Long-serving Telegraph Media Group father of chapel John Carey is among the latest journalists to leave the paper in a round of 12 editorial redundancies.
Carey has represented the interests of NUJ members at the paper since journalists there regained official union recognition five years ago.
He was told on Thursday to stop work as deputy editor of The Daily Telegraph’s Saturday property section. But he has been allowed to continue working until the end of July to complete his union duties.
At an emergency NUJ chapel meeting on Friday afternoon journalists at Telegraph Media Group passed a motion saying they believed Carey was being victimised due to his union status.
But Telegraph managing editor Richard Ellis said that the current round of redundancies were ‘forced on us because of the severe downturn in property advertising”.
Eight journalists are being made redundant in the current round of cuts and four editorial admininistration staff including foreign desk staffers Paul Hill (who leaves after 37 years) and Patsy Dryden (who departs after 19 years).
Standard redundancy terms at the Telegraph are one month’s pay per year of service up to a maximum of 12 months plus notice pay.
A Telegraph union spokesman said: ‘We do not accept the need for more redundancies. Given the move to a 24/7 multimedia operation we need more people not fewer. Even if the company is saying there’s a basic case for redundancies because of the economic slowdown, we do not accept the need for compulsory redundancies.
‘People are shocked at the latest round. There is a feeling that the Telegraph is in a state of constant flux which is unsettling.
‘Paul Hill and Patsy Dryden are absolutely crucial to the running of the foreign desk.”
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