By Sarah Lagan
Following a spate of strikes and industrial action in the regional press the National Union of Journalists has lodged joint national pay claims at Trinity Mirror and Newsquest.
Union general secretary Jeremy Dear has called on chief executives Sly Bailey of Trinity and Paul Davidson of Newsquest to hold a meeting to address low pay among journalists at the two largest regional newspaper publishers.
The NUJ wants a national minimum pay rise of five per cent or £1,300, which ever is higher, for the thousands of journalists working at the groups.
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In previous attempts by the union to push for a national pay claim at the groups they have been told that pay is a matter for local management and dependant on local market trends.
Dear said: “In the past these companies have taken a divide and rule approach when in fact the low pay of journalists is a national problem that affects thousands of our members across the regional press.
“It is widely acknowledged that pay on regional papers is appalling. Now we have an opportunity to work together to help build a highly motivated, well-rewarded editorial team. Trinity Mirror and Newsquest must seize it.”
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According to the NUJ some senior journalists at Trinity and Newsquest earn £14,000 a year and trainees at some titles start on salaries of less than £12,000.
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