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November 25, 2009

Trinity Mirror journalists in Birmingham vote to strike

By Oliver Luft

Trinity Mirror journalists in Birmingham have voted to strike unless the publisher agrees not to make any compulsory redundancies.

A ballot of union members working at Trinity Mirror’s BPM Media business, which publishes the Birmingham Mail and Post newspapers, voted by a 75 per cent majority yesterday in favour of strike action.

Union members passed a resolution to strike ‘in the next three weeks, at a date to be decided, unless the threat of compulsory redundancy was lifted by the company.”

Trinity Mirror is looking to cut 40 editorial jobs after converting the Birmingham Post into a weekly paper, switching the Birmingham Mail to overnight printing and the introduction of a new production system.

These redundancies come on top of 70 job cuts at the end of 2008 when the news-gathering operations of the two Birmingham papers were integrated.

Chris Morley, NUJ northern organiser, said: “It is clear that the chapel are in no mood to accept colleagues being thrown out of work into the worst recession in living memory – and for them to absorb the work on their already overburdened shoulders.

“The company’s proposals are unproven on the editorial system being used in Birmingham and the undue haste with which the company is seeking to recklessly cut jobs only serves to undercut quality journalism at a critical time for the Birmingham titles.

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“Our members believe the situation can be resolved but not through unrealistic timetables currently being pushed by managers. If they continue along these lines, they will quickly find the chapel will bring its collective strength to bear to defend members.”

NUJ members at Trinity Mirror in Coventry are meeting on Friday to decide on next steps in their action.

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