Campey: ‘created a lot of waves’
Less than a year after becoming editor of the Yorkshire Post, Rachael Campey is the subject of a “no confidence” vote by staff.
Journalists are unhappy at the treatment of women’s editor Jill Armstrong, who is facing the prospect of redundancy after more than 25 years with the paper.
Union members at the joint Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post NUJ chapel met on Tuesday to discuss the annual pay offer. They agreed to accept the rise of 3 per cent, with a minimum increase of £980.
But they also passed a motion which stated: “The Yorkshire Post chapel has no confidence in the Yorkshire Post editor and authorises the chapel committee to make all necessary preparations for the possibility of a strike.”
It is understood that Armstrong was summoned to the editor’s office on Friday and told the post of women’s editor was being scrapped but that she could apply for the vacant job of features editor.
A Post insider said: “Campey has created a lot of waves with changes she has made and put some noses out of joint. She had some goodwill left until all this happened with Jill, who is very popular and conscientious.”
NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: “Members are dismayed that the company appears to have broken its promise that there would be no compulsory redundancies.
“The repeated assurances from the editor that there would be no job losses as a result of any reorganisation have been shown to be hollow promises. Our members have made it clear they have little faith in the way in which the Yorkshire Post is currently being managed.”
Campey was unavailable to comment.
By Dominic Ponsford
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