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May 19, 2009

Guardian shortfall of 24 towards reaching voluntary redundancy target

By Dominic wireposts

Guardian News and Media has revealed that some 38 editorial staff have left under a voluntary redundancy scheme started early last year.

So far 26 editorial staff have applied for redundancy this year.

This would leave a shortfall of 24 towards reaching the target of 50 editorial redundancies Guardian management revealed they were seeking earlier this month. This is aimed bringing the editorial headcount down from the 850 to 800.

If management decides to make compulsory redundancies this would be a first for the Guardian in recent times.

The NUJ house agreement at The Guardian previously outlawed compulsory redundancies.

But under a new house agreement agreed last year, management can now make compulsory cuts “in dire economic circumstances”.

Guardian parent company Guardian Media Group announced a group-wide pay freeze in February without consultation.

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