NUJ members employed at Trinity Mirror’s Birmingham Post and Mail and Coventry Evening Telegraph went on strike over pensions last Friday.
The journalists were protesting at Trinity Mirror’s decision to end its final salary pension scheme for newcomers.
It is the first time the NUJ has taken strike action over pensions. The union claims the move by Trinity Mirror will create a two-tier workforce, with new recruits being employed on inferior terms.
NUJ regional organiser Miles Barter said: “We had about 50 at Coventry taking action and more than 100 in Birmingham. The final salary scheme could be reopened at any time. We will continue a campaign of guerrilla action. This won’t go away.”
A Trinity Mirror spokesman told Press Gazette: “In general, staff understand the reasons for the decision on pensions. Only a small minority of staff voted in favour of action. “In any event, it won’t achieve anything as the company has made its decision and it was very much ‘business as usual’ on Friday.”
The company said the strike was supported by 84 staff at the Birmingham Post, Evening Mail and Sunday Mercury, 47 at the Coventry Evening Telegraph and by three digital staff.
By Jon Slattery
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
