Newsquest London faces second round of strike action

Newsquest journalists in south London have announced a second wave of strike action less than a week after returning from the picket line.

NUJ members will begin a four-day strike on Monday 27 June – following on from a two-day strike last Wednesday.

The journalists are protesting against Newsquest’s plans to cut nine editorial jobs and close its sports and leisure department.

Staff based at the company’s Twickenham and Sutton offices have yet to hear back from management following last week’s strike, claimed mother of chapel Thais Portilho-Shrimpton.

NUJ negotiator Jenny Lennox said: ‘We’ve had a very successful two-day strike last week, and it is worth noting that a dozen journalists have joined the union since dispute began. This reflects the deep anger which of journalists employed by Newsquest at their bosses’ determination to avoid consulting with staff on the future of their papers.”

NUJ head of publishing Barry Fitzpatrick added: “Our members’ overwhelming decision to take strike action in defence of jobs and quality was the inevitable result of a wrong-headed management policy. But it is not too late for the company to show some sense and sit down with us to discuss the future security of the papers which are so important to our members and their communities.”

Newsquest chief executive Paul Davidson was contacted but was unavailable for comment.

The affected newspapers are the Croydon Guardian, Elmbridge Guardian, Epsom Guardian, Kingston Guardian, Streatham Guardian, Surrey Comet, Sutton Guardian, Wandsworth Guardian and Wimbledon Guardian.

Topics in this article : NUJ