Journalists at newspapers including the Daily Mirror and Daily Express could go on strike this Wednesday, after talks with the publisher, Reach, over the weekend failed to resolve a stalemate over pay.
Reach journalists last week called off industrial action at the 11th hour, averting a strike scheduled for Friday, after the company asked for further negotiations.
But bank holiday weekend discussions between the newspaper group and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) made no progress, ending with the company resisting the union’s demand for an improved pay settlement.
NUJ representatives unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in the Reach chief executive, Jim Mullen, added an extra strike day to their planned action and extended work-to-rule plans, after the talks failed to resolve the dispute.
The company is understood to be making plans to fill its network of national and regional newspapers and websites with content created centrally and rolled out across its titles during the strikes.
The strike affects editorial staff, who number about 3,000 out of 4,500 employees overall. About 600 NUJ members of the 1,000 balloted have voted for industrial action over pay, with Mullen’s £4m pay package a particular bone of contention.
A Reach spokesperson said: “Over the weekend we have been in discussions with the NUJ in hope of avoiding industrial action, but unfortunately these talks have ended without agreement.
“We were able to meet the majority of requirements put forward by the NUJ and proposed an accelerated career development framework that would have set out clearer salary progression for journalists, so we are disappointed that our offer was rejected.
“We remain open to talks at any time to resolve this dispute and to begin to deliver these substantial improvements for our journalists.
“Our priority continues to be to protect the interests of all our colleagues and stakeholders, ensuring the group has a sustainable future in the face of an uncertain economic backdrop.”
Michelle Stanistreet, the NUJ general secretary, said: “Despite a settlement being in touching distance following exhaustive talks at Acas, with significant collective effort on the part of negotiators for both sides, the company’s no-show chief executive kiboshed any chance of a sensible deal that addresses our members’ key priority – their consolidated pay.
“NUJ members are clear where responsibility lies here, and that is shown in a unanimous vote of no confidence in Reach chief executive Jim Mullen. This is a man who’s enjoyed a £4m package from Reach this year, yet is intent on denying journalists a fair pay deal, even though the business has cash in the bank that could easily ensure its staff don’t continue to suffer the damaging impact of this cost of living crisis and a severe real-terms cut in salary.”
A strike planned for last Friday was postponed after the NUJ agreed to enter into immediate negotiations with Reach, which also publishes the Daily Star, Daily Record, South Wales Echo, Manchester Evening News and other regional titles.
The talks were overseen by Acas.
After talks failed, the NUJ added an extra day to the strikes, which will now last from 13 to 15 September inclusive. An indefinite work to rule – industrial action where staff agree to perform their duties to the letter without taking on any additional responsibilities or hours – will start from 16 September.
Reach had offered a 3% pay increase, worth £750, which was rejected by 79% of members in ballot results earlier this month.
