View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
November 16, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 9:50pm

Telegraph strike ‘not cancelled’

By Press Gazette

Telegraph Group journalists insisted this week that the three-day strike due to start on Wednesday has merely been suspended and not cancelled.

Father of the chapel John Carey told an NUJ solidarity meeting in Victoria on Tuesday night: "The strike has been postponed for four weeks while we go back to the company and talk in more detail about the issues that remain. There's still a long way to go for us."

He said journalists still reject the principle of imposing job cuts or changes to working practices without negotiation.

Carey said: "We are a recognised union and we have a house agreement. If there are going to be significant changes to work practices then there has to be some reward for that.

"What we are making a stand about is defending the quality of journalism that The Telegraph produces — whether in newspapers, online or via podcasts and vodcasts.

"For the first time the company has actually backed down and said, yes we will listen to you, take on board what you say, and talk about it."

Journalists are unhappy about 54 imposed redundancies and changes to work practices, following the move last month from Canary Wharf to Victoria. These include Saturday working for all subs and early morning starts for reporters.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Carey said: "At the moment the company is adamant that they are not going to pay any more money for the move to Victoria and all that entails. That remains for us a key principle."

He said that "quality has already been hit" by the cutting of 150 journalists at Telegraph Group over the past two years. "We have been told we were mad and that we were making ludicrous demands. We are in favour of change, but what we are not in favour of is change without consulting us, because we do know a bit about the jobs we do."

Following the NUJ decision last Friday to call off the strike, Telegraph management said in a statement: "The Telegraph Media Group welcomes the NUJ's decision to suspend the threatened strike action.

"Further talks about the introduction of new working rotas with editorial representatives are scheduled.

"The new integrated print and online system, in which there has been huge investment, is already working well, and we are confident that it will go from strength to strength."

n Journalists on The Guardian looked likely this week to accept a pay deal which would see the paper's 69 internet journalists get rises of up to £12,000. Guardian mother of chapel Helen Mulholland said that management was this week expected to confirm a £500,000 offer, which would include at least 3 per cent for journalists on the newspaper and substantially more for web journalists, in order to give them closer parity to print colleagues.

She described the new pay offer as "a great result", but warned that the NUJ is sceptical about management moves to more "flexible working".

She said: "If you take away the paper's no compulsory redundancies clause, The Guardian will go out [on strike]."

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network