Pay Freeze Reportedly Expected at Newsquest Group

A pay freeze is reportedly expected at the Newsquest group of newspapers, including The Herald.

Says The Drum media magazine, the National Union of Journalists is claiming “a freeze on pay rises will begin in January, with a possible ‘review’ taking place laster in the year, affecting staff in York, Darlington, Bradford, Bolton and Bury and Glasgow”.

It quotes the NUJ's general-secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, as saying: “I am very sceptical when newspaper groups get on the bandwagon of pay freezes without any real justification. Newsquest staff have done all they can to support the management in the recent hard times; it’s time that they are recognised for this and that they are paid a fair wage. Is a pay freeze really the best way for Newsquest to kick off 2012?”