Crunch Talks over Pensions Looming at Herald Group

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• "Issued by the NUJ, December 3, 5pm: A not-so-festive season has begun for Newsquest bosses as two NUJ chapels prepare to ballot for industrial action over plans to increase employee contributions to the pensions scheme. NUJ Members at the York and County Press chapel begin balloting today (3/12) over Newsquest plans to increase contributions from six per cent at present to 10 per cent by 2011. Sam Southgate, joint Father of Chapel at the York and County Press chapel, said: "Our chapel members feel rightly angry they will be forking out four per cent in extra pension contributions when Newsquest York is making £4.5 million a year. The changes on pensions also come against the background of a poor, below inflation pay award. Our members already feel they are poorly paid for the skills and work that they do. It is another attack on their income and working conditions. Not all members are in the pension scheme but the chapel voted unanimously to support those who are in it and to say as loudly as we can that it should be open to all members and protected for the future." Chapel members are planning a double whammy for their bosses as they also begin balloting for action short of a strike over plans to make reporters carry video cameras without any additional training or pay. Sam said: “The company wants journalists to use video equipment - even if they have not been properly trained. The chapel has three key concerns before this work will be undertaken. These are that there are proper staffing levels, proper training and extra pay for new skills and responsibilities. We had cuts in staffing last year with two reporters less and now we also have two colleagues on maternity leave so taking on this extra work in these circumstances stands to damage both the newspapers and website. The increased workload involved would be bound to hit quality." The season of good-will continues for Newsquest when fellow group chapel members at the Northern Echo in Darlington, start their ballot for industrial action over pensions on Wednesday (5/12). Chris Morley, NUJ North & Midlands Organiser, said: “Ever since Newsquest announced their plans for the pension scheme back in the summer, members have been waiting for the opportunity to show their anger. We are only to glad to be able to give our Christmas message to the management and hope that they have an Ebenezer Scrooge moment and re-think the devastating effects their plans will have on staff and quality at the newspapers.”"
  SilverLining 03/12/2007
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• "Give them the money , Mabel. They're worth evey penny of it."
  Ninian Reid 03/12/2007
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• "Newsquest's three-yearly audit of their pension fund is due in March. The company's trying to drive through increases before the independent figures become available. Effectively, it would represent a 4% pay cut for staff. And all to save more money for their American shareholders at the expense of their UK employees - again. This is a mob who made £17.6m after-tax from its Glasgow papers in the last year and then siphoned off £15.6m of it to pay an increased dividend in the US. while making Scottish journalists redundant. They don't deserve to own newspapers."
  The Outlaw 03/12/2007
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