Journalists on The Star in Sheffield and its sister papers are balloting for industrial action over claimed staff shortages.
Julia
Armstrong, MoC at Sheffield Newspapers, part of Johnston Press, has
estimated staff numbers have been reduced by about 12, including eight
editorial and four administrative staff, since December.
She
said: “We are being forced to work at breakneck speeds, going over
hours and having to do more weekend shifts, with little time to think
about the quality of our work. We are stressed and the newspapers are
suffering for it.”
Star editor Alan Powell said he was
disappointed at the union because there had been no formal talks with
management about the matter and said he disputed the staffing figures
claimed by the NUJ.
Journalists at Sheffield Newspapers have been offered a 3 per cent pay rise, with a 5 per cent increase on minimum grades.
Archant
has made four subs and one graphic designer redundant as part of its
plan to pool resources from the East Anglian Daily Times, the Evening
Star in Ipswich and the Saturday football magazine The Green ‘Un.
The company had originally planned to axe nine jobs.
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