NUJ reaches truce over MEN Media cuts
The National Union of Journalists has settled its dispute with MEN Media over staff cuts at its north west newspapers after the publisher agreed to make fewer redundancies than it originally proposed.
The deal means 11 journalists will face compulsory redundancy, five fewer than initially planned. A total of 70 jobs will be lost across the Manchester Evening and its sister weekly papers in the region.
According to the NUJ, the period for volunteers to come forward for redundancy has been extended until the Autumn.
A joint statement from MEN Media and the NUJ said a new pay grade had also been agreed for journalists who previously worked on the weekly titles. This will mean rises of up to £2,000 for some weekly journalists according to the NUJ.
All of MEN Media's regional weekly newspaper offices are to be shut down, with their production moved to the company's headquarters in Scott Place, Manchester.
The statement from the MEN and NUJ read: “The company has agreed to the introduction of a new pay grade for journalists previously working solely on weekly titles. This new grade will take effect in 2010.
"The NUJ has declared its recent ballots for industrial action to be null and void.
"Unfortunately, 11 journalists from the MEN will be made redundant by compulsory means. This is a reduction of five from earlier proposals. The total number of editorial redundancies across MEN Media is 70. These redundancies will take place later this year.
"Talks will start immediately on a new house agreement to encompass all three [MEN Media] NUJ chapels. The agreement means that all MEN Media journalists will be based in Scott Place, Manchester by early October 2009.
"Both MEN Media and the NUJ record their intention to work together to ensure the editorial restructure is successful and that this agreement, reached after a great deal of negotiation, should become a landmark in their future relationship.
"They also record their commitment to the newspapers they produce and the communities, readers and advertisers they serve."