PEACE has broken out at the Evening Times over plans that staff absorb subbing and design duties at sister title, the West End Mail.
Last week, a meeting of the National Union of Journalists’ chapel at the paper submitted a grievance, following a demand by editor, Donald Martin, that the extra work be taken on – partly because the editor of the West End Mail is off, long-term, sick.
Arguably, it was a threat of dismissal, should the work be refused, that most prompted the meeting being called in the first place. But within a few hours of the meeting, hopes were high of a resolution. That appeared soon after, with a joint statement being issued by John McCann, the NUJ father of chapel at the Evening Times, and Martin. Clearly, talks had quickly become much more civilised.
As reported in an e-alert sent by allmediascotland.com on Friday evening, the statement reads: “We are delighted that the collective grievance raised yesterday [Thursday] by the Evening Times chapel has been resolved swiftly and amicably through full co-operation between managers, other staff and the union.
“The chapel has today recorded a unanimous vote withdrawing the collective grievance.
“Staff at the centre of the dispute are fully satisfied with the outcome and look forward to working in partnership in the future.”
