Express journalists brand Desmond ‘Britain’s greediest billionaire’ amid cuts
Journalists at the Daily Express, Sunday Express and Star have branded their own proprietor ‘Britain’s greediest billionaire’ after plans were announced to axe 200 jobs at the titles.
Richard Desmond is pushing ahead with the cost cutting move despite a £450m windfall from the disposal of Channel 5.
In a statement the NUJ said: "This chapel does not see why hardworking journalists should subsidise Britain's greediest billionaire. It rejects Richard Desmond's damaging and flawed proposals to cut a third of editorial posts across Express Newspapers. We say these historic titles deserve better than the man who has mismanaged their decline and, time and time again, asked his staff to pay the price with pay freezes and with their jobs.
Laura Davison, NUJ national organiser, added: "The mice running riot at Express HQ get more crumbs from fat cat Richard Desmond's table than the journalists do. No pay rise for seven years and now told they're to lose their jobs. The message is clear. NUJ members want a proprietor who listens to them and shares their ambition for the titles, in all their formats, to thrive. We urge all journalists whether in digital, print or magazines to join the NUJ campaign against these cuts and for fair pay and workloads."
Managers hope to slash editorial staff from 650 to 450 through voluntary redundancies but reserve the right to pursue compulsory redundancies should this fail to meet the target.