Business Secretary Vince Cable has lent his backing to journalists threatening strike action at Newsquest‘s Richmond and Twickenham Times.
In a statement released by NUJ mother of chapel for south west London Thais Portilho-Shrimpton, Cable – the local MP for Twickenham – is quoted as saying: ‘It’s a very important part of the local community and the Richmond and Twickenham Times has long been a highly regarded local paper with a good record. It is something that binds the community together.
‘I know it has been under financial pressure for a long time because of the internet and problems with advertising but this is very worrying news – I’m very concerned about it.”
The news comes after NUJ members unanimously voted for a strike ballot, which will be held on 16 May.
Related
Last Wednesday NUJ members passed a vote of no confidence in two senior management figures at Newsquest, managing director Roger Mills and director of advertising Dene Stuart
NUJ members in Sutton, Surrey and Twickenham have also been working to rule since 15 April.
Newsquest chief executive Paul Davidson was out of the office and unable to comment.
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