Scotsman pay offer agreed by NUJ chapel

A TWO per cent pay offer has been accepted by the National Union of Journalists’ chapel at The Scotsman Publications Ltd.

The chapel – covering all three titles at the Johnston Press-owned group, The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News – agreed to the offer on Friday.

Paul Holleran, the NUJ’s Scottish Organiser, said he was particularly pleased with the offer, because it included additional elements. As well as all editorial staff receiving a two per cent increase, three in particular will see their pay substantially increase after it was agreed they were being underpaid. In addition, three freelancers have accepted offers to become staff.

He told allmediascotland.com, it is usually one offer or the other.

He said: “I think the whole thing has been done in recognition of the extreme hard work that everyone’s been involved in.”

But he also sounded a warning: “I think there’s probably a very difficult year ahead and I think it probably won’t be too long before we’re talking about further savings within the group.”