The NUJ is due to hold a demonstration on Friday along with three
members of the Welsh Assembly in protest against budget cuts at the
South Wales Evening Post and its publisher Northcliffe.
The union believes that Northcliffe has neglected quality journalism as a result of its Aim Higher strategy.
As
part of the strategy, Northcliffe recently closed the print works in
Swansea, moving production to England after a long tradition of
printing in the area.
Jenny Lennox, NUJ assistant organiser,
said: “The worst part of these plans is that none of it is necessary.
Last year Northcliffe, part of the Daily Mail Group, made a profit of
£100m, 7 per cent up on the previous year.
“But at the same time,
journalists in Northcliffe titles earn as little as £12,000, and pay
increases are often refused or kept to an absolute minimum.”
Post editor Spencer Feeney said: “The closure of the printing press is regrettable.
The
decision was made because the press lost a valuable national paper
contract for the Metro, and because it was an ageing press with very
restricted colour capability.”
He added: “Post journalists have had pay rises at least higher than inflation.”
The demonstration will take place at 1pm outside the Post’s Swansea offices.
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