"We're protesting against the company's proposal to move our copy-subs to a central hub in Southampton, where Newsquest has the Southern Daily Echo offices. The company's case has been very poor and management refuses to address the staff in an open forum, still less let us look at the books, as I see has been the case in Detroit. We're also protesting about the ongoing pay freeze on the back of the news that last year Paul Davidson handed himself a 20% pay rise."
Protesters will blog about the action at brightonargus.blogspot.com. The employee adds: "Our main point -- as I hope is evident from the blog -- is that only local copy editors can effectively edit local copy."
Newsquest employs one in seven of GCI's 35,000 global employees -- a total of about 5,100 -- at 17 dailies and hundreds of weeklies. Newsquest cut 23% of its jobs last year, more than any other operating unit, according to regulatory filings. GCI bought the U.K. operation in the summer of 1999 for about $1.5 billion.
[Image: an NUJ poster]
Excellent...........
ReplyDeleteI knew Gracia would regret telling analysts during the q3 phone session that Newsquest was "absolutely profitable."
ReplyDeletePaul will be moved on due to his inability to control the animals.
ReplyDeleteGo Argus Employees!!!! Strike! Strike! Strike!
ReplyDelete- Gannett's Lowest Paid Employee (USA)
Good luck British comrades!
ReplyDeleteI believe Gannett may have a tougher time recruiting scabs in the UK than it has in the USA.
I wish the strikers the best in their lashing out at management's continued arrogance - 20 percent raise, indeed!
Good for them. I hope workers in the UK show more solidarity than they do in the U.S. these days.
ReplyDeleteThis is the only way things can ever change.
Good luck to them!
Good luck. I admire people who stand up for injustices like this one. It's not exactly like they're fighting for something unreasonable by speaking out against a ridiculous copy editing plan.
ReplyDeleteGo Argus employees.
They've got the right idea by seemingly involving the entire community----including customers by making posters available. Hope this makes a difference, and I hope they are backed.
ReplyDeleteThe Brits are pointing the way to what we need to do on our side of the pond. A two-day boycott might do wonders to stop these harebrained plans denuding our papers of staffs. We are all being pushed to the wall. It is time to push back.
ReplyDeleteThe time for pushing back is long gone. I recall Neuharth saying that one of his favorite activities was walking across picket lines.
ReplyDeleteGannett's an expert in union busting, but I think its tactics will be tested to the limit in the UK.
How about getting the soon-to-be wed prince to walk the line with the strikers?
Hey Royals, show some solidarity!
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIt's not too late too push back. In fact, this is the prime time. So many people are hurting that it might be possible to create worker solidarity again. But only time will tell.
ReplyDeleteTake it from Detroit. No one wins in a strike.
ReplyDeleteGoing on strike sounds all romantical..... But let's face it. The passengers of the Titanic would have had more success picketing the iceberg than any employee will have with the HMS Gannett. This bitch is sinking. Slowly. And painfully.
ReplyDeleteHow did the first day go? Did the Gannett Goon Squad make an appearance?
ReplyDeleteC'mon UK comrades. Fill us in here in the states.
If you visit brightonargus.blogspot.com you'll see pictures and video from our first day of action. Thanks for all your support from over the Pond, guys - - and especially to you, Jim, for blogging about it.
ReplyDeleteI just went to brightonargus.blogspot.com. It's a wonderful site (sight) to see!
ReplyDeleteWhat is a local paper anyway if its jobs are 80 miles away? What happened to local papers getting their sustenance from the communities in which they published?
Gannett's already plotting the death of its community papers in the US. Imagine reporting hubs....Need to cover a meeting? No problem. Wait for the community to put the minutes online and take it from there.
Why, there could be a new specialty beat: Statewide municipal reporter needed at Gannett Hub. Must be able to type 50 wpm to reproduce meeting minutes from 91 townships and villages across the state on a daily basis. No degree or experience needed. $8 per hour plus membership in the Gannett Company Store.