Herald and Evening Times staff strike
A second year of pay freezes sees Herald and Evening Times staff commence industrial action.
140 members of the Unite union began a 24 hour walk out at 8am morning, in the first of a planned series of one-day strikes by print and production workers at the Glasgow newspapers. Strikes are due to continue every Thursday until the matter is resolved.
Norman King of Unite said of the strike: "Our members are angry that they are being forced to accept a pay freeze for the second year running despite the Glasgow Herald and the Evening Times posting profits.
“Our members do not want to be striking, but feel they have been left with no choice by a management that refuse to properly negotiate."
Negotiations between Unite and Newsquest have reportedly been taking place for several months, but it is claimed the company will not back down on its position over enforced pay freezes.
Tim Blott, managing director of the Herald and Times, claimed that Unite is insistent on instigating industrial action across the UK, and that he is disappointed Herald and Times staff have been drawn into the matter.
He commented: “It is still a difficult and uncertain time for us and many others in the media where overall revenues are still performing below last year.
“I have committed to review salaries as when trading improves. In the meantime our newspapers will continue to be published, unaffected by this dispute.”