Industrial dispute at Record/Sunday Mail nearing end?

AN industrial dispute taking place at the Daily Record and Sunday Mail could be nearing its end.

This afternoon, at a mass meeting, members of the National Union of Journalists will hear how negotiations are progressing regarding proposed compulsory redundancies and management attempts to extend the number of hours worked per week by sub-editors.

It is being hoped that the NUJ and management are close to striking a satisfactory agreement on both job losses and hours, including the reinstatement of journalists initially told – in April – they would be among 24 compulsory redundancies – on top of numerous voluntary redundancies as the titles began merging their production.

NUJ Scottish Organiser, Paul Holleran, said: “I do hope we are at the final stages of settling the dispute and that on-going negotiations between the NUJ chapel and management will mean that when it’s time for me to address the mass meeting, there’s no more to do but sort out a couple of minor tweaks.”

The two titles have, over the last few weeks, been hit by a series of walkouts plus a work to rule.

Stop Press (4pm): Meeting postponed until Friday, to allow for further negotiations.