Johnston Press has announced restructuring plans that could lead to the loss of up to 30 editorial positions in Scotland.
The announcement comes after news that Johnston cut 1,300 jobs – nearly a quarter of its workforce – last year, following a 12 per cent drop in revenues.
Scottish NUJ organiser Paul Holleran told Press Gazette he met with managers this morning, who said they were opening a voluntary redundancy scheme to staff on the Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News.
Holleran also said that he understood the cuts were coming as part of a new strategy for more pooled resources across Johnston Press's Scottish titles.
In a statement Stuart Birkett, managing director of Johnston's Scottish operations, said:
"Following an organisational review, The Scotsman Publications Ltd is proposing a restructure which could result in a reduction of staff within the editorial department. The aim of these proposals is to improve operating efficiency, whilst maintaining the company’s competitive position in the market.
"We have started the consultation process directly with those affected and the NUJ, and every effort will be made to minimise the impact of these proposals through voluntary redundancy and redeployment."
Johnston Press is currently also facing controversy just south of the Scottish border, where it has announced plans to make Jon Stokoe, editor of the Whitby Gazette, redundant despite the paper being one of the country's best performing weeklies.
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