Benefit gig taking place to support striking journalists

A NIGHT of stand-up comedy and music is taking place next week, the proceeds from which will be donated to a fund supporting journalists fighting job cuts at the Daily Record and Sunday Mail newspapers.

The benefit gig – on Tuesday, in Glasgow – is to help provide some income to members of the National Union of Journalists who have sacrificed wages to take part in a series of walkouts in protest at compulsory job cuts at the two titles.

A combination of voluntary and compulsory redundancies have taken place the papers following a merging of their production.

The last walkout lasted three days ago and took place a fortnight ago.

Says Paul Holleran, Scottish Organiser, at the National Union of Journalists: “We are negotiating with management but the dispute continues.

“On Monday, eight or nine people are attending appeals against their compulsory redundancy. A recent ballot of members has delivered an overwhelming vote against co-operating with the introduction of a new production system, and talks are taking place to find a way around that.”