her bicycle to give us some chocolate muffins. Shortly after, her colleague and leader of the Labour group, David Scott, visited the picket again to pass on his best wishes.

In mid-morning Alan Hughes, Newsquest York's official chaplain, and vicar at St Deny's Church, a few hundred metres from the offices in Walmgate, wished us well. Although he is unable to take an official line on the dispute, he said he believed the church should take an interest and said he had told management he would not cross the picket line.

Fellow York trade unionists were also out in force today. We were visited by Linda Cartwright, the York PCS Branch secretary; Andy Stainforth, the T&GWU rep for First York buses; and Frank Ormston, a TSSA rep at Network Rail. We also received a call from Paul Clays, the CWU at the city's Royal Mail sorting office. They all said their members and branches are giving us their full support.

Michelle Stanistreet, the NUJ National Executive Committee member for newspapers and also Mother of Chapel at Express newspapers, in London, phoned to send solidarity greetings and to see how we were getting on. Hopefully Michelle will be visiting the picket line on Monday. We were happy to see two members of the Yorkshire Post/Yorkshire Evening Post Joint NUJ Chapel - Mike Cowling and Richard Edwards - on the line. Leeds NUJ members have contributed £750 to our strike fund and we are hugely grateful for their solidarity.

Support from motorists, bus drivers and council workers was again high - with almost constant honking of horns on the street. Friends inside the building have told us all the noise can clearly be heard inside the editorial floor, which one staff member described as "a cross between a cemetery and Sainsbury's at midnight". We're determined to keep on making our point to the bosses inside the building.

During the day we received a chocolate egg from York City Football Club's mascot, Yorkie the Lion, and text messages of support from the following:

Tim Lezard, Gloucestershire NUJ Branch and South West TUC
Richard Simcox, NUJ London Press & PR Branch
Tom Davies, NUJ NEC member and London Freelance Branch
Richard Edwards, Leeds NUJ Branch
and NUJ members and supporters in West Yorkshire, York and Leicestershire

Our four members dressed in Edwardian garb descended on the city centre once more. On Day 1, they managed to gatecrash the official Lord Mayor's Parade, pictured below. This time they headed for the city's Shambles in search of actor and Sharpe star Sean Bean. He was in town filming for a movie of Robinson Crusoe and we thought we'd try to infiltrate the set and get him to the picket line. No luck so far, but we did get a number of extras on set supporting the strike. We'll keep on trying.

Another great day on the picket line. Everyone had fun, and enjoyed the sun and solidarity. We'll be back again on Saturday, bright and early to continue our campaign for fair pay.

Protest songs on picket line

2008-05-23T16:35:00.006+01:00

Our picket-line rocked with pride and passion on the second day of our strike.

Outside the Walmgate offices of The Press and the Gazette & Herald, strikers and members of the public were of one voice thrilled by an al fresco concert by The Press subeditor and NUJ member Richard Foster.

He opened his pavement gig with the self-penned Things I Learnt This Year, written as part of the five-day campaign against a derisory three per cent pay offer from Newsquest (York). Click on the video panel below to see some footage of the performance (apologies for the quality).

As strikers joined in, Fozzy, backed by the Fozettes, had Walmgate jumping, pictured. The concert continued with equal gusto and a flurry of favourite tunes including Redemption Song, Quinn The Eskimo, Snoopy And The Red Baron, Joe Hill and Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, before launching into an even more rousing reprise of his heartfelt strike ballad.

His song was first aired in public at a special folk concert given by star American folk singer Dana Robinson. During the gig at the Black Swan Folk Club, Robinson dedicated a protest song in tribute to the striking journalists and photographers whose newspapers belong to the Newsquest empire, owned by American parent company Gannett, which made $1 billion profit last year. To hear the song in full, log on to our YouTube site here.

Second day support still strong

2008-05-23T16:11:00.005+01:00

Bosses pleading poverty
York Respect/Left List fully supports your strike. It's a scandal that employers are pleading poverty and offering "rises" that amount to pay cuts at a time when prices of life's necessities are rising much faster than the official inflation rate. The looming recession was not created by workers, and we should not be made to pay for it through pay cuts, job cuts, or attacks on our public services as companies try to boost their profits at our expense, and government slashes social spending to subsidise its wars. The fantastic support for your strike from all over the country gives the lie to the idea that recent elections demonstrate a mass shift to the right. In fact, strikes are becoming more popular as ordinary people look for ways to resist the impact of attacks from bosses and government.
Frank Ormston
York Respect/Left List

Bookshop behind us
Good luck with your fight for a living wage. The fact that you have taken a stand should inspire other journalists and private sector workers to take on the corporations and stand up for fairness and respect at work. Unity is strength!
Jonathan Maunder on behalf of Bookmarks - the UK's biggest socialist bookshop and appointed bookseller to the TUC.

Cutting to the bone
Good luck with the strike. It is sad that journalists have to take this kind of action to secure a wage that doesn't even keep up with inflation and still remains appallingly low by anyone's standards, especially for what, people forget, is a professional job. I congratulate you for standing up to the bosses, who, like ours - Trinity Mirror - are using the downturn in the economy as an excuse for more pitifully poor pay offers and cannot even ensure parity between employees on different titles. It's shameful that management plead poverty yet splurge millions on director's salaries, and that they only try to compound what advertising income they have retained rather than investing to increase it, like good businesspeople would. Journalism will continue to suffer if ruthless companies like Newsquest wear away at the integrity of its editorial staff and its titles by trying to batter and exhaust its employees into submission with low pay, increasing workloads and a deplorable and embarassing lack of investment.
Ian Proctor - FoC West London and Bucks NUJ Chapel

Admire chapel's courage
Just wanted to say that I wholly support your action and admire your courage for taking it. You are sending a very powerful message to Newsquest and your example will give confidence and hope to other journalists in a similar position. I will join you on the picket line over the weekend!
Sandra Geere, York NUJ Branch member

No overtime paid
As a fellow Newsquest journalist, I wish you all the best in your dispute. It's not as though we are well paid. A rookie police constable earns more than many highly experienced journalists with years of service. Unlike the police, we do not get overtime.
Mike Condor

Trade union tradition
For the first time in twenty years teachers took national strike action three weeks ago. Your stand in favour of true journalism as opposed to profiteering garbage is in the best traditions of trade unionism. Solidarity greetings from Leicester NUT.
Peter Flack, assistant secretary

We'll move mountains
Wishing all success to the chapel their strength is our strength; with it we can move mountains and will.
John Fray, retiring NUJ deputy general secretary

Teachers support strike
Best wishes to you all in your struggle.
Howard Stevenson (UCU & NUT)

Greetings from Manchester
Greetings from the NUJ chapel at the Manchester Evening News - don't let them grind you down, you have a valid case and deserve better. Best of luck.
Judy Gordon, MoC

Folk musicians back fair pay fight

2008-05-23T16:02:00.006+01:00

American folk singers Dana and Susan Robinson, pictured above, paid tribute to the bravery of members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) who are striking for more pay at The Press, in York.

During their gig at the Black Swan Folk Club on Thursday night, Dana said: “The journalists in York are very brave to go out on strike. It really does seem to be the right thing to do. Inflation keeps going up and when people don’t get paid more, they get restless.”

As a tribute to the strikers, he played a song he composed about the great American folk singer Woody Guthrie entitled What Would Woody Do? The final verse starts: “He’d say when you find a thing that’s wrong, put your finger on it. ‘Cause you don’t have to be a poet to write a song about it. You’re gonna get your point across if it’s anywhere near true. What would Woody do?”

Before the duo sang their tribute to the strikers, one of them, Richard Foster, went to the front with his guitar to sing his protest song about the strike. Things I Learnt This Year (Strike Version), based on a Show Of Hands song, was well received by members of the audience who admired the stand taken by the striking journalists. Many read copies of the strike newspaper, which were distributed at the Black Swan pub, in York, and voiced messages of support.

Dana and Susan Robinson are touring the United Kingdom to promote their latest album Round My Door. Go to the website for more details.

Hughes the man who can solve this?

2008-05-23T12:34:00.000+01:00

We are urging readers of The Press and the Gazette & Herald, and supporters and union members, to email Newsquest York managing director Steve Hughes to return to the table with a decent pay offer to resolve this dispute. Please email Steve at steve.hughes@thepress.co.uk

Below are two letters that have been sent to Steve by supporters:

Local community will suffer
Dear Steve, I'm emailing you to express my support for the journalists currently on strike at the Press and concern that a once much valued local paper has been reduced to treating its staff so badly. As a York resident for over 14 years I have always relied on the journalists working for the Press to keep me informed about what is happening in my community in an informative and relevant way. As a charity fundraiser and musician I am only too aware that without coverage in The Press the cultural and social life of York would be greatly impoverished. Without sufficient properly paid and committed journalists covering local issues and events you simply cannot produce a paper that should properly be seen as a keystone of our city and as such the relevance (and readership) of The Press will disappear. As an employer I feel it is demeaning to your staff to offer a 3% pay rise when real inflation is over 4% and food inflation is over 10%. We in the charity sector have recognised that you really do get what you pay for in the end and it is both exploitative and self defeating to expect staff to work in these conditions. As a company that makes a considerable profit off the hard work of your employees I can see no reason why you feel the need to adopt your current position other than sheer greed. I therefore very much hope you will recognise the legitimacy of your employees position and revise your pay offer, allowing the journalists of the Press to return to what they does best, providing relevant local coverage and comment on all aspects of York life. Yours sincerely
Chris Farrell

Journalists worth more
Steve, Like many journalists, I am shocked that members of the NUJ at the Press are being forced to take strike action in protest at your refusal to meet their claim for a fair and decent pay rise and recognise the challenging, but incredibly important, work they do to make your newspaper what it is. Having worked for Newsquest in the past, I guess you will be telling the local reps that there's nothing you can do and that your hands are tied. I also imagine your bosses are claiming this is a local dispute that must be settled by local negotiation. This is a disgrace and an insult to hardworking journalists who give their all to earn respect and standing in the communities they serve, not to mention the profits they help to generate for Newsquest and its parent company - profits, I might add, which are for the most part taken out of the local economy in York. I urge you to reconsider your position and pay your journalists what they are worth.
Richard Simcox
Assistant secretary
NUJ Press and PR

General Secretary fully behind fight

2008-05-22T22:09:00.002+01:00

We are very fortunate to have the full weight of the NUJ behind us in our dispute; the support from officials has been outstanding. It is reassuring to know we have 30,000-odd fellow union journalists backing us to the hilt. Today, Jeremy Dear, NUJ General Secretary

I am sorry I haven't been able to get to York today for the first day of the strike - I have texted a message of support to you. Just to reinforce that message - you have the support of the whole union in your struggle for fairer wages. It is absurd for the company to argue they cannot afford to meet your claim - they are one of the world's most profitable media companies. The reality is they choose not to meet the claim - they would rather reward shareholders than journalists. Your action is part of a wider campaign to put investment in journalists and journalism back at the heart of our industry. Your action is a vital part of that fight. That's why we're all backing you, why we all wish you success. Your victory is our victory. In solidarity.

Then, we received this message from Pete Murray, the union's vice-president and the deputy FoC at Glasgow Broadcasting Chapel:

I just wanted to wish everyone in the chapel all the very best wishes for your action. A decision to take such sustained industrial action shows determination and unity which is an inspiration to all NUJ members. I'm out of the UK at the moment, so I won't be able to visit your picket lines but please pass on my apologies to the members - and my good wishes for a speedy victory in your campaign.

York MP issues strike statement

2008-05-22T21:55:00.000+01:00

We've been appealing to readers, councillors, MPs and other public figures to back our stand for decent pay. Hugh Bayley, MP for the City of York, has given us this message in a letter to the chapel:

Your newspaper plays an important part in the life and politics of York. The public rely on it for information, to enable them to hold politicians and other public figures to account. I am sorry that your dispute has reached the point of a strike, as I am sure you are, because the public will not be so well informed when so many journalists are not available for work. I hope that you and Newsquest (York) will reach a solution soon. It is definitely not in York's interests for this dispute to escalate into a long-term stoppage.

Messages boost line's morale

2008-05-22T21:39:00.007+01:00

Many more moving messages of support have been emailed to us at nujyork@gmail.com Experienced activists promised us we'd get backing from our brothers and sisters in the trade union movement. But we are simply overwhelmed by the level of solidarity. Thank you and please keep them coming. Here are the latest:

I write to express my support in your plight for a fair pay rise, at least, in line with inflation. I find it appalling that with the long, unsocial hours journalists work that Newsquest are unable to support their staff fairly. I think it is time for Steve Hughes to take his role as MD seriously before he loses a dedicated team. It's hard to make a stand especially with families to support but you should all be proud that you are and stay in the knowledge that friends and family are all supporting you.

The NUJ Chapel at BBC Radio York supports our colleagues at The Press in your dispute.

Best wishes for your action. I have argued for some time that "local negotiations" are a complete sham. Hopefully your action will lead to some changes. Just wanted to send my support to you all. I spent a few days at the Press last year and knew then some journalists were unhappy with pay and conditions, so good on you all for standing up for yourselves. I feel quite isolated where I work as there is no chapel and branch meetings are 70 miles away, so it is good to know there is another group of activists nearby-ish. Looks like good striking weather anyway!

Good luck. Keep up the good work. All the very best from a northern exile in London. (& it's certainly not paved with gold for most of us drones)

Hi guys - all the best for the strike - good luck with getting a decent pay rise!

Best wishes for the dispute. Hope you get some movement from management. ex-Gazette & Herald

On behalf of members at the Oxford Mail chapel can I salute your stand for better pay and true collective bargaining. Your fight can only inspire all of us working for Newsquest to resist the driving down of wages. We will hold a collection for your strike fund today.

Good luck to you all in your dispute. Your claim is entirely justified and I hope you win through.

Just heard about the strike and want to wish all of you well. Journalists deserve pay and respect.

Members of the Doncaster Free Press NUJ chapel wish you great success in your strike action. I know it is a difficult time because our chapel was out for 13 days in the summer of 2006. Although the company (JP) refused to publicly back down, within six months we had a major pay review which took the lowest grades up by 12-18%!

Just a quick note to say congratulations and good luck for the strike. It's fantastic to see the chapel going from strength to strength - you (we, I suppose) should have taken this action years ago! As an outsider looking in, it beggars belief that you can be treated so badly.

Just read about your strike. I think you are all very brave and hope that you get a much fairer deal as a result.

Here at Johnston Press we are going through turbulent times to with a number of editorial, advertising and admin staff being made redundant. Most of the weekly papers are going to be left with just a staff of two!!!

Congratulations on your industrial action. We took two days' action last year and it really shook the company. It's the only power you have and you have to use it or we will all be ground down. The more Chapels who take a stand the more the employers will see they can't get away with the rubbish they dish out. It benefits us all. We won above inflation (RPI) pay rises for two years and a few improved conditions. We are still fighting for an extra day's holiday. Very best wishes from us all at the North West Evening Mail in Barrow.

I have just emailed your MD Steve Hughes saying that this dispute was completely avoidable had his local management entered into meaningful negotiations with the NUJ. I also told him that it is utterly unrealistic to expect you to settle for 3% when real inflation is over 4% and food inflation is over 10%. I also reminded him that there was no reason why he shouldn't be paying all weekly and monthly seniors a minimum of £20K a year and all evening and morning seniors a minimum of £26K a year. After all, you're all worth it!

My thoughts are with you, my cash will be with you after pay day... good luck.

Good luck in the Grand Old Dispute of York.

Never forget. You are right and they are wrong.

Just to wish my NUJ colleagues at York all the best in their action this week. Something needs to be done to halt the decline in pay and standards at this company.

Ex-boss backs strikers

2008-05-22T21:34:00.003+01:00

It's not only trade unionists and fellow workers who showed support for us - the bosses have too, or at least one former boss in particular.

Dave Nicholson, once editor of what was then the Yorkshire Evening Press (since cut back to The Press by Newsquest) visited the strikers' line today to wish us well. The stories I have heard of Dave's time at the helm was that he was a decent man who cared about his staff, although of course their pay was still poor even then. But he at least recognised that. Today, he dropped by with two bags full of Thornton's chocolate goodies for all the strikers. Dave, we salute you.

£3k to fight for fair pay

2008-05-22T20:44:00.005+01:00

Our strike fund goes from strength to strength. On the eve of the strike the total broke through the £2,000 mark. Now - after only one day's action - we are headed towards £3,000. Some of the superb donations we received today included:

£300 from the Oxford branch
£100 from the South Yorkshire NUJ Branch and Rotherham Advertiser
£50 from a much-missed former colleague
£50 from the Mother of Chapel at Coventry Newspapers
£75 from our NUJ organiser
£50 from the Doncaster Free Press Chapel

We also had a pledge of a donation from Bradford Telegraph & Argus NUJ Chapel and members of the public threw about £50 into our collection bucket.

That takes us to a grand total of £2,725 - simply unbelievable. Please everyone, keep the donations coming. Thank you to all who have shown such wonderful solidarity.

Councillors speak out

2008-05-22T20:35:00.006+01:00

With today being the date of City of York Council's annual meeting - and the handover for the Lord Mayor of York - there were plenty of local politicians in town. We were greatly encouraged when Labour group leader Coun David Scott and his colleague Coun James Alexander (pictured above with Fathers of Chapel Sam Southgate and Tony Kelly) visited our picket line to express their firm support for York journalists.

Later on, the Green Party group leader Coun Andy D'Agorne stopped by to offer his backing. Then, to complete a hat-trick of political groups, Coun Ceredig Jamieson-Ball, Liberal Democrat councillor for Heslington, visited the picket line and sent us this message of support:

"It is important that employees in York are able to earn similar rates of pay as other workers. It seems to me that Newsquest are trying to take advantage of York journalists. They should be offered the same rate as elsewhere."

While all this was going on, the Lord Mayor of York's limousine drove past our picket, with the civic party on board. The driver gave us a toot. We like the fact one of the new mayor Coun Brian Watson's first acts in office was supporting our strike. Good on you, Brian.

We offer all these councillors our sincere thanks for showing such solidarity.

Help us to press our case

2008-05-22T16:10:00.006+01:00

The management of The Press and the Gazette & Herald are trying their best to ignore our action. Of course, the paper has barely covered the strike beyond a four-par "business as usual" story. (How much commitment does that show to bringing the news to our readers?) They have even drafted in bosses from elsewhere in Newsquest - including Northern Echo editor Peter Barron - to act as reporters and subeditors. So there are plenty of Jags in the car park today.

In light of all this, we are appealing to our friends, supporters and fellow trade unionists to make sure this action cannot simply be brushed under the carpet. Please log on to The Press and the Gazette & Herald websites and use the comments facility on stories to post messages of support and this website address.

Singing up for the strikers

2008-05-22T16:02:00.005+01:00

As previously reported on this site, one of our members, subeditor Richard Foster, has written and recorded a folk song to mark the strike by NUJ journalists at The Press. You can now view this video and hear Richard's explanation about his reasons for recording the song on YouTube by clicking here or on the video panel below. We have also made a CD of the track. This is a wonderful statement by Richard. As he himself admits, he voted against strike action but was inspired by the collective passion shown by members in fighting for a fair wage.

Richard will also be performing this song at the Black Swan pub, in Peasholme Green, in York, tonight at 7.30pm.

Pizza for pickets

2008-05-22T15:56:00.003+01:00

Picketing is hungry work. But we we've been replenished throughout the day by two friends of the union. One delivered a batch of 25 muffins and doughnuts for elevenses. Then a supporter in Newsquest York's advertising department brought us four pizzas donated by Dillons Bridge Fisheries, in Burton Stone Lane, in Clifton, York. There was further solidarity from fellow workers. One department brought out two boxes of Heroes chocolates, while another good friend in advertising supplies sausage rolls. Thank you all for the solidarity.

Another MP backs our actions

2008-05-22T15:53:00.002+01:00

Selby MP John Grogan has got behind our chapel and has issued a statement of support. John supported us in a similar way on Stand Up For Journalism Day, in November, issuing a statement, writing to the editor and signing up to the NUJ's Early Day Motion in Parliament. So thanks, John.

Here's what he has to say on our strike:

“I fully support the NUJ chapel in York in their action. The quality of journalism at The Press is high but it will be under threat if staff are not offered decent terms and conditions. In order to retain talented journalists who can cover stories in North Yorkshire with flair and insight for the benefit of The Press’s loyal readership, Newsquest management has a responsibility to negotiate a decent deal which provides adequate rewards.”

What the Dickens?!

2008-05-22T15:44:00.003+01:00

While we are on the picket line battling for decent pay and conditions, we are keen to pay tribute to the trade unionists of yesteryear who made so much progress by fighting for working people.

We are particularly keen to honour those heroes who took part in the NUJ's first ever strike - at the York Herald in 1911 - over Dickensian conditions that saw them working 16 hours a day, seven days a week.

In this vein, four of our members borrowed Edwardian costumes from York Theatre Royal to press home the point that nearly 100 years later trade unions are still fighting on these issues.

Despite scorching temperatures, our four intrepid members trekked around the centre of York handing out fliers and talking to shoppers about our strike.

Pictured in front of York Minster, the four also gatecrashed the Lord Mayor's Procession (the city's ceremonial leader was handing over the baton today). The support from councillors there was massive, with many members of City of York Council and their staff backing our stand.

Multi-media is working for us

2008-05-22T15:31:00.004+01:00

The strike has enjoyed tremendous coverage on Radio and TV today. Pre-recorded interviews with Minster FM and BBC Radio York have been running throughout the day on the stations' news bulletins.

Both Calendar - ITV's news proggrame for Yorkshire - and the BBC's Look North visited the picket line today to capture footage of the strikers and record interview with chapel members. We were featured on both programmes' lunchtime news slots. Management declined to speak to either station so it was left to us to put across our view. So much the better.

We're thrilled with the coverage, especially given The Press's management's decision to virtually ignore the fact that about 25 of their staff are camped outside their office protesting at their deplorable pay. According to the weasel words on The Press's website, it is "business as usual". You could have fooled us, guys...

All out for fair pay

2008-05-22T15:13:00.006+01:00

It has been a brilliant first morning of action at The Press and the Gazette & Herald's headquarters in Walmgate, York. More than 25 union members and supporters turned out on the first day of our five-day strike over pay.

We started early - at 7.30am - and we were early enough to wave our placards at management as they slunk into the car park. Later colleagues in the (non-unionised) advertising and circulation department expressed their support as they arrived at work.

The backing from members of the public was immense, with countless drivers responding to our "Honk for fair pay" placards. There was much interest in our stall - more than 1,000 people took leaflets before lunchtime - and our strike paper The Stress, which covered the dispute in depth, was also popular on the picket line.

Colleagues from York Unison came and joined the picket line early on and at lunchtime, while the postal workers in the CWU gave us their backing. Messages of support have also been flooding in by text to the picket line. Thank you to everyone who is supporting us. We've had solidarity greetings from:

Brent Trades Council
The Guardian's media desk
Irish NUJ members
Manchester Mental Health Branch Unison
NUJ members at Northcliffe in Bristol
British Association of Occupational Therapists members in Manchester
Manchester trade unionist Karen Reismann
NUJ East Yorkshire Branch
Kyran Connolly, NUJ National Executive Committee member for books
NUJ South Yorkshire Branch and the Rotherham Advertiser Chapel
NUJ Newsquest Bradford Chapel
NUJ Newsquest Darlington Chapel
NUJ BBC Lonndon Branch
NUJ Book Branch members
NUJ members at Minster FM
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ National Executive Committee member for newspapers and Mother of Chapel at Express Newspapers
Members of the PCS union
NUJ Coventry Newspapers Chapel
NUJ Sheffield Newspapers Chapel
NUJ London Press and PR Branch
NUJ News Shopper Chapel
Ian Allinson, Unite executive council member
Miles Barter, NUJ Manchester Branch
NUJ Scottish office
Kate Carr, NUJ BBC and Wales Council
Jeremy Dear, NUJ general secretary
LexisNexis NUJ negotiating team
NUJ Scotland
NUJ Evening Echo/Irish Examiner Chapel
NUJ Bolton News and Bury Times Chapel
and NUJ members in Cardiff, Manchester, York and Leeds

Commons motion for strike

2008-05-22T14:48:00.002+01:00

MPs from the NUJ Parliamentary Group sent messages of solidarity to the 34 NUJ members at Newsquest York who are embarking today on a five-day strike following on from management’s refusal to match pay offers given to journalists at other Newsquest centres. The below-inflation pay-offer comes as journalists are already struggling with increased workloads, understaffing and attacks on their pensions.

John McDonnell MP, Secretary of the NUJ Parliamentary Group, said: “Journalists have demanding and high-pressured jobs. Their hard work provides us with information about the world around us – this is vital to any democratic society. Poor conditions, increased workloads, understaffing and inadequate pay threatens the quality of journalism and therefore threatens the quality of public debate.

“I offer my solidarity with the NUJ members at Newsquest York striking over pay and conditions and urge the management to listen to these concerns by entering into meaningful negotiations with the NUJ and initiate fair pay immediately.”

The NUJ Parliamentary Group will be tabling an Early Day Motion (EDM) in support of the strike as soon as Parliament is next sitting and will use every parliamentary mechanism available to raise this issue with the government."

The full text of the EDM reads:

That this House notes with disappointment the below inflation pay rise offered to journalists at Newsquest York; further notes that Gannett, Newsquest's US parent company, made a profit last year of over $1 billion; is concerned that the journalists at Newsquest York work hard to deliver good quality local news to the community in difficult circumstances of increasing workloads and understaffing; believes that high quality journalism is essential to any democratic society and recognises that poor conditions and inadequate pay threatens this provision; supports the strike action taken by NUJ members at Newsquest York and urges the management to enter into meaningful dialogue with staff over pay and conditions.

Edwardian strike over 'Dickensian conditions'

2008-05-22T07:30:00.000+01:00

The 34 NUJ members at Newsquest York are today starting their first of five days of strike action about pay at the Press and Gazette & Herald newspapers. The strike is due to end just before midnight on Bank Holiday Monday.

The dispute comes nearly 100 years after the first NUJ strike in York in 1911, where members at the York Herald - now amalgamated into the weekly title - took action over Dickensian working conditions. The chapel will be wearing Edwardian costumes on the picket line to commemorate the previous struggle, which took eleven years to resolve!

Joint Father of Chapel, Sam Southgate, said: “NUJ members at Newsquest York often feel as if we are still working in Dickensian conditions, our pay is certainly something which is stuck in the past. Currently staff at The Press and Gazette & Herald are paid considerably less than the average wage in York of £30,000. Trainee journalists start on just £13,500 a year.

"Our members feel they have been pushed into taking this action by management's refusal to negotiate. We only hope that we don't have to wait eleven years to reach a settlement."

Members are particularly angry that management will not match pay-offers given to journalists at other Newsquest centres. The below-inflation pay-offer comes against a background of increased workloads, understaffing and attacks on members’ pensions.

Fund tops £2k on eve of strike

2008-05-21T23:29:00.003+01:00

As the clock ticks towards the launch of our strike action - we officially walkout at midnight - our strike fund has edged over the £2,000 mark. This is thanks to four very generous individual donations and funds from another NUJ chapel.

Our colleague and fellow union member, reporter Mark Stead , has given the fund £100 of his birthday money (for missing so many chapel meetings, he says). Then friends at Doncaster Free Press NUJ chapel pledged £50. The Mother of Chapel at Coventry Newspapers sent in £50 and Viriditas Opera - a York-based ensemble - sent us £50 on account of publicity for a forthcoming show likely being used in The Press during the strike. We also received an anonymous donation of £50.

This takes our total to £2,050 - a fantastic effort. The whole chapel sends its sincere thanks to everyone who has donated. More donations would be very welcome.

Moving, motivating messages

2008-05-21T19:02:00.001+01:00

Some of the solidarity messages we've been receiving have been incredibly moving. Thanks to all who have sent their support to nujyork@gmail.com Five days is a long time to be out on the line. We'll be checking messages throughout so please keep them coming. Here's the latest:

"Until last week, my proudest moment in trades unionism was when the news came through that union recognition at the then York Evening Press had been secured, after a 20 year gap, by an overwhelming majority. Having been given the honour of jointly leading the fledgling chapel, it was inspiring to know that there was shared belief in trades unionism and the power that the workers can have. That moment was surpassed when I heard that York Press members had voted to strike for five days. That vote showed that the seeds sown by Tony K, Dave S, myself and all the other members had grown into the strong, united and active chapel we always knew they would. As you step into your action tomorrow, do not do so with any fear. Do so in the knowledge that there is strength in solidarity, that the workers have more influence than they often realise and that management - despite the impression they try and give - are hugely wary of an organised and united workforce. Everyone in our industry works extremely hard, a contribution of labour that generates enormous profits for the people at the top of the tree. We have never asked for the earth, only a fair, living wage, that reflects the effort we make, and good working conditions in which to operate. If these are not forthcoming, then the workers' strongest tool is the withdrawal of their labour. It is your right to do this - do not for one second feel guilty, scared, or that you are doing something wrong. Modern industrial action can be placed in the line of a long, British tradition, dating back to the Tolpuddle Martyrs, through the Jarrow Marchers and the Miners, up to modern day actions, such as those seen recently at the Express and Star newspapers. You are far from alone. See you on the picket line."

"All the best from the Herald chapel in Glasgow. A cheque's on the way as a small token of our support. Take heart from the fact that we took Newsquest on last year and forced them to back down over compulsory redundancies. They're back for more jobs this year and we've told them we'll pull the place down round their ears if they try to target a single NUJ member. More power to your arm. Your fight's everyone's fight. The small-minded beancounters who run Newsquest don't deserve to own British newspapers.""

On behalf of Edinburgh Freelance Branch, I'd like to wish you and all your members good luck in your pay dispute with Newsquest. Here in Scotland, we've seen the way the company operates, putting profit before people at The Herald and Evening Times in Glasgow, undermining hard-earned journalistic standards and damaging morale. By standing up against Newsquest, you are standing up for journalists across the country. Have strength!"

"Good luck with your strike action I am fully behind you as a member of the NUJ."

"Best wishes and our solidarity to you for the industrial action your chapel will be taking from Thursday. Our chapel members have had a 3% pay increase imposed on most of this year - apart from a chosen few - because there is no collective bargaining agreement. However, we are hoping to change that very soon as we are in the middle of a union recognition claim and we are hopeful that within a month or two the NUJ will be recognised and will be able to fight for better pay and conditions for the 43 NUJ members at the South Wales Evening Post. Can you pass on solidarity greetings too from the Swansea and District branch of the NUJ"

"Greetings all at the York Press. Just a note to congratulate you on your firm stand so far, to wish you all the best in the upcoming strike action and to send a strong message of support."

"Good luck with your action, it's good to know people are still prepared to fight for what they deserve."

"I'm a freelance journalist from Scotland. As someone who worked for Newsquest in Glasgow at The Herald until recently, I understand your grievances against a company who's practices are doing nothing to enhance quality journalism and, furthermore, are detrimental to democracy. I congratulate all of you for taking this stand and I fully support your cause.""Congratulations on a superb campaign. The insulting pay offer you have received shows just how divorced from reality Gannett bosses really are. Having lived in York for five years and having worked with Press journalists on an almost daily basis I know what a committed and talented bunch of people you all are - making the Press a vibrant community newspaper that serves the city very well. I also know though how expensive it became to live there and how the recent economic troubles have added to those costs - so the pay claim you are making is a very modest one. So good luck with your strike and respect and solidarity."

"We are just about to start pay talks in Sheffield, so it is especially good to see someone fighting for a living wage! None of us can afford to settle for derisory pay 'increases', especially with the credit crunch and cost of living price rises. It's about time our bosses felt it in their pockets, rather than the workers having to pay for their share dividends yet again. Best wishes from Sheffield; let us know what we can do to help."

"Good luck with your strike. I've found, as a previous Glasgow Newsquest employee, it's the only action Newsquest listens to!"

"All the best for your strike at the Press and the weekly Gazette & Herald. Although working in a separate sector, and a different geographical area, the outcome of your action will have huge implications for us and every other member of the union. With the financial situation worsening, employers across the publishing world are going all out to cut costs, staffing levels and reduce our pay and conditions. Not a week goes by in London's magazine sector without more bad news on redundancies and below-inflation pay increases. But there is also growing resistance. A victory for you will boost confidence to increase that resistance."

"As a life member of the NUJ - and a former provincial journalist with the Bolton Evening News for over 30 years, all the very best of luck for Thursday. I remember being out on strike for over 8 weeks during the big provincial newspaper dispute in the 70's, and running as it did thru' Christmas. It's hard but worth it. You are drawn closer together and gain great strength for your cause. I hope to be able to pop down to your picket line sometime during the strike."

"We'd like to express our solidarity with editorial staff at the Press, who are doing our profession proud by standing up to their greedy bosses. We don't have a chapel here in Northamptonshire, but we do have a growing NUJ membership of journalists who are fed up with poor pay offers and terrible working conditions. I do know some of your contingent from my time at the Selby Times, so I know you all do a grand job and deserve a decent salary to reflect the great standard of journalism at the Press. All the best with the strike. I do hope you will get the positive outcome you are hoping for. NUJ members at the Northants Evening Telegraph."

"I am a freelance member of the NUJ in Dewsbury. I am writing to let you know that as your strike action begins my thoughts and support are with you. I have been a journalist for 19 years and understand fully that pay and conditions have deteriorated to a level that is not right. I hope fully that as a result of your strike action the managers and directors will wake up and realise the value of your work every day. We live in tough times and our democratic and free country is facing more and more challenges than ever before. I fully support your strike and hope that managers and directors at Newsquest in York will stop the hoarding of cash and profits and become willing to pay and reward you better for the work that you do. I'm sorry that I do not have the cash to support you during your strike action. But I trust that you will gain some moral support from my email. I shall also be writing to the directors of Newsquest to cast shame upon them. Our industry of newspaper journalism is one of the most important industries in a free society and yet in recent years journalists have tolerated hardship, low wages, long hours and have landed at the very bottom of the pay scale in some cases being paid less than supermarket checkout staff. I know that you will all be losing money for your strike but have hope as you are all doing your bit to improve pay and working conditions and your strike has to be applauded as you are sending a clear message out to companies that you deserve the fees and the security for the work that you do at Newsquest. With best wishes. I hope that the sun shines for you over the days of your industrial action and that you received plenty of backing. Also I hope deeply that as a result of your strike action that you achieve the results and improvements in pay and conditions that you are looking for. I shall be rooting for you."

NUJ president backs strikers

2008-05-21T17:44:00.002+01:00

We're happy to report the full weight of the NUJ is behind our strike. Our officials have been outstanding and the help and support we've had so far has been immense. Now James Doherty, the NUJ's President, has got behind union members in York, by sending this message of support to the picket line:

"The NUJ fully supports the action taken by members in York who are standing up for quality journalism against the destructive profiteering of Newsquest and their American paymasters.

"Time after time, quality journalism is being squandered to satisfy US shareholders greed. We must stand united against the savage attacks on our industry and I am sure that by taking this stand, we
will send a clear message to Newsquest that enough is enough."

MP stands up for journalism

2008-05-21T16:30:00.000+01:00

Phil Willis, Lib Dem MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has given a statement in support of NUJ members at The Press, which covers part of his constituency, and the Gazette & Herald. He had this to say:

“As a local MP and resident of York I have relied on the professionalism of the
journalists at the Press for over 25 years. The standard of copy and accuracy of
reporting often complex stories is due to the high standard of journalism. The
speedier this unnecessary dispute is settled and local journalists are treated
with respect and parity the better.”

On song for the strike

2008-05-21T14:48:00.001+01:00

Organising for the strike has been an inspiring experience. We've received tremendous support from other journalists and trade unionists. Everywhere we go, people are saying: we back your stand. It has also been a chance for chapel members to get together, discuss ideas and work collectively in the battle for better pay.

One of our members has been moved to write and record a song to mark our five-day action. Here, Richard Foster, a subeditor on The Press and the paper's folk music reviewer, explains how folk music dovetails with the history of people's struggles in England. Below are lyrics to the strike song; a recording and video will follow.

I have never been on strike in nearly 30 years as a journalist, although I’ve reported on quite a few, most memorably the miners’ strike between 1984 and 1985 when I worked for local radio in Lancashire.

So the decision by members of the National Union of Journalists at The Press, in York, to strike after eight months of fruitless pay negotiations had a big impact on me. It really churned me up. I could not settle until I had written some lyrics about the strike. I had voted against industrial action and writing this song helped me to come to terms with what it meant to go on strike.

Show Of Hands are an acclaimed folk band based in Devon. Their songwriter and main vocalist Steve Knightley wrote a song called Things I Learnt This Year. His chorus seemed to me to sum up the situation faced by those involved in the dispute, so I set about writing new verses about the York strike.

Throughout England’s history, while peasants and workers were marching, striking, fighting and being
punished by the state, radical ballads and songs have been written so the stories of particular struggles could be passed on to future generations.

For example, The Cutty Wren was written during the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381, the Diggers Song was written in 1649 when the Diggers tried to build communities on waste land, Poverty Knock is a factory workers’ song inspired by dark, satanic mills, Hanging On The Old Barbed Wire is a First World War
marching song while Coal Not Dole was written during the miners’ strike of 1984 and 1985.

Now there’s a song about this year’s NUJ strike in York. If it helps to get our message across and lifts spirits on the picket line, then it will have served its purpose.

Things I Learnt This Year (Strike Version)
(by Steve Knightley, of Show Of Hands, with additional lyrics by Richard Foster)

Don’t tell the world about the deal, ’til the contract’s signed and sealed.
It’s always those that didn’t pay, who cross picket lines and work all day
Drink to the fortune of your friends. Don’t waste time predicting trends.
How strange the boss who let it slip at the bar and lost his grip.

Chorus: You can be right – standing in the wrong place. You can be wrong – footed in the rat race. You can be tight, drinking ’til your head’s clear. Here’s another list of things I learnt this year.

Swap your pens for placards by nine. Hand out leaflets on the picket line.
Broadcast news on cyber space. Keep the union on the case.
A hundred years of low pay, now’s the time to win the day.
Three heads that shine in the noon-day sun leave their mark on everyone.

Chorus: You can be right – standing in the wrong place. You can be wrong – footed in the rat race. You can be tight, drinking ’til your head’s clear. Here’s another list of things I learnt this year.

Buy your food from family firms. Say goodnight on friendly terms.
Filling The Press with PR guff simply is not good enough.
Sing it out loud and clear: “Come on readers, join us here”
Remember those who have no voice. We’ve a strike to win, we’ve made our choice.

Chorus: You can be right – standing in the wrong place. You can be wrong – footed in the rat race. You can be tight, drinking ’til your head’s clear. Here’s another list of things I learnt this year.

Repeat chorus and end with “You can be right”

Yesterday, once more

2008-05-21T09:45:00.003+01:00

We've been rooting through the archives stored in The Press's library to learn about the NUJ's very first strike, which took place at The Yorkshire Herald, in the city, in 1911.

Apparently the genealogy of our titles goes something like this. Most of our members work on The Press, which was founded as the Yorkshire Evening Press in 1882, and first dropped the Yorkshire and then the Evening parts of its name. The latter was ditched after the switch to overnight publishing and a round of redundancies by Newsquest in 2006.

Some of our members work on the Gazette & Herald, a weekly for Ryedale in north Yorkshire. This was formed in 1954 - originally as the Yorkshire Gazette and Herald - after the amalgamation of The Yorkshire Herald (founded 1890), pictured, and the Yorkshire Gazette (founded 1819).

The Yorkshire Herald's previous incarnation was the York Herald, which was published from 1790 to 1889. The paper's title can still be seen carved in stone on the river-facing side of York's City Screen cinema, which formed part of The Press's offices until the move to its current base in 1989.

Now that's cleared up, let's return to the strike of 1911. We turn to the excellent Journalists: 100 years of the NUJ, by Tim Gopsill and Greg Neale:

The NUJ's first strike was also its longest. It began in 1911 and went on for 11 years.

It was not about pay, but working hours: the reporters at the York Herald, a morning paper, were 'the hardest driven of all the daily papers in the country', working from 9.30am to midnight or even 2am, seven days a week. The chief reporter, Clifford Nixon, was sacked for 'misconduct' after two years of cautious NUJ attempts to alleviate the Dickensian conditions; his offence had been to suggest ways of doing this. The union-approved plan included allowing each employee one day off a week and employing two new reporters; by now so many had become ill from overwork and had left that there were only four to cover the whole of East Yorkshire. No formal NUJ chapel had been formed, but Nixon had been acting as a spokesman for the staff. He became the union's first 'martyr' and it looked after him, quickly finding him a better job in Fleet Street.

All the other reporters quit - one of them even offering the company his month's notice money to get out; it was accepted. The union then blacklisted the paper, announced that any journalist who took work there would be expelled, and went to some lengths to stop young reporters filling the vacant jobs. It was only in 1922 that the ban was lifted. Henry Richardson later wrote that the action was 'both effective and ineffective. It did not improve conditions in the office at the time but it improved them in many another bad office'.

To buy Journalists: 100 years of the NUJ, by Tim Gopsill and Greg Neale, log on to the NUJ's online shop here

Support goes global

2008-05-21T07:20:00.000+01:00

News of our strike has spread far and wide. We've been inundated with messages of support from as far afield as New York, where a former Press reporter is now based, and posties in Bristol. These have been a great boost for our morale, so please keep them coming. Email nujyork@gmail.com

Here's a selection of the latest messages:

"Just wishing you good luck for the strike - we're heading in the same direction with Johnston Press as they aren't budging from a 3% pay increase either! I'm part of the South Yorkshire NUJ chapel who are fighting for the same thing - respect for what we do. It's totally unfair and ridiculous how they are treating journalists - even working in a mind-numbing factory to get paid more and work less sounds more appealing at the moment!"

"We at Bristol North Delivery Office have heard of your struggle for fair pay and conditions, and are greatly encouraged by your determination to fight. Last year we took strike action against a bullying management set on wrecking our jobs, and we have emerged successful from our own dispute. We were always grateful for the support we received, and now offer our support to you in your struggle. We are sure you will be successful, a victory for you would strengthen the trade union movement. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need our support, be it solidarity, financial or how you see fit. Please keep us informed as to any developments. Yours in solidarity. Unit Rep and the Bristol NDO CWU Committee."

"Message of solidarity from London. It is time that more journalists and especially NUJ members took strike action against worsening conditions and pay as employers try to squeeze the last little profit out of us."

"Good luck. Having been at the Press when the Union was formed six or so years ago, I wish you all the best. Going to be a hard struggle but you are right to stand together."

"Good luck guys! I'll be sending you good thoughts from New York. As a former Press reporter, I know what an amazing job all of you do. You put in 100% and more, and it is ridiculous how little Newsquest value their staff and quality journalism. I was proud to be part of the forming of an NUJ chapel in York and even prouder to see you all stand up for what you believe. Go for it!"

Greedy Gannett

2008-05-20T16:00:00.002+01:00

Despite being community newspapers based in sleepy North Yorkshire, The Press and the Gazette & Herald are ultimately owned by the massive American-based corporation Gannett, owners of USA today and dozens of newspapers across the pond. The intermediary is Newsquest, the firm's British operation.

Despite pleading poverty when it comes to their employees wages, new figures show how the bosses are raking it in. According to Gannett's website, in the period from the start of this year to May 4 - precisely four months and four days - the firm's revenue was more than $2.3 billion. That works out at revenue coming in each day, every single day, of $18,531,936.

The company made in excess of $1 billion profit last year alone. Compared to that, our pay claim is peanuts...

Standing up again

2008-05-20T11:30:00.000+01:00

On November 5, NUJ members at The Press and the Gazette & Herald took collective action as part of the union's Stand Up For Journalism day. Fed up of a culture of rising workloads, understaffing and poor wages, we staged two collective tea breaks to demonstrate our strength of feeling. Now we are preparing to stand up again, this time about pay.

Our protest last autumn was about the threat to quality local journalism posed by companies that are only too happy to cut resources back to the bone to boost profits. Our dispute is also about challenging the thinking of companies such as Newsquest that refuse to invest in their journalists or their newspapers but still rake in millions of pounds while the quality of their products - and the service they can provide to the community - declines.

We had a wonderful day of action on November. Here's hoping for more fireworks come Thursday.

Facebook friends

2008-05-20T07:15:00.003+01:00

Our strike now has a support group on the social networking site Facebook. Please join the group, add your comments to support the strike and spread the word among your friends and colleagues.

Click here to sign up.

Showing solidarity

2008-05-19T16:00:00.001+01:00

More messages of solidarity have been pouring into the chapel by email to nujyork@gmail.com. Please keep them coming - we really appreciate them and they're a big morale boost for members who are due to walkout on Thursday.

"I wish you all the very best of luck with your action - as do all NUJ members in Coventry and Birmingham who on Tuesday voted to send a contribution to your fighting fund. Our experience in Coventry is that it isn't easy to go on strike but it has certainly been worth it in the longer term. Please advise your members to be strong. They are fighting not just for themselves but the whole industry."

"Solidarity greetings from Rotherham Advertiser Chapel. Branch agreed £100 and chapels will be asked to do collections. Keep up the fight!"

"My wife used to work for Newsquest and she despised them, so good luck. I have the misfortune of working for Trinity Mirror - but they became much more compliant following our month-long strike in 2005. We have certainly benefited during the following years."

"I'm writing to you on behalf of the 50-strong NUJ Chapel in Bolton and Bury to extend our full support for your action. In 2003, this chapel went on strike for several weeks during an angry pay dispute. And the editor-in-chief then, and up until last year, was, of course, Steve Hughes. All the journalists here back your stance for a greater pay increase and all eyes of NUJ members throughout Newsquest will focus on York next week. We applaud your stance, commitment and bravery in taking on a company notorious for its low pay and its constant climate of cuts and savings. Everyone here is keeping their fingers crossed the York chapel will prevail in its struggle. We will be thinking about you when the industrial action begins."

"Hello and good luck with your dispute members."

Digging deep

2008-05-19T11:00:00.003+01:00

More wonderful news on the strike fund. Our colleagues at the Leeds NUJ Branch have donated £250, while fellow journalists in the 50-strong Bolton News-Bury Times chapel - papers both owned by Newsquest - have pledged £300. It makes a huge difference knowing we are not standing alone and that we have the support of fellow journalists and trade unionists.

These generous donations take our strike fund to £1,750 - a tremendous figure reached within five days of our action being called. Many thanks to all.

Keeping his counsel

2008-05-18T19:39:00.004+01:00

During our strike, Newsquest management will no doubt be doing everything in their power to publish The Press and the Gazette & Herald as normal. Of course, with 70% of the editorial staff on the picket line protesting over their meagre wages, the quality of the papers is bound to plunge.

In their struggle to fill pages, press releases that can be chucked straight into the paper will come in very handy. In light of this, we thank the leader of City of York Council's Green Party group Coun Andy D'Agorne. He has committed to respecting our picket line by not sending press releases in to The Press for the duration of the dispute, and has asked other council leaders to do the same. This comes as a particular boon given that the authority's annual meeting - the highlight of the council year - comes on the first day of our strike.

On his blog, Andy said:

"The Greens will respect requests from the journalists affected not to send press releases to The Press during the dispute but to provide the information to other local media and the NUJ. I have asked other party leaders to do likewise."

Strike fund gets another boost

2008-05-16T14:00:00.000+01:00

Our strike fund has been boosted still further after the Rotherham branch donated £100 from their fighting fund. We also owe a debt of gratitude to two more of our own chapel members who have both donated £50 to the fund. That takes our total to an impressive £1,200. Preparations are now well underway for the five strike days next week so please keep branch, chapel and individual donations coming. We are enormously grateful for all the support we've had so far.

Flooded with support

2008-05-16T09:00:00.000+01:00

Many more messages of support are flooding in to nujyork@gmail.com. Many thanks to all our brothers and sisters in the trade union movement and please keep them coming. Here's a selection of the most recent emails:

"Good on you for sticking to your guns - managements may be pleading poverty, but shareholders' pockets are full, and so should ours be. We're going through the travails of renegotiating a pay deal and back you fully."

"As an ex-FoC of the York chapel it makes me enormously proud to see the group in such a healthy and feisty condition. I know there'll be a lot of my friends and colleagues from the Evening Press taking part in next weeks' strike, so to you all, and of course members who have joined since I left, I'm thinking of you. All 130 NUJ members over here at Leeds are right behind you. Loads of members have been emailing since they heard you were going out, stressing how much they support you and our proposal to donate the £500 to your fighting fund."

"Good luck with your action. This is an all too familiar story of a newspaper group raking in massive profits on the one hand and, on the other, trying to get away with cutting resources to the bone and depriving hard-working, dedicated and well-respected journalists of a living wage. Having worked for Newsquest I know exactly what you're up against, but you are in the right and you have our total support in your fight. Stick together, stay strong, and you can win."

"Good luck with your strike - we went on strike in Coventry three years ago and we're still reaping the benefits in pay negotiations. Once they realised we were prepared to go on strike and not just talk about it they started to take us more seriously and now they actually negotiate instead of just telling us there isn't any money for pay rises."

"I worked in provincial newspapers for years before moving into Press & PR, so I know what rubbish wages you get from the likes of Newsquest (in my area, they've got the Harrow Times). Press on, keep the faith, best of luck."

Spin by numbers

2008-05-16T07:00:00.002+01:00

Newsquest York's managing director Steve Hughes put out a statement yesterday about our chapel's planned five-day strike. An article on the Press Gazette website included this:

Hughes rejected the union’s “misleading” claim about staff turnout in the strike ballot and said that 22 from a possible 58 voted in favour of the walk-out.

It is worth pointing out that it is simply untrue to say 58 people could have voted for a walkout. Obviously, the only people entitled to do so are union members, and there are 34 NUJ members at Newsquest York. Look at it that way and we have a big majority - close to 65%.

Of course, some people were unable to return their ballots, those on holiday during the voting period, for example. Of those who did cast their votes - 26 members - 85% said yes to strike action.

And who said journalists were no good with numbers?

They were the best of times...

2008-05-15T16:44:00.003+01:00

The NUJ has a proud history as a democratic and fighting trade union - it celebrated its 100th birthday last year. What we didn't know until today, and we learn thanks to one knowledgeable supporter, was that our action continues a proud tradition among York journalists.

It turns out that the very first strike by NUJ members was staged by workers at the Yorkshire Herald, the distant predecessor of The Press, in 1911. Apparently working conditions there were "Dickensian"... This nugget can be found in Journalists: 100 years of the NUJ by Tim Gopsill, editor of the Journalist magazine, and Greg Neale.

We're glad to be carrying on this proud tradition...

Striking display of support

2008-05-15T11:03:00.002+01:00

The chapel has been buoyed by the many messages of support we have received so far from fellow journalists and trade unionists. Many thanks to all and please keep them coming. Here's just a selection:

"Well done and good luck with the strike. Hopefully we at Leeds will be sending you a donation. Regards to all."

"All the best with your strike action. I think five days is definitely the way to go. The odd day does not hurt their operations enough. All the publishers are crying poverty this year, but they always do - in good times and bad - and we all know they can afford more than 3%. All the best from the ncjMedia chapel (Chronicle, Journal, Sunday Sun in Newcastle)."

"All the very best of luck in your dispute. We are going through a period of change and redundancies here in Johnston Press at the moment – admin, sales and editorial staff."

"Dear fellow NUJ members. Just wanted to send a note expressing my support for your action in calling the local management to account. I see from the NUJ mailing that although it may be decades since I was last involved in an NUJ local dispute, management attitudes and behaviour have not changed one bit."

"Dear Union Colleagues. As a BECTU representative I would like to pass on a message of support from our branch to our NUJ colleagues at the Press and Gazette & Herald who are currently experiencing such shabby treatment from management. We hope your industrial action brings an improvement in the situation and that the dispute can be resolved speedily in your favour."

Scargill backs journalists' strike

2008-05-15T10:00:00.003+01:00

Probably Britain's most famous trade unionist, former miners' leader Arthur Scargill, visited York a week before our strike. He was in the city to attend a meeting of the Socialist Labour Party, which he leads, but he found time to give a message of support to NUJ members at Newsquest York as they prepared to head to the picket line. He said:

"As someone who has been the victim of press media over the years, I can give this assurance: I will practise what I preach and on behalf of the Socialist Labour Party, we will be on the picket line supporting the journalists."

Making the headlines

2008-05-14T15:45:00.000+01:00

Used to writing the news, chapel members have enjoyed making the news today. Our strike plans have received wide coverage including on the Media Guardian, Press Gazette and Hold The Front Page websites. We're looking forward to making more headlines next week.

Strike fund tops £1,000

2008-05-14T14:40:00.001+01:00

The support we've had from fellow journalists and trade unionists since announcing our strike has been overwhelming. In the last half-hour £350 has been donated to our strike fund by the Birmingham and Coventry NUJ Branch, and and another £500 has been pledged from the Yorkshire Evening Post/Yorkshire Post joint NUJ chapel. Our strike fund has now hit the £1,000 mark. An enormous thank you to everyone who has so far pledged their support.

Strke fund already growing

2008-05-14T11:13:00.001+01:00

Management were only notified of our planned strike action an hour ago and we're already getting messages of support. The NUJ's Manchester Branch has sent their best wishes and pledged a donation of £100 towards our strike fund. Meanwhile, one of our members who is on holiday for the duration of the strike, business editor Ron Godfrey, has donated £50 to the fund. Sincere thanks to everyone.