Full report from the Guardian picket line: ‘Observer, Observer, James Harding don’t deserve her!’
Update 4/12/24: Hours before Guardian journalists started a 48-hour strike at midnight on 4 December, Scott Trust chair Ole Jacob Sunde offered new promises over the future of The Observer.
His intervention makes clear that the Trust appears to be pressing on with the sale of The Observer, albeit whilst insuring certain safeguards are in place for the title and its 70 staff.
Some 500 Guardian and Observer journalists have opted to strike in protest at plans to transfer ownership of The Observer to Tortoise Media, which says it has £20m to invest in the title.
Staff have already passed a motion of no confidence in the 12-person Scott Trust board which owns Guardian Media Group.
In a letter to staff Sunde said: “The Scott Trust has been reviewing the ownership structure for the Observer over the last few months. Lately, I have heard requests to understand more about Scott Trust discussions and so I am outlining our approach to considering the Tortoise Media offer.
“Throughout the process our goal has always been to do what is right for Guardian and Observer readers and staff so that both titles continue to promote liberal journalism and thrive long into the future. This has been at the forefront of our discussions as a board.
“With this in mind, any decision that we make will have to meet the following criteria:
- The Scott Trust to stay on as a part-owner of the Observer
- The Observer to have secure and sustainable, long-term funding
- Other owners of the title to take a long-term view of their investment
- All owners to embody the values of editorial independence, press freedoms and liberal journalism that have been part of the Observer’s ethos since we bought it in 1993
- The Observer to be governed by a mature board structure, with a role for the Scott Trust on the Tortoise Media editorial and commercial boards.
“I fully respect people’s rights to take industrial action. I also think it’s right that we share relevant information in a timely manner. I am confident that this has been – and continues to be – a detailed and thoughtful process.”
Guardian journalists in Australia are represented by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance. They issued a statement saying they “stand in solidarity with our UK Guadian and Observer colleagues”.
The Guardian has some 100 journalists based in the US who are members of their own guild.
They issued a statement saying they will not cross the picket line, although Press Gazette understand that US journalists are continuing to work.
The statement says: “Guardian US’s guild members stand in solidarity with UK colleagues on the industrial action they are taking in defence of the Observer, and overwhelmingly voted to pass a motion to refuse to cross the picket line.
“The sale of the Observer goes against the Scott Trust’s commitment to safeguard freedom of the press and liberal journalism, and to protect the Guardian in perpetuity. The Observer is an integral part of the Guardian.
“We urge management to listen to the concerns of its journalists and readers regarding this issue.”
Original story, published 2/12/2024 : Journalists have been offered assurances about their future ahead of a planned strike at Guardian Media Group in protest at the sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media.
Guardian management met with union officials on Friday ahead of a planned 48-hour walkout by around 500 journalists working at The Guardian and Observer starting on Wednesday (4 December).
Guardian chief executive Anna Bateson has now written to staff setting out assurances for the 70 Observer journalists who would move across to Tortoise Media if the title is sold.
Journalists fear the £20m that Tortoise Media says it has to invest in The Observer will not be sufficient to safeguard the title’s future.
Bateson said in the memo on Monday: “We put forward a series of additional measures to protect Observer staff if this deal progresses. We have discussed these proposals with the NUJ who will now talk to their members. These proposals mean that if a deal is signed we intend for the following terms to apply:
“We recognise that some people may not wish to transfer to Tortoise Media and we would offer a time limited voluntary redundancy scheme to Observer staff on the same terms we did over the summer.
“Our current enhanced redundancy terms would be maintained post-transfer for a period still being negotiated.
“Observer staff who move to Tortoise Media would also have the opportunity to apply for ‘internal only’ open roles at the Guardian for a period still being negotiated.
“Freelance contracts would be extended until the end of September 2025 and renegotiated at that point.”
She added: “As a reminder Observer colleagues transferring to Tortoise Media would retain the same job titles, salaries and benefits, including sabbatical rights, should the deal go ahead via ‘TUPE’. TUPE is a piece of legislation that protects employee rights when an employee is automatically transferred to a new employer in a situation like this one. Union recognition is also protected.
“Kath [Viner, editor-in-chief] and I hear the passionate cases being made by colleagues about the proposed sale of the Observer. Throughout last week we met with many of you to discuss the proposal and have appreciated hearing your thoughts and the opportunity to answer your questions. We will continue to do so.
“Our priority has always been to preserve the Observer’s 233-year legacy and ensure the proposed agreement is as strong as it can be for staff, readers and the future of liberal journalism.”
The Scott Trust, which owns Guardian Media Group, delayed a decision on approving the Tortoise takeover last week when it said discussions are ongoing over “a few outstanding points”.
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