South Yorkshire journalists say management is using work experience students to break strike
Striking journalists from South Yorkshire Newspapers have claimed that management is using students on work experience in order to make sure the paper is printed on time.
Journalists at the Epworth Bells, Doncaster Free Press, the Selby Times and the South Yorkshire Times have been on strike since 15 June following an announcement of job cuts.
At the Selby Times a 16-year-old has been asked to extend his work experience by a week by bosses. The teenager, who originally approached the paper asking to shadow the sports editor, is believed to have been asked to work on both news and sports stories by management placed on a crisis footing by the dispute.
Journalists at the Doncaster Free Press also believe young people on work experience are being used to help publish their paper this week, as almost all the paper’s journalists are on indefinite strike.
Lawrence Shaw, NUJ negotiator, said: “We want a full and unambiguous assurance from management that they are not relying on youngsters and students working for free to produce content to get their newspapers out.
“If SYN management were found to be abusing the goodwill of youngsters to break the strike it would be utterly unforgiveable. They need to make it clear they are not doing this.”
Johnson Press is believed to have asked a member of staff on sick leave to work from home to help get the Epworth Bells paper out on Thursday. The NUJ chapel has said that, if true, this is in breach of the company's own regulations.