Journalists at the Whitehaven News have reached a deal with management after the papers’ parent company, CN Group, agreed not to reduce minimum pay rates.t
The NUJ chapel took industrial action after being informed of the proposals to reduce the minimum newly qualified senior rate at the weekly Whitehaven News from £19,000 to £16,500 after its journalists stopped supplying news to its evening sister title the News & Star.
The chapel held a mandatory meeting last Monday (25 June) and warned of further meetings two days a week for a month. The deal was settled on the condition that the minimum pay rate be frozen for two years at the Whitehaven News. Trainees will start on £15,200.
The Whitehaven settlement brings to an end a year–long dispute between NUJ members and management which began when the CN Group proposed to scrap its final salary pension scheme to all members.
All three chapels; Whitehaven, Barrow and Carlisle took some form of industrial action to get increased pay. All negotiations have been settled after management offered a number of concessions including a £500,000 package.
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