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April 8, 2009

Strike off in East Lancs after redundancies cancelled

Johnston Press management in East Lancashire has called off plans to impose compulsory redundancies on staff.

The move comes within 24 hours of an National Union of Journalists vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in protest at the redundancies.

Journalists at the Burnley Express, Clitheroe Advertiser and Nelson Leader have cancelled industrial action, and agreed to plans for the voluntary departure of two editorial managers.

The Nelson Leader’s editor will assume duties for the Clitheroe title, while general editor for the Burnley Express will also take over that paper’s sports pages.

Reporters currently working part-time will be invited to work two extra days.

NUJ northern organiser Chris Morley said: “By sticking together journalists on these weekly papers have stopped compulsory redundancies and ensured work is covered.”

His congratulations were echoed by NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear who said the East Lancashire chapel had “shown the value of collective action”.

Last month, Johnston Press cancelled threatened compulsory redundancies on the Derry Journal after staff voted for industrial action.

But, despite 13 days of strike action in Leeds, an agreement has not been reached between staff and management.

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